A particularly dangerous species of jellyfish has been reported in Krabi, prompting the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to issue a warning to swimmers in the local Phang Nga Bay. The box jellyfish, whose sting can be fatal, has been found near a pier in Ao Nang, according to a Phuket Express report.
Box jellyfish are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their box-like (i.e., cube-shaped) body. Some species of box jellyfish produce potent venom delivered by contact with their tentacles. Stings from some species, including Chironex fleckeri, Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi, and a few others, are extremely painful and often fatal to humans (Wikipedia).
DMCR officials say the box jellyfish, also known as ‘sea wasps’, were spotted near Ao Nam Mao Pier in Ao Nang. If stung, the advice is to seek urgent medical attention, bathe the affected area in vinegar for at least 30 seconds and to refrain from washing it with drinking water or alcohol, which could trigger an allergic reaction.
It’s not unusual to find dangerous jellyfish in Thai waters at this time of year, with the less dangerous Portuguese man o’ war reported at a number of Phuket beaches in recent weeks (aka. ‘stingers’ or ‘bluebottles’). However, the presence of the more lethal box jellyfish is unusual in Thai waters, particularly along the Andaman Coast.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
