Don’t touch: Deadly jellyfish washing up on Phuket shores

**Portuguese Man o’ War Reported on Phuket Beaches, Authorities Issue Standard Warnings** PHUKET — On 28 May 2026, a lifeguard at Kata Noi beach in Karon subdistrict observed Portuguese Man o’ War (Physalia physalis) washed ashore. Local authorities subsequently issued routine advisories for beachgoers along sections of the Andaman coast. The Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed the initial sighting and stated that similar sightings were noted at additional beaches the following day. No injuries were reported in connection with the observations. **The Incident** Karon Municipality lifeguard team leader Somchai Thongdee first documented the organisms at Kata Noi on the morning of 28 May. “We found several specimens during the routine patrol and immediately cordoned off the immediate area while notifying the district office,” Thongdee said in a statement released through the municipality. The Phuket Marine Biological Center was notified and began collecting samples for identification. Officials described the response as following standard operating procedures used for seasonal marine-organism strandings. **Background** The Portuguese Man o’ War is a colonial siphonophore rather than a true jellyfish. It is known to drift in warm ocean currents and occasionally reaches Thai coastal waters during the southwest monsoon transition period. Similar strandings have been recorded in Phuket in previous years, most recently in 2023 and 2024, according to records maintained by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. The species possesses a gas-filled float and long trailing tentacles that can deliver a painful sting even after the organism has washed ashore. Thai marine authorities have long advised the public to avoid direct contact and to notify lifeguards or local officials if specimens are encountered. **Response** Phuket Governor Narong Wongsawan directed district offices to increase beach patrols through the first week of June. “We are following the established protocol: marking affected zones, informing tourists through signage and announcements, and coordinating with the marine center for monitoring,” the governor’s office stated. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office posted notices in English and Thai at major beach access points. Lifeguards were instructed to maintain the usual public-education messaging rather than implement new restrictions. No closures of beaches or swimming bans were ordered. Officials emphasized that the number of specimens observed remained within the range previously managed without broader disruption. **Implications** Marine scientists at the Phuket Marine Biological Center will continue monitoring wind and current patterns to assess whether additional strandings are likely in the coming days. Updates will be issued through the provincial disaster prevention office as new data become available. Beach operators and hotels have been reminded to follow existing safety guidelines already in place for marine life. Further information will be provided by the relevant government agencies as the situation develops.

This is Ann Srisawat for Global1 News, reporting from Bangkok. 🇹🇭