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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Phuket nightclubs raided for late trading, serving alcohol to minors
Two Phuket nightclubs in the Kathu district have been raided by officials from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and the Volunteer Defense Corps (OrSor). The clubs, the Ratree Club and Mahanakorn Phuket were accused of late trading, public disturbance, serving alcohol to minors, and operating without proper permits. The raids were carried out early this morning after a plain-clothes officer confirmed…
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Visa crackdown in Phuket: Over 1,000 foreigners nabbed for overstaying
A crime-free initiative in Phuket has seen significant success, with over 1,000 foreigners caught for overstaying their visas. This achievement is credited to the collaboration between the Phuket Immigration Office and 800 accommodation providers on the island, who have adopted crime-free measures that enable them to report any suspicious activities involving their foreign guests. Phuket’s immigration chief, Thanet Sukchai, revealed…
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Australian man arrested in Phuket for damaging van mirror in road rage incident
Phuket police apprehended an Australian man for causing damage to a passenger van in a road rage incident, specifically targeting the vehicle’s rear-view mirrors. The man, identified only as Navale, was taken into custody following a complaint received by Wichit Police yesterday morning, The Phuket News reported. According to the police report, Navale and an individual named Haider from Dubai…
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Phuket MP warns teachers of jail time for hitting students
Phuket‘s Move Forward MP-elect for Constituency 1, Somchart Techathavorncharoen, has issued a warning to teachers that hitting students is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine of up to 40,000 baht or up to two years in prison, or both. Somchart made the announcement on his official Facebook page, reminding the public that the Ministry of Education had abolished corporal…
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Two arrested in Phuket for selling guns online via Facebook
Two men have been arrested by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) Region 5 branch for allegedly selling firearms online via Facebook from their homes in Kathu, Phuket. The arrests were announced late on Sunday, though the specific dates were not disclosed. In the first raid, at a house in Moo 1, Kathu, officers arrested Kriangkrai, a 31 year old…
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Brawl erupts between foreigners and Thai driver on road in Phuket (video)
A Thai minibus driver filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station yesterday after some foreigners broke two side view mirrors of his vehicle during a dispute on the road in Phuket. The Thai minibus driver, Monnaphan Makaraphan, told police that he was involved in a dispute with the foreign drivers and passengers of a red Toyota Yaris hatchback. He admitted…
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Alcohol ban in Thailand on June 3 for Visakha Bucha and royal visit
A nationwide alcohol ban will be enforced in Thailand this Saturday, June 3, in observance of the Buddhist holiday Visakha Bucha. The ban coincides with a royal visit to Phuket by King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, celebrating Her Majesty’s birthday. Visakha Bucha commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Prince Siddhartha, which all occurred on the same date,…
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Car slams into streetlamp, driver faces reckless driving charge
A car accident occurred on a bypass road in Phuket, resulting in a streetlamp being knocked down. The incident took place today in the early hours of the morning, near a PTT petrol station on the southbound lanes of the road. The vehicle involved was a white MG sedan with red license plates from Samut Sakhon. The car sustained significant…
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Phuket launches inspections to curb foreigner crime, boost reputation
Phuket authorities launched a comprehensive inspection campaign targeting crimes by foreigners to boost the island’s reputation among potential visitors. The ‘white accommodation scheme for foreigners’ was announced by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew. The scheme is being overseen by Pol. Col. Thanet Sukchai, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, The Phuket News reported. The scheme aims to work with landlords who have foreigners residing…
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24-hour alcohol ban in key Patong areas during councillor election
A 24-hour alcohol ban is set to take place in key areas of Patong, Phuket, as local residents prepare to vote in a councillor election on June 11. Patong Municipality Election Director Wipa Chanthong confirmed the ban, which will be in effect throughout Patong Municipality Constituency 3 from 6pm on June 10 to 6pm on June 11. Constituency 3 is…
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Phuket police arrest man with over 5,000 methamphetamine pills
Phuket police have apprehended a man in Ratsada who was found to be in possession of over 5,000 methamphetamine pills, also known as ya bah. The arrest occurred yesterday afternoon as part of an ongoing campaign targeting drug users and dealers, led by Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong and other senior officers on the island. The suspect,…
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First flight from Russia’s Red Wings Airlines makes its way to Phuket
Russian tourists are continuing to flock to Thailand’s holiday paradise of Phuket. Yesterday morning, officials and staff at Phuket International Airport welcomed the first Red Wings Airlines flight from Zhukovsky, Russia, to Phuket. The flight carried 400 passengers. Earlier this month, it was reported that Russians were Thailand’s fourth largest tourist group this year, with a total of 115,743 tourists so…
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Phuket Hotels Association launches online travel sale to back local talent
Press Release Phuket Hotels Association, the nonprofit organisation of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image of Phuket, is inviting members of the public to take part in its “Absolutely Fabulous Online Travel Sale” – an online auction with great prizes that will fund scholarships for talented young people in Phuket. This forms part of the Phuket Hotels Association Benefit (PHAB) 2023…
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Phuket speedboat driver tests positive for meth after crash injuring 37 tourists
UPDATE The man who crashed a speedboat into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand – injuring 37 Thai and foreign tourists – on Wednesday tested positive for methamphetamine. The 29 year old tour boat driver, Sathit Mardchai, underwent a blood test for alcohol and drugs following the incident, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police Pol. Maj. Gen.…
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Phuket som tam restaurant returns 200,000 baht to European tourist
A European tourist was reunited with his bag containing money and assets worth 200,000 baht yesterday thanks to the honest owner of a som tam restaurant in Phuket, southern Thailand. The restaurant, Som Tam Yam 3 Aow, posted photos of the smiling tourist with a big stash of cash on Facebook with the caption… “From the incident where a customer had…
