Box Jellyfish Warning Issued for Phuket Beach
Authorities issued a box jellyfish warning for Ton Sai Beach in Phuket after a tourist was stung and hospitalized; swimmers are urged to heed red flags and lifeguard instructions during rough seas.
The Department of Marine Resources warned tourists to watch out for box jellyfish at Ton Sai Beach in Phuket, advising them to check red warning flags before entering the water and strictly follow lifeguard instructions. On September 11, staff from the Upper Andaman Sea Research Center investigated after reports of a tourist injured by jellyfish contact. Red flags were posted due to rough sea conditions, and lifeguards collected a specimen identified as Physalia sp. (Portuguese man o' war).
A 23-year-old foreign female tourist experienced burning pain after contact with the jellyfish. Lifeguards provided first aid and transported her to hospital, where she recovered and was discharged.
The Upper Andaman Sea Research Center provided first aid guidance to lifeguards for jellyfish injuries to ensure proper assistance to tourists and logged the incident in the marine tourism warning system for ongoing monitoring.
During rough seas, tourists, business operators, and the public are urged to exercise caution, avoid entering the water when red flags are displayed, and strictly follow lifeguard instructions. Tourists and the public can learn jellyfish first aid procedures by scanning the QR code attached to this advisory or by accessing the marine tourism warning system at https://warning.dmcr.go.th/th/home
