British tourists visiting northern Spain this summer are being urged to exercise extreme caution after a wave of dangerous marine creatures invaded popular holiday hotspots, leaving over 800 people injured. Red Cross officials in Cantabria raised “yellow flag” warnings across multiple beaches after treating a staggering 800-plus victims for excruciating stings throughout July alone.
The alarming surge has sparked widespread concern among beachgoers, surfers, and families taking to the water. The culprit behind the chaos is the Portuguese Man O’War – a notorious creature often mistaken for a jellyfish, capable of delivering agonisingly painful stings through long, venomous tentacles. The situation has triggered severe disruptions across the neighbouring Basque Country, where yellow warning flags have been flown.
The crisis worsened on Monday (August 3) as seven more people in the region required medical attention after encountering the creatures. Among those hurt was a nine-year-old boy, alongside several adults who had to be rushed to local health centres and hospitals, according to The Olive Press.
The invasion has brought popular coastal activities to a halt, with lifeguards at the famed resort of San Sebastian reporting a dramatic drop in the number of people entering the sea, despite it being the height of summer. Meanwhile, local surf instructors have been forced to cancel lessons due to the high risk of stings.
While the creatures are carried by wind and currents, experts at the AZTI marine science institute believe unusually warm sea temperatures in the Bay of Biscay are allowing them to breed closer to the shore than ever before.
While San Sebastian authorities admitted the Portuguese Man O’ War is no longer an “exceptional” sight during the summer season, the sheer scale of this year’s surge has shocked officials.
After first washing up on Bizkaia’s Laga beach in late June, the creatures have rapidly spread westward across Gipuzkoa, Cantabria and Asturias.
Beachgoers are being warned that even dead, washed-up specimens on the sand can deliver a severe sting. If you spot one, do not touch it and notify lifeguards immediately.
If a beachgoer or family member suffers a sting, health experts urge victims to avoid rubbing the area or using fresh water and vinegar, recommending a thorough rinse with seawater instead. Any remaining tentacles should be carefully picked off using tweezers before applying a cold pack for at least five minutes to help ease the intense, burning pain. Most importantly, victims should seek immediate medical attention from on-duty lifeguards or local first-aiders to ensure proper treatment.
Swimmers are strictly advised to obey all beach flag warnings and lifeguard instructions while the influx continues.