Yesterday, Wednesday August 20th, the Guardamar del Segura Town Council issued a red flag and prohibited swimming along its eleven kilometres of coastline in response to the discovery of two specimens of Glaucus atlanticus, a marine mollusc that is only four centimetres in size but can inflict severe pain, nausea, and vomiting with its sting.
On social media, the Mayor, José Luis Sáez, declared a red flag on the beaches of Guardamar, prohibiting swimming in response to the apparition of two blue dragons on Playa Vivers.
The lifeguard coordinator issued the alarm signal upon discovering the specimens on the shore. The safety protocol was subsequently implemented, which included preventive surveillance to rule out the presence of additional individuals and a prohibition on swimming.
Sáez anticipates that the red flag will remain on the shore contingent upon the situation’s progression. Additionally, he declared that beachgoers will be informed of the swimming prohibition via public address system beginning this Thursday, despite the fact that it is technically impossible to physically close the beaches.
Despite the prohibition, Vivers Beach, which is situated between the mouth of the Segura River and Babilonia Beach, was still crowded on Wednesday, albeit with a significantly lower number of bathers in the water.
What to do in the event that you encounter a blue dragon
The City Council has emphasised the importance of adhering to certain guidelines in the event of a sighting. These include refraining from touching the object, even with gloves; immediately informing lifeguards or authorities; and, if contact is made, rinsing the area with salt water and locating the nearest first aid station or health centre.
An animal that is equally gorgeous and perilous
The Glaucus atlanticus is a nudibranch that is only 4 centimetres in length, but its appearance is both deceptive and striking. Its shapes are redolent of a mythological dragon, and it is an intense metallic blue. Nevertheless, its allure conceals a genuine threat. It feeds on jellyfish, including the Portuguese man-of-war, from which it extracts stinging cells and accumulates them in its body, thereby increasing its capacity to induce excruciating reactions in humans.
Its bite can result in severe pain, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, and it can cause more severe reactions in individuals with pre-existing conditions. Biologists caution that the blue dragon is a perilous species, despite its diminutive size.
Author: Derek Appleton
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