Ms. Wanfei Qu, CEO of SKYWORTH PV, and Mr. Tan Pinthanon, Managing Director of Solve System Group, at the signing ceremony for their 150MW solar energy partnership in Thailand.
BANGKOK — SKYWORTH Photovoltaic has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Solve System (Thailand) for a combined 150MW solar energy initiative, comprising a 120MW utility-scale project and 30MW of residential solar installations.
The agreement, announced as China and Thailand mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, positions Thailand as SKYWORTH PV’s central hub for ASEAN operations.
Strategic Partnership Details
Under the partnership, SKYWORTH PV will supply solar modules, inverters, energy storage systems, and provide technical support, while Solve System will manage regional operations and leverage its established distribution network.
“This partnership is more than a signing—it is a symbol of trust, shared values, and shared vision,” said Ms. Wanfei Qu, Chief Investment Officer of SKYWORTH Group and CEO of SKYWORTH PV. “Clean energy will be one of the most promising areas for China-Thailand cooperation moving forward.”
Ms. Wanfei Qu, of SKYWORTH Group, Director & CEO of SKYWORTH PV, and President of SKYWORTH Renewable Energy (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Market Expansion Plans
SKYWORTH PV, which entered Thailand earlier this year, plans to expand into commercial and industrial projects within three to five years. The company previously partnered with ICBC (Thailand) and Olympus Capital in July to support green finance initiatives.
Mr. Tan Pinthanon, Managing Director of Solve System Group, emphasized the partnership’s potential impact: “By combining advanced technology with local expertise, we aim to make renewable energy more accessible, reliable, and affordable for both households and businesses.”
Company Background
SKYWORTH Group, founded 37 years ago as an electronics manufacturer, expanded into renewable energy through SKYWORTH PV. The division now offers comprehensive solar solutions for residential and commercial markets.
Solve System specializes in innovation-driven energy solutions with established experience in Thailand’s solar sector.
The partnership aims to reduce grid reliance, lower energy costs, and support Thailand’s sustainability targets while enhancing energy independence across the region.
FILE - Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 9, 2025, the day before his inauguration for a third term. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)
OSLO, Norway (AP) — Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
The former opposition presidential candidate in Venezuela was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure in a political opposition that was once deeply divided — an opposition that found common ground in the demand for free elections and representative government,” said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.
“In the past year, Miss Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”
Chairman of the Nobel Committee, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, announces that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is the laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 in Oslo, Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Rodrigo Freitas/NTB Scanpix via AP)
There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President Donald Trump, fueled in part by the president himself, amplified by this week’s approval of his plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Experts say the committee typically focuses on the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity and the quiet work of institutions that strengthen those goals.
Last year’s award went to Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.
The peace prize is the only one of the annual Nobel prizes to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.
Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in medicine on Monday, physics on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.
Officials and airline executives mark the launch of Etihad Airways' first direct flight between Abu Dhabi and Krabi at the inaugural ceremony held at Krabi Airport on October 10, 2025.
KRABI — Etihad Airways launched its direct Abu Dhabi-Krabi route on October 10, marking a strategic milestone in Thailand’s efforts to attract premium travelers from the Middle East.
Ahman MadaAdam, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai Office, said TAT celebrated the inaugural flight on October 10 at Krabi Airport alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Etihad Airways CFO Raffael Quintas, and government and private sector executives.
Boosting Competitiveness
The direct route reduces travel time from over 12 hours to less than seven hours, making Thailand a more attractive destination for affluent Middle Eastern tourists who previously favored Europe or the Maldives.
“The Middle East is one of the world’s highest-potential tourism markets,” Ahman said. “This direct flight makes Thailand closer, more convenient, and better value for upper-tier travelers from the region.”
Ribbon-cutting ceremony for Etihad Airways’ inaugural Abu Dhabi-Krabi flight at Krabi Airport, October 10, 2025
Targeting Quality Over Quantity
The route aligns with TAT’s “Value over Volume” strategy, focusing on high-spending travelers rather than mass tourism. This approach aims to increase tourism revenue without overwhelming local infrastructure or exceeding destination capacity.
