Save these three now
Thailand doesn't use a single all-purpose emergency number, so put these in your phone today: 191 for police, 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 199 for fire and rescue. If your Thai is limited — as it is for most new arrivals — the number that matters most is 1155, the Tourist Police, staffed 24/7 with English-speaking operators who can then bring in whatever service you need. Koh Tao's emergency profile is shaped by its identity as one of the world's busiest dive-training islands: decompression sickness and diving safety matter here more than almost anywhere else in Thailand, and the island's own 24-hour hyperbaric recompression chamber (operating since 2023) is a major safety asset most other Thai islands don't have. For non-dive emergencies, the same national numbers apply, with serious cases transferred by speedboat to Koh Samui. For hospital quality, costs and insurance, pair this with the Koh Tao healthcare guide; to avoid trouble in the first place, see the Koh Tao safety guide.
Emergency & useful numbers
The core lines are toll-free and answered around the clock. When in doubt as a foreigner, start with the Tourist Police (1155) — they will coordinate the rest.
| Service | Number | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Dive emergency / recompression chamber (Koh Tao) | 081 081 9777 | The island's 24-hour dive-emergency and evacuation-centre line, at Mae Haad Square. Koh Tao has had its own multiplace recompression chamber since 2023 — before that, every suspected case of the bends began with a boat to Koh Samui. Save this before your first dive, not after it. |
| Rescue Koh Tao (island first responders) | 087 979 0191 or 1333 | A branch of a Surat Thani non-profit foundation running a 24-hour land and sea rescue service from an office in Chalok Baan Kao, behind the Subdistrict Municipality building. On an island this size they are often on scene before anyone else, and they also coordinate boat evacuations off Koh Tao. |
| Koh Tao Hospital (government, Mae Haad) | 077 456 490 | The island's only government hospital, just off the 'up road' a couple of minutes from the piers. Outpatients roughly 08:00–16:00 daily, with a 24-hour emergency medical service and its own ambulance. Bring your passport — foreigners register at reception. |
| Thai Inter Medical Clinic (private, 24hr) | 077 332 511 | Open around the clock with a physician on standby at 2/80 Moo 2 — the usual choice for a scooter accident in the middle of the night. Also liaises with international insurers. |
| Ocean Medical Clinic (private, Mae Haad) | 077 423 801 | 1/53 Moo 2, opposite Krungsri Bank, daily 09:00–24:00. English-speaking physicians, X-ray, labs, and the multiplace hyperbaric chamber for decompression sickness and dive-related ear injuries. |
| Koh Tao Police Station | 077 456 631 | On the Chalok Baan Kao–Aow Leuk road. Use this for a report you need in writing — a stolen passport, a scooter deposit dispute, an accident report for insurance. |
| Police (general emergency) | 191 | The universal police line for any crime or emergency. Operators may have limited English — for foreigners, 1155 is often the better first call. |
| Medical emergency / ambulance | 1669 | The national emergency medical hotline (24hr, free). Dispatches the nearest ambulance. English can be limited, so state your location clearly or have a Thai speaker help. |
| Tourist Police (English-speaking) | 1155 | The single most useful number for foreigners. Round-the-clock English (and other languages) — use it for any incident, from theft to a road accident to being scammed. |
| Fire & rescue | 199 | Fire, rescue and hazardous incidents nationwide. |
| Tourist assistance / TAT | 1672 | The Tourism Authority of Thailand call centre — general help, directions and guidance (not for life-threatening emergencies). |
| Highway / traffic police | 1193 | For accidents and incidents on highways and inter-city roads. |
| Immigration Bureau hotline | 1178 | For visa, overstay and immigration questions (not emergencies). |
Where to go for emergency care
Koh Tao Hospital in Mae Haad and several dive-focused clinics handle routine care, minor injuries and initial dive-incident assessment; the island's 24-hour hyperbaric recompression chamber is the key asset for decompression sickness. For anything beyond that — major trauma, surgery or specialist care — patients are ferried to Koh Samui hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital Samui. Divers should also know their dive operator's DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance and emergency procedures. For hospital-by-hospital detail, costs and insurance, see the Koh Tao healthcare guide.
What to do in a medical emergency
For a life-threatening situation, call 1669 for an ambulance and state your exact location — a building name, a nearby landmark or a Google Maps pin helps enormously. If you can't get through in English, ask a Thai speaker nearby, hotel staff or your accommodation's front desk to call for you. Carry your passport and insurance card, and if you have travel or health insurance, phone their 24-hour assistance line early — many will guarantee payment directly to the hospital so you avoid a large upfront deposit.
