Portuguese Man O' Wars Spread in Spain: What to Do if You Get Stung
Authorities temporarily closed several popular beaches after a surge of Portuguese man o' war left more than 120 people needing treatment in one day.
- On Tuesday August 4, authorities temporarily prohibited bathing at San Sebasti's famous Concha, Ondarreta, and Zurriola beaches after a sudden influx of Portuguese left around 120 people needing treatment for stings.
- Experts believe the invasion stems from persistent north-easterly winds combined with unusually warm sea temperatures hovering at around 24.8C, creating ideal conditions for organisms to drift toward the Gipuzkoa coastline.
- Lifeguards responded to numerous incidents at beaches including Zurriola, Mutriku, and Zumaia, though most victims were treated on-site. A swimmer was hospitalized after being stung near Getaria earlier in the week.
- Health officials are reminding beach users never to touch the organisms, even if they appear dead, as tentacles remain venomous. If stung, victims should leave the water immediately and rinse the area with seawater.
- Authorities continue monitoring as larger specimens with longer, more painful tentacles appear, increasing concern about the invasion's severity. Beaches can reopen quickly if conditions improve, so visitors are urged to follow lifeguard instructions closely.
39 Articles
39 Articles
At the beginning of July, the violet crespon of the Portuguese carabel had begun to appear among the waves of the Basque coast. More than a month later, in the middle of the summer season, the detection of this 'false jellyfish' extends from Asturias throughout the Cantabrian coast, causing alarm among the bathers and the activation of the protocols with which the different institutions have. Only on Tuesday, the City of San Sebastián reported 1…
One of the areas of concern to the authorities is the increase in the size of the detected specimens.
Authorities alert bathers to the likelihood of bites
Even Spanish beaches were briefly closed: Toxic Portuguese man-of-war sting 120 people. Watch the video on VRT NWS: news.
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