Some beaches across Broward County were closed on Saturday after reports of tar balls that washed on shore, officials said.
According to Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, crews received a 911 call about an oily substance in the water near Las Olas Boulevard and the shoreline.
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WATCH HEREOfficials said the caller was walking on the sand when they noticed the substance on their feet. Ocean Rescue Lifeguards also saw the substance when they started their shifts.
The tar balls are mostly likely connected to an oil spill.
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Several beachgoers reacted to the tar balls that washed up on shore.
"When we first game down here, there was like weird, black globs on the beach and didn't really know, I though it was a sea creature or something, you neve know, it's the ocea, then the lifeguard came down and they're like, 'Everybody out of the water, out of the water,' and we're like, 'What's that for?' and they're like, 'Oh, it's 'cause of the oil,'" a man said.
In an abundance of caution, officials closed down beaches for swimmers from Lifeguard Tower 1 in Port Everglades on the south to Lifeguard Tower 10 at Riomar Street.
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Beaches north in the area remain open but are being monitored.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been notified about the incident and is working with the Department of Environmental Protection to identify a source.
A red flag warning has been posting, urging people to not go into the water.
NBC6 was told that the effects range from Fort Lauderdale to Deerfield Beach.
