Jellyfish attack: 13 signboards placed at Pantai Kundor beachfront to warn tourists, says Melaka exco member

MELAKA: The state government has warned tourists to steer clear from bathing at the Pantai Kundor beachfront in wake of reports of a jellyfish attack here.

Melaka agriculture, agro-based, entrepreneur development and cooperative committee chairman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee said there were 13 signboards along the beachfront to warn against bathing at the stretch.

"We are issuing the warning as there were still some people found bathing at the stretch despite the recent case of individuals allegedly stung by jellyfish," he said on Friday (July 3).

Norhizam said, for those with a lower immune system, a sting can take just three minutes to cause cardiac failure, headache, nausea and hypertension.

"It's very risky and we had put up adequate signboards to protect people from getting stung," he said.

Norhizam said local fishermen used vinegar to inhibit venom discharge from jellyfish's sting cell-cnidocytes.

"However, the victim must be rushed to hospital for medical attention once stung," he said.

Norhizam said swimming at the stretch is prohibited since the beachfront was opened for recreational purposes in the 1970s.

He said a high number of jellyfish emerge along the Melaka coastlines especially during the "geregau" shrimp season.

Norhizam said the state Fishery Department was also unable to verify the report that seven people were stung by jellyfish on June 29.

Norhizam said the department had visited the site following complaints on the incident.

"The only conclusion that the department arrived after investigating the claim was to warn against taking a dip at the beachfront," he added.