Phuket News
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Sponsored Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making
Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...
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Unidentified foreign woman’s body found on Kamala Beach, Phuket
The body of a foreign woman was found washed up on Kamala Beach, Phuket, on the evening of yesterday, August 4, prompting an investigation by local police and forensic officials. The identity of the woman has not yet been established. Kamala Police were informed of the incident at approximately 6.30pm. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanapop Rattanaburi, a forensic doctor from Vachira…
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Phuket police arrest trio, seize over 6,000 meth pills
Thalang Police in Phuket have detained three people suspected of drug trafficking, confiscating more than 6,000 methamphetamine pills, known locally as ya bah, and over 300 grammes of crystal meth, referred to as ya ice, during a targeted operation against a local drug network. The apprehensions occurred yesterday, August 4, led by investigators from Thalang Police Station under Police Lieutenant…
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Phuket drug bust nets 6,000 pills and ‘Ice queen’ ringleader
Three suspected drug traffickers are behind bars after police seized more than 6,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills and over 300 grammes of crystal meth (Ice) in a major Phuket sting. Thalang Police moved in yesterday, August 4, targeting a known drug network operating in Thepkrasattri. Officers arrested 27 year old Bank, his 24 year old girlfriend Pop, and 29 year old…
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Truck driver charged after Phuket underpass carnage injures 3
A truck driver has been charged with reckless driving after a violent crash in Phuket’s Darasamut Underpass left three people injured and several vehicles smashed in a high-impact pile-up. The chaos unfolded last Friday, August 1, when the driver, behind the wheel of a palm oil truck, slammed into four vehicles while heading towards Chalong. Police say the trucker, who…
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Thai MECC rescues stranded fishermen after two days at sea
Three fishermen were rescued by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai MECC 3) after being stranded at sea for two days due to an engine failure. The rescue operation took place yesterday, August 3. A distress call received at approximately midday through the department’s 1465 hotline prompted Thai MECC 3 to take action. Pratakorn, who made the…
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Phuket fishing vessels cleared of forced labour, trafficking concerns
A comprehensive inspection of fishing vessels near Phuket has confirmed the absence of forced labour or human trafficking, according to officials. This development is considered a positive advancement for Thailand’s labour rights reputation within the marine industry. The inspection, conducted on July 31, was orchestrated by a multi-agency task force under the guidance of the Phuket Provincial Labour Protection and…
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Phuket sand fence project launched to combat coastal erosion
A stunning move to preserve Phuket’s natural beauty is underway, with a major investment to combat coastal erosion. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on has launched an ambitious project to combat the relentless coastal erosion threatening Phuket’s shores. Sirinat National Park has been tasked with the implementation of sand fences at Sai Kaew Beach in the Maikhao subdistrict of…
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Etihad’s A321LR brings luxury to Phuket flights
Etihad Airways has just upped the ante in luxury air travel, launching its first commercial flight of the all-new A321LR to Phuket. Etihad Airways has officially launched its all-new A321LR, marking a new chapter in luxury short and medium-haul flights. Flight EY414, which departed from Zayed International Airport yesterday, August 1, heralded the arrival of the aircraft designed to provide…
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Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost
In a high-profile diplomatic visit yesterday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung to Phuket Provincial Hall for a courtesy meeting aimed at strengthening tourism ties, economic collaboration, and potential sister-city agreements. Held yesterday, July 31 at 2.30pm in the Governor’s Reception Room, the gathering was a show of mutual interest in deepening cultural and…
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Armed man busted en route to Phuket gang showdown
A 25 year old man has been arrested in Krabi after allegedly attempting to smuggle a loaded handgun into Phuket, with police suspecting he was preparing for a violent clash with rival youth gangs. Identified only as Natthaphong by Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, the suspect was stopped during a routine checkpoint operation on Phetkasem Road in Ao Luek district,…
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Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror
Terrified drivers in Phuket watched chaos unfold in seconds after a semi-trailer truck ploughed into multiple vehicles inside the Darasamut Underpass this morning, leaving three people injured, including a young girl. The collision, which occurred at 10.44am today, August 1, near Central Festival Phuket, sparked immediate panic as rescue teams scrambled to the scene. Police and emergency responders from the…
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Cement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café
Lunchtime diners at a trendy Kathu café were left shaken yesterday when a cement mixer truck overturned, smashing through an elevated walkway before landing upside down just metres away. The terrifying crash occurred at approximately 12.30pm yesterday, July 31, near the Coffee In Farm café on Route 3030, a busy road connecting Koh Kaew and Kathu. Eyewitnesses described hearing a…
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Transgender thief caught after snatching bracelet from foreign tourist in Phuket
A Thai man caught a transgender thief and handed her over to police after she snatched a bracelet from a foreign tourist jogging along Patong Beach in Phuket. A Thai lifeguard, Worrayut Naophai, called officers from Patong Police Station to the scene, where they arrested the suspect, later identified as Naphasinee Yarak. The transgender woman was found to be a…
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Phuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai
The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has warned residents and businesses in Rawai, Phuket, to prepare for a full-day water outage tomorrow as essential pipework shuts down the supply for 12 hours. The disruption will run from 10am to 10pm tomorrow, August 1, and affects a large section of Rawai, including Soi Mittraphap, Saiyuan 1, Soi Laem Ka, Soi Wirachot, Soi…
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Massive road revamp to shake up Phuket traffic flow
The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans for a massive 420-million baht overhaul of Srisoonthorn Road, one of the island’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares. Residents, business owners, and commuters are invited to weigh in at a public meeting scheduled for today, July 31. The meeting will run from 9am to midday at the Chalermprakiat 84 Pansa Building, located at…
