Phuket’s Biggest Stories From the Past Week: Two Boys Drown at Local Beach, and More

The following is our weekly feature in which we highlight the top local stories in our area of Phuket from the past week. The number of stories differs from week to week.

These are chosen and curated by our editorial team and are designed for our readers to get a quick “catch-up” of important stories they may have missed. We publish many stories daily and it is easy to lose track of important events or changes in our area. We do national recaps in a separate article, this is only the top local stories in Phuket.

They are in no particular order of importance but roughly in order of publishing. These are from Monday, July 8th to Sunday July 14th, 2024.

  1. State-run bus operator Transport Co announced on Monday (July 8th) that it will introduce bus services to three major airports managed by Airports of Thailand (AOT).

New Bus Routes to Link Major Airports and Tourist Spots

The new routes, expected to begin by the end of the year, will connect Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket airports with interprovincial destinations.

2. An important milestone was reached in Phuket, Thailand. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for “Pride & Equality Phuket” was signed at the Seabed Grand Hotel.

Phuket Promotes LGBTQ+ Equality with MOU Signing

Phuket has expressed its readiness to host the “Inter Pride World Conference” in 2025, further solidifying its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.

3. The rainbow crosswalk at the Chartered Bank Intersection in Phuket Old Town is set to be erased following several reported road accidents.

Phuket Old Town Rainbow Crosswalk to Be Removed After Multiple Accidents

The rainbow crosswalk was originally painted in May 2024 for Phuket Pride. The city confirmed the removal has nothing to do with any negative feedback from non LGBTQI+ groups and was purely a safety measure.

4. A fire destroyed the Karon Night Plaza. No injuries were reported but the cost of damage is being estimated at 40 million Baht.

Fire Destroys Karon Night Plaza, 40 Million Baht in Damages- VIDEO

The Forensic Police are still investigating the cause of the fire as of press time.

5. One boy was in a coma while another boy was still missing after they were seen struggling in the sea at the Surin Beach in Cherng Talay , Thalang.

One Boy in Coma, One Still Missing After Struggling in Sea Near Surin Beach – VIDEO

The boy who was in critical condition after he was pulled up from water on Saturday had been sadly pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital.

A boy who went missing at Surin Beach was sadly found dead on Sunday.

UPDATE: Body of Missing Boy Found at Surin Beach

Their names were withheld due to being minors.

6. Phuket local media reported heavy rain and strong winds across Thalang, Mueang Phuket, and Kathu districts, causing damage to residents’ properties.

Heavy Rain and Strong Winds Cause Extensive Damage Across Phuket Districts

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

That’s it for this week. Be safe!

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.