Venomous blue bottle jellyfish have been spotted off Segara Ayu Beach (Pantai Segara Ayu) in Sanur. Their sting can cause intense itching and a painful burning sensation. Lifeguards are urging people to stay out of the water while the jellyfish remain close to shore.
The first sightings were reported at around 6 a.m. on 27 July. The jellyfish are not spread along the entire Sanur coastline but are appearing in scattered patches, often caught in seaweed. No injuries have been reported so far.
Lifeguards expect the jellyfish to disappear within the next couple of days, as they did last year. In the meantime, patrols have been stepped up between Segara Ayu Beach and Semawang Beach (Pantai Semawang).
Visitors are advised not to swim, to wear footwear while walking on the beach, and not to touch the jellyfish, whether they are alive or washed up on the sand.
If stung, avoid rubbing the affected area, as this can force more venom into the skin. Rinse the sting with seawater — not fresh water — carefully remove any tentacles using a blunt object, and seek assistance from the nearest lifeguard post or beach medical team.
Blue bottle jellyfish arrive off Sanur almost every year between July and September, driven towards the coast by strong winds and ocean currents. Locals know them as lateng layar.
Sources: detikBali, Tribun Bali
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