(TNS) Beachgoers from Palm Beach to Broward counties had their Saturday beach day interrupted when tar balls started washing up along the shoreline, possibly due to an oil spill from a freighter or cruise ship, officials say.

The United States Coast Guard is now investigating the reports, they said in a post on X.

A 911 call came in at around 9 a.m. from a beachgoer near Las Olas Boulevard to report the tar, said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesman Frank Guzman. Lifeguards started their shift at 9:15 a.m. and immediately started stepping in the tar clumps.

Shortly after, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue decided to close parts of their beaches for swimming.

The closure was originally from lifeguard stations 1 to 16, said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis. But that has since been reduced until station 10. Fort Lauderdale Beach has 20 lifeguard stations. Trantalis believes the spill possibly came from a freighter or cruise ship, though that has not been confirmed.

“We feel it’s a criminal act to cause toxic materials to be released into the public domain,” Trantalis said. “The Coast Guard is out there trying to figure out who the culprit is.”

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue announced that the oily substance on the beach prompted lifeguards to tell beachgoers to stay out of the water from Riomar Street south to the Port Everglades inlet. That makes up about half of Fort Lauderdale’s beaches, said Guzman.

The beaches are only closed for swimming, but people can still enjoy themselves on the sand, he said. He added that the beaches are “packed” with people this Saturday.

Many people have already been stepping on the oily tar balls.

This report will be updated as more details become available.

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