Late-Night Fire Show Sparks Safety Concerns in Phuket
Foreigners performing fire-spinning stunts blocked a road in Phuket's Bang Tao area late at night on September 24, drawing safety concerns from residents amid allegations of cannabis use and traffic disruption.
Phuket residents expressed concern after a group of foreigners allegedly gathered on a road in Phuket's Bang Tao area late at night, with some spinning flaming objects and reportedly blocking traffic.
Local Facebook pages published photos of the incident, which they said occurred around 23:00 on 24 September on a road in Ban Bang Tao, Choeng Thale subdistrict, Thalang district.
According to the posts, a group of foreigners believed to be Russian nationals gathered for a fire-spinning activity and a loud party late at night. The posts also alleged that there was a smell of cannabis in the area, while some people danced and spun objects with flames on the road.
The activity reportedly blocked the route, preventing vehicles from passing normally and raising safety concerns as the incident took place in a residential community.
Photos posted by the pages showed several people standing on the road, with some holding and spinning objects with flames. Others were seen watching from the roadside, while several cars were parked nearby.
The posts prompted a range of comments on social media, including criticism of the authorities and calls for tighter controls on foreign visitors.
However, the claims remain unverified. There has been no confirmation from authorities regarding the nationalities of the people shown in the photos, nor any confirmation that cannabis or other drugs were being used.
Authorities in the area have yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Further updates will be reported if officials confirm or clarify the circumstances.