The launch follows close collaboration among TAT, the Department of Airports, and Etihad Airways. TAT has implemented systematic marketing initiatives, including familiarization trips for GCC media and key opinion leaders, and developed tourism routes connecting Krabi with other destinations like Chiang Mai.
Krabi’s popularity rises among Thailand’s top 10 romantic tourism provinces.
Economic Ripple Effects
The new route is expected to benefit luxury hotels, health resorts, halal restaurants, spas, tour operators, and local service providers across Krabi and neighboring provinces. It will also stimulate employment and attract new investment to the region.
Beyond economic gains, the direct connection enhances Thailand’s international profile as a world-class, easily accessible destination—a key objective in TAT’s long-term positioning strategy.
The Abu Dhabi-Krabi route represents a significant step in capturing a greater share of one of the world’s most lucrative tourism markets.
“Sustainability, strategy and risk are the three dimensions of the same thing, which is the longevity of business. So, sustainability for us is not only about environmental protection. It’s actually really about survival of the business together with our stakeholders,” said ThaiBev Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability and Strategy, Tongjai Thanachanan. She highlighted the essence of sustainability in an ever-changing world during the “Sustainability as an Engine for Growth” forum at Sustainability Expo 2025 in Bangkok held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.
The ThaiBev executive stressed that sustainability initiatives are definitely not additional cost, but actually an integral part of the operations. They are a way to manage risk, and enable them to improve efficiency and cost-competitiveness.
The statement resonated with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s vision of positioning the city as a marketable brand, leading the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to appoint Pornphrom Vikitsreth as its first Chief Sustainability Officer.
“The governor sees that Bangkok has to fight against other cities in Asia on how to attract people to come, and not only come to travel as a tourist for a short stay, and move somewhere else. But how to attract them to come and live in Bangkok, decided to move themselves, move their families or even as a company to move their regional office. And this is very much linked to sustainability.”
But for Thai seafood supplier Thai Union, it started purely as a cost. “It has evolved since then — that was 10 years ago. Today, we view sustainability very much as a competitive advantage and a key driver of our growth,” said Thai Union Chief Sustainability and Communication Officer, Adam Brennan.
By 2023, Thai Union introduced its “SeaChange 2030” strategy — what Brennan described as the most ambitious and holistic the seafood sector has ever seen. Not only was it designed to address the company’s social and environmental impacts while capturing commercial opportunities, but it was also positioned to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders including NGOs.
“Today, our sustainability program opens doors — doors that were otherwise closed. It allows us to make connections with new retailers that unlock new opportunities for our organization. It also helps us close commercial deals — deals that were on the table for a long, long time, but positioning sustainability as a key differentiator. And it helps us close some of those commercial deals. While protecting people and planet”.
What seemed like just a strategy for improved image a decade ago has now evolved into much more. Thai Union has established itself as trusted supplier for retailers worldwide, at the same time, sharing knowledge and experience with Thai farms and vessels.
“So, in today’s world, we’ve moved from viewing sustainability as brand protection to brand value,” Brennan concluded.
As for Aviation business — often viewed as a nemesis for sustainability — AirAsia CSO Mun Ching Yap admitted that they first had to understand and accept that carbon cost is going to be part of business cost. Managing this cost means understanding various options for carbon abatement. “The biggest one for us would be efficiencies. As a low-cost airline, we have been very strict on efficiency.”
As far as the aviation industry operates, there are limits to what one airline can do on its own. According to Yap, AirAsia has come into conflict with regulators for so many years.
“Regulators would typically look at safety only. But safety and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. With the entire change in international aviation regulation, sustainability is now also a target for regulators”.
Yap said that change became an opportunity for AirAsia to engage regulators in discussions about improving efficiency, especially in airspace management, which would help airlines reduce fuel consumption. “Then you have the option of using new innovations. You may have heard of sustainable aviation fuels — It’s a nice concept in principle, but it comes at a price that most airlines cannot afford.”
