Pol Lt Phacharada Phulpiphat, Deputy Inspector of Investigation at Phuket City Police, was called to the scene, the old Imperial Hotel, an abandoned building on Phuket Rd, at about 8pm.
The seven-story hotel, which has been abandoned since the COVID-19 pandemic and is under the care of Phuket City Municipality, is located in a busy area of Phuket’s Old Town, with many tourists and diners present nearby at the time.
Officers found the body of a woman on the rooftop of the first floor, lying face up. She was identified as ‘Ms Ratchanok’ (surname withheld), 44, a homeless woman with a history of mental illness who had been living on the third floor of the building.
Officers estimated that she had been dead for about two days.
According to a witness, the woman had been seen dancing on the third floor three days earlier. At around 1pm yesterday, she was last observed lying in the same position before a concerned citizen noticed her motionless at around 7pm and alerted authorities.
Dr Athit Suravisankul, a forensic doctor at Vachira Phuket Hospital, examined the body and found no initial signs of struggle or assault.
Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation transported the body to the Vachira hospital for a detailed post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
Phumin Chulai, 19, a witness who had been dining on a nearby rooftop, stated that a foreign tourist noticed the body and alerted restaurant staff, who then contacted the police.
He mentioned that the building had been abandoned for a long time and that homeless individuals likely took shelter there.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
If you or anyone you know is in need of emotional support and counselling, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand at their hotline 02-1136789 (English & Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai).