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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

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

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

Phuket Immigration police have arrested a 24-year-old Vietnamese national who was wanted internationally under an Interpol Red Notice in connection with allegations of fraud and embezzlement involving millions of baht. The suspect, identified only as Mr Nguyen, had reportedly been living and working in Patong after Vietnamese authorities issued an international arrest warrant. Phuket Immigration officers launched surveillance after receiving information about his whereabouts

Authorities in Phuket have shut down an unlicensed childcare centre in Wichit after local residents raised concerns about the facility. A 40-year-old Myanmar woman who was operating the service was arrested during the inspection. The operation took place on August 26, 2026, when officers from Wichit Police Station, accompanied by the local village headman, went to inspect the premises following complaints from residents. The childcare service was being run from a rented row h

Phuket authorities are stepping up preparations for a potential tsunami, with a renewed focus on warning systems, evacuation routes and emergency facilities at some of the province’s busiest beaches. The measures are intended to strengthen protection for both local communities and the large number of tourists visiting the island. Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom led a comprehensive review of the province’s tsunami preparedness system. The inspection included visits to warnin

Authorities in Phuket carried out a late-night inspection at a hookah lounge in the Bang Tao area, seizing 15 hookah sets and more than 3.6 kilogrammes of smoking mixtures. One person was detained during the operation and later handed over to police in Cherng Talay for further legal proceedings. The inspection took place at around 10:30pm on August 24 at an unnamed establishment in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district. The official report did not disclose the name of th

Residents of Phuket Town have begun this year’s Por Tor Festival, the island’s traditional celebration also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival. The festival started on August 25 and will continue through September 10, with most of the ceremonies taking place in Phuket Old Town. The opening events were held on the afternoon of August 25 near the Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road. Representatives of Phuket Town Municipality, the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation and the

Sixteen-year-old Phuket rock singer and guitarist Nene Royal has secured a direct place in the final of America’s Got Talent 2026, skipping the semi-final stage altogether. The KIS Phuket student received a Live Show Golden Buzzer from Spice Girls member and AGT judge Mel B. Nene’s performance of “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden proved decisive. As in her earlier appearances on the competition, she performed both vocals and guitar herself. The performance was broadcast on the

Phuket police have arrested seven teenagers allegedly involved in a shooting and assault in Patong that left a 17-year-old boy critically injured and another teenager hurt. The arrests followed an earlier incident reported on August 22, when a group of more than 20 youths reportedly gathered along Phra Baramee Road opposite a hotel in Patong. The confrontation escalated into violence, with one teenager suffering a gunshot wound to the neck and a 15-year-old boy being injured

The Protect Phuket residents’ group has asked Patong police for permission to hold a demonstration calling on tourists to follow Thai law and respect the local community. The group, led by Saichon Nuchet, submitted its request at Patong Police Station on August 24. The proposed demonstration is scheduled for August 28 at Loma Public Park in front of Patong Beach. According to the organisers, the event is intended to draw attention to problems linked to tourist behaviour and p

The Feel All the Feelings @ Phuket: Illuminating Peranakan festival officially opened in Phuket Old Town on the evening of August 23. The main attraction of the opening night was the first presentation of a large-scale projection show displayed on the historic building that now houses the Phuket History Museum. However, the programme turned out to be more extensive than originally announced. The official opening ceremony took place at around 6pm at the Chartered Intersection.