• NewsOfficials investigating alleged encroachment in a Layan mangrove

    Officials investigating alleged encroachment in a Layan mangrove

    Local fishermen in Baan Layan have filed complaints to the Damrongdhama Centre at the Phuket City Hall yesterday (June 11) calling for an investigation over alleged mangrove encroachment in Cherng Talay. More than 20 of Layan’s local fishermen, led by Somsak Prokaew, have handed a letter of complaint to the Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung and the Phuket Fisheries Office…

  • NewsMonkey’s birth control starts in Phuket

    Monkey’s birth control starts in Phuket

    The start of the monkey sterilisation process has begun in Phuket today (June 12) after all the public meetings agreed that the island’s monkeys, in the public ‘hot’ zones, needed to be sterilised in a systematic program. Read more HERE. Five islands that have been surveyed as the monkey’s new home, are not in reserved forest areas. Authorities will be…

  • NewsVeterinarians unable to save striped dolphin

    Veterinarians unable to save striped dolphin

    The striped dolphin that was washed up on Kamala beach last week, died yesterday (June 11) while the sperm whale which was found at Coconut Island is reported to have died of ‘natural causes’. Read more HERE. Veterinarians at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit say, “The dolphin had a blood infection. We tried to help the dolphin to the…

  • NewsSlow loris found on the side of the road in Krabi

    Slow loris found on the side of the road in Krabi

    Krabi veterinarians have rescued a slow loris which had been injured from an electric shock by cutting its leg yesterday (June 11). The slow loris was found on the side of the road in Ao Nang this week. Veterinarian Julachart Julapetch of a private animal hospital in Krabi conducted an operation to rescue the male slow loris which appeared to…

  • NewsPhuket Town woman arrested with drugs

    Phuket Town woman arrested with drugs

    In a week of ‘crackdowns’, a woman has arrested with methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine in Phuket Town. A team of Phuket City Police have arrested 33 year old Hassaya ‘Pla’ Kamjanapong at Soi Taling Chan. Police seized 19.62 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 137 methamphetamine pills. She was taken to the Phuket City Police Station where she has been charged with…

  • NewsOne arrest leads to three other in the ongoing drug crackdown

    One arrest leads to three other in the ongoing drug crackdown

    A team from the Phuket Provincial Police, led by Lt Col Pongpan Siripattaranukun, last week arrested four drug suspects. On Monday (June 4), Police arrested 22 year old Chaianan ‘Ham’ Kaewamporn at a house in Kathu. Police seized 3.37 grams of crystal methamphetamine. He was taken to the Kathu Police Station. On Tuesday (June 5) police arrested 34 year old…

  • NewsUpgraded measures discussed over Chinese tourists safety

    Upgraded measures discussed over Chinese tourists safety

    At a meeting was held today (June 11), hosted by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen along with his guest, the Chinese Consulate-General in Phuket, Ma Cui Hong. Maj Gen Teeraphol says, “The meeting today is aimed at finding additional measures to assure the safety of Chinese tourists, especially warning and direction signs in the Chinese language, placed…

  • NewsThree more arrested in Phuket loan shark crackdown

    Three more arrested in Phuket loan shark crackdown

    Phuket Provincial Deputy Commander Col Sermpan Sirikong says, “We’ve arrested one male and two female suspects in a loan shark crackdown. From May 24 until now we have arrested 18 suspects.” Read more about last month’s arrests over loan shark charges HERE. “The male suspects are 41 year old Songkran Moonthongkam from Nakhon Pathom. He was arrested at a house in…

  • NewsTwo arrested over kratom in raids in Chalong

    Two arrested over kratom in raids in Chalong

    A team of Chalong police, with search warrants in hand, raided two houses in Chalong on Friday (June 8). Police first raided a house in Soi Palai at 5pm. Police arrested 22 year old Anuwat Khawon. Police seized 20 bundles of kratom leaves. Anuwat admitted that he came to the house to buy kratom leaves. The seller went had already…

  • NewsDead sperm whale found off Phuket under investigation

    Dead sperm whale found off Phuket under investigation

    Officials at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit are investigating yet another mammal washed up on our beaches, this time aa dead sperm whale which was washed up on a beach at Coconut Island on Saturday (June 9). Officials at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit were notified on Saturday afternoon that the dead whale has been washed onto the…

