Unexpected jellyfish invasion hits Patong Beach in Phuket

Picture courtesy of The Phuket News

The sandy stretches of Patong Beach in Phuket have recently become the unlikely landing spot for a multitude of jellyfish. Since yesterday, February 21, these jellyfish have been making waves amongst beachgoers, washing up on the shore in an unexpected turn of events.

The lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach quickly took note of this unusual occurrence. They promptly issued a warning to all beach visitors, urging them to steer clear of these marine wanderers. The lifeguards, who are part of the Patong Surf Life Saving team, shared their observations with The Phuket News earlier today, February 22.

According to the lifeguards, coming into contact with these jellyfish may cause mild irritation, akin to an insect sting. They reassured beachgoers that if anyone starts to experience a burning sensation due to a jellyfish sting, they should immediately seek help at the nearest lifeguard station, reported The Phuket News.

The lifeguard team at Patong Beach has equipped themselves to deal with these jellyfish stings. They are offering free treatment for any sting victims, employing vinegar, a common remedy for such cases. This quick action and preparedness of the lifeguards are proving to be a boon for beach visitors.

However, the jellyfish situation at Patong Beach does not seem to be a one-off occurrence. The lifeguards anticipate that more jellyfish might wash ashore in the coming days. When asked about this, the Patong Surf Life Saving team hinted towards the scorching weather as a possible reason.

“I think so…the weather is too hot now.” This comment suggests a correlation between the unusually high temperatures and the increasing jellyfish presence.

In related news, Phuket Lifeguard Service issued an official warning to beachgoers and swimmers about the presence of poisonous jellyfish in the waters surrounding the island. The alert comes after several Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish were found washed up along the west coast beaches.

Phuket News

Mitch Connor

Mitch is a Bangkok resident, having relocated from Southern California, via Florida in 2022. He studied journalism before dropping out of college to teach English in South America. After returning to the US, he spent 4 years working for various online publishers before moving to Thailand.

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