Blue Bottle Jellyfish Appear on Sanur Beach, Warning Issued Over Venomous Stings

A number of blue bottle jellyfish were found stranded along the coast of Sanur Beach, South Denpasar, on Monday (27/7/2026). The marine animal, known to the Balinese community as ‘lateng layar’, was carried by currents to the shoreline. In response to this phenomenon, the Denpasar City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has urged residents and tourists to exercise heightened caution when engaging in activities in the beach area. Visitors are asked not to swim or wade if they spot blue bottle jellyfish nearby. Denpasar City Balawista Coordinator, I Wayan Dayung, confirmed the appearance of the blue bottle jellyfish in the Sanur area. However, he stressed that the creatures were not found along the entire coastline, but only at certain points. ‘That is correct, but not along the entire beach in Sanur, only at Segara Ayu Beach where they appear to be quite numerous,’ Wayan Dayung explained on Monday. In addition to avoiding swimming, the public is also advised to wear footwear when walking on the beach and not to touch the jellyfish as they possess a venomous sting. If any visitor is stung by a blue bottle jellyfish, they should immediately seek help from Balawista officers or medical personnel on duty at the location. ‘They are spreading but not too many. They hide in the seaweed. The blue ones, as the locals call them, prevention is key because they are venomous,’ he explained. He noted that the appearance of blue bottle jellyfish on the Sanur coast is an almost annual phenomenon. Strong winds and high sea currents are the main causes of the animals being carried to the shoreline, particularly in the Segara Ayu Beach area. The phenomenon was first observed around 6:00 a.m. local time. As of Monday afternoon, Balawista confirmed that no reports of sting victims had been received. ‘At Segara Ayu there are several. So far, no one has been stung. This is a common occurrence, as they are carried by currents and wind,’ he added. Wayan Dayung estimates that the appearance of the blue bottle jellyfish on the Sanur coast will only last about two days, as occurred the previous year. ‘Like last year, it was only two days. Hopefully, this year it will not be longer,’ he said. To anticipate any undesirable incidents, the Denpasar City Balawista has increased patrols and surveillance along the coastal area, from Segara Ayu Beach to Semawang Beach. Officers are also continuously conveying appeals to the public and tourists to remain vigilant during activities along the coast. ‘We patrol to maintain control. But we continue to deliver these appeals to prevent any unwanted incidents,’ he concluded.