Smoke and burning smell reported from cracks in Phuket road
Residents have asked authorities to investigate smoke, a burning smell and intermittent popping sounds reportedly coming from cracks near Ban Lipon Intersection in Thalang.
Smoke and a burning smell were reported coming from cracks in a road near Ban Lipon Intersection in Phuket’s Thalang district, prompting residents to seek an urgent inspection.
Residents asked the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and other relevant agencies to investigate after light smoke was seen rising through the road surface. People in the area said they believed the smell resembled burning electrical cable, although the source had not been confirmed.
A Thai woman who runs a som tam stall nearby said she first noticed the smoke on the morning of 20 September while it was raining. She initially thought a cigarette had been dropped on the road, but said nobody was smoking nearby. The smoke had stopped by late morning, she said.
Residents also reported hearing intermittent popping sounds from beneath the road. They said the problem could involve an underground power line, a communications cable or another source.
The junction carries heavy traffic, and residents expressed concern about possible risks to motorists and pedestrians if a fault beneath the road is involved. The stall operator said the incident was frightening and claimed that no agency had visited to investigate or repair the road.
At the time of reporting on 21 September, the PEA and other relevant government agencies had not issued a statement. It was also unclear whether smoke was still coming from the cracks or whether the problem had stopped.
