Santiago, Apr 6 (EFE).- The Chilean navy on Wednesday detected a huge gathering of uncounted thousands of jellyfish – some 16 kilometers (10 miles) long – off the coast of the South American nation.

The navy said that the unusual phenomenon was discovered when the navy was making an overflight of a portion of the Chilean coast.

Between San Pedro Bay and the Farellones Los Lobos, in southern Chile, the navy detected the huge swarm of boneless transparent sea creatures some 8 kilometers (5 miles) off the coast.

Regarding the phenomenon, Navy Capt. Juan Brander said that the navy “will continue monitoring the moves of this species.”

“We issue a call for caution to fishermen or people who go to sea for their daily work who could spot or have contact with the jellyfish,” Brander said.

The navy later made at least one additional overflight of the zone with marine biologists and experts to examine the phenomenon, although the experts did not publicly release any information about their observations or findings.

Chile has a Pacific coastline at least 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) long with abundant marine flora and fauna, making it one of the world’s nations with the greatest abundance of marine species and resources.

Last summer, which is the Southern Hemisphere winter, Chile suffered an invasion of very poisonous jellyfish, which forced authorities to close several beaches. EFE