The device found at Patong Beach was uncovered at about 3:45pm behind a hotel on the Patong beach road (Theweewong Rd), just 50 metres from where the first device was found.
Pol Lt Col Wichet Suwanno of the Patong Police was alerted to the discovery and quickly reported the incident to Pol Col Chalermchai Hirasawat, Superintendent of Patong Police Station.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officers, along with Phuket Provincial Forensic Science officers, were dispatched to the scene where they found the device buried in the sand, measuring about 45 centimetres in diameter.
Officers safely isolated the device, cut off its detonation circuit and prepared it for further examination at the Region 8 Forensic Science Office.
The discovery followed searches at Surin Beach earlier today, where officers found two “suspicious objects”, as officials are consistently calling them, after a suspect confessed to planting them in the area.
EOD teams from Region 8 Police, Phuket Provincial Police, Cherng Talay Police and local administrative officers used scanning equipment and metal detectors to comb Surin Beach.
Their search led to the discovery of one suspicious object buried under a tree near a bathroom at a site where the Department of Public Works is currently working on beach landscape improvements.
EOD officers neutralized the device using controlled destruction procedures.
Later today, at about 5:20pm, a second suspicious object was found at Surin Beach near a police box and lifeguard station.
The object was concealed inside a green resealable drink container. Officers safely disabled the device and collected it for forensic analysis.
Authorities confirmed that all “suspicious objects” linked to the suspect’s confession have now been found across Phuket.
However, police are continuing to investigate the incidents and are working to ensure public safety in the affected areas.