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Phuket drowning in rubbish: Mayor vows not to quit
Mayor Suphot La-ongphet of Phuket City is standing firm as the island faces a mounting waste management crisis, with garbage piling up faster than it can be processed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 5.30pm, the mayor visited the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Centre to assess the worsening situation. He was joined by Director of the Engineering Office Yutthana Kanchanaphak to…
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Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal
An Apple retailer in Phuket has landed in hot water after a shocking breach of customer privacy ended with a private photo appearing on Tinder. Studio7, an official Apple distributor in Thailand, issued a public apology and confirmed it has fired six employees and launched legal proceedings after one of them allegedly stole a customer’s intimate photo from their phone…
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Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects
Phuket’s nightlife came under fire this week as authorities launched surprise raids in Kamala and Patong, arresting suspected drug users and pushing deeper into local trafficking networks. As part of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, officials from the Kathu District Office carried out surprise inspections at nightlife venues in Village 3, Kamala, near Soi Pa Jak, on Monday,…
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Aeroflot flight drama: Phuket return sparks hacker rumours
An Aeroflot flight bound for Novosibirsk was forced to return to Phuket International Airport yesterday morning just minutes after takeoff, following what was reported as a technical malfunction, but speculation is swirling after the airline confirmed a cyberattack just one day earlier. The Airbus A330, operating as flight SU637, took off at 9.53am local time, around 30 minutes behind schedule. But…
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Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket
A routine day on the water turned tragic after a young jet ski operator vanished off Koh Naka Yai; his body was pulled from mangroves two days later. The body of 22 year old Jessadawut Hom, also known as Bass, was discovered yesterday afternoon, July 29, tangled in mangroves along the shore of Koh Naka Yai, off Phuket’s east coast.…
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Malaysian woman reunited with lost cash thanks to New Zealand tourists
Two New Zealand tourists found a bundle of Malaysian ringgit in Phuket and sought assistance from local police officers to return it to the rightful Malaysian owner. The tourists discovered several 100-ringgit banknotes at the Chartered Bank Intersection yesterday, July 28, and brought the cash to the Phuket Tourist Police office. The exact amount was not disclosed in the official…
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Search continues for missing jet-ski operator off Phuket coast
Efforts continue to search for a 22 year old jet-ski operator who fell into the sea off Naka Yai Island on July 27. The man, Chetthawut Hom from Pa Khlok, went missing after the incident. Chetthawut was reported missing at 7.10pm, having fallen overboard while operating a jet-ski near Naka Yai Island, located off the east coast of Phuket. At…
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Private photos leaked after phone repair at Phuket shopping mall
A Thai woman accused six employees at Studio 7 in Central Phuket of allegedly stealing private photos from her phone and distributing them via the Telegram application. The 22 year old victim shared the details of her case on the Facebook page Rose to Universe to raise public awareness in the hope of obtaining justice. The incident reportedly took place…
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French drug trafficking suspect captured in Phuket
A 22 year old French national, sought in France for drug trafficking, has been apprehended in Phuket after evading capture for several weeks. Phuket Immigration Police confirmed the arrest of the suspect, known only as Bachir, with assistance from the Crime Suppression Division of Immigration Bureau 6. Bachir is wanted in connection with a significant international drug trafficking network and…
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Phuket drug raids intensify, over 40 arrests made in crackdown
Phuket’s intensified drug raids continue under the national No Drugs, No Dealers policy, with several arrests made and drugs seized across the island. Efforts spearheaded by local authorities aim to eliminate drugs from every village within three months. The campaign, led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Provincial Police Commander Sinlert Sukhum, involves collaboration between police, administrative officers, and defence…
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Saudi tourist found dead after Bang Tao Beach disappearance
A 22 year old Saudi tourist, Dhaher Suhayb Mohammed S, who went missing while swimming at Bang Tao Beach on July 26, was found dead near Layan Beach in Cherng Talay today, July 28. Lifeguards discovered his body early in the morning near the southern end of Sirinat National Park, wearing only swimming trunks. Cherng Talay Police, along with rescue…
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Van crash in Phuket leaves driver seriously injured
A 25 year old van driver sustained serious injuries after his vehicle collided with a power pole in Koh Kaew, Phuket, during the early hours of July 26. He remained trapped in the wreck for nearly 30 minutes. The incident occurred around 3.30am on Thepkrasattri Road near the Bangkok Bank Koh Kaew branch, heading towards Phuket Town. The Narendhara Andaman…
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Body of missing swimmer found at Nai Thon Beach
The body of a 23 year old man, Nianus Salae, has been discovered near the rocks at Nai Thon Beach after he was swept away by waves while swimming. Rescue workers have taken the body for forensic examination before it is returned to his family for religious rites. Nianus, who worked in Phuket but hailed from Pattani province, was swimming…
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Phuket invests 50 million baht in underpass lighting upgrades
The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans to enhance visibility in the Darasamut Underpass with the installation of new lighting. The underpass has been identified by police as the most accident-prone on the island, with three to four accidents occurring monthly. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthiwat Liangboonjinda, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic at Wichit Police Station, located approximately 1 kilometre from the…
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Artists flock to Phuket for Asia’s biggest sketch fest
Phuket is gearing up to welcome an international crowd of artists, art lovers and cultural travellers for the Asialink Sketch Walk Phuket 2025, a major arts event aimed at boosting creative tourism and rebranding the island as a year-round cultural hotspot. Scheduled for August 14–17, the event was officially announced at a press conference held at Limelight Avenue Phuket, led…
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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