Three Foreigners Arrested After Roadside Fire and Party in Phuket

Three foreign nationals were arrested on October 1 after allegedly starting a fire on a public road and holding a party in the Bang Thao area of Thalang district, Phuket.

The incident was recorded and shared on social media, drawing criticism over the potential risks to motorists, pedestrians and nearby properties.

A video posted on social media on September 27 showed three or four foreigners gathered around a fire burning directly on the road. A woman in a revealing dress was seen dancing in front of the flames, while other members of the group stood nearby.

The gathering reportedly took place on a public road in Bang Thao. One of the foreigners is reported to have filmed the incident and uploaded the footage online, where it attracted criticism from members of the public, including Phuket residents.

Much of the concern centred on the fire itself, with users pointing to the possibility of vehicles being damaged, pedestrians being injured or flames spreading to nearby properties.

Some people who said they had watched the full video also claimed that members of the group consumed alcohol and used cannabis during the gathering. These claims have not been independently confirmed.

Officers from Choeng Talay Police Station investigated the footage and identified three foreign nationals

allegedly involved. The three were arrested on October 1. Their identities and nationalities were not publicly disclosed.

The foreigners were reportedly charged with causing a public nuisance. Each was fined and released, although it was not immediately clear whether they would be allowed to remain in Thailand.

The case is similar to an incident in Mae Hong Son province in February last year, when seven foreigners were arrested for allegedly causing a public nuisance by smoking cannabis in public.

In another Phuket case in June this year, a foreign man was arrested following a disturbance linked to an alleged attempted theft.