Panic in France as dozens of beaches closed after 'deadly' animals spotted

A dozen of France’s key beaches have been closed after dangerous sea animals were spotted. The Portuguese man o' war, which is a dangerous species that looks like jellyfish, has washed up on beaches in the French Basque Country and the Landes region. 

The man o’war’s sting is strong enough to kill fish and has been known to occasionally kill humans. They are typically found in tropical and subtropical seas and can sometimes be seen in groups of more than 1,000. The 'head' of a man o'war is often compared to a balloon and may be blue, purple, or pink.

In a blow to what should be France's peak summer tourism season, numerous beaches on the Basque and Landes coasts were forced to close last Friday, July 25.

Bidart, a commune of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, has been hit particularly hard with five of its main beaches being forced to shut.

Pavillon Royal, Uhabia, Centre Beach, Erretegia and Ilbarritz are now off-limits, with red flags indicating a strict ban on swimming, reports the regional newspaper Sud Ouest.

Neighbouring communes are also affected. In Biarritz, Marbella and Milady beaches are closed, while in Anglet, Petite Chambre d’Amour, Sables d’Or, Marinella, Corsaires, and Madrague are also off-limits to swimmers until further notice, according to the website Actu Pays Basque.  

Eleswhere, three beaches in Landes, a department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, have been closed since last Friday. These beaches are: Le Penon and l’Agréou at Seignosse, as well as Cap de l’Homy at Lit-et-Mixe, according to local public radio Ici Gascogne.

A man o'war's tentacles can grow exceptionally long, reaching lengths of around 10 to 30 metres.

These tentacles are particularly perilous as they can deliver a venom potent enough to kill small fish and cause severe pain and welts on human skin. Even when washed ashore for a prolonged period, a man o'war retains its ability to inflict a painful sting.

What to do if stung by a Portuguese man o'war

While a sting from a man o'war can be excessively painful, it is rarely fatal and can be treated. People who have been stung while abroad should seek local medical assistance as soon as possible, including asking for a lifeguard or someone with first aid training.