A two-year-old girl has died following a horrific piranha attack in rural Brazil, after she wandered from her family's riverside home and fell into the water.
A Tragic Moment of Distraction
The incident occurred on Monday near the city of Coari, in the heart of the Amazon River basin. The child, named Clara Vitoria, reportedly fell into the river through a hole in the floating house where she lived with her family. Authorities confirmed the home had no protective fencing to prevent such a fall.
Her parents realised she was missing after a momentary lapse in attention. They immediately entered the river to search for her, finding the seriously injured toddler just five minutes later. She succumbed to her injuries, which were concentrated around her neck, shortly after the attack.
The Power of the Amazon's Piranhas
While piranhas are common in the waters around Coari, attacks on humans are rare. The fish typically feed on other river creatures, insects, and smaller fish. However, local experts note that the piranhas in this region possess a formidable bite force, equivalent to 30 times their own body weight.
Their strong jaws and characteristically serrated teeth give them one of the most powerful bites among bony fish. Attacks usually occur under specific conditions, such as when the fish are attracted by food or during periods of low water when schools are concentrated.
Rare but Devastating Incidents
This tragic event echoes other rare but serious piranha incidents in South America. In 2022, the bodies of four swimmers were recovered in Paraguay bearing horrific piranha bites. In a separate event in Brazil, 11 bathers were injured when piranhas attacked their feet in the Tietê River, an incident reportedly triggered by discarded food in the water.
Following the attack on Clara Vitoria, her body was taken to the Legal Medical Institute for forensic examination. An official investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death has been launched.
