70 Argentines in Massive Carnivorous Fish Attack; 7 Children Lost Fingers or Toes

By Eric Chen
Argentina Piranha Fish Attack
A man is treated after he was bit by a palometa, a type of piranha, while wading in the Parana River in Rosario, Argentina, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. Lifeguards director Federico Cornier said Thursday that thousands of bathers were cooling off from 100 degree temperatures in the Parana River on Wednesday when bathers suddenly came to them complaining of bite marks on their hands and feet. Photo By Silvina Salinas

Around 70 people bathing in an Argentine river were attacked by a school of carnivorous fish; seven children lost parts of their fingers or toes.

Officials said thousands of bathers were cooling off from boiling point temperature in the Parana River in Rosario on Wednesday when bathers suddenly began complaining of bite marks on their hands and feet, according to the Associated Press.

Federico Cornier, director of lifeguards, told AP on Thursday that the attack came from paometas, "a type of piranha, big, voracious and with sharp teeth that can really bite."

Some children lost entire digits,

A piranha's bite is proportionally more powerful than a great white shark's and three times stronger than an alligator's. The carnivorous fish can also smell blood from up to 2 miles away.

The piranha in Argentina couldn't deter swimmers, who came right back to cool off from the heat. 

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