Thousands of dead starfish washed up on a beach in Kent, England, and local officials are warning people to stay away from them for fear of potential disease.

Thanet District Council advised beachgoers to avoid the carcasses of the creatures, which were found at Margate Beach, according to the BBC.

“Members of the public are advised not to attempt to move any stranded sea life and to keep dogs and children away from them, as they may have infectious or transferable diseases,” it said.

Photos and a video of the mass death were posted to Facebook by wildlife conservationist Nik Mitchell on his Get Wild page.

The finding, which was reported to local environmental agencies on Tuesday, is not uncommon, especially after stormy weather, according to an expert.

Starfish sometimes “fold up their arms and roll along the sea floor,” Dr Angus Jackson, a data analyst at the Marine Conservation Society, told the outlet.

“Strandings like this occasionally happen right around our coastline, but this looks to be a particularly large event.”