A charming Mediterranean island known for its turquoise water and sandy beaches has now turned into a rat-infested, litter-strewn “disaster” zone, it has been reported. Comino, a popular island in Malta, is one of the most sought-after destinations among holidaymakers.

The island, famous for its Blue Lagoon, is immensely popular on Instagram, with over 10,000 tourists visiting the spot daily in summer. However, its breathtaking beauty is marred by little rats constantly seen around the island. According to campaigners, the holiday destination is suffering due to rising overtourism.

Andre Callus from activist group Moviment Graffitti told The Telegraph: “It’s an unbearable situation. Operators recruit tourists in places like Sliema and bring them to Comino in massive boats.

"They pour hundreds of tourists onto the tiny beach. It gets crowded beyond what you can imagine."

Calling the issue a "total disaster", Mark Sultana, CEO of BirdLife Malta told the publication: "There’s now a rodent infestation. The rats go down the burrows of birds like shearwaters and eat the eggs. They [prey] on lizards as well.

"It’s a disaster. When you have 10,000 people on the island, there’s noise disturbance, the vegetation gets trampled and there is all the waste that is produced, which is a very big problem."

According to the reports, the influx of a large number of tourists during peak season has led to increased water and litter, which in turn has raised the presence of rats around the island.

Arnold Sciberras, a leading pest control consultant, says the island is a prime example of what happens when waste and tourism collide.

“Rats can be found where waste is abundant,” he told The Times of Malta, warning that Comino’s problem isn’t just aesthetic.

“Rats will gnaw through any plastics and any electrical wiring. Rats also carry various diseases. Rat bites and scratches can result in disease and rat-bite fever. They can contaminate food and drink with rat urine, causing diseases.”