  • NewsBurmese national arrested over murder in Rassada

    Burmese national arrested over murder in Rassada

    A Burmese national killed another Myanmar man saying that he “was angry that his father was slapped on the face” yesterday (June 10). Phuket City Police were notified of an incident at a rented property in Rassada yesterday afternoon. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a 37 year old La, a Burmese national…

  • NewsThree sea turtles washed up on Phuket beaches

    Three sea turtles washed up on Phuket beaches

    A green turtle and two hawksbill sea turtles have been found on Laypang, Kata and Kamala Beaches yesterday (June 9). Officials at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit were notified by a staff member of a hotel in Cherng Talay that a turtle had been washed up on to Laypang Beach entangled in a fishing net. Hotel staff members were…

  • News80 % of hotels, hostels and guesthouses found illegal on Phi Phi Island

    80 % of hotels, hostels and guesthouses found illegal on Phi Phi Island

    It’s been a rough week for the island’s small to medium hostel and guesthouse operators with officials claiming that an astonishing 80% of them are illegal and don’t comply with regulations. This week Krabi official found more than 30 hotels, hostels and guesthouses have been adapting shop-houses and unsuitable buildings into guesthouses and back-packer accommodations. They also claim that guests…

  • NewsPhuket celebrates ‘World Ocean Day’

    Phuket celebrates ‘World Ocean Day’

    Phuket celebrated World Ocean Day today. A ceremony was held this morning (June 8) at Loma Park in Patong host by Phuket’s Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok, the director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Watcharin Thinthalang and Patong’s Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub. Mayor Chalermluck says, “this World Ocean Day is an…

  • News30,000 methamphetamine pills seized, drugs rife due to decreasing prices

    30,000 methamphetamine pills seized, drugs rife due to decreasing prices

    Four drug dealers have been arrested with more than 30,000 methamphetamine pills. The use of methamphetamine pills is on the rise in the region, indeed right around Thailand, due to decreasing prices and increased availability. At a media briefing held yesterday (June 7) at the Krabi Provincial Police Station, Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Tharatcha Tommapat said, “the four…

  • NewsPhang Nga Brand trade fair being held at Jungceylon

    Phang Nga Brand trade fair being held at Jungceylon

    A ‘Best of Phang Nga’ fair is being held from June 7 -11 at Jungceylon Phuket with more than 35 stalls. The opening ceremony held at Jungcelon Department Store yesterday (June 7) hosted by Phang Nga’s Vice Governor Chansak Tawin and the Phang Nga Provincial Industry Office Chief Duangtida Janpum. Ms Duangtida says, “More 50 projects are taking part to promote their…

  • News2 million baht of counterfeit and prohibited imported goods destroyed

    2 million baht of counterfeit and prohibited imported goods destroyed

    About 4,000 counterfeit items, valued at around 2 million baht, including prohibited imported goods were torched at the incinerator in Phuket Town today (June 7). The destruction of the fake goods was held this afternoon and led by Phuket Customs Office Chief Kanjana Suwachino. Ms Kanjana says, “This is the final step in cases involving counterfeit and imported prohibited products that have been…

  • NewsAncient paintings found in Krabi cave

    Ancient paintings found in Krabi cave

    More than 60 ancient paintings, thought to aged around 3-5 thousand years, have been found at the Khao Pru Tee Mae cliff in Chong Lom Mountain, Ao Luek, Krabi. A team of archaeologists from the Fine Arts Department last month found more than 30 paintings of monkeys, humans, elephants and geometric forms along the 300 metres cliff. This week an…

  • NewsStriped dolphin washed up on Kamala beach

    Striped dolphin washed up on Kamala beach

    A weak striped dolphin has been washed up on Kamala beach this morning. Rescue workers were notified that the dolphin was found on Kamala Beach near a public park early this morning (June 7). Rescue workers immediately informed officials at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit. Kamala rescue worker Kriengsak Boonlang says, “Locals, tourists and rescue workers were helping to…

  • NewsKamala flash flood “worst in 20 years”

    Kamala flash flood “worst in 20 years”

    The heavy rainfall this week (mostly Tuesday morning between 6-8am) caused severe flash flooding which Kamala locals say is the worst they’ve seen in 20 years. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says, “The rainfall on June 5 reached 147 millilitres, we think even more in Kamala. After the inspection, locals in Kamala all say that they have never seen flooding like this…

