Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Taps off: Phuket faces dry spell as new system rolls in tomorrow
The Phuket branch of the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a water supply outage for tomorrow, March 21, affecting large parts of Patong. The outage will occur from 10am to 6pm while workers install a new PRV system at DMA14-01-01 in Baan Ton Thai. In its official announcement, the PWA stated, “Therefore it is necessary to stop distributing water…
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Phuket charity schools raided amid migrant education crackdown
Raids on charity schools run by the Good Shepherd Foundation continued this week, with officials from the Thalang District Office targeting the BanYa Literacy Centre in Srisoonthorn. Led by Thalang District Chief Siwat Rawangkun, officials including Deputy District Chief for Security Chaiporn Yangchin, village leaders, and other officials conducted an inspection at the centre in Village 6, Srisoonthorn on Tuesday,…
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Phuket’s alcohol-free Songkran festival returns
Phuket is gearing up for Songkran with a booze-free twist! The Songkran No Alcohol Festival is back for its 11th year, promising cultural charm, live music, and family-friendly fun—without the chaos of drunken revelry. Phuket officials are preparing for another safe and tradition-focused songkran as the island hosts the Songkran No Alcohol Festival Phuket 2025, organised for the 11th consecutive year,…
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Power out: Phuket prepares for outage today
The Phuket branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has issued a notice about a scheduled power outage today, March 20, due to electrical system improvements. The power cut will take place between 9am and 4.30pm, impacting several key areas across the island. Residents and businesses near the intersection in front of D Condo Kuku, along one side of Ratsadanusorn…
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No vacation panic: Phuket hoteliers stay cool on visa cut fears
Phuket hoteliers are not overly concerned by the government’s potential move to shorten visa-free stays for tourists, despite concerns that it might impact the local tourism industry. According to Suksit Suvunditkul, Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter chief, the average length of stay for European guests is only around two weeks, while those seeking longer stays typically opt for condominiums. “If…
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Charged & brewed: Phuket thief busted for beer & batteries theft
A 39 year old man has been arrested after he was caught stealing beer and batteries from a 7-Eleven store in Patong, Phuket, with the police tracking him down using CCTV footage and his distinctive clothes. Officers from Patong Police Station, led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, apprehended the suspect on Sunday, March 16, following a theft reported on March…
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School rejects ‘slum’ label for Phuket Myanmar community (video)
The director of a Catholic-operated school in Phuket has contested the description of a Myanmar community in the province as a “slum” by a foreign YouTuber. A video on the YouTube channel Ride with Gabi, which claims to document a “Myanmar slum in Phuket,” has ignited debate, showing a significant Myanmar migrant community in the southern province. The footage depicts…
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YouTuber exposes Phuket’s shocking slum conditions (video)
A YouTuber has caused a storm online with his latest video, The Other Side of Phuket, which takes viewers behind the glossy tourist façade to one of the island’s largest slums. In the video, popular YouTuber Ride with Gabi contrasts Phuket’s global fame for its stunning beaches and lively nightlife with the stark reality of its poverty-stricken communities. The video…
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Iranian tasered after trying to stab Phuket hotel workers with syringe
Thai police officers used a stun gun to subdue an Iranian man who went on a rampage yesterday at a hotel in the Karon area of Phuket and attempted to stab hotel workers with a syringe. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the foreign man’s rampage at 6.11pm yesterday, March 17, and rushed to the scene. The suspect…
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British man’s sun-soaked dream escape turns tragic in Thailand
A dream holiday in paradise has turned into an unimaginable nightmare for a British man whose life hangs by a thread in a Thailand hospital. The family and friends of British restauranteur Ricky Eury are by his bedside praying for his life following a shocking accident at a luxurious Thai resort. The 39 year old Brit, who was enjoying a…
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Shell shocked: Minister calls for united front to save dugongs (video)
An impassioned call for collective action to tackle the conservation crisis threatening seagrass and dugongs was issued by Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment at the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. The turtle release ceremony, held on March 14, emphasised the urgent need for all sectors to collaborate in safeguarding these endangered marine species. Chalermchai lauded the efforts…
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Race against crime: Phuket police crack down on illegal street racers
Police in Wichit stepped up their campaign against illegal motorcycle racing, confiscating 22 motorcycles and arresting 10 young people in a focused operation addressing reckless riding. The action occurred on Saturday, March 15, as Wichit officers concentrated on key areas within Mueang district. Starting at 9pm, a team led by Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, together with other…
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Body found in Phuket sea believed to be missing American woman
Thai fishermen yesterday discovered the body of a foreigner floating between Koh Racha Yai and Koh He in Phuket province. The foreigner is suspected to be the missing American woman. Officers from the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Khai Mook Centre) investigated the floating body at around 8.20am, yesterday, March 16, after being notified by a local fishing boat. The body…
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Bugged out! Mosquito bite leaves British dad in Tourette’s grip
A British father’s dream holiday in Thailand took a nightmarish twist after a vicious mosquito bite not only gave him Tourette’s syndrome, but set off a series of bizarre, life-altering health issues. Ross Constable returned from a family holiday to Phuket, never expecting a simple insect bite to transform his life in the most shocking way. The 48 year old…
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Thailand seeks private investment for Phuket expressway project
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is seeking private sector involvement in the Phuket Expressway Project to enhance road infrastructure, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve connectivity for both locals and tourists. On March 7, a public hearing took place at the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, where private investors were invited to share their views on the project’s feasibility and investment…
