The appearance of pink jellyfish has drawn significant attention from residents around the waters of Talaga District, Central Buton (Buteng) Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra). Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has weighed in on what’s behind this phenomenon.
The phenomenon occurred on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Its appearance can be influenced by several factors, including sea conditions and weather changes.
“Jellyfish with a red or pink color aren’t always caused by weather. Their body color is generally a natural characteristic of that particular jellyfish species. However, weather and sea conditions can influence their movement toward coastal waters,” said the Head of the Betoambari Baubau Meteorological Station.
What’s Driving Their Movement Toward the Coast
According to Adi, several meteorological and oceanographic factors can influence the presence of jellyfish near coastlines. These include wind, waves and ocean currents, sea surface temperature, rainfall, and tidal conditions.
“Meteorologically speaking, changes in sea surface temperature and overall water conditions can jointly influence the movement of these pink jellyfish. My guess is that one contributing factor is a shift in ocean temperature,” he said.
A Call to Stay Calm and Avoid Misinformation
Adi urged the public to remain calm and avoid readily believing unverified information regarding this phenomenon. He asked residents not to be swayed by hoaxes circulating about the event.
