According to NBC News, balls of sticky black goop were first seen on Coogee Beach on Oct. 15, prompting beach closures across the area. As of Oct. 17, Sydney's famous Bondi Beach, along with Bronte, Tamarama, Gordons Bay, Clovelly, and part of Maroubra Beach, are closed until further notice as crews clean up and remove the tar balls.

Sydney’s Bondi Beach and other beaches around the Australian city were shut on Thursday as officials investigated mysterious tar balls that have washed ashore.

Beaches in Sydney including the iconic Bondi were closed to bathers on Thursday after hundreds of black balls suspected to be toxic washed up on the city's shores.