On Wednesday 11 November 2026, hundreds of starfish were found washed up and apparently dead on Karon Beach in Phuket, sparking curiosity and concern on social media.
That Wednesday morning, numerous specimens were observed on the sand at Karon Beach, in the Phuket district. Internet user Dechaphawida Chueanak posted photographs showing these marine animals with elongated bodies and alternating dark and light patterns, scattered across a wide stretch of the beach.
« Why are dead starfish washing up all along Karon Beach? It’s strange », she wrote, prompting many internet users to respond.
The discovery quickly raised questions about the possible causes of this phenomenon. Some users expressed concern about a possible underwater imbalance, while others saw it as a signal from nature.
« Is there a problem underwater? » asked one user. « Is nature trying to send us a message? » added another.
Local authorities and experts from the Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre identified the starfish as Luidia maculata. These predators, typically measuring 20 to 30 cm, live buried in the sand near reefs and coasts. They feed mainly on sea urchins, sand dollars, molluscs, brittle stars and other invertebrates, which they swallow whole. Salps (gelatinous planktonic organisms) were also observed washed ashore. Specialists noted that these animals pose no serious toxic risk to humans, although it is advisable to avoid handling them. The phenomenon, already reported since 5 November, could be linked to strong waves, but the exact cause of this mass stranding has not yet been determined.
By midday, the incoming tide had gradually returned the starfish to the sea. Local authorities have so far given no official explanation for the mass stranding.
Source : Khaosod