Phuket News
-
Jet skis buzz passenger boat off Phuket, prompting safety concerns
Foreign tourists on jet skis repeatedly cut close to a passenger boat between Ao Po pier and Koh Naka Yai on September 3, alarming those aboard.
-
Foreigner accused of launching spray attack for robbery, targeting Phuket pharmacists
A foreign man was accused of using a chemical spray on a Thai pharmacist in Phuket in an attempt to rob the victim. Fortunately, the pharmacist and his valuables are safe. The victim is the Thai pharmacist, Pijet Intarakaset, who runs Mookda Pharmacy in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. The incident occurred at around 12.22am on Wednesday, September 2. He…
-
Sea turtle found stranded and weak on Phuket’s Patong Beach
Lifeguards on Patong Beach gave first aid to the weakened turtle before calling Phuket's Siritharn Rare Marine Animal Rescue Centre for help.
-
DDC says Phuket Covid cases remain mild despite surge
Covid-19 continues to circulate in Phuket and across Thailand, but illness caused by the currently dominant variant remains generally mild, with most patients experiencing symptoms similar to a common cold, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) said. Phuket recorded 514.85 cases per 100,000 population as of August 31, giving the province the third-highest incidence rate in the country. Bangkok had…
-
Jordanian tourist clashes with Phuket barber over extra charge
A dispute over a barber shop bill turned physical in Patong, Phuket, yesterday, August 31, after a Jordanian tourist allegedly refused to pay an additional charge for hair services. The incident first gained attention on social media, where a Facebook post claimed a foreign tourist had refused to pay for a haircut before punching the barber. The tourist was initially…
-
Viral video captures Nene Royal stopping fight at Phuket market show
A video caption from Amarin News says the 16 year old Phuket singer paused her Naka Market show over a crowd altercation of unverified date before continuing to sing.
-
Phuket drug investigation expands after teenage arrests
Two Border Patrol Police operations in Talat Nuea led to four arrests and the seizure of nearly 6 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine.
-
Russian national found dead inside Phuket condominium
A forensic doctor estimated the 43 year old had been dead for around three days, with valuables in the room untouched.
-
Phuket tourism numbers see 52% Israeli arrivals surge this July
Phuket recorded a 52.43% jump in Israeli visitors in July compared with the same month last year, and a 1,204.68% increase compared with pre-Covid 2019 levels, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Phuket office. The figures were presented today, August 27, at a Phuket provincial meeting chaired by Governor Chotinarin Kirdsom. Overall visitor numbers for the province were…
-
Phuket villa booking scam arrest after Russian tourists lose millions
Police say a woman posing as a luxury villa agent took more than 5 million baht from tourists in Thalang district
-
Behind Nene Royal’s AGT Golden Buzzer look: Thai batik meets Phuket Baba heritage
Nene Royal’s America’s Got Talent 2026 outfit carried a piece of southern Thailand onto the US stage, with a custom jacket made in just two days using an auspicious Chinese key motif batik and styling inspired by Phuket’s Baba-Peranakan heritage. Nene Royal’s performance of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun” earned her a Live Golden Buzzer from Mel B and sent the…
-
Palestinian flag leads to dispute between Phuket shop owner and Israeli couple
A dispute broke out at a mobile phone shop in Phuket between the owner and an Israeli couple over a Palestinian flag displayed in the store. The CCTV footage of the incident was posted on social media yesterday, August 24. In the video, the couple were about to leave the shop when the woman noticed the flag on the door…
-
Foreign man runs from Phuket phone shop without paying repair bill
A foreign man was caught on CCTV on August 21 running from a phone repair shop in Patong, Phuket, after allegedly taking back his repaired phone without paying the bill. TikTok user tonmai_pkt posted footage of the incident, saying the man brought his phone to the shop for repairs but did not have enough money to pay once the work…
-
Palestinian flag prompts tense exchange between Thai man and Israeli family
A Thai staff member at a Phuket travel agency clashed with an Israeli family after displaying a Palestinian flag at the company and responding to an alleged “Free Israel” remark. The video was shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, August 23, and subsequently went viral. The date and time of the incident were not reported. In the footage,…
-
Foreign woman pulled from sea after ignoring red flag in Phuket
A foreign woman was rescued from the sea yesterday, August 22, after ignoring a red flag warning and entering the water at Nai Thon Beach in Phuket, where strong waves and currents left her unconscious. The incident was reported by the Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต, which shared the case as a warning to tourists visiting Nai Thon Beach in Sakhu…
-
Tourist rescued after ignoring red flags at Phuket beach
Lifeguards rescued a foreign tourist from rough seas at Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday, August 20, after he reportedly ignored red flags and warnings not to enter the water, telling lifeguards that he was a strong swimmer. The tourist entered the sea despite strong waves and repeated warnings from lifeguards. He was later swept away by waves and currents and…
-
Elderly woman in Phuket arrested for running gambling fraud scheme
