Other sequels which cleaned up financially include Dune: Part Two, the second instalment of the sandy sci-fi adaptation, which is likely to be nominated for best picture as well as several technical prizes.

Dozens of tan tents that marked a makeshift National Guard encampment just above the sandy beach were abuzz with activity ahead of the forecasted fire weather.

The other drama contenders include the sandy sci-fi sequel Dune: Part Two and A Complete Unknown, about Bob Dylan’s rise to fame in the 1960s.

The military has declared the sandy strip of land along the coast in al-Mawasi to be a "humanitarian zone" for Palestinians displaced by its war with Hamas.

Residents of Datu Blah Sinsuat, a coastal town known for its white, sandy beaches and clear waters, frequently get their food from the sea.