PATTAYA, Thailand – On April 15, 2025, at 7:36 p.m., the lively Songkran water festival in Pattaya took a turn as traffic police intervened to address safety hazards caused by water trucks obstructing roads. The vehicles, used for water fights and sometimes parked to sell water, were causing traffic jams and posing risks to both drivers and passersby, according to local reports.
Lieutenant Colonel PhanuPhong NimSuwan, Traffic Inspector at Pattaya City Police Station, deemed the situation unsafe and a violation of traffic regulations. He ordered immediate inspections, leading officers to spot a six-wheeled water truck cruising past the station. Three Chinese tourists were perched on the back, gleefully spraying water. The police promptly escorted the vehicle to the station to check its permits and the legality of its water tank modifications.
The situation turned hectic when one of the tourists struggled to climb down from the truck. Officers and the driver scrambled to assist, taking over 15 minutes to safely help her to the ground. Police warned that without their help, the slippery conditions could have led to a fall and serious injury.
Lt. Col. PhanuPhong issued a public advisory to water truck operators and tourists ahead of the upcoming Wan Lai festival, a peak Songkran event, on April 19th. He urged them to avoid parking water trucks in ways that block traffic and to refrain from riding on the back of moving vehicles, citing the danger of falls. He also cautioned that high-pressure water sprays could injure others. “Violators will face legal action without exception,” he stressed.
