Hundreds of bathers came in contact with the tentacles of Portuguese galleys. That's why several beaches have been closed in the state of Queensland. Affected is, among other things, the popular seaside resort Coolangatta south of Brisbane.
On Sunday alone, more than 900 people were treated, according to life savers on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast north and south of Brisbane. The poison from the nettle cells of the "Floating Terror" mentioned animals causes severe pain and wheals on the skin.
A whopping 3,595 people were stung by #bluebottles over the weekend. Due to the northeasterly winds, we want to continue to see bluebottles hanging around. If necessary, ensure you see a lifeguard to be treated with ice or hot water.
- Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) January 6, 2019Unusually strong winds would have driven the cnidarians towards the coast, it was said by the emergency service in Queensland on Twitter. According to the study, last month alone, a total of 13,000 people were treated there, who came in contact with the meter-long tentacles of the sea bubbles floating on the water surface. Portuguese galleys resemble jellyfish, but they consist of a colony of individuals.
Last year, the animals were discovered several times off Mallorca. Even there, beaches were closed.