Police arrested a 71 year old Thai woman for a gambling fraud scheme, swindling more than 9 million baht from a businesswoman in Phuket. She was also found involved in similar cases that caused losses exceeding 64 million baht. The elderly suspect, identified only as Sor, was arrested today, August 20, in Talat Nue subdistrict of Phuket. Her arrest was…
-
Thailand’s young rock artist, Nene Royal, receives Phil Lynott Convention nod
Thai teenage singer and guitarist Nene Royal has been selected to receive the Best New International Artiste 2026 award at The Phil Lynott Convention in Dublin, Ireland, on August 22. Rattikan “Nene” Amloy is a 16 year old artist from Phuket who recently gained international attention after appearing on America’s Got Talent. She performed The Cranberries’ Zombie during her audition,…
-
Thai app taxi rider injured in accident caused by foreign driver in Phuket
A Thai app-based taxi rider suffered serious injuries after a foreign driver drove against the traffic flow and collided with his motorcycle in Phuket. The rider said he has not received compensation and is asking police and relevant officials to take action on the case. Phuket Times reported the incident on Facebook today, August 18. According to the report, the foreign driver…
-
Chinese tourist dies after being found unresponsive in Phuket hotel pool
A Chinese tourist died after being found unresponsive in a hotel swimming pool in Phuket yesterday, August 17, despite attempts by fellow swimmers and medical teams to revive him. The Chinese man, identified as 44 year old Ye, and his family had booked a stay at a hotel in Phuket from August 16 to 22. Yesterday, he had entered the…
-
Phuket travel agency worker alleges foreign beggar spits at her
A foreign beggar in Phuket allegedly spat at a Thai travel agency worker after being asked to stop approaching foreign customers for money. The incident reportedly happened at around midnight on August 16 at a travel agency in Soi Saen Sabai, Patong, Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported the incident today, August 17 with the CCTV footage. According to…
-
Nene Royal hits the AGT live stage: how to watch it from Thailand
A 16 year old Phuket singer and guitarist, Nene Royal, will compete in the America’s Got Talent quarterfinals next week. Her performance is scheduled to air in Thailand at 7am on August 26. Weeks earlier, in July, the audition that brought her international attention had Rattkan Amloy — her full name — playing The Cranberries’ “Zombie” at the Dolby Theatre.…
-
Hundreds of Phuket firms face fresh ownership checks
Thai officials are investigating whether a suspected nominee network is using naturalised citizenship to disguise foreign ownership of businesses in Phuket and several other provinces. The Interior Ministry has ordered checks on more than 100 Phuket companies and a wider list of 361 firms nationwide, following a raid on August 6 that saw eight locations searched and 16 people prosecuted.…
-
Emirati men flee Phuket police checkpoint
Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Phuket after allegedly fleeing a police checkpoint, kicking an officer’s motorcycle, and causing the officer to crash during a pursuit through Kathu district. The chase began at around 1pm on August 13 at the Si Kor checkpoint on Phra Barami Road. Police said a black Honda ADV 160 carrying two men was travelling…
-
Phuket club guards filmed beating foreign tourist in resurfaced Bangla Road clip
A clip circulating this week shows security guards from a Bangla Road venue beating a foreign tourist in Patong. They drag him out of the door and into the street first. The man is pulled out of the entrance and onto the road. The guards do not stop once he is outside. Several of them kick and punch him while…
-
German tourist found dead at Freedom Beach in Phuket
The body of a 30 year old German tourist was found off Freedom Beach, Phuket, on August 11, a day after he went missing while swimming at the beach. Jannik Juergen Knobel went missing at around 3.45pm on August 10 while swimming at Freedom Beach Recreation Forest. Staff from the recreation forest and other agencies launched a search that continued…
-
South Korean fugitive found overstaying in Thailand for over 8 years
A South Korean man wanted under an Interpol Red Notice for fraud and transnational drug offences was arrested at a luxury condominium in Phuket on Wednesday, August 12. Officers from the Immigration Bureau and Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) conducted an operation under the wider campaign against foreign criminals hiding in Thailand or entering the country to commit…
-
Old photo, not new attack, police clear Phuket lion cafe
Chalong Police Station inspected Lion Cafe in Phuket yesterday, August 11, after viral photos claiming a lion had attacked a Chinese tourist raised concern over the province’s tourism image. Police found the business held a valid operating licence, and that the two lions kept there had complete ownership documents and up-to-date vaccination records. Police Colonel Surasak Jaidee, Superintendent of Chalong…
-
Israeli family allegedly threatens, attempts to attack Phuket tuk tuk driver
A Phuket tuk tuk driver said an Israeli family used vulgar language, threatened him and attempted to attack him with a concrete slab after he refused to allow them to join a trip booked by Australian passengers. The driver shared footage of the confrontation on social media, which was later reposted by the Phuket Times Facebook page. The video subsequently…
-
Phuket checkpoint search finds gun and bullets under BMW seat
Officials detained a man after finding a gun and 9mm ammunition concealed beneath the driver’s seat of a BMW during a security checkpoint in Phuket yesterday, August 10. Mueang Phuket district officials set up the checkpoint in Koh Kaew subdistrict at about 8.30pm as part of increased efforts to prevent violent crime, drug offences, firearms offences and other illegal activity.…
