>> Tourists have been banned from swimming at three beaches in Phuket after sightings of potentially deadly sea creatures late last week.
Sirinath National Park issued the ban, saying that national park officials spotted jellyfish-like Portuguese man-of-wars along Nai Yang, Nai Thon and Layan beaches in Phuket on Friday.
Floating terror: The National Parks Department took action over the sighting of Portuguese man-of-wars, or blue bottles, banning swimming at three Phuket beaches.
The animal, also known as blue bottles or floating terrors, are considered the world's most venomous species of its kind on par with box jellyfish, which is why the ban was issued.
Kittiphat Tharapiban, head of Sirinath National Park, said yesterday that anyone who touches one or gets stung would suffer severe pain. Its venomous sting could cause shock and heart failure.
The national park found that their presence could pose a danger to tourists swimming at the three beaches. It subsequently decided to ban swimming and all water activities at the beaches, said the national park chief.
According to the National Geographic website, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly painful, but rarely deadly. Even dead man-of-wars that wash ashore can deliver a sting.
Songtham Suksawang, acting chief of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation's National Park Office, said that officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Mobile medical teams and a helicopter service are also prepared in the event of an emergency.
"We are very concerned about the safety of visitors as the national park is a major source of income to the country. The ban is a preventive measure to ward off unfavourable incidents," he said.
Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine scientist from the Kasetsart University, however, played down fears of the creature was deadly. He said this is not the first time that it has appeared in Thai waters, but has actually been observed over the past 10 years when there are strong currents, although not very often.
"It may be the strong winds which brought the creatures this time around. In fact, it is good for people as they should not swim in the sea during strong winds and big waves," he said.
"What I am more concerned about are the increasing numbers of box jellyfish, which live and grow in this area. The poor sea environment in Thailand is a major cause of its increasing population."