Warning to Spain holidaymakers of biting fish attacking swimmers at holiday hotspot

A warning has been issued to holidaymakers in Benidorm following a surge in 'piranhas-style' fish attacks in the sea.

The ferocious 'obladas' are biting more than 15 people a day on Alicante's beaches and are said to be attracted by moles, warts, or small wounds on the skin - especially in older people. Victims have even reported blood being drawn and teeth marks being left across the body.

Similar cases have sprung up on the popular holiday destination Poniente beach in Benidorm, according to Spanish newspaper Informacion.es. Experts say the increased temperature of the sea from warm weather alongside an increased metabolism in the fish has resulted in the surge of incidents, the Mirror reports.

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According to the Climatology Laboratory of the University of Alicante, the sea temperature is between 29 and 30 degrees. The attacked swimmers say the fish have a black spot on their tail and are roughly 30cms in length.

"This is a fish used to being fed. There may be a high population density and they do not run away from people, hence they peck at the wounds (meat smell)," said a spokesman from the Department of Marine Species.

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Swimmers are being advised to not go in the sea while wearing ornaments and jewellery that shine as they can lead to attacks from species such as pomfrets, golfer fish, or bluefish. Similar attacks have been reported in previous years by Spanish resorts, including the Costa Brava and Catalonia.