Accident, theft or trouble — who to call
For any crime, accident or dispute, the Tourist Police on 1155 is your English-speaking first call; for a general police response, dial 191. After a road accident, get anyone injured help first (1669), then wait for police before moving vehicles — insurers and rental companies need the scene documented, so photograph the vehicles, positions, damage, plates and the other party's details, and never admit fault on the spot. For theft or a scam, file a police report (you'll need it for any insurance or replacement claim). See the Koh Tao safety guide for the fuller local picture.
Lost or stolen passport
Work through it in order. One: file a police report — visit a local station or call the Tourist Police (1155); you'll need the report for both a replacement and immigration. Two: contact your embassy to apply for an emergency travel document or a new passport (bring the police report, photos and any ID copy you have). Three: because your passport carries your visa and entry stamp, report to Thai Immigration so your visa details are transferred to the new document before you travel. Keep a photo or photocopy of your passport photo page and visa stamp stored separately — do this before anything goes wrong. For visa and reporting matters, see the Koh Tao immigration office guide.
Koh Tao emergency questions
What is the emergency number in Koh Tao?
There isn't one single number as in some countries — Thailand uses separate lines nationwide, and Koh Tao is no exception. Save these three: 191 for police, 1669 for a medical emergency or ambulance, and 199 for fire and rescue. As a foreigner, the number to call first is usually 1155, the Tourist Police, because it is staffed around the clock with English-speaking operators who can then coordinate the right service for you.
Which number do I call for an ambulance in Koh Tao?
Dial 1669, the national emergency medical hotline — it is free, operates 24 hours and dispatches the nearest ambulance. English can be limited, so state your location as clearly as possible or ask a Thai speaker to help. On Koh Tao specifically there are two better first calls than 1669: Rescue Koh Tao, the island's own 24-hour rescue foundation, on 087 979 0191 or 1333, and Koh Tao Hospital direct on 077 456 490 — the hospital has its own ambulance. Do not plan on hailing a rideshare: Grab and Bolt have no driver coverage on Koh Tao, so for a serious but stable case it is a songthaew, a neighbour's pickup or your dive school's truck straight to Koh Tao Hospital or Thai Inter Medical Clinic.
Does the Tourist Police speak English?
Yes. The Tourist Police hotline, 1155, is specifically set up for foreign visitors and residents, with English-speaking operators (and access to interpreters in other languages) available 24/7. It is the best single number to save if your Thai is limited — they handle theft, scams, accidents and general trouble, and will loop in the regular police, ambulance or fire service as needed.
Where is the nearest emergency care in Koh Tao?
Koh Tao Hospital in Mae Haad (077 456 490) is the government hospital, a two-minute walk up from the ferry piers, with a 24-hour emergency service, X-ray, a laboratory and its own ambulance. Thai Inter Medical Clinic (077 332 511) is the private clinic that stays open around the clock, and Ocean Medical Clinic in Mae Haad (077 423 801, daily 09:00–24:00) handles dive medicine and runs the island's multiplace hyperbaric chamber. For anything beyond that — major trauma, surgery or specialist care — patients are ferried to Koh Samui hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital Samui. Divers should also know their dive operator's DAN (Divers Alert Network) insurance and emergency procedures.
What do I do for a diving emergency on Koh Tao?
Call 081 081 9777 — the island's 24-hour dive-emergency and evacuation-centre line at Mae Haad Square — and tell your dive operator at the same time; every dive shop on Koh Tao is drilled for this. Koh Tao has had its own multiplace recompression chamber on-island since 2023, run in partnership with the SSS Recompression Chamber Network, so a suspected case of the bends no longer starts with a boat to Koh Samui. Get to the chamber as fast as possible and avoid flying or ascending to altitude until a dive-medicine physician clears you. If you have DAN or dive-specific insurance, call their emergency line early — it can guarantee treatment and evacuation costs directly.
What should I do if I lose my passport in Koh Tao?
First, file a police report (visit a local police station or call the Tourist Police on 1155) — you'll need the report to get a replacement and to satisfy immigration. Then contact your embassy to apply for an emergency travel document or a new passport. Finally, because your passport holds your visa and entry stamp, you must report to Thai Immigration to have your visa details transferred to the new document before you travel.
This guide is general information for relocation planning, not medical, safety or legal advice. Phone numbers and hospital details change — confirm current contacts with local authorities, your embassy and the Tourist Police, and in any emergency call the official lines above.
Sources & References
- Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
- Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Primary and official sources are cited above. Government rules, fees and procedures in Thailand change over time and vary by office; always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before relying on them. BAANLYY never takes paid placement in editorial content.
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