Hundreds of starfish wash ashore at Phuket’s Karon Beach

PHUKET — Large numbers of starfish were found stranded and apparently dead along Karon Beach in Phuket on Wednesday morning, 11 November 2026, sparking widespread curiosity and concern on social media over the unexplained phenomenon.

The unusual sight attracted attention after Facebook user Dechaphawida Chueanak shared photographs showing numerous starfish scattered across the sand at Karon Beach in Karon subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district.

“Why are starfish washing up dead all along Karon Beach? Strange,” the user wrote.

The photographs showed large numbers of starfish with elongated bodies and arms, featuring alternating dark and light patterns, spread across the beach.

The discovery prompted questions among beachgoers and social media users about what might have caused so many starfish to wash ashore.

Around noon, as the tide rose and waves began reaching further up the beach, the stranded starfish were reportedly washed back into the sea.

The Facebook post quickly drew comments from concerned netizens, with some questioning whether unusual conditions beneath the water might have contributed to the incident.

“Is something wrong underwater?” one commenter asked.

“Is nature trying to tell us something?” another wrote.

Others described the sight as rare and unusual, while some suggested that strong waves might have carried the starfish onto the beach.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed what caused the mass stranding or the reported deaths of the starfish at Karon Beach.