All Articles

A 15-year-old boy died after the Toyota Vios he was driving crashed into a high-voltage power pole in Chalong shortly after midnight on September 27. Two other teenagers, both aged 17, were injured in the accident. The crash occurred at around 12:30am at the entrance to Soi Yot Sane in Moo 10, Chalong. The white sedan had been travelling along Chao Fa West Road towards Rawai Beach when the driver lost control of the vehicle. Chalong Police said five teenagers were travelling

Construction of the Kathu–Patong tunnel is now scheduled to begin no earlier than October 2027, while the planned opening of the Phuket Expressway has been pushed back to October 2031. The latest timetable was confirmed in September by Thailand’s Expressway Authority (EXAT) and the government. The project has already gone through several revisions, with its implementation schedule repeatedly changing over recent years. According to the current plan, Phase 1 of the Phuket Expr

Thailand remains under a heavy rain alert through September 27, with Bangkok, surrounding provinces and several parts of central and eastern Thailand facing the risk of very heavy rainfall and flash flooding. The Thai Meteorological Department said a strong low-pressure area over lower central Thailand and Bangkok, combined with an increasingly active southwest monsoon, is expected to keep rainfall widespread across the country. Areas being closely monitored on September 26 i

A police officer in Phuket accidentally shot his mother in the head while handling his service pistol at their home on September 24. The woman was taken to hospital but later died from her injuries. The shooting was reported at around 9:20pm at a house in Koh Kaew, Mueang Phuket district. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station coordinated an emergency response, with rescue workers and medical personnel sent to the scene. Responders found the woman unconscious with a singl

Phuket has been named the top wellness destination by Canadian travellers in the 2026 Travellers’ Top Picks Awards, organised by Air Canada Vacations. The result was announced on September 25 by Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksamisaengchan. Phuket received the highest number of votes in the Wellness category following a public vote that attracted more than 1.3 million votes across all 10 award categories. The award was presented during the Air Canada Vacations T

A 31-year-old woman has been arrested in Phuket for allegedly using rented vehicles as collateral to obtain money through online car-pawning services. Police said she obtained around 300,000 baht from two rental vehicles taken in Phuket and Bangkok before both companies eventually recovered their cars. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested the suspect at a condominium car park in Kathu district on September 22. The woman, identified only as 31-year-old

Sixteen-year-old singer and guitarist Nene Royal from Phuket has won America’s Got Talent 2026, becoming the first contestant from Thailand to claim the title in the history of the US talent show. The result was announced by host Terry Crews during the live Season 21 finale on NBC on September 23. The broadcast took place on the morning of September 24 in Thailand. Nene, whose real name is Rattikan “Praew” Amloy, received the highest number of votes from eligible viewers in t

The US Secret Service has recognised Phuket police officers for their work investigating suspected counterfeit US dollars, including two cases involving suspicious banknotes presented at currency exchange shops. An American delegation presented certificates of appreciation during a visit to Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters on September 22. Senior Special Agent and Assistant Attaché Samuel Cloud led the delegation at a meeting with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Polic

A large trailer wheel came loose and struck a motorcycle stopped at a red light in Koh Kaeo, Mueang Phuket, seriously injuring the female rider on September 22. Mueang Phuket Police were called to the Koh Kaeo Intersection at around 2pm to investigate the accident and assist the injured woman, whose identity was not released. According to the report, the wheel detached as the trailer approached the intersection and then hit the motorcycle while it was waiting at the traffic l

A Thai woman has alleged that a group of foreign women attacked her outside a bar on Bangla Road in Phuket after accusing her of trying to take their clients. The woman, who works for a tour company, shared details of the alleged assault on September 22. She said she went to Bangla Road in Patong after finishing work on September 20. According to her account, four or five foreign women were drinking at a nearby table with several foreign men. She did not provide details about

More than 3,000 residents of the Khok Tanod community in Chalong are seeking government assistance as a long-running dispute over privately owned land has led to eviction lawsuits affecting 669 households. Community representatives from Moo 9 submitted a petition to the Phuket Damrongdhama Centre, the province’s complaints and assistance centre, on September 21. They asked authorities to help protect residents’ rights during the ongoing legal process and prepare housing assis

Phuket Marine Office has issued a warning to boat operators as unfavourable weather is expected to affect the province from September 21 to 27. Small vessels have been advised to remain close to shore where possible, while boats less than 7 metres long are prohibited from going out into open sea. The requirements are set out in Phuket Marine Office Order No. 105/2569, issued on September 21. According to the forecast from Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) cited in th

Thai fans are preparing to follow Phuket singer and guitarist Nene Royal as she takes the stage in the live final of America’s Got Talent Season 21. The 16-year-old performer, whose real name is Praew Rattikarn Amloy, is one of 10 finalists competing for the Season 21 title and the programme’s US$1 million prize. When to watch the AGT 2026 final The first part of the two-night finale will air live on NBC on Tuesday, September 22, from 9pm to 11pm Eastern Time. In Thailand, th

A 63-year-old Swedish man has died in hospital after being found with bruising and other unexplained injuries at a hotel in Cherng Talay, Phuket. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Hotel staff first found the man lying face-down at the property on September 17. He was conscious and able to speak, but employees noticed bruises on his body. Staff offered to arrange medical treatment, but the man declined and did not explain how he had sustained th

Phuket MP Somchat Techathaworncharoen has been summoned by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for a third time as a witness in an investigation into property allegedly held through Thai nominees on behalf of foreigners. Justice Minister Police Lieutenant General Ruttaphon Naowarat said on September 21 that the new summons is scheduled for September 28. The date was set at Somchat’s request, and the minister said he expected the MP to appear. The investigatio

A major fire destroyed Zodiac Bar & Clubhouse near Ao Yon Bay on the afternoon of September 18. The venue was closed at the time, and there were no staff members or customers inside, so no injuries were reported. Preliminary property damage has been estimated at more than 500,000 baht. The fire broke out at the venue at the foot of Khao Khad hill along the road leading to Ao Yon Bay. Police and emergency services were alerted at around 11:56am. By the time firefighters arrive

Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsom has disclosed preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation into Chabad House Patong, saying authorities have identified links to two related companies with combined assets of approximately 261.58 million baht. According to the governor, both companies belong to the same business network and maintain offices in Cherng Talay, Thalang. Investigators have also identified four additional branches operating elsewhere in Phuket, bringing the t

Police in Phuket have seized more than 1,500 weight-loss pens and related products during a raid on a condominium unit in Wichit, with the total value of the seized items estimated at around 5.5 million baht. The operation was carried out by investigators from Muang Phuket Police Station together with officials from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office. Authorities began looking into the case after receiving complaints from customers who had purchased weight-loss pens o

Police in Phuket are investigating the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist on Thepkrasattri Road after the incident was initially mistaken for a road accident. The emergency call came at around 8:10pm on September 17, reporting that a motorcyclist had fallen near the tunnel and the turn-off toward Phuket Airport. Rescue workers arrived at the airport tunnel junction and began resuscitation efforts, initially treating the incident as a traffic accident. The situation changed when

Emergency services across Phuket have been placed on heightened alert as the province prepares for heavy rain, possible flash floods, landslides and dangerous sea conditions in the Andaman Sea. The Phuket provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued an urgent order to district authorities, municipalities and relevant agencies to prepare for deteriorating weather conditions. The document, marked “maximum urgency”, was dated September