Tourist pulled from drain in Phuket's Kata Area

Lots of drainage construction going on in many places on Phuket, including kata.

Both the drain covers and the sidewalk paving around them can easily collapse. The strongest part of the covers seems to be the edges, which mostly stay intact. That's what I aim for when I'm walking down the sidewalk.

Just now, John Drake said:

Both the drain covers and the sidewalk paving around them can easily collapse. The strongest part of the covers seems to be the edges, which mostly stay intact. That's what I aim for when I'm walking down the sidewalk.

Next time you fall in, please upload videos.

20 hours ago, khunPer said:

I always try to avoid stepping on drain covers and like — you never know if the will last — and I'm also careful with any electric wires hanging around on walkways.

Learned this quick. There is a reason Thai's always walk around them.

Ecuador had open 3 foot deep holes in the sidewalk when they were constructing the Tram line. They believe in the you have two eyes and didn't see the danger you were about to get into.

To me it appears that the cover broke open by the gap shown between two cover pieces, woman's left foot appears to be pushing against a separated right side piece as she is pulled out.

Hope that tourist tax comes in quick as possible.

Drainage covers are probably top of the list of infrastructure improvements it’s meant to fund./s

Probably one of those many Zombies walking around while texting on their phone.

Lucky lady,wonder if her phone was involved in this mishap?

This would be a god-send to any work shy dosser in Blackburn.

Instant compensation from the council.

On 8/30/2026 at 6:09 AM, khunPer said:

I always try to avoid stepping on drain covers and like — you never know if the will last — and I'm also careful with any electric wires hanging around on walkways.

Damn right - same applies in Pattaya - I will look and then step into the road rather than walk over a drain - especially one covered with a towel or old cloth!!

Ducking under wiring isn't my favourite pastime either 🤔

As much as I malign the UK Health and Safety rules as being too stringent, I really think they could teach Thailand something - if they could find anyone who wanted to listen, of course.

Edited Monday at 08:28 AM4 days by VBF

A few years ago, the same thing happened to me in Patong, near the beach. I was looking at my phone and didn't see the hole. It wasn't very deep, maybe 50 or 60 cm, so I was able to get out by myself, but I had cuts on my calves. I had to go to a pharmacy afterwards to buy some disinfectant. 😄

You really have to be careful and watch your step when walking around in Thailand!

21 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

One of the first things my wife told me when I came to live in Thailand was never step on drain covers. Some years ago a Bangkok mayor did a walkabout with the press to demonstrate how safe the pavements/sidewalks are - and he had a cover collapse under him and had to be rescued.

I ended up thigh deep in a drain once when getting on my motorbike. At my hotel so I was able to go to my room and clean up my leg and a few scratches. I could not give a good estimate of the number of rolled ankles I have had here, mostly walking from Big-CX down Klang!