The beaches of Guardamar del Segura in the Alicante province of Spain were closed on Wednesday, August 20 after two blue dragons were found in the waters.
The mayor announced the closing online
In a post on X, the mayor of Guardamar del Segura, José Luis Sáez, announced the closing of the beach area following ‘the appearance on Vivers Beach of two specimens of Glaucus atlanticus, known as the Blue Dragon’.
The creatures are called Glaucus Atlanticus
Alongside his announcement, the mayor added two photos of the blue dragons, which are quite small but have a sting that can be fatal.
The creatures are scientifically called Glaucus Atlanticus and are typically four centimeters in length.
Blue dragons can be fatal
The sea creatures are known to be foraging predators that hold highly poisonous stinging cells in their tentacles, which they use for both hunting and self-defense, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
People were urged not to touch them
Sáez urged residents not to touch the blue dragons, even with gloves, explaining the symptoms of its venomous bite.
“Notify lifeguards or authorities. If stung, rinse with salt water and go to a first aid station or health center. These are poisonous specimens, and their bite causes nausea, pain, and vomiting,” he said.
Preventative measures are put in place
The mayor added that the Guardamar City Council has implemented a preventative measure to detect creatures like the blue dragon that could have been swept away by ocean currents.
According to Sky News, the beaches of Guardamar del Segura span seven miles.
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Police have also issued a warning
Local police have also issued their own warning regarding the sea creature. “Contact with this marine animal can be dangerous and cause painful skin burns,” Guardamar del Segura said in a statement.
“We ask residents and visitors to follow the instructions, exercise extreme caution, and avoid direct contact with specimens that may appear on the sand.”
They said they’ll keep people updated
The police notice also advised residents that they’ll maintain surveillance and ‘provide prompt information on the development of the situation’ in coordination with municipal services and life guards.
Sáez issued an update on Thursday
A day after prohibiting residents from bathing in the water, Sáez issued an update on Thursday saying there’s now a ‘yellow flag on the beaches of Guardamar following the closure of the special surveillance operation, due to the presence of two Blue Dragon specimens’.
A yellow flag means that ‘bathing is allowed, but with caution,’ according to local police, who said they’ll continue to keep an eye on the waters.
