More than 40 swimmers suffer horrific injuries in mass piranha attack

A mass of piranha attacks in Argentina resulted in a popular beach being closed after over 40 people were bitten while swimming.

Those who were attacked had been swimming in the Parana River near Argentina's city of Victoria in the Entre Ríos province over the weekend of 1 and 2 February.

Beach guard Alejandro Martin confirmed that the total of people injured was 46, with him saying they were 'all serious' and he 'used up three first aid kits' tending to people's wounds.

Those affected had bite marks on their hands and feet as the ferocious fish bit chunks out of their limbs and left them with bleeding injuries.

Lifeguards ordered swimmers out of the river and raised red flags to signal extreme danger to anyone wanting to go into the water.

Over 40 swimmers suffered injuries from piranha bites (CEN)

The emergency department at Hospital Fermin Salaberry treated several swimmers, children and adults both, saying they treated people who suffered bite wounds from piranhas after going into parts of the river where swimming is banned.

One victim reportedly lost their finger, and lifeguards decided enough was enough after the number of injured people kept increasing.

Officials from the hospital said that warning signs had already been in place along the shoreline of the river and that everyone they treated had gone into the water from prohibited zones.

Experts warned that high temperatures and low river levels are connected to an increase in piranha activity, and to be very careful during the summer.

Since Argentina is in the southern hemisphere, it is currently summer there.

Lifeguards closed the beach and raised a red warning flag (CEN)

People have been advised to stay out of the water, keep a close eye on children and get urgent medical attention after any bite they got from a piranha.

This is not the first time a large number of people have been hurt by piranha bites in the Parana River.

Sky News reported in 2013 that on Christmas Day of that year over 60 people were injured in the same river in a mass piranha attack.

A nearby hospital said they treated people who had entered the river in parts where swimming is banned (CEN)

As with this latest piranha attack, most people were bitten on their hands and feet, and one girl who had severe bites on her hand needed to have part of her finger amputated.

A paramedic said the piranhas in the river were 'very aggressive', and that higher temperatures increased the danger posed to swimmers.

Meanwhile, less than a month after that attack the Independent reported another 10 swimmers were attacked by the fish that were described as 'big, voracious and with sharp teeth that can really bite'.

Experts have warned that the hotter weather makes piranha attacks more likely (CEN)

Meanwhile, in 2021 a Newsweek report told of up to 30 people being injured in a piranha attack in the same river, with a 13-year-old girl having her big toe 'torn off'.

Once again, high temperatures were mentioned as a factor in the attack and officials warned that swimming in the Parana River, the second longest river in South America after the Amazon, is only permitted at designated points.