The dangerous Portuguese man-of-war is making an appearance on the coastline of Torrevieja once again.
This week a swimmer spotted a specimen in the cove area around Cabo Cervera. The discovery was reported by the meteorological portal Proyecto Mastral. This group of climatology enthusiasts has asked for caution.
Known for its painful sting and long tentacles, the rise in temperature of the Mediterranean Sea is believed to be behind its appearance in these latitudes, as this species is native to tropical climates.
The sting can be dangerous for humans. The most common symptoms are associated with strong itching and burning in the affected area, but it can also cause intense pain in the affected area of the body, nausea, fever and, in the most serious cases or in people with previous pathologies, it could be fatal.
Although they resemble jellyfish, Mastral explains, they are not really jellyfish. “It is a group of living beings that associate to keep the colony alive. Contact with its tentacles is dangerous for humans,” they warn. “Although for the moment it is not considered particularly worrying. The authorities say that the lifeguard services are aware and are attentive.”
