Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
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Sponsored Why is Bangkok's air quality so bad?
Imagine waking up early in Bangkok and you see all the beautiful morning fog from your balcony, but as you sip your coffee you realise it's just Bangkok's air pollution that's making the sun rise aesthetic. Ranked as the 36th...
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Shock drama in Phuket: Man rescued after electrocution
Emergency services in Phuket leapt into action yesterday after a man was electrocuted and left dangling from a power pole in Soi Nai Thon 3, Sakhu. The alarming incident was reported to the Phuket Provincial Police emergency call centre around 9.10am, yesterday, September 29 via the 191 hotline. Officers from the Sakhu Police quickly rushed to the scene, situated outside…
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Foreign men vandalise Phuket restaurant, shatter windows and flee
Two foreign men vandalised a local restaurant in Phuket early this morning, September 30, shattering glass windows and causing distress among staff and nearby residents. The incidents occurred at the Birds Cafe Restaurant in Soi OrBorTor, Cherng Talay, and prompted a police investigation. The first act of vandalism took place at approximately 2.18am when a foreign man arrived on a…
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Father demands justice after son’s assault at Rawai school
A father from Rawai has brought his grievance to the public after his six year old son suffered a violent assault by classmates at Wat Sawang Arom School, and an agreed compensation has not been honoured. The incident occurred on August 18 when the 32 year old father reported to Chalong Police that his son had been tied up, stripped,…
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Phuket’s waste crisis worsens with tourist surge
Phuket grapples with a mounting waste crisis as tourism surges post-pandemic. The island’s waste disposal plant now receives 1,100 tonnes of garbage daily, a significant rise from 742 tonnes in 2022 and 961 tonnes last year, according to deputy governor Norasak Suksomboon. Norasak highlighted these challenges at the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy Forum, where 150 global tourism leaders and policymakers…
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Pizza the action: Foreign man wreaks havoc at Phuket pizzeria
An unidentified foreign man went on a rampage in the Thalang district of Phuket in the early hours of this morning and physically assaulted the Thai owner of a pizza shop near Phuket International Airport. The Phuket Times reported on the incident today. The report included pictures of the injured Thai pizza shop owner, a damaged car and restaurant, as well…
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Phuket police cracks down on noisy bikes and rowdy teens
Phuket Provincial Police have ramped up efforts to tackle the nuisance of roaring motorbikes and unruly teens as the island gears up for the famous Vegetarian Festival and the peak tourist season. At a press conference held at Phuket City Police Station, Region 8 Police Commander Police Lieutenant General Surapong Thanomchit announced the ongoing campaign, spearheaded by Phuket Provincial Police…
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Gypsy cash dash: Phuket locals swarm ATMs for 10k baht handout
Hundreds of sea gypsies in Phuket flocked to ATMs at Laem Tukkae, Koh Sirey, Ratsada subdistrict on Wednesday, September 25, as part of the Thai government’s 10,000 baht handout scheme for vulnerable citizens. The scheme, aimed at state welfare cardholders and disabled individuals, is part of a broader economic stimulus programme. A national report noted that the sea gypsies, still…
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Ex-mayor of Kathu embroiled in corruption scandal
The former Mayor of Kathu Subdistrict Municipality has been indicted on corruption charges, with accusations of paying a road contractor before work was completed. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Region 8 dropped the bombshell at a press conference yesterday, September 25 in Krabi, revealing widespread corruption across southern Thailand. Suchart Kruaykittanon, Assistant Secretary-General of the NACC, confirmed the charges. “The…
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American man denies sexually assaulting 3 year old Thai girl in Phuket
An American man, suspected of sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl in the Rawai area of Phuket, firmly denied the accusations against him. However, police are adamant they have gathered enough evidence to warrant his arrest. The child sex abuse case came to light when a Thai man named Bao found the three year old girl crying in pain outside her…
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Eco-friendly castaway: Phuket hosts 25th ITOP Forum for sustainable island tourism
Phuket proudly hosts the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP) Forum, welcoming representatives from island destinations across the globe from September 24 to 27. With over 150 leaders and policymakers from tourism hubs such as Bali (Indonesia), Hainan (China), Jeju Island (South Korea), Okinawa (Japan), and Zanzibar (Tanzania), the event aims to foster collaboration and share strategies for sustainable tourism development…
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Jealous ex stabs man to death in Phuket horror
A late-night romance ended in tragedy after a 22 year old man was brutally stabbed to death by his girlfriend’s jealous ex-boyfriend in a house in Kathu district in Phuket. Police were called to a blood-soaked scene at a residence on Soi Namtok Kathu at around 5.20am today, September 25. They found 22 year old Anukun Ketkaew lying unconscious in…
