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, August 19th to Sunday August 25th, 2024.
1. Thirteen people have been found dead including two Russian nationals after a landslide in Karon on Friday early in the morning (August 23rd).
No more people have been reported missing as of press time, stated Worasit. The search operation has concluded but the clean up operation has continued.
Phuket has been announced as a disaster zone in which 209 families are currently suffering from the effects of landslides and flash floods, announced relevant officials.
The Thai government has ordered local authorities to urgently assist residents in disaster zones.
2. A teenage girl from Myanmar was tragically killed in a shooting incident in Patong. The incident occurred when a gunman on a motorbike opened fire on a pickup truck she was traveling in.
Teenage Girl from Myanmar Fatally Shot in Patong Road Rage Incident
CCTV footage from a nearby intersection showed the pickup truck reversing and hitting one of the motorbikes. A passenger on the motorbike fell off and then opened fire on the pickup truck.
3. A young Afghan man was arrested at the Phuket International Airport with a fake Kazakhstani passport.
Afghan Man Arrested at Phuket Airport with Fake Kazakhstani Passport
The Phuket Immigration at the airport arrested the 18 year-old male Afghan teen.
4. A video clip of foreign tourists and nightlife workers fighting on the Bangla Road has gone viral in social media.
Foreign Tourists Brawl with Nightlife Workers on Bangla Road
This incident sparked significant interest online.
5. A dugong was first sighted in Rawai, south of Phuket on Tuesday (August 20th).
There were no dugongs in this area before.
That’s it for this week. Be safe!
