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Patong Police Clarify Foreign Tourists Water-Splashing Incident on Van Driver Only 7 Arrested for Causing Disturbance
Crime14 Apr 2026 15:07 GMT+7
AI-Translated✕*This English content is automatically translated from Thai version by AI. Thairath does not guarantee accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the translation. Please refer to the Thai version
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Phuket's Patong Police clarified the viral clip showing foreign tourists dousing a van driver with water, stating they received no reports of incidents matching the clip. Authorities only arrested seven tourists who had gathered to celebrate Songkran, displaying disruptive behavior and blocking traffic.
The case gained attention on social media with a clip captioned “Patong is boiling: foreign tourists douse van with water, force door open to spray again — netizens demand police action,” sparking widespread criticism.
On 14 Apr 2026 GMT+7, Patong Police issued a statement regarding the incident, confirming that after reviewing reports from 12-13 Apr 2026 GMT+7, during the Songkran festival, no reports matched the behavior seen in the clip.
However, it was reported that on Prachanukroh Road, in front of Malin Market, a group of foreign tourists gathered to play water during Songkran, exhibiting disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.
Officers intervened, warning the group and subsequently detaining seven tourists on charges of causing public nuisance, then handing them over to investigators for legal proceedings.
Following the incident, authorities notified local businesses, vendors, and residents to prohibit placing water tanks or playing water games on sidewalks and roads in ways that block traffic, to prevent recurrence.
Patong Police emphasized they are not neglecting the incident and have intensified monitoring and enforcement to maintain public order and safety for both residents and tourists during the Songkran festival.
Separately, on the morning of 14 Apr 2026 GMT+7, social media channels in Phuket, including Line groups and pages, shared a one-minute clip showing dozens of foreign tourists using high-pressure water guns to drench a single van driver in the middle of the road within Patong Municipality, Kathu District, Phuket, causing strong dissatisfaction among Thai viewers.
Viewers questioned whether the water splashing had gone beyond fun to potentially assaulting the van driver, as the force from the water guns could cause harm, especially to the face and eyes. Online communities urged police to more strictly regulate water activities at tourist spots during Songkran.
