TOURISTS have been banned from three popular beaches as killer “blue dragon” invasion continues.
The venomous sea slug – dubbed “the most beautiful killer in the ocean” – was spotted at a third Spanish beach , forcing swimmers out of the water.
The dangerous sea creature has been named the “most beautiful killer in the ocean” due to its glistening blue skin and deadly sting.
In order to protect swimmers, lifeguards have erected red flags along the Villaricos coastline temporarily exiling tourists from the water between Cartagena and Almeria.
The third ban in under a month was announced on Sunday evening by town hall chiefs and Civil Protection officers in Cuevas del Almanzora.
“Due to a blue dragon sighting in Cala Siret in Villaricos, the town hall has informed us of a bathing ban on the whole of its coastline,” a statement read.
The ban includes the Cala Verde, el Payazo and Cala Siret beaches.
The statement warned swimmers that the “small molluscs are poisonous, and … the town council has activated its safety protocol”.
“Red flags will be in place from Monday morning,” the statement continued.
“The rest of the beaches in Cuevas Del Almanzora will fly a yellow flag as a precaution against the possible presence of more specimens.”
The statement warned tourists and locals not to touch the blue dragons “under any circumstances, even with gloves” and to contact the authorities immediately.
It added: “Keep calm if one stings you and never put fresh water on it”.
Tourists who defy the bathing ban order risk hefty fines.
The sting of the inch-long sea beast can be deadly, with symptoms ranging from severe pain, skin irritation, vomiting and fever, and acute allergic contact dermatitis.
They absorb the stinging cells from its prey and store them in concentrated doses, giving the mini monsters a far more potent sting.
The dazzling creatures have a sting as powerful as the much larger Portuguese man o’ war – and preys on them too.
The creatures absorb their prey’s venom – concentrating it at the end of their finger – like extremities to ward off attackers.
In late August, two other Spanish beaches in the region were decorated with red flags for the same reason.
The ban kept swimmers out of the water on a seven-mile stretch of Spain ‘s Costa Blanca further north.
The dazzling blue dragons were found on Playa Vivers, located between the mouth of the Segura River and Babilonia beach.
Despite the ban, the beaches remained packed with people, however few bathers braved the water.
Blue dragons wash up across the world, even as far as Australia.
In Sydney in 2018, experts warned people not to touch the mini monsters after large numbers swarmed the east coast.
In April this year, Spain as hit by a spectacular invasion of another blue sea creature – a small blue jellyfish.
The Playa del Cura in Gran Canaria was carpeted by tens of thousands of the squidgy by-wind-sailor jellyfish.
