Bathers in a popular swimming area called Parana River were having the time of their lives cooling away the summer heat then it all changed when swimmers began to complain about bites in their hands and feet.
Director of lifeguards Federico Cornier blamed the carnivorous fish attack on the palometas, another type of piranha with sharp teeth that can really bite. About 70 people were injured, including a 7-year old girl who lost a part of her pinky finger. He later on explains that the event was far from normal. "It's normal for there to be an isolated bite or injury, but the magnitude in this case was great... this is an exceptional event."
According to the report by CNN, no one was killed but the paramedics on scene described the incident as quite vicious. Gustavo Centurion, a medical officer said that the incident happened last Wednesday, Christmas day and described the attack as "aggressive". "There were some people that the fish literally had torn bits of flesh from," he shares. Another paramedic by the name of Alberto Manino shares that some of the children he treated lost all of their fingers.
Sub secretary of Natural Resources in Argentina Ricardo Biasatti shares a different sentiment, saying that the piranha attack was "isolated and insignificant." Julian Aguilar, president of a local fisherman's group supports Biasatti's statement by saying that the likelihood of such event happening was very low and attacks like these are occasional.
Argentina was struck by a recent heat wave, hitting over a 38 degrees mark, which led locals to seek refuge on the Parana River. The body of water is already popularly known for housing carnivorous fish. Ironically, authorities explain that the fish communing in the bodies of water caused the hot weather.
The city beaches were closed but because of the unbearable heat, swimmers went back to the water just half an hour after the attack.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
