Piranhas prowl for tourist flesh

Thousands of flesh-eating piranhas have appeared along a river beach popular with tourists in western Brazil, attacking unwary swimmers.

A spokesman for the municipal government of Caceres in Mato Grosso state said 15 people have been bitten in the past two weeks off Daveron beach. Some swimmers have lost toes, and others have lost flesh from their legs and ankles.

Piranhas are common in rivers on the outskirts of the city, but this is the first time they have appeared in waters inside the city.