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South Korean tourist found dead in Phuket luxury spa sauna
A South Korean tourist was found dead in a sauna room at a luxury spa in Phuket. His wife revealed that he had entered the facility before losing consciousness. Attempts to revive him with CPR were unsuccessful. Police are set to investigate the cause of death. Today, March 16, reports emerged that yesterday, March 15 at 6.30pm, Police Captain Yutthaphon…
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Ex-finance minister exposes Phuket police extortion
A former finance minister has blown the lid off corrupt police practices in Phuket, exposing a rampant extortion racket targeting tourists. Sommai Phasee took to Facebook to reveal how officers are demanding bribes of 10,000 to 20,000 baht from foreign visitors to avoid being dragged to the police station. “I can’t stand it anymore. Corruption is everywhere in Thailand—it’s a…
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Phuket leads Thailand’s push for sustainable tourism
Thailand is going green in a big way, with Phuket at the forefront of a bold push to revolutionise sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has launched the Green Hotel Plus Phuket Sandbox project, a key initiative to raise hotel sustainability standards to global levels. Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, who chaired the event on Thursday, March 13,…
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Phuket mayor vows clean drinking water for all
Phuket Town residents may soon enjoy safe, drinkable tap water as city officials push forward with a major water quality upgrade. At a public event held at the Phuket City Municipality’s Waterworks Division yesterday, March 13, Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas assured residents that progress is being made in providing clean, potable water across the town. Flanked by key officials—including Deputy Mayor…
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No freedom at Freedom Beach: Land dispute sparks Phuket showdown
A heated land dispute has erupted over Phuket’s Freedom Beach, with the heirs of a landowner demanding the suspension of its recent designation as a recreational forest. Lawyers representing the family of Panthong Na Ranong petitioned the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), arguing that unresolved land rights issues must be settled before the area is officially…
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3 British men arrested for car crash and stabbing attempt in Phuket
Thai police this week arrested three British men involved in a car crash and a stabbing attempt that occurred outside Patong Hospital in Phuket. Yesterday, March 13, a Thai motorcyclist took to social media to seek assistance from netizens in locating the foreign pickup driver who collided with him on Wednesday and attempted to stab him before fleeing the scene.…
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Patong car thief caught after GPS tracks stolen vehicle
A reckless car thief learned the hard way that technology always wins after police tracked and arrested him within hours of stealing a vehicle left running outside a Patong 7-Eleven. The suspect, 48 year old Pradit Phomduang from Trang province, swiped a parked Suzuki Swift after its owner, 27 year old Chanyanuch Boon-anan, left it running while making a quick…
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Myanmar fisherman found dead at sea near Phuket
Thai police are investigating the mysterious death of a Myanmar fisherman whose body was found floating in the sea between Phuket and Krabi, hours after he was reported missing from a fishing boat. The body of 39 year old Zaw Min Thuy (also spelt Zaw Min Htoo) was discovered at around 3pm yesterday, March 12 and later brought ashore at…
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Taxi scam: Grab driver overcharges Phuket tourist
A frustrated tourist in Phuket has once again fallen victim to an overcharging taxi driver: this time through the Grab app. Despite booking a ride at a fixed price of 264 baht, he was hit with an unexpected 100-baht surcharge midway through the trip, leaving him fuming and questioning Grab’s ability to protect customers from exploitation. The incident occurred yesterday,…
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Foreign driver attempts to stab Thai motorcyclist after Phuket crash
A foreign pickup driver yesterday allegedly crashed into a Thai motorcyclist on a Phuket road and attempted to stab the victim. The Thai motorcyclist took to Facebook to seek assistance from netizens in locating the foreign pickup driver who collided with him yesterday, March 12. He revealed that the foreigner was driving a white Ford Raptor with the registration plate…
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Tourist beaten by ladyboys on Soi Bangla after dine-and-dash
A wild brawl erupted in the early hours of yesterday on Phuket’s infamous Bangla Road after a tourist allegedly skipped out on paying for his meal. The chaotic scene, which unfolded yesterday, March 12, in the heart of Patong, Kathu district, saw a group of local ladyboys, unhappy at the dine and dasher’s behaviour, confronted the man before the situation…
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Drug-fuelled taxi rage: Man arrested with gun and meth in Phuket
A man was arrested after allegedly threatening a taxi driver with a pen gun near Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market, only for police to discover he was also carrying crystal meth. The dramatic incident unfolded at 6pm on Monday, March 10, when Wichit Police received a report of a man menacing a taxi driver with a concealed weapon on Kata…
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Luxury v law: Phuket crackdown targets beachfront land grab
Officials in Phuket are ramping up efforts to reclaim Bang Tao Beach from unauthorised developments, with high-end hotels and businesses facing potential demolition after illegally encroaching on public land. Yesterday, March 11, officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket branch, led by Director Suwat Saowarun, launched their second crackdown on beachfront encroachments in Cherng Talay. Joined by Thalang District…
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Russian woman accuses Phuket taxi driver’s wife of assault
The wife of a taxi driver in Phuket denied assaulting a Russian passenger during a ride. Instead, she turned the tables on the Eastern European and accused the woman of insulting her. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (Phuket is so brutal) shared a video recorded by a 31 year old Russian woman, whose name has not been disclosed, with a caption stating……
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Nigerian drug dealer in Phuket arrested after client’s viral drug use video
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer in Phuket after a viral video showed one of his clients using cocaine by the roadside. The news Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (meaning Phuket is so brutal) shared the video of two foreigners using drugs by the roadside on March 6, accompanied by a caption that read, “What are you doing, bro?” In the…
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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