At least 10 individuals sustained injuries in piranha attacks while swimming in a popular river that draws numerous visitors. Shocking images depict victims with blood-stained bandages on their feet following the incidents at the Paraguacu River in Iacu, located in the northeast state of Bahia, Brazil.
In response to the attacks on Sunday, local authorities announced the closure of the river to swimmers and the installation of warning signs regarding the risks posed by the fish. Additionally, a scientific study will be conducted to investigate further the occurrences of piranha attacks in the area.
Piranhas are known for their powerful jaws and sharp teeth, possessing one of the strongest bites among bony fishes. A riverside kiosk selling refreshments and snacks stated, “When the first incidents of attacks on bathers began, we provided assistance and guided them to the nearest healthcare facility. We also alerted all customers under our rented parasols or in the water about the dangers of remaining in the river. We closed early due to the events.”
An environmental expert mentioned on a local TV station that while piranhas are common in the Paraguacu River, human attacks are rare and could be associated with high temperatures causing stress among the fish.
Most of the individuals injured in the recent incident suffered wounds to their feet and ankles. The location where the attacks took place attracts up to 2,000 people daily during weekends and holidays.
Notably, a seven-month-old infant was among those injured in a piranha attack last year at a resort along the Amazon River, where part of one of her toes was bitten off. Tragically, in a separate incident in December, a toddler lost her life in a piranha attack after accidentally falling into a river in the state of Amazonas.
The Paraguacu River, stretching 310 miles from the Chapada Diamantina highlands to the Baia de Todos os Santos, is the largest river entirely within the state of Bahia.