Yap added that AirAsia is among several airlines that have invested heavily in operational efficiency. This includes upgrading its fleet and improving pilot flight operations.
As Thailand moves toward a low-carbon future, corporate sustainability leaders share a common vision — collaboration, innovation, accountability, and capacity building will drive the transition from ambition to action. Sustainability is no longer a choice, but a long-term commitment — and the only way forward for everyone to thrive in a changing world.
Professor Dr. Theeranee Achalakul, Director of the Big Data Institute, presents the Envi Link platform
CHIANG MAI — The Big Data Institute (BDI) has launched “Envi Link,” a national environmental data platform that integrates over 200 datasets from more than 30 agencies to systematically address PM2.5 pollution. Chiang Mai Province serves as the pilot area for this data-driven environmental management system.
Partners of the “Clean Air Driven by Big Data” project met October 9-10 at Centara Riverside Hotel Chiang Mai to prepare for the upcoming winter season when PM2.5 levels typically surge.
Real-Time Monitoring and Decision Making
Siwakorn Buapong, Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province, said the integrated data system represents a crucial turning point in environmental management. Data dashboards enable administrators to monitor real-time situations, analyze trends, and make evidence-based decisions systematically.
“This collaboration goes beyond solving air pollution—it creates a model ‘clean air city’ where government, private sector, academia, and citizens use the same data to monitor situations and plan prevention strategies together,” Siwakorn said.
Deputy Governor of Chiang Mai Province
Multi-Dimensional Data Integration
Professor Dr. Theeranee Achalakul, BDI Director, said the platform compiles multi-dimensional data including dust levels, hotspots, burned areas, Fire-D system permits, patient statistics, and air quality sensor readings from agencies nationwide. This enables real-time access to interconnected data for precise and timely problem management.
The platform has been designated as the central database for nationwide PM2.5 management following recommendations from the working group on air pollution reduction measures.
Envi Link offers over 15 analytical dashboards, including provincial dust management indicators, Fire-D permit comparisons with actual burned areas, and real-time air quality data from sources like RGUARD, DustBoy, Air4Thai, DPM Alert, and Check Dust.
Panel discussion on PM2.5 management strategies at the “Clean Air Driven by Big Data” project meeting, October 10, 2025, Centara Riverside Hotel Chiang Mai
Expansion and Future Development
BDI plans to extend Envi Link to eight upper northern provinces, creating a regional environmental data system for area-specific policies, forest fire management, and sustainable PM2.5 reduction.
The project is supported by the Science, Research and Innovation Fund under the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), with key partners including Chiang Mai University, the Highland Research and Development Institute, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, and the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research.
A sign in the middle of a road in Chiang Mai states that PM2.5 levels on March 18, 2024, are at an unhealthy level.
Smart Environment Driving
Future applications include tracking burned areas by crop type using satellite imagery and identifying high-potential areas for crop transition to reduce burning while increasing economic value.
“Operations in Chiang Mai are not only the starting point for environmental data integration, but also a significant step in driving ‘Smart Environment’ under the government’s Smart City policy. The goal is to make data a critical tool for policy design, natural resource management, and creating sustainable quality of life for citizens,” Professor Dr. Theeranee said.
Residents stay beside a damaged house after a strong earthquake in Davao City, southern Philippines on Friday Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manman Dejeto)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A 7.4-magnitude earthquake Friday morning off the southern Philippines killed at least two people, damaged a hospital and schools, knocked out power and prompted evacuations of coastal areas nearby due to a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., facing his latest natural disaster after a previous earthquake and back-to-back storms, said the potential damage was being assessed and rescue teams and relief operations were being prepared and would be deployed when it was safe to do so.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it was expecting damage and aftershocks from the earthquake, which was centered at sea about 43 kilometers (27 miles) east of Manay town in Davao Oriental province and was caused by movement in the Philippine Trench at a depth of 23 kilometers (14 miles).
