Onslaught of Portuguese man-of-war forces Marine base to close North Carolina beach

U.S. Marines can handle just about anything, but Camp Lejeune on North Carolina’s coast drew a line in the sand Friday when Portuguese man-of-wars filled the water.

“Onslow Beach is currently in a double red flag condition— beach closed for swimming— due to Portuguese Man o’ Wars washing ashore,” the base announced Friday in a Facebook post. “Please do not touch them if you see them.”

The base posted a grisly warning photo of a man-of-war that appeared to be melting into the sand like grape Jell-O.

Cape Lejeune officials did not say if there had been reported stings. The base did say it was continuing to allow people to walk in the area, however.

Onslow Beach is a strip of land between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, and it is open only to people with base access, Camp Lejeune says.

Portuguese man-of-war (also known as man o’ wars) appear like big purple balloons or floats when washed ashore. Their tentacles are capable of delivering a painful sting long after they’re dead, experts say.

“Lurking below the float are long strands of tentacles and polyps that grow to an average of 30 feet and may extend by as much as 100 feet,” the National Ocean Service says. “While the man o’ war’s sting is rarely deadly to people, it packs a painful punch and causes welts on exposed skin.”

Other beaches along the North Carolina coast have recently warned that man-of-wars were floating ashore, but none took the extra step of closing beaches to swimming.

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach all issued warnings in recent weeks about man-of-wars.