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A foreign man is suspected of spraying an unknown substance on a Thai pharmacist in Patong, Phuket, in what the victim believes may have been an attempted robbery. The incident happened at around 12:22am on September 2 at Mookda Pharmacy in the Patong area. The pharmacist, Pijet Intarakaset, who runs the store, later described the incident on Facebook and shared screenshots from the pharmacy’s CCTV system. According to the footage, the man arrived at the pharmacy on a motorcy

Four foreign tourists have drawn criticism after riding jet skis dangerously close to a large passenger boat near Ao Por Pier in Phuket, forcing the vessel to slow down and leaving people on board alarmed. The incident happened on September 3 in the sea between Ao Por Pier and Koh Naka Yai at around 11am. A video showing the incident was later shared widely on Thai social media. The footage shows four jet skis travelling at high speed and approaching the passenger boat. The r

COVID-19 continues to circulate in Phuket and across Thailand, but the illness caused by the currently dominant variant remains generally mild, with most patients experiencing symptoms similar to those of a common cold, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). As of August 31, Phuket had recorded 514.85 Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents, giving the province the third-highest incidence rate in Thailand. Bangkok ranked first with 643.65 cases per 100,000 people,

A sea turtle weighing more than 50 kilogrammes was found stranded and in a weakened condition on Patong Beach in Phuket on September 3. The turtle was discovered on the shoreline in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district, early in the morning. Jiraporn Wijit was walking along the beach at around 6am when she noticed the turtle lying on the sand. According to Khaosod English, she immediately alerted lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach. The lifeguards moved the turtle away from th

Phuket provincial authorities have carried out a coordinated inspection of cannabis shops in Rawai following public complaints about widespread regulatory violations. The operation was aimed at checking whether cannabis businesses were complying with regulations, with particular attention paid to the ban on smoking cannabis on shop premises. Under Ministry of Public Health regulations, businesses found violating the rules may face suspension or revocation of their operating l

A dispute over a barber shop bill turned into a physical confrontation in Patong, Phuket, on August 31 after a Jordanian tourist allegedly refused to pay an additional charge for hair services. The incident attracted attention on social media after a Facebook post claimed that a foreign tourist had refused to pay for a haircut and then punched a barber. The man was initially described online as Israeli. Patong Police later responded to a report of a fight near the end of Soi

A 19-year-old food delivery rider died in Phuket after his motorcycle crashed into an exposed drainage pipe at a road construction site in Wichit. Police are investigating whether negligence by the contractor responsible for the work contributed to the fatal accident. Wichit Police Station received a report of the crash at around 5pm on September 1. The victim, identified as Teeraphat, was reportedly a university student who worked as a food delivery rider during his free tim

Thai AirAsia is preparing to increase the number of domestic flights to Phuket from Bangkok and several provinces in northeastern Thailand starting October 1. The move comes ahead of the high season and follows reductions made during the low season. At least part of the upcoming change is expected to restore domestic services that the Thai subsidiary of the Malaysian low-cost airline reduced during the low season amid higher aviation fuel costs and weaker demand for travel. H

One of the key stages of Phuket’s annual Po To Festival began on the evening of August 31 in Phuket Old Town. A large festival fair opened near the shrine dedicated to Po To Kong, the ruler of the Chinese realm of the dead, marking the final major phase of the Hungry Ghost Festival. The fair will continue until September 10. The official opening ceremony took place at 7pm. Before the event, a cultural programme was held near the Golden Dragon at the Queen Mother Sirikit 72nd

A Russian man was found dead inside his condominium room in Kathu district, Phuket, on August 30. Police are investigating the circumstances and cause of his death. Officers from Kathu Police Station received a report concerning the death of Russian national Maksim Tarasov at around 9pm on August 30. According to Amarin TV, Tarasov was found lying face down beside the bed in room 24/89. Police found no apparent signs of a struggle or other unusual circumstances inside the roo

A drug investigation in Phuket expanded after the arrest of three teenagers led police to another suspect and resulted in the seizure of more than five kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine on August 30. Border Patrol Police arrested three suspects aged between 17 and 19 after finding approximately 2.68 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 131.9 grammes of ketamine in their possession. Officers also confiscated drug paraphernalia, a digital weighing scale and four mobi

Six people were taken to hospital after an interprovincial bus travelling from Hat Yai to Phuket crashed in Phang Nga early on August 29. The bus struck a power pole near the final section of its journey, shortly before reaching Phuket. Emergency responders received a report of the accident at around 4:42am. The crash occurred at a traffic-light intersection in Khok Kloi, opposite the new bus terminal. According to Kusoldharm Loma rescue workers, 22 people were on board the b

Authorities in Thalang District have begun enforcing a Supreme Court ruling concerning the alleged occupation of public land at Bang Tao Beach. Official notices ordering the disputed area to be vacated were installed on the site, requiring the defendants in the case, along with their employees, contractors and other associated persons, to leave the beach. Authorities have not publicly released the names of all individuals covered by the order. The notices were put up on Augus

The main race day of the Phuket round of Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand 2026 is taking place today, August 30, at Saphan Hin Park. The programme features five Toyota One Make Race competitions, demonstration runs, awards ceremonies and an evening concert. Phuket is hosting the second round of this year’s Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand season. The event began on August 29, with the main races scheduled for the second day of the weekend, following the series’ usual format. Today’s

Thai authorities have detained an American national in Phuket who is wanted by US authorities under eight arrest warrants related to alleged sexual offences against children. Lance Beck, 48, was located at a hotel in Phuket on August 29 following a request from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Thai police said the American is accused of sexually abusing children under the age of 14 and recording the alleged abuse on video before fleeing to Thailand. The allegatio

Thai rock icon Ad Carabao has voiced his support for rising young performer Nene, praising her musical talent and the influence she is having on a new generation of musicians across Thailand. Ad said that children and their parents increasingly come to the backstage areas of his concerts hoping to meet him and get an autograph. Some young fans even bring guitars with them. He believes Nene’s growing popularity and musical achievements have contributed to this trend. “If this

Thailand has introduced a new set of regulations governing the deportation of foreign nationals who violate the law. The new rules officially came into force on August 28, 2026, following the publication of a regulation issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and signed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The Thai government said the new framework is intended to establish a clearer and more efficient process for state agencies dealing with the deportation of foreigners

Police in Thailand’s Region 8 have arrested a Phuket-based woman suspected of defrauding tourists through a fake luxury villa rental scheme. The investigation began after Russian visitors reported transferring money for accommodation only to discover upon arrival that no reservations had been made in their names. The suspect, identified as Thanaporn and also known as Yu, was arrested at around 6:00 a.m. on August 26 at a house in Thalang. Police have not released her surname.

Phuket recorded a sharp increase in Israeli visitors in July, with arrivals from the country rising by 52.43% compared with the same month last year. The figure was even more striking against the pre-pandemic period, showing a 1,204.68% increase compared with July 2019, according to data from the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The figures were presented on August 27 during a provincial meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kirdsom. The lates

Phuket is preparing to hold its annual Car Free Day, with the 2026 edition scheduled for Sunday, September 20. The main event will once again be a large cycling ride connecting Phuket Town with Cape Panwa. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has begun preparations for Phuket Car Free Day 2026. This year, cyclists will gather at the former Phuket Provincial Hall in the historic centre of Phuket Town, which now serves as the PPAO headquarters. From there, t