Other MoA event in Koh Phangan Island area, Thailand on Mon 19th October 2026

Thai news reports on October 19 stated that a stabbing incident occurred between Myanmar workers on a fishing boat in the sea off Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand, causing one of them to fall into the sea.

A naval officer told reporters that Maritime Police Division 3, Subdivision 6, received a report of a stabbing incident between Myanmar workers aboard a fishing boat more than seven nautical miles from Koh Phangan Island in Surat Thani Province. A patrol vessel was immediately dispatched and rescue operations were carried out.

At the scene, a Myanmar worker named Ko Than had suffered a stab wound to the neck, as well as stab wounds to his right shoulder, left arm, and back. He had lost a large amount of blood and was experiencing breathing difficulties, so officials administered first aid and quickly transported him to Koh Samui Public Hospital.

The perpetrator of the stabbing escaped by swimming in the waters near the boat, but officials were able to arrest him at around 7:00 p.m.

According to the account of a fisherman who witnessed the incident, he was working at the bow of the boat when he heard an argument coming from the stern. When he ran over to look, he saw a man named Ko San slashing Ko Than's neck with a knife. He tried to intervene and stop the attack, but Ko San also struck his right arm with the knife. Fortunately, because the shirt he was wearing was thick, he did not suffer any serious injuries.

At that moment, Ko Than, who had been stabbed, fell into the water, and Ko San also jumped into the sea while holding the knife.

The eyewitness fisherman said that he jumped into the water, rescued Ko Than, and pulled him back onto the boat, after which the boat captain immediately notified the maritime police. The condition of Ko Than, who is in hospital, is not yet known.

The maritime rescue team said that Ko San, 29 years old, appeared to be mentally unstable, and he was transferred to the Koh Phangan police station for legal action.