2018 Boracay closure

The island of Boracay, a tourist attraction in the Philippines, was closed (the closure) for six months after April 26, 2018 because of pollution in the island that needed to be cleaned up. When it happened, Boracay was closed and only people living in it were allowed on the island.

Algal bloom on the island.

Cause

The cause of the island being closed was because of algal blooms on the island's famous beaches. Other causes were harmful waste products. On February 9, 2018, Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, called the island a "cesspool".

Effect

400 restaurants and hotels had to close for violating the laws that were set in place. 3 casinos were also closed. Buildings less than 30 meters away from the beaches were destroyed.