PHUKET, THAILAND – A Chinese tourist was injured by a stray bullet at a Phuket shooting range, prompting a wide‑ranging safety inspection and police investigation.
Incident at Kathu Shooting Range
The visitor was on the Kathu Shooting Range in Phuket on 19 March 2026 when he was struck by a stray round. According to authorities, the shot had apparently been fired by a staff member of the facility and missed its intended target. The injured man required medical treatment, and there was no final information on his condition.
Police opened an investigation immediately after the incident became known. At the same time, District Chief Akkarapol Suttirak Jitsupap sent an inspection team to review the range.
Official inspection reveals mixed picture
Senior Deputy District Officer Thammarong Chuayaksorn and the Kathu Volunteer Defense Corps examined all documentation related to the shooting range. Licences, firearms permits and ammunition imports were formally in order, leaving no initial legal basis for intervention. On paper, the operation complied with the relevant regulations.
However, the inspection uncovered structural deficiencies at the facility. Existing safety measures did not meet the standards required for safe operation, and the physical layout failed to provide adequate protection against stray rounds.
Order for structural safety upgrades
Authorities ordered the operators to build new concrete walls and install a barrier separating the staff residential area from the firing line. Existing walls had to be reinforced to increase protection for people on and around the range. A spokesman for the district administration said the safety of guests and staff had to be the top priority.
Until these measures were completed, the range would remain under heightened observation by the authorities. Officials warned that another incident could have serious consequences for the continued operation of the business.
Investigation into possible negligence
Police were examining whether the staff member could be accused of negligence. Criminal consequences for both the employee and the range operators were not ruled out, and the exact circumstances that led to the stray bullet formed part of the ongoing investigation. The probe focused on individual conduct as well as overall safety management at the site.
The injured tourist remained under medical care following the incident. The Chinese embassy was informed about the case, according to local authorities.
Signal to all shooting range operators on the island
Officials said the case demonstrated that formally correct licensing was not a sufficient guarantee of structural safety. They announced increased checks on all shooting ranges across Phuket, with particular attention to physical safeguards against stray fire. A police spokesman stated that risks to tourists would not be tolerated.
The operators of the Kathu Shooting Range were urged to implement the required upgrades without delay. Authorities stressed that investments in protective measures were not optional add‑ons, but a basic condition for maintaining the licence to operate.