Kaohsiung: After several Portuguese man o’ war washed up in Kaohsiung’s Sizihwan, the city’s Marine Bureau warned beachgoers not to touch the venomous, jellyfish-like creatures.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Portuguese man o’ war has been recently spotted on the beach, prompting the Marine Bureau to issue a warning. The bureau’s notice, posted at Sizihwan’s beach entrance, cautioned people against touching the highly venomous creatures and advised them to avoid going near the water. The bureau highlighted that the breeding season of these sea creatures in Taiwan spans from April to July.

The sting of a Portuguese man o’ war is as painful as a bee’s, and its venom can travel to the lymph nodes. The bureau emphasized that in cases of allergic reactions, the effects can be severe or even fatal.

Visitors to Sizihwan Beach in the coming days are advised to steer clear of any jellyfish-like creatures to ensure their safety. The bureau also mentioned that beach cleaners will be monitoring the area and will remove any Portuguese man o’ war that are found.