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SafetyImportant

Phuket jellyfish warning as Freedom Beach stays closed

Phuket's marine office has warned of stinging jellyfish on the west coast during the monsoon, the Bangkok Post reports. Freedom Beach is closed to swimming because of strong currents.

Kylian Dev

Calm waves and wet sand on a Phuket west-coast beach in the morning
Photo: Blemished Paradise · CC BY-SA 2.0

In short

  • Warning from the Marine and Coastal Resources Office No. 9
  • Signs and bottles of vinegar placed along the beach
  • Freedom Beach closed to swimming; red flags to be respected

What to do

  1. 1Check the signs and red flags before swimming.
  2. 2Do not touch jellyfish, including those washed ashore.
  3. 3Call 1669 if a box jellyfish sting is suspected.

What has changed?

The Marine and Coastal Resources Office No. 9 warned beachgoers about stinging jellyfish during the monsoon, according to the Bangkok Post. Signs and bottles of vinegar have been placed along the beach, and tourists, vendors and local officials were briefed on first aid.

Patong lifeguards told the paper that jellyfish numbers were higher than usual, and reported calm seas with no tourist caught in a rip current in the first half of October.

Where can you swim?

  • Freedom Beach stays closed to swimming because of strong currents; wait for Patong Municipality to announce that conditions are safe.
  • Avoid red-flagged areas, even where the rest of the beach looks calm.
  • More beaches in our Phuket beaches guide; sea conditions in rainy season and safety advice in Is Thailand safe?.

What if you are stung?

  1. 1Do not touch jellyfish, including those washed ashore: their stinging cells can stay active.
  2. 2Leave the water and ask officials for help; do not rub the skin or pour fresh water on the sting.
  3. 3For a suspected box jellyfish sting, call 1669 and follow medical instructions; vinegar use depends on the species.

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FAQ

Questions

Is all of Phuket closed to swimming?

No. Patong lifeguards reported most areas open in the first half of October; Freedom Beach is the beach named as closed.

Does vinegar work on every sting?

Officials say it depends on the species; call 1669 for a suspected box jellyfish sting.

Sources

We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.

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