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Phuket boat crash victims offered visa extension assistance by immigration
In Phuket, immigration officials extended support to foreign tourists affected by a recent tour boat crash, offering visa extension assistance. Major Tanannat Srisuwan of Phuket Immigration informed The Phuket Express that 32 foreign tourists, including 21 Russians, one Ukrainian, eight Kazakhstani, one Hong Kong national, and one Chinese national, have been receiving treatment at various hospitals in Phuket. Yesterday, the…
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Patong local election may impact Bangla Road nightlife
Patong Municipality has announced a local election set to take place on June 11, which will impact the popular nightlife district of Bangla Road and its surrounding areas. The election is being held to elect a new representative for Patong Municipality Constituency 3, covering the heart of the bustling tourism town. The need for a new representative arose following the…
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Australian TikTok star gives Patong fruit vendor 2,000 baht as reward for kindness (video)
An Australian TikTok star with 1.5 million followers gave a Patong fruit vendor 2,000 baht as a reward for his kindness and generosity. TikTok star Luke Erwin this week shared a brief video where he decided to test the generosity of a fruit vendor in Patong. In the video, Erwin approached the vendor, saying that he hadn’t had any food…
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Heartbreaking tragedy: 9 year old girl takes her own life in Phuket
A tragic incident occurred yesterday in Pa Khlok, Phuket, when a nine-year-old girl reportedly committed suicide by hanging after being denied permission to join her sister on a trip to a local waterfall. The child’s body was discovered at her family home by her grandfather. Upon finding the girl’s body hanging from a clothesline tied between a coconut tree and a…
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Speedboat crashes in Phuket, 37 injured
A speedboat crashed into a channel marker in Chalong Bay in Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday injuring four Thais and 33 foreign tourists, mostly Russians. The driver is thought to have fallen asleep as he crashed into the huge concrete pillar in the sea about 100 metres away from the shore of Chalong Bay at 5.30pm. The boat, the Thanathip Marine…
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Phuket welcomes cruise liner from Malaysia with 2,000 tourists
Phuket welcomed the arrival of a cruise liner from Malaysia, carrying more than 2,000 tourists, as it docked at the pier in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket‘s main city district on Monday. The cruise liner, the Mein Schiff 5, is operated by TUI Cruises. The Chief of Phuket Marine Office, Natchapong Pranit, welcome the tourists who arrived on the cruise…
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Expat’s driveway cut off as Phuket street paving creates one metre drop
A long-term expat residing in Rawai, Phuket, is struggling to access his home after the local municipality’s paving project left his driveway with a vertical drop of nearly 1 metre. Australian-born British national, Brett Masters, has lived in the area for 18 years and in his current house for the past eight. Before the paving project began in late December, the…
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Phuket power outage announced for airport area on May 18
A power outage is set to affect homes and businesses south of Phuket International Airport on Thursday, as announced by the Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang). The power cut, scheduled from 9am to 4.30pm, is necessary to allow workers to safely conduct improvements to high-voltage cables in the area, as part of an apartment expansion project.…
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Phuket power outage announced for Heroines Monument area
Phuket’s Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang) has announced a power outage scheduled south of the Heroines Monument. The disruption is expected to affect homes and businesses in the area. The power outage has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 16, between 9am and 4:30pm, and is necessary for workers to safely install load break switches…
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MFP wins all Phuket seats in General Election
In yesterday’s General Election, the Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in all three constituencies in Phuket, according to unofficial results declared early today. In Constituency 1, which covers Phuket Town, Koh Kaew, and Ratsada, Somchart Techathavorncharoen from the MFP emerged as the unofficial winner. On the ballot, Somchart was assigned the number two and received 18,604 votes. He expressed…
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Phuket governor casts first vote in General Election
Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew kicked off the General Election process on the island by casting the first vote at the Phuket Auditorium in Phuket Town today. The Phuket Auditorium, located at the government administration centre on Tha Kraeng Road, is one of 22 polling stations established throughout the Talad Yai sub-district of Phuket Town. Candidates are vying for Constituency 1…
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Drunk driving incident kills Phuket motorbike rider
A drunk driving incident killed a Phuket motorbike rider this morning. A 48 year old Phuket passenger van driver has been charged with drink driving causing death following a collision with a motorbike in Samkong, resulting in the death of the 54 year old motorbike rider. The incident occurred at around 6am when the van, travelling at a high speed,…
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Search continues for Russian man swept off rocks by large wave in Phuket
A Russian man has gone missing after being swept off seaside rocks by a large wave at Laem Promthep, Phuket, prompting rescue teams and volunteers to continue their search efforts. The incident occurred at around 9.30am, according to Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. It has been reported that the tourist Yuri Smoyan was standing on the seaside rocks with three other…
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First direct Tigerair flight from Taiwan makes its way to Phuket
The first direct flight by Taiwan‘s Tigerair made its way to Phuket yesterday. The flight arrived at Phuket International Airport, carrying 190 passengers. Airport officials and staff welcomed the passengers upon their arrival, The Phuket Express reported. Last month, it was reported that Tigerair, a subsidiary of China Airlines, will be the only airline currently servicing the Taipei – Phuket route…
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Phuket police chief inaugurates Punrak cafe at immigration office
National Police Chief Damrongsak Kittipraphat recently inaugurated the ‘Punrak Cafe’ at Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, with immigration officers from across the island welcoming the country’s top police general. Several high-ranking officials arrived on the island for the event, including Immigration Bureau Deputy Commissioner Phanthana Nuchanart, Immigration Division 6 Commander Praphansak Prasarnsuk, Immigration Division 6 Deputy Commander Chalermchon Laemthong,…
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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