Tourists banned from entering sea in Costa Blanca as killer 'blue dragons' spotted
Holidaymakers have been barred from entering the water along a seven-mile stretch of Spain's Costa Blanca due to the presence of deadly sea creatures whose sting can prove fatal.
Red flags have been raised on beaches in Guardamar del Segura, situated just north of Torrevieja, after the emergence of blue dragons - dubbed "the most beautiful killer in the ocean".
The sea slug, scientifically known as Glaucus atlanticus, preys on the lethal Portuguese man o' war and other poisonous marine animals.
This stunning blue creature absorbs the venomous cells from its victims and concentrates them, creating a far more powerful sting than its original prey.
Common effects of a blue dragon sting include sickness, severe pain, vomiting and serious allergic skin reactions, reports the Mirror.
Guardamar del Segura's mayor Jose Luis Saez announced the swimming ban yesterday, stating it would continue indefinitely, posting on his official X account: "Red flag on the beaches of Guardamar.
"Bathing is prohibited following the appearance on Vivers Beach of two specimens of Glaucus atlanticus, known as the Blue Dragon.
"We remind people that despite its bright and striking colour and its small 1.5 inch size, they should stay away from this animal because of its sting.
"Guardamar del Segura Town Hall has launched a preventive operation to detect possible specimens carried by ocean currents. Town hall workers are closely following the evolution of the situation and will inform people about the different measures to be taken.
"If you see one of these creatures don't touch it, even with gloves on, alert lifeguards and other authorities. If you get stung, wash the area affected with salt water and head to your nearest first aid point or health centre.
"These creatures are poisonous and their stings can cause nausea, pain and vomiting. For the time being and until further notice, bathing in the sea is prohibited."
Vivers Beach, a pristine coastal stretch situated south of the Segura River and north of La Babilonia Beach, was reportedly bustling with visitors yesterday, though fewer than usual ventured into the water, flouting the swimming ban and risking substantial penalties.
Lifeguards equipped with megaphones are anticipated to remind holidaymakers and residents today about the restriction according to local media, though sun-worshippers will still be permitted to visit beaches provided they avoid entering the water.
Red flags were hoisted at Santa Barbara beach in La Linea de la Concepcion near Gibraltar on Sunday following an emergency call to police regarding a blue dragon sighting, with six specimens subsequently discovered along the coastline.
The beach was reopened to swimmers the next day, with a yellow caution flag replacing the previous red warning.
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ITV News
6 hours ago
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Beachgoers in Spain's Costa Blanca region have been warned to swim "with caution" after multiple sightings of the highly poisonous 'blue dragon' sea creature, also known as 'Glaucus Atlanticus'. Red flag warnings were previously in place to prevent swimmers from entering the sea along the seven miles of Guardamar del Segura coastline. Tourists and local residents, risked fines and injury for disobeying the ban. On Thursday local police downgraded these warnings to a yellow flag, warning swimmers to do so "with caution," as they reopened the waters. On Wednesday, the municipality's mayor, José Luis Sáez Pastor, confirmed the poisonous species of sea slug had been spotted, reminding people "that despite its bright and flashy colour, and its small size of 4cm, they should stay away from this animal because of its bite." The blue dragon - a type of sea slug and named for its distinctive appearance - lives in warm waters, often feeding on other poisonous sea creatures like Portuguese man o' war jellyfish. They concentrate the toxins consumed from their prey, and can cause intense pain, nausea and vomiting if touched by humans. José Luis Sáez continued: "Don't touch it, not even with gloves," urging people to "notify the rescuers and authorities. If you get itchy, rinse with salt water and go to the emergency room or health centre." According to conservation group Oceana, Blue Dragons live in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans and can grow between three and four centimetres long. They mainly float upside down near the surface of the water, using air bubbles stored in their stomachs to float. Blue dragons, also called "blue glaucus", have a bright blue underside which helps them blend into water when floating upside down and viewed from above. Their backs are a greyish silver colour to camouflage them from predators when viewed from below. Blue glaucuses have both male and female reproductive organs and, after mating, will lay about 16 eggs, which take about three days to hatch.
Daily Record
8 hours ago
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Warning to Spanish tourists after deadly 'blue dragons' spotted on beach
The poisonous sea creatures were recently discovered in Guardamar, Alicante. Holidaymakers have been banned from entering beaches in Southern Spain after poisonous sea creatures were discovered on a busy beach. A seven-mile swimming ban has been enforced in Guardamar del Segura, Alicante, following the discovery of two specimens of Glaucus atlanticus, also known as the Blue Dragon. The bright blue, deadly creature, which is about 1.5 inches long, stores its sting within its finger-like appendages, making it equally venomous to predators. One sting can lead to nausea, pain, vomiting, acute allergic contact dermatitis, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Guardamar del Segura's mayor, Jose Luis Saez, confirmed the sea ban in a post on X on Wednesday. Sharing on his official account, he said: "Red flag on the beaches of Guardamar. Bathing is prohibited following the appearance on Vivers Beach of two specimens of Glaucus atlanticus, known as the Blue Dragon. "We remind people that despite its bright and striking colour and its small 1.5 inch size, they should stay away from this animal because of its sting. "Guardamar del Segura Town Hall has launched a preventive operation to detect possible specimens carried by ocean currents. Town hall workers are closely following the evolution of the situation and will inform people about the different measures to be taken. "If you see one of these creatures, don't touch it, even with gloves on, alert lifeguards and other authorities. If you get stung, wash the area affected with salt water and head to your nearest first aid point or health centre. "These creatures are poisonous and their stings can cause nausea, pain and vomiting. For the time being and until further notice, bathing in the sea is prohibited." On Thursday, Mr Saez said the warning was now yellow after the end of what he called a "special surveillance operation". Posting the update, he advised: "YELLOW flag on the beaches of Guardamar following the closure of the special surveillance operation, due to the presence of two Blue Dragon specimens. "Municipal services, police, and lifeguards remain attentive to the evolution of the situation." According to BBC Wildlife, blue dragons are smaller than grapes, but that doesn't stop them from attacking much larger venomous animals, including Portuguese men o'war, which are one of the deadliest animals in the ocean. Melissa Hobson, a marine science and conservation writer at the BBC, said: "They have striking blue bellies that face towards the sky, helping them to blend in with the blue ocean below, should anything be looking down on them. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "They also have striking dark blue patterns: a bold stripe along their body and a ring in the centre of each of their cerata. The tips of these feathery wings are also dark blue, as if they've been dipped in ink. "Blue dragons take a chomp out of their prey using sharp, serrated teeth. Their toxic victims fire stinging cells called nematocysts in self-defence. "But the diminutive predators aren't hurt by the sting – blue glaucus are shielded by a layer of mucus and a protective stomach lining that prevents them from being affected by the venom."
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Pokemon-like sea creature with painful sting forces beaches in Spain to close
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