Urgent holiday warning as waves of rare venomous 10ft-long jellyfish washing up on beaches in top tourist hotspot
RARE venomous jellyfish able to inflict permanent scars through their sting are washing up on beaches in Ibiza.
British tourists heading to the boozy Spanish hotspot have been warned to watch out for the purple sea dwellers lurking on the shore.
The spiteful critters – called Pelagia noctiluca – have tentacles that can stretch almost 10ft.
A large number of the sea beasts have been spotted at beaches on Ibiza’s beaches.
In recent weeks, a series of sightings have been logged on an app known as Medusas (jellyfish) Ibiza – developed to warn tourists about which bays to avoid.
Up until the 1980s, blooms of mauve stingers used to occur once every 12 years.
But in the past few years, they have become an annual occurrence.
If mauve stingers touch your skin the sting can feel as painful as a 9-volt battery sting.
It sparks a burning sensation, inflammation and red rashes.
Unlike usual jellyfish, they have stinging cells all over their bodies and can leave painful marks for weeks.
Conditions in recent years have been ideal for the jellyfish, with mild weather, little rain and unusually warm sea temperatures.
Overfishing in the seas around Ibiza has also led to the demise of traditional purple jellyfish predators, including swordfish and red tuna.
Mauve stinger jellyfish are often a mauve purple colour, but can also come in shades of pink, light brown or yellow.
The best protection against stings is suncream, which prevents the venom released by the tentacles from penetrating the skin.
Meanwhile, Brits gearing up to soak up the sun in Ibiza have been warned of a smoking ban on some of the island’s beaches.
It comes amid an effort to crack down on cigarette butts plaguing busy beaches.
Authorities are also hoping to make areas smoke-free zones to improve the health of locals and holidaymakers alike.
The ban includes Ibiza’s Playa de Santa Eulalia de Rio and Playa de Talamanca, while in Menorca smokers will have to resist in Binissafuller and Platja Gran.
But it’s not all bad news for those who have booked up their summer holiday in Ibiza – as it’s home to the top club in the world.
In a poll by the monthly music magazine, DJ Mag, Hï Ibiza was crowned the globe’s best nightclub for the second year in a row.
The venue can be found on the famous Playa d’en Bossa strip, just outside Ibiza Old Town which is also home to the longest beach in Ibiza.
The Ibiza institution was first opened in 2017 by Ushuaïa Entertainment, a global entertainment company.