Phuket authorities have renewed warnings to tourists about the dangers of swimming during monsoon season, following three fatal drowning incidents in less than two days.
The drownings occurred despite the presence of red warning flags placed along popular beaches, meant to signal hazardous conditions caused by rough seas in the Andaman region.
On June 11, a 41-year-old male tourist from Kazakhstan drowned at Kata Beach in Karon Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. Emergency responders performed CPR at the scene before transporting the victim to Chalong Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Around the same time, lifeguards at Surin Beach in Thalang District reported another drowning involving a foreign female tourist near Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Talay Subdistrict. She was pulled from the water without a pulse. Despite efforts by the local rescue team to revive her and transfer her to Thalang Hospital, she was also declared dead.
These incidents came just a day after the death of a 41-year-old Albanian woman, who drowned while swimming at Karon Beach on June 10. The woman had been in the water with her 43-year-old Egyptian husband during their first day in Phuket. Lifeguards located her and attempted resuscitation without success. Her body was transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital for further examination.
Officials have stressed that red flags, written in Thai, English, Chinese, and Russian, are clearly displayed along affected beaches. They caution that even waters appearing calm or shallow may conceal dangerous undercurrents and powerful waves capable of pulling swimmers into deeper water.
Representatives from local administrative organizations and rescue units were present during rescue operations and have reiterated their request for all beach visitors to heed safety warnings issued during the monsoon period.
