Vast numbers of bluebottle jellyfish have been pushed ashore in Queensland, Australia, stinging thousands of people and forcing the closure of swim spots.
Surf Life Saving Queensland said over 2,600 people received treatment at the weekend. Bluebottle stings are painful but typically not life-threatening.
Unusually strong winds pushed the jellyfish colonies towards beaches.
About 13,000 stings were recorded in the past week – three times more than in the corresponding period last year.
Most incidents took place in Queensland’s heavily populated Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast regions. Read more