Piranhas Attack Swimmers in Brazil

On January 27, the Daily Mail reported that at least ten people were injured while swimming in the Paraguaçu River in Brazil after a piranha attack. «Dramatic photos show victims with bloodied bandages on their legs after the incident, which occurred on Sunday in the Paraguaçu River in the municipality of Iacu in the northeastern state of Bahia,» the publication stated. Most of the injured suffered bites to their feet and ankles.

On weekends, this section of the river is typically visited by up to two thousand vacationers. After the incident, local authorities closed it for swimming and put up warning signs. An investigation has been initiated, as no similar cases had been recorded in the area before.

An environmental specialist, commenting on the incident for local television, noted that piranhas are often found in the Paraguaçu, but they rarely attack people. A possible cause of the aggression could be the high water temperature, which stressed the fish.

This is not the first piranha attack in Brazil. In October last year, several people were bitten at an Amazon resort, including a seven-month-old girl who lost a toe. In December, in the state of Amazonas, a two-year-old girl died after a piranha attack when she fell into the river.