  • NewsLaotian woman arrested with drugs

    Laotian woman arrested with drugs

    Police have arrested a Laotian woman with methamphetamine pills and crystal methamphetamine. Yesterday (June 5) a team from the Thalang Police arrested the 38 year old woman Pu Saenudom at a house in Paklok. Police seized 263 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 11 methamphetamine pills. Pu failed to present her passport to police. Pu was taken to the Thalang Police Station…

  • NewsBillion baht expansion of the Phuket deep sea port

    Billion baht expansion of the Phuket deep sea port

    The one billion baht First Phase expansion at Phuket’s deep sea port will be done within 18 months. Yesterday (June 5) a meeting was held at the Cape Panwa Hotel led by the manager of Phuket Deep Sea Port Company Limited, Wanlop Pongluengtham. Mr Wanlop says, “The company has received a 30 years concession starting from May 1 this year…

  • NewsPhuket Governor visits Kamala locals after torrential rains

    Phuket Governor visits Kamala locals after torrential rains

    Heavy rains across Phuket yesterday (June 5) caused peak hour road flooding, congestion, landslides and mayhem. Read more about yesterday morning’s downpour HERE. Officials led by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong inspected flooded areas in Kamala. The Governor’s now declared some of these back streets in Kamala as a disaster area. Many houses were flooded with 30 cm to 50 cm of…

  • NewsPolice hunting for thief who snatched a restaurant TV

    Police hunting for thief who snatched a restaurant TV

    Thalang Police were notified of a thief who snatched a television from ‘Jae Jeab’ restaurant on Thepkrasattri Road, 300 metres from the Heroines Monument last night (June 5). Police arrived at the scene to find 49 year old Usa ‘Jae Jeab’ Silapa, the restaurant owner. Police checked CCTV footage of the restaurant (on another TV obviously). A man age between…

  • NewsPhuket thunderstorms bring floods and a landslide

    Phuket thunderstorms bring floods and a landslide

    Heavy rains across Phuket this morning (June 5) have caused peak hour road flooding, congestion and landslides. Just south of the Heroines Monument, Thepkrasattri Road was flooded in front of the Muslim Wittaya Phuket School in Koh Kaew. In Kathu there was flooding on a chaotic Phra Phuket Kaew Road. Adding to this morning’s traffic woes were the daily drop-offs…

  • NewsPhuket film festival honours the late King Rama 9

    Phuket film festival honours the late King Rama 9

    Phuket is honouring the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej by presenting nine Thai movies made during his reign for an exhibition being held at SFX Cinema Central Festival Phuket from June 4-6. It’s part of a national film exhibition, selecting films produced during King Rama 9’s reign and showing them around the country. Yesterday (June 4) the opening ceremony was held…

  • NewsPhuket taxi driver disappears after Thalang road accident

    Phuket taxi driver disappears after Thalang road accident

    A taxi has had a collision with a power pole in Thalang this morning but when police arrived there was no one in the car. Thalang Police were notified of an accident this morning (June 4) at 6.30am on Don Jom Tao Road in Thalang. Thalang Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a white Toyota Fortuner…

  • News17 year old motorbike driver dies in Paklok accident

    17 year old motorbike driver dies in Paklok accident

    Thalang Police were notified of an accident on Saturday night (June 2) at 11.30pm near the Heroines Monument – Paklok Road in front of Sitti Srisoonthorn Bamrong School (Baan Pak Cheed School) in Thalang. Rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a teenager who was later identified as 17 year old Wasurat ‘Oat’ Palapon from Khon Kaen. Wasurat had…

  • News‘Phuket City of Gastronomy’ festival underway

    ‘Phuket City of Gastronomy’ festival underway

    The Phuket City of Gastronomy event is back for the fourth year and being held this week in Phuket Town. Read more about Phuket’s street-foodie fest HERE. The event was officially opened last Friday (June 1) at the 72nd Anniversary Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Road in Phuket Town by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong and the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Deputy…

  • NewsPhuket light rail and Patong tunnel project update

    Phuket light rail and Patong tunnel project update

    The Phuket light-rail-project is now in the process of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) update while the Patong tunnel project is hunting for investors. A meeting’s been held between the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and Wilairat Sirisoponsil, the deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). Ms Wilairat says, “the Phuket light rail project is to…