Jellyfish return to Benidorm beaches

AFTER few serious alerts this summer, jellyfish recently returned to Benidorm with a vengeance.

Identified as “cigar jellyfish” that provoke intense itching, they invaded the Poniente beach in front of Elche park and the Levante beach between El Torrejo and Calle Bilbao.

The damage they did could not compare with the 700 stings reported over two days at end of August, but medics were still treating up to 50 cases a day, they said. 

Nor was it necessary to advise people to stay out of the water although the jellyfish warning flag was hoisted at the affected sections of beach as soon as they were spotted.

They were probably attracted by the high temperature of the seawater which averaged more than 27C degrees by 10am, lifeguards said.