At least two people died after being pinned in damaged houses in Davao Oriental, provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang Sr. told ABS-CBN News Channel, adding that about 250 patients were evacuated from a damaged hospital and would be temporarily housed in tents.
Health workers rush a person injured by an earhtquake to a hospital compound in Davao city, Philippines Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Meggy Macion Santos via AP)
Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said several buildings sustained cracks in their walls, including an international airport in Davao city, but it remained operational without any flights being canceled, Alejandro said.
“I was driving my car when it suddenly swayed and I saw powerlines swaying wildly. People darted out of houses and buildings as the ground shook and electricity came off,” Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer of Gov. Generoso town in Davao Oriental, told The Associated Press by cellphone.
“We’ve had earthquakes in the past, but this was the strongest,” Saavedra said, adding that the intense ground swaying caused cracks in several buildings, including a high school, where about 50 students were brought to a hospital by ambulance after sustaining bruises, fainting or becoming dizzy due to the earthquake.
Gov. Generoso is a town about 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Manay, where classes in all levels were also suspended.
Children evacuated schools in Davao city, which has about 5.4 million people and is the biggest city near the epicenter, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Davao Oriental province.
Children evacuate a school after a strong earthquake in Davao City, Philippines on Friday Oct. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Manman Dejeto)
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said small waves were detected on the coasts of the Philippines and Indonesia before the threat passed about two hours after the quake. It said small sea fluctuations may continue.
A tsunami warning that set off evacuations in six coastal provinces near Davao Oriental was later lifted without any major waves being detected, chief government seismologist Teresito Bacolcol said.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency said small tsunami waves were detected in North Sulawesi province with heights ranging from 3.5 to 17 centimeters (1.3 to 6.7 inches) in Melonguane, Beo, Essang and Ganalo in Talaud Islands districts.
The Philippines is still recovering from a Sept. 30 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 that left at least 74 people dead and displaced thousands of people in the central province of Cebu, particularly in Bogo city and outlying towns.
Families gather during the burial of earthquake victims at the New Corazon Cemetery in Bogo City, Cebu province, central Philippines on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Hernandez)
The archipelago also is lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, making disaster response a major task of the government and volunteer groups.
Also Friday, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 struck Friday off the coast of Papua New Guinea. The U.S. Geological Survey said it was centered in the Bismarck Sea 414 kilometers (257 miles) northeast of Lae, the South Pacific island nation’s second-most populous city.
Lae police official Mary Jane Huafilong said no damage was reported.
ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading Southeast Asian hospitality management company with a diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences, is deepening its commitment to sustainability by transforming its approach to dining. The Group has begun working directly with local farmers across Thailand who practise sustainable production methods, sourcing premium ingredients that celebrate provenance and reduce environmental impact.
At ONYX’s properties in Thailand, these ingredients form the foundation of menus that are not only refined and flavourful, but also rooted in the stories of the communities from which they are sourced. Guests can enjoy exceptional cuisine while experiencing a more meaningful connection to place and culture.
This initiative highlights ONYX’s two core principles: “Responsible Sourcing,” which emphasises the careful selection of ingredients that benefit consumers, society, and the environment, and “Empowering Local,” which focuses on supporting local producers in achieving stable, sustainable growth. Together, these principles not only elevate ONYX’s service standards but also create added value for guests—allowing them to be part of the sustainability journey with every meal crafted from thoughtfully sourced premium ingredients.
Artist's rendering of The Central Phahonyothin, showcasing the mixed-use development's modern design
BANGKOK — Central Pattana (CPN) has unveiled The Central Phahonyothin, a 21-billion-baht ($642 million) mega-project designed to transform the Ladprao–Phahonyothin area into “The Next CBD” of Bangkok, surpassing established business districts like Ploenchit and Sathorn. The ambitious development is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Chanavat Uahwatanasakul, President of the Shopping Center Business and Project Development Group at Central Pattana, said The Central Phahonyothin builds on the success of Central Ladprao, Thailand’s first mixed-use development that revolutionized the country’s retail landscape.
