Thousands of jellyfish are swarming parts of the Almeria coastline, beachgoers have warned.

According to MedusApp, an application that tracks jellyfish sightings in real time, two species have been spotted in large numbers across the province: Pelagia noctiluca (the mauve stinger) and Olindias muelleri (the flower hat jellyfish).

Users have described the situation as severe, with some reporting that entire beaches are covered in jellyfish.

‘The whole beach is covered,’ one beachgoer wrote on the app, while another said it was ‘impossible to swim’.

In a television report by RTVE, beachgoers showed reporters where they had been stung on their arms, while an ambulance was filmed driving through the area.

In another clip, people were seeing walking along the shore with shovels in an attempt to remove the sea creatures.

Some reported being stung before they had managed to get out of the water.

Six beaches affected

The areas currently reporting the highest numbers of jellyfish are:

• Roquetas de Mar (Olindias muelleri)
• Aguadulce (Pelagia noctiluca)
• San Jose (Pelagia noctiluca)
• Cabo de Gata (Pelagia noctiluca)
• Los Escullos (Pelagia noctiluca)
• La Isleta del Moro (Pelagia noctiluca)

Beachgoers are being urged to pay close attention to local warning flags.

A yellow flag displaying the jellyfish symbol indicates it is not advisable to enter the water, although authorities also recommend remaining vigilant even when a green flag is flying.

Two different species

The flower hat jellyfish (Olindias muelleri) is largely transparent, with a bell measuring up to 20cm across and as many as 120 tentacles. Its sting typically leaves distinctive red zigzag marks on the skin.

The mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) is pink with reddish spots and measures between 5 and 15cm. It can cause painful skin irritation and inflammation, even after it has died or broken into pieces.

Why are there so many?

Experts say the annual arrival of jellyfish is driven by a combination of sea currents, wind and rising sea temperatures, which push offshore populations towards the coast.

The recent hot weather has also encouraged the growth of plankton, the jellyfish’s main food source, helping explain why large numbers have appeared simultaneously at beaches stretching from Roquetas de Mar to Cabo de Gata.

With the busy holiday season in full swing, there are concerns the blooms could spread to other parts of the Almeria coast in the coming days.