The cause behind foul smell blanketing northern Gold Coast

RESIDENTS across the northern Gold Coast this morning woke to a foul smell filling their homes leaving many of them searching for a gas leak, fungi or even dead animals. Here’s what caused it.

Northern Gold Coast residents woke to a stink filling their homes

RESIDENTS across the northern Gold Coast this morning woke to a foul smell filling their homes, leaving many of them searching for a gas leak, fungi or even dead animals.

Locals took to social media to ask about the smell, which began in the early hours of the morning and blanketed suburbs from Hope Island to Arundel.

“I thought it was my partner’s breath at first!” wrote one concerned Facebook user.

“It woke us up this morning at 5am and I haven’t been back to sleep yet.”

An environmental officer has been sent to investigate, but the blame has been put on nearby mangroves — with stinky bacteria giving off a ‘rotten egg’ smell.

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Recent high tides have bought the bacteria to the surface from where it was trapped in the sand and released the smell.

Facebook users even blamed a foul-smelling fungus for the terrible stink filling their homes this morning. Photo: Facebook.

State MP David Crisafulli said while he didn’t know for sure the cause of the smell, he had received complaints from residents.

“I’ve received calls in the office and we’ve forwarded it on to council,” he said.