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Police launch raids on popular nightlife venues on Bangla Road
In a bold move to clean up the streets of Patong, police and health officials are back in action, targeting Bangla Road’s nightlife hotspots with surprise drug tests. The high-stakes operation saw staff at multiple entertainment venues undergo random tests, aiming to ensure drug-free working environments in the heart of Phuket’s party scene. Patong Police, led by Chief Police Colonel…
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Phuket’s tourism boom set to break records this year
After a rocky few years post-Covid, Phuket is poised to smash its highest-ever revenue records in 2024, even if tourist numbers don’t quite hit pre-pandemic levels. Longer stays, higher spending and a shift in visitor profiles are key to this tourism boom, according to Rangsiman Kingkaew, Vice President of Strategy and Planning at the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA). Speaking at…
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Phuket’s roads get a makeover in time for Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Town is in a race against time to ensure its roads are smooth and festival-ready before the Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off next week. The city’s top brass is pulling out all the stops, with Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet leading the charge on a series of urgent road resurfacing projects across key streets. Suphot was spotted inspecting Yaowarat Road…
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Foreign man found hanged at Phuket resort
In a chilling discovery on Sunday morning, the body of a foreign man was found hanged outside a resort in Koh Kaeo, Phuket province, leaving police scrambling to uncover his identity. The grim scene was uncovered by a hotel staff member at around 7.50am, on September 22, who immediately alerted the police. Arriving at the scene, officers were joined by…
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Pickup truck fire sparks alarm on Karon beachfront
A pickup truck fire sparked alarm among locals and tourists along the Karon beachfront yesterday, September 23. The blaze broke out around 12.10pm near the Thavorn Palm Beach Hotel. Firefighters from Karon Municipality, along with traffic police, swiftly responded, rushing to the location of the fire. They found a white Nissan pickup truck, registered in Phuket, with flames and smoke…
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Phuket flea market feud turns fiery: Shooting leaves two injured
The owner of the Koh Beng Ban Pon Flea Market in the Thalang district of Phuket engaged in a fierce argument with his former business partner, resulting in a shooting that left two people injured. Officers from Thalang Police Station investigated the shooting at Koh Beng Ban Pon Flea Market at approximately 7.30pm yesterday, September 23. The two injured individuals…
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Washed up: Risso’s dolphin meets tragic end on Kata Noi Beach
Tragedy struck the shores of Thailand as officials confirmed yesterday the discovery of a rare Risso’s dolphin carcass, tragically entangled in a pile of rubbish on Kata Noi Beach in Phuket. Residents and lifeguards sounded the alarm around 7am, yesterday, September 22, alerting the Rare and Endangered Marine Animals Group, part of the Upper Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research…
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Young Thai artists’ exhibition opens in Phuket today
Trapped on an Island, an art exhibition curated by young artists, opened yesterday at the Phuket Contemporary Art Gallery at Provincial Hall. Running from today until September 30, the exhibition features works by 45 artists from across Thailand, all under the age of 35. Part of the TIDKOR Young Contemporary Art and Exhibition, this event is held under the 3rd…
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Chalong Police urge motorists to reclaim lost licence plates
Chalong Police have called for motorists who lost their licence plates while navigating floodwaters this week to get in touch, as several plates have been handed in. Heavy downpours on Monday resulted in flash floods across multiple areas of Chalong, causing significant difficulties for drivers on both Chao Fa East and Chao Fa West roads. The rising waters led to…
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Phuket’s prison break: Drug rehab programme promises new life
Phuket is shaking up the prison scene with a groundbreaking initiative aimed at turning drug dealers into model citizens. The revamped Prison Scout Volunteers for Social Development programme officially launched its fourth edition, with bold ambitions to reform inmates, shape positive mindsets, and offer a way out of their criminal past. With the Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat notably absent, Vice…
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Phuket police intensify search for MG linked to robbery-murder
Phuket police are intensifying their investigation into an MG car linked to a robbery-homicide in Nakhon Chai Si after GPS data revealed its presence in Phuket. Yesterday, September 19, Police Captain Ratchanat Ratsadaproni from Nakhon Chai Si Police Station was alerted to the discovery of 47 year old Thitirat Chatput’s body. Thitirat, who lived in the Lat Phrao district of…
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Patong mayor urges caution after landslips and road damage
Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri called on residents and drivers to remain vigilant following several landslips, potholes forming on rain-soaked roads, and a large tree falling onto power lines between Patong and Kamala. A notice was issued by Patong Municipality today, September 20. “Watch out! Follow the situation of flash floods, forest runoff, flooding, mudslides, and strong wind waves.” Residents affected…
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Phuket teleconference reviews disaster plan for southern provinces
Royal Volunteer Command Center Region 4 held a teleconference yesterday with representatives from 14 southern provinces to review the 2015 National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan. The meeting, chaired by Major General Anusorn Ourai, Deputy Commander of Army Area 4 and Deputy Director of the Royal Volunteer Command Center Region 4, aimed to improve coordination and ensure systematic disaster relief…
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Thai woman killed in head-on collision with taxi in Phuket
A tragic accident occurred in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket early today when a 33 year old woman lost her life after her motorbike was struck head-on by a green plate taxi on the wrong side of the road. Police responded to the incident on Srisoonthorn Road, near the Party Party Store, approximately 230 metres north of Soi Bang…
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Royal Thai Navy rescues 143 tourists stranded on island off Phuket
Sailors from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Third Area Command successfully rescued 143 tourists stranded on Racha Yai Island due to severe weather conditions and returned them safely to Phuket. Heavy rain and strong winds had created waves up to 4 metres high, making it impossible for tourist boats to reach the island, according to the Third Area Command based…
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Phuket drug suspect nabbed in mangrove forest hideout
A Thai man wanted on serious drug charges was finally captured today after being tracked down to a remote mangrove forest in Pa Khlok subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket. A police investigation team from Thalang Police, supported by local patrol officers, swooped in on the suspect’s hideout. The high-stakes raid, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Luecha, Inspector of Investigation at…
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Burmese binman killed in horrific Patong crash
A Burmese binman tragically lost his life in a three-vehicle crash in front of Wat Suwan Kiriwong School in Patong in the early hours of yesterday morning. The incident unfolded around 5am, yesterday, September 17 on Phra Barami Road, just 370 metres from Wat Patong. The victim, identified as Myanmar national Aung Aung, was a garbage collector employed by Patong Municipality.…
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Phuket Airport skips memorial for One-Two-Go crash victims again
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) once again dodged the chance to hold an official memorial service in Phuket for the 90 victims of the One-Two-Go Flight OG269 disaster. This marks the 17th consecutive year that local officials have avoided organising any remembrance ceremonies for one of Thailand’s deadliest air crashes. On the anniversary of the tragedy, Monchai Tanode, General Manager…
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Phuket on 24-hour alert as rainstorms, flash flood warnings issued
Phuket has been placed on 24-hour alert as heavy rainstorms drenched the island today. Officials urged residents to stay vigilant for potential flash floods, mudslides, and strong winds. On September 15, the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) issued a notice, authorised by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, advising the public to brace for severe weather conditions. The notice…
Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand. Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea allowing the west coast beaches fantastic sunsets right throughout the year. If you're looking for news in Phuket, go to thethaiger.com/phuket Or follow our instant news in our Facebook pages.
The good news is that Phuket is famous for its foodie scene with an enormously diverse range of local and international foods - Phuket and southern favorites, street food along with international choices catering for the 12 million visitors to the island each year. Thaiger follows Phuket news and information 24 hours a day with regular updates.
Phuket is only 'just' an island with a 300 metre bridge linking it to Thailand's mainland. We're always reporting in the news that the channel beneath is frequently dredged to maintain Phuket's status as an island. On the other side of Sarasin Bridge is the Province of Phang Nga.
Getting to Phuket is easy as the island has land, air and sea connections. Phuket is also used as a take-off point for local island trips as Thailand's largest island is surrounded by over 30 pristine islands. Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay are always in the news and would be the best known of the island's just off Phuket's shores.
Phuket is an island and a province. It's the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west.
It's about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of around 400-450,000 (but varies a lot with the influx of tourists and a workforce that is always changing). Most of Phuket remains jungle and tropical rainforest despite an acceleration of development over the past 20 years.
Unlike some of Thailand's other popular islands (that are in the Gulf of Thailand), the news is that Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is 878 km north of the equator.
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