“This new project will become a world-class landmark, enhancing the rapidly growing potential of the district,” Chanavat said.
Spanning 49 rai (approximately 19.4 acres), the project boasts a total gross building area of 457,409 square meters. A standout feature is its 6,700-square-meter convention hall, designed to host international conferences and concerts, positioning the district as Bangkok’s next major business hub.
Three Pillars of Growth
Dr. Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, Chief Marketing Officer, outlined three key factors driving confidence in the project’s success:
Strategic Location and Connectivity
The project occupies a prime position connecting two major arteries—Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahonyothin Roads—and serves as a transit hub for both MRT and BTS systems. The MRT Blue Line carries approximately 15,600 passengers daily, while the BTS Green Line handles around 35,100 passengers per day.
Currently, about 337,000 vehicles traverse Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahonyothin Roads daily. The site’s proximity to Don Mueang Airport, which handles approximately 30 million passengers annually with expansion plans underway, positions it as a gateway for both domestic and international visitors. CPN projects a 30% increase in visitor traffic following the development’s opening.
The Central Phahonyothin construction site as seen in 2024, before the project’s scheduled completion in Q4 2026.
Robust Catchment Area
The Ladprao–Phahonyothin zone encompasses a population of approximately 2.5 million and includes 472 residential projects, with more than half classified as upper-segment. The area’s purchasing power is 2.3 times higher than the Bangkok average, while sales per square meter and visitor traffic are 45% and 2.19 times higher, respectively, compared to inner-city malls.
The site is surrounded by 52 office buildings, including 15 Grade A offices, underscoring the area’s emergence as Bangkok’s future workplace hub. Office development in the capital continues to expand outward, particularly along the North Corridor of Phahonyothin and Vibhavadi Rangsit, attracting a growing workforce and consumer base.
Quality Urban Ecosystem
The project benefits from proximity to 51 leading schools (including 6 international schools), 9 top universities, and 41 hotels, creating a high-quality, multi-dimensional urban environment.
Construction underway at The Central Phahonyothin site along Phahonyothin Road, 2024
Land Values Rival Traditional CBDs
Isareit Chirathivat, Head of Leasing – Fashion & Luxury, noted that Phahonyothin’s potential now rivals Ratchaprasong in both infrastructure and demand from high-end residential, office, education, and hospitality sectors.
Land appraisal prices in the district have reached 1.9 million baht ($58,085) per square wah—equivalent to $14,521 per square meter—with an annual growth rate of 5%. These values are now outpacing traditional CBDs such as Sukhumvit, Silom, and Sathorn, solidifying the area’s status as a prime investment destination.
Recent data confirms that early Phahonyothin ranks among Thailand’s top 10 most expensive land zones in 2025.
A Curated Community Experience
Rather than simply being a shopping mall, The Central Phahonyothin will function as a “Curated Community” designed to cater to every generation under the concept of “The Central Playlist.”
Developed in collaboration with leading Thai and international designers, the project will feature signature spaces including Central Stage, Waterfall Courtyard, Fashion Playlist, and Creative Playlist, offering visitors fresh experiences with each visit.
Positioned as “The Landmark of Northern Bangkok,” The Central Phahonyothin is poised to redefine the city’s urban landscape and accelerate growth in the capital’s northern corridor.
Myanmar military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, center, talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, third from left, during their meeting at the military guest house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government on Thursday acknowledged attacking a religious festival held on the grounds of a school in central Myanmar, which witnesses said killed about two dozen people, including children, when improvised bombs were dropped by motorized paragliders.
A statement issued by the military’s information office blamed resistance forces opposed to army rule for the casualties in the Monday night attack, accusing them of “using civilians as human shields in their anti-government incitement campaigns.” Neither the government nor its opponents reported any armed combat near the scene of the bombing.
