Portuguese man-of-war found on three Phuket beaches, lifeguards warn
Lifeguards in Phuket warned beachgoers after Portuguese man-of-war were found on Nai Harn, Kata Noi and Kata beaches on Sunday.
Venomous Portuguese man-of-war have been found on three Phuket beaches, prompting lifeguards to warn beachgoers not to touch them.
The Phuket Lifeguard Service said on its Facebook page that the creatures were found on Nai Harn, Kata Noi and Kata beaches on Sunday.
Lifeguards warned that the tentacles could still inject venom even after the animals had been washed ashore. Their venom can cause burning pain and severe allergic reactions, affecting the nervous system and heart function, although it is rarely lethal to humans.
Portuguese man-of-war are often mistaken for jellyfish. They can be identified by their translucent blue-purple, balloon-like floats and are capable of delivering a painful sting even when dead.
They usually float on the surface of warm subtropical and tropical oceans and may be blown ashore by winds and currents.
