All Articles

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

Thailand is set to experience more heavy thunderstorms and rainfall, with the Meteorological Department warning of heavy to very heavy rain across dozens of provinces, particularly in Bangkok and surrounding areas and parts of the South. The Meteorological Department said the increase in rainfall is being driven by the southward movement of the monsoon trough, a strengthening southwest monsoon and a strong low-pressure system over the South China Sea. Isolated very heavy rain

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a warning for 71 provinces and Bangkok over the risk of flash floods, forest runoff, landslides and flooding through September 13. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in many parts of the country, prompting authorities to urge people living in vulnerable areas to closely monitor weather conditions, rainfall and water levels and prepare for possible emergencies. The alert covers all provinces in

A foreign tourist was hospitalised after suffering a severe allergic reaction from contact with a Portuguese man o’ war at Naithon Beach in Phuket. Lifeguards administered first aid at the scene before the tourist was taken to hospital. The incident was reported on September 9 after the Phuket Times Facebook page published photographs from Naithon Beach in Sakhu subdistrict, Thalang district. The images showed what appeared to be a Portuguese man o’ war inside a container, wh

Portuguese man o’ war have returned to Phuket’s west coast, prompting a warning from the Patong Surf Life Saving Club. The marine creatures were spotted on Patong Beach on September 7, with lifeguards cautioning that more may appear both in the water and along the shoreline in the coming days. Portuguese man o’ war belong to the genus Physalia and are technically not jellyfish. They are colonies of specialised hydrozoan organisms living together as a single floating unit. How

The Surfing Federation of Thailand and Kalim Reef Surfers have announced the dates for this year's surfing competitions in Patong. The event is one of three major competitions on Phuket's surfing calendar, alongside contests at Kata and Surin beaches. This year's Kalim Patong Surfing Contest will take place from September 18 to 20, followed immediately by the youth Grom Patrol competition in Khao Lak, in neighbouring Phang Nga Province. Patong Municipality is currently comple

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 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

Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park has invited residents and visitors of Phang Nga Province to take part in another sea turtle release event on August 18. This time, hatchlings from the sixth nest laid by the leatherback turtle known as Namo will make their first journey into the Andaman Sea. The ceremony will take place on Thai Mueang Beach and is expected to coincide with sunset. However, participants are encouraged to arrive earlier, as registration at the national p

Residents across parts of Phuket reported feeling mild tremors on Saturday evening after a significant earthquake struck northern Sumatra in Indonesia. According to the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM), the earthquake occurred at 5:54 p.m. local time on August 15. The quake registered a magnitude of 6.8 and originated at a depth of 168 kilometres near Pematangsiantar in North Sumatra. The epicenter was located at coordinates 2.98°N and 99.06°

A special blood donation campaign marking Mother’s Day in Thailand will begin at the Phuket Red Cross on Monday, August 10, and continue through Friday, August 14. Throughout the week, donors will be welcomed at Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) and at several mobile donation stations across the island. The campaign is held in honour of Her Majesty Queen Mother Sirikit, with residents and visitors invited to donate blood as part of the annual Mother’s Day activities.

Trail runners from Phuket and across Thailand are preparing for Phuket Trail 2026, with this year's event expected to attract more than 1,000 participants. The Phuket round of the Southern Thailand Trail Series 2026 will take place on September 12–13, offering courses for both experienced ultrarunners and first-time trail enthusiasts. Despite the range of distances available, organisers note that the shortest 7-kilometre Fun Trail traditionally sells out first. Seven race dis

A young spinner dolphin was rescued after washing ashore alive on Patong Beach, with marine authorities in Phuket launching an emergency operation to save the rare animal. The rescue involved coordinated efforts between beach security personnel, the Kusoldharm Foundation, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Upper Andaman Sea Center. According to the DMCR, the stranded dolphin was a juvenile female measuring 158 centimeters in length and weighing about 25

The Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) has released its schedule of mobile blood donation campaigns for August, with 16 donation events planned across the island. Residents will be able to donate blood at shopping centres, hotels, Phuket International Airport, and corporate offices. The mobile donation programme will cover Thalang, Phuket Town, and Kathu. In addition, a special blood donation event will be held at the Phuket Red Cross office on August 12 to mark Thaila

Residents in several parts of Phuket reported feeling light tremors on Wednesday morning after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. According to seismic data, the earthquake occurred at 11:18am local time at a depth of around 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located approximately 381 kilometres southwest of Satun Province in southern Thailand. In Talad Yai in Phuket Town, employees working on the fourth floor of a low-rise office bui

Phuket authorities have stepped up flood-prevention measures as the island faces several days of heavy monsoon rainfall. Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom said officials are closely tracking weather developments and have warned residents to stay alert for thunderstorms and intense rain expected between July 1 and July 3. The unstable conditions are being driven by the southwest monsoon affecting the Andaman Sea and much of southern Thailand. To reduce the risk of flooding and other

Authorities in Phuket have clarified the cause of the unusual black discoloration observed along parts of Patong Beach, confirming that the phenomenon is the result of a natural plankton bloom rather than wastewater pollution. According to the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, laboratory analysis identified two species of phytoplankton — Chaetoceros sp. and Peridinium sp. Specialists emphasized that neither species produces toxins, meaning the event does not pose

A woman has been hospitalised after being bitten by a cobra in Phuket as the rainy season drives more snakes into residential areas, prompting renewed warnings from local authorities. According to local reports, the incident occurred on the evening of June 17 in the Mai Khao area, where a cobra entered the home of an elderly woman and bit her. The victim's son said he arrived in time to help his mother, killed the snake, and rushed her to hospital. He later shared details of

Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) has opened registration for the second event in its "3 Districts, 3 Lakes" community running series. As with the previous race, participation is free and includes an event T-shirt and refreshments, although the number of available places is limited. The first run took place on May 30 around Bang Wad Reservoir in Kathu. Despite rainy weather, hundreds of participants of all ages and fitness levels completed the six-kilometre

A cargo vessel traveling from Phuket to Koh Yao Yai sank during rough weather in Phang Nga Bay on June 10, but all four people on board were safely rescued. The incident was first reported on social media by Paklok municipal council member Apisit Boonteng and was later confirmed by police. According to official reports, the cargo boat Supaporn 5 departed from Bang Rong Pier in Paklok on the afternoon of June 10. The vessel was transporting goods to Koh Yao Yai but never reach