The attack took place in Myanmar’s Sagaing region and had already been reported by the country’s independent media and international outlets, including The Associated Press. A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday declared that the “indiscriminate use of airborne munitions is unacceptable.”
Witnesses told the AP that the paragliders carried out two sorties, each time dropping two bombs on the primary school compound in the village of Bon To in Chaung-U township, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The bombs, based on evidence from similar past attacks, were believed to have been 120 mm mortar rounds that explode on impact.
Initial reports of casualties varied slightly, but a member of a local resistance group who attended the event put the death toll at 24. Speaking on condition of anonymity to safeguard his personal security, he also estimated that 50 people had been wounded.
Screenshot
The resistance fighter said that children, villagers, members of local political activist groups and armed anti-military groups were among those killed.
The attack took place as more than 100 people were holding a traditional oil lamp prayer ceremony to mark the end of Buddhist Lent and using the occasion to call for the release of political prisoners and to protest the military’s planned election scheduled for December, which critics believe will be neither free nor fair.
The Sagaing region has been a stronghold of armed resistance since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now enmeshed in civil war.
Much of the fighting against military rule is been carried out by locally formed armed resistance groups loosely connected in a nationwide People’s Defense Force.
Myanmar military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, right, shakes hands with Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, left, during their meeting at the military guest house in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (The Myanmar Military True News Information Team via AP)
A statement issued Thursday by the military’s information office accused the resistance group of forcing the public to stage the Monday protest and using them as human shields, and said that “the security forces chose to attack as a counterterrorism operation with the plan of minimal civilian casualties.”
The resistance fighter and a local resident who attended Monday’s ceremony rejected the military’s accusations that civilians were forced to protest, saying that people joined the ceremony of their own free will. Pro-democracy street protests remain common on special occasions in areas outside military control, including central regions such as Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway, as well as Tanintharyi in the south.
In a separate statement, the military said that Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan on Thursday met with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military chief and acting president, to discuss the upcoming election, cooperation in humanitarian aid operations and peace efforts. Malaysia currently chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has been seeking without success to restore peace and stability to Myanmar.
Passengers aboard a Pattaya-bound ferry watch as Joshua, 36, an American man, swims away after jumping from the vessel near Koh Laan on October 9, 2025.
PATTAYA — A 40-year-old American man caused panic among passengers on a ferry bound for Tawaen Beach, Koh Laan, after jumping into the sea and repeatedly refusing rescue attempts on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred when the vessel reached the channel between Koh Krok and Koh Saak islands, less than 800 meters from Koh Laan. The man climbed to the bow and jumped into the water, then swam away from the boat. Passengers alerted the captain, who turned the vessel around to assist, but the man swam away and waved goodbye, refusing help.
After multiple unsuccessful rescue attempts, the captain radioed Pattaya’s marine rescue unit for assistance.
Hour-Long Rescue Operation
Ms. Kalaya Modetong, head of the Koh Laan rescue unit for the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation in Pattaya, who was on the ferry, captured part of the incident on video.
Rescue workers and police physically restrain Joshua, 36, an American tourist, as they bring him ashore at Pattaya Beach on October 9, 2025, following an hour-long ordeal at sea.
Pattaya City Police stationed on Koh Laan, tourist police, and the Pattaya Marine Rescue Team deployed rubber boats and patrol vessels to assist. When rescuers reached him, the American man swam away and jumped back into the water three times after being pulled aboard.
The chaotic scene lasted nearly an hour before rescue workers physically restrained him and brought him back to Pattaya Beach near Pattaya City Police Station.
Mental Health Concerns
The man was identified as Joshua, 36, a U.S. citizen, from New York. During questioning, he claimed he jumped because he wanted to swim in the sea and intended to swim to Koh Laan on his own, insisting he didn’t want anyone’s help.
However, authorities remain skeptical due to his erratic behavior and have transported him to a hospital for a thorough medical and psychiatric evaluation before proceeding with legal action.
The incident disrupted ferry services and raised concerns about passenger safety and mental health crises among tourists in the popular resort destination.
