Monday 26 October

Floodwater running across a busy Phuket road at night, with cars and motorbikes stranded and shops lit on both sides

Weather

Phuket floods as heavy rain warning covers the south

Mud from the hills blocked two Patong sois, and more than 100 homes and businesses were affected. Phuket officials told residents to stay alert for more rain until 30 October.

Flash floods hit Patong, Kamala and Phuket Town early on 26 October, and forecasters expect heavy to very heavy rain across southern Thailand until 28 October.

Why it matters: visitors in Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui are all inside the warning area, so switching coasts won’t avoid the weather.

Rain from about 1am met a high tide, leaving water 20–30 cm deep in Patong and up to 50 cm on some Phuket Town roads. Several Patong roads were closed to small cars and motorbikes. No deaths or injured tourists were reported.

Patong opened three shelters, and officials arranged other rooms for guests at one damaged hotel. The Thai Meteorological Department said waves could top two metres in thunderstorms on both coasts.

What to do Don't drive or ride through floodwater, keep away from hillside roads, and call the tourist police on 1155 or the disaster hotline on 1784 if you need help.

Travel

Don Mueang searches 927 checked bags under new rules

Power banks, lighters and e-cigarettes were the items found most often. Thailand's aviation regulator said staff may open a hold bag only when the X-ray flags something inside it.

Don Mueang Airport staff searched 927 checked bags between 16 and 22 October and found 1,122 banned items, the airport’s acting director said.

Why it matters: anyone flying from a Thai airport can have a hold bag opened while they are not there, and a power bank packed in it is enough to trigger that.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand’s rules have been in force since 16 October. Inspections must take place in a designated area, be filmed, and end with a notice of inspection left inside the bag. The regulator said on 25 October that opening bags any other way could be an offence.

The regulator looked into four complaints posted online. Only one, on a domestic flight, involved the new rules; officers cut the zip because the bag had no TSA lock. Airports of Thailand said passengers who use other locks carry the risk of a cut lock, strap or zip.

What to do Carry power banks and spare batteries in your cabin bag, use a TSA lock on your suitcase, keep valuables out of it, and photograph what's inside before check-in.

Law

Customs arrests 40 at Suvarnabhumi over cannabis in luggage

Customs said it fines 30,000 baht a kilogram, and smuggling under the Customs Act can bring up to 10 years in prison. More than half of those held were Indian, Chinese or British.

Officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport arrested 40 people suspected of trying to fly out with cannabis flowers between 1 and 24 October, the Customs Department said.

Why it matters: cannabis bought in Thailand can’t legally leave without an export permit, which is given only for medical use, and Customs and Airports of Thailand are running more random checks on departing passengers and their bags.

Officers seized 577 kg of cannabis flowers worth 5.8 million baht.
Those arrested included 11 Indian, seven Chinese and five British nationals, plus travellers from Canada, Spain and Portugal.
Since January, Customs has arrested 517 people and seized more than 10.6 tonnes.

What to do Don't pack cannabis in any bag leaving Thailand, whatever the amount.

In brief

TransportKrung Thep Aphiwat station shuts Gate 1 until 29 October.
Gate 2 also closes on 29 October only. Passengers arriving by public transport can use Gates 3 or 4, and on 29 October drivers reach the underground car park through the tunnel at Gate 5.
Living herePaid social media ads need ID checks from 1 November.
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok must verify anyone paying to advertise to people in Thailand under a rule published in the Royal Gazette in May. Advertisers based abroad are covered and can use foreign documents, the government said.
Lighter sideFive young leopards seen together in Kaeng Krachan.
Two of them were black. They crossed a park road on the morning of 25 October, and the park chief said they may be siblings. Officials asked visitors not to share the exact spot.

Law

Thai traffic police told to warn first-time minor offenders

High-risk offences such as wrong-way driving, running red lights, drink-driving and street racing get no warning. Officers must also stop wearing balaclavas and take off sunglasses when they approach a driver.

Traffic police across Thailand should warn drivers stopped for a minor first offence before fining them, under a Royal Thai Police order dated 25 October.

Why it matters: officers may not press drivers to pay on the spot or ask for money or favours, and anyone stopped should be told the payment deadline and the lawful ways to pay.

It is an internal instruction; the fines themselves are unchanged. Officers must check a driver’s warning history in the police ticket system first, and repeat offenders may face stepped-up fines.

The order went from the police Traffic Management Center, on the national police chief’s direction, to Bangkok police and all nine provincial regions.

What to do If you're stopped, ask for a written ticket and don't hand over cash at the roadside.

The Thursday Newsletter

The week, every Thursday.

The stories that matter most, plus what's on and one guide, in the Thursday Newsletter.

What's on in Bangkok this weekend
Entry and visa changes, in plain English
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