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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Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Tunisian man tries to swap clamped tyre, gets caught in the act
A Tunisian man faces legal charges after parking in a restricted area in Phuket and attempting to evade a wheel clamp and a subsequent fine by swapping out the clamped tyre. Several Thai news Facebook pages shared a video of the couple on May 8. The pair were seen removing a spare tyre from their vehicle in an apparent attempt to…
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Tsunami alert: Phuket braces for large-scale emergency drill
Sirens, search dogs, and simulated chaos—Phuket is gearing up for the biggest tsunami disaster drill in years. Local officials announced the CMEX 25 national crisis response exercise, set to hit six Andaman coastal provinces from June 24 to 26, with Phuket taking centre stage. The simulation aims to prepare government agencies, rescue teams, schools, and residents for a worst-case tsunami…
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Polish tourist drowns in Phuket after morning swim
A dream holiday turned to tragedy for a 36 year old Polish tourist who was found dead after a solo morning swim at Kamala Beach. The man was pulled from the water, unresponsive, after lifeguards spotted him floating face down near the Kamala Shrine yesterday morning, May 8. Despite frantic CPR attempts on the beach and en route to the…
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15 busted in Phuket drug crackdown near Nai Yang Beach
A late-night drug bust in Phuket has led to 15 people testing positive for illegal substances during a surprise operation near Nai Yang Beach. The two-hour checkpoint, aimed at tackling rising drug activity in the area, took place on Tuesday, May 6, and was led by Thalang District Chief Siwat Rawangkun, also the Director of the Thalang Narcotics Suppression Centre.…
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Phuket Airport expansion set to handle 18 million passengers
Phuket is set to soar to new heights as Airports of Thailand (AOT) pushes forward with Phase 2 of its ambitious Phuket Airport Development Project. The expansion will increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate a whopping 18 million passengers annually, positioning Thailand as a key player in regional aviation. Yesterday, May 7, AOT hosted the first public seminar for the…
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Phuket aims for noodle world record at mega fest
Phuket is turning up the heat this June as it launches a mouth-watering attempt to make culinary history, by setting a Guinness World Record with its beloved Phuket Hokkien Noodles. The sizzling spectacle will headline the Phuket Peranakan Festival 2025, taking place from June 20 to 22. Over 200 chefs, restaurants and community groups will team up to showcase the iconic…
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Midnight copper thief plunges Phuket villas into darkness
A cunning cable thief struck under the cover of darkness in Phuket’s Chalong area, cutting off power to six luxury homes, and leaving residents fuming and fearful of more attacks. At around midnight on Saturday, May 3, a thief dug into the ground at the Siwalee Village section of Land & Houses Park and made off with a bundle of…
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Aussie tourist drowns near Phuket’s Koh Racha Yai
An Australian tourist tragically drowned on May 6, just off the coast of Phuket’s Racha Island, as he reportedly went for a swim while intoxicated. The 22 year old tourist was initially revived with CPR, but was pronounced dead upon his arrival at a nearby hospital. On May 6, at 2.28pm, the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Pearl Centre) received a…
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Another brawl on Soi Bangla: Drunk tourists throw punches
In yet another chaotic display of tourist mayhem, a video of a drunken street fight between foreign visitors on the notorious Soi Bangla has gone viral, raising fresh concerns over alcohol-fuelled violence in Thailand’s party capital. The footage, posted by Facebook user Kim Wan today, May 7, captures a short but intense scuffle between intoxicated tourists in the early hours…
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Shell shock: Aussie man caught with a grenade at Phuket Airport
An Aussie man has landed himself in hot water after allegedly trying to board a domestic flight in Thailand with grenade launcher ammo and bomb parts stuffed in his suitcase. The Thai police swooped on 61 year old Peter Davison at Phuket International Airport after stunned baggage staff uncovered a suspicious stash of military-grade weapon components hidden in his luggage.…
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Australian man jailed for 15 days for motorcycle wheelie in Phuket
Thai police sentenced an Australian man to 15 days in prison for performing a motorcycle wheelie on a road in Phuket on April 27, in an apparent effort to demonstrate that no special treatment is given to foreign nationals in Thailand. The 32 year old Australian, Daherwalid, went viral on Thai social media in April after images and videos of…
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Phuket fights erosion as turtles and dugongs make a comeback
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Chalermchai Sri-on has announced an urgent expansion of erosion control efforts at Sai Kaew Beach in Sirinat National Park near Phuket, following severe shoreline damage and disruption to local communities caused by last year’s monsoon season. During an inspection on May 3, Chalermchai revealed that erosion had severely disrupted transport routes and threatened nearby…
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Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well. The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5,…
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Condo owner denies keeping deposit after Ukrainian woman trashes room
A condominium owner in Phuket denied accusations of cheating a Ukrainian woman who damaged her property. She clarified that the woman was not her tenant, but the girlfriend of her actual tenant, a Russian man. The Thai woman, Praphaphan Meesomboon, took to her Facebook page last week to share images of her damaged condo unit. The photos showed walls defaced…
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Foreign man slaps Phuket taxi driver and rams van in separate incidents
Local news agencies and residents in Phuket are demanding police action against a foreign man who was caught on a viral video slapping a Thai taxi driver in the face in the middle of the road. A Thai motorist shared dashcam footage of the incident with the Facebook news page Phuket Times, yesterday, May 4. The assault reportedly occurred on…
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Fatal fall: Polish tourist plunges to his death from Phuket condo
A Polish tourist fell to his death from a fifth-floor condo in Kathu district, Phuket, while his wife witnessed the incident. The 34 year old man, identified as Swalomir, lost his balance after standing up and toppled over the balcony. This was confirmed by his wife, who was present at the time. The incident occurred at 12.13am today, May 3.…
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Phuket labour day funds cancer centre amid workers’ struggles
Phuket provincial officials marked National Labour Day 2025 with the event Labourers for the Light on Thursday, raising more than 150,000 baht to support the construction of the province’s first government cancer centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The event, which took place at Bang Wad Dam, was presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam and brought together over 900…
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Phuket scammer busted after conning restaurants for drug cash
A 29 year old con artist in Phuket who posed as a food delivery customer to trick restaurant owners out of their cash has been arrested after weeks on the run. The man, known only by his nickname “Knot,” rode around Phuket on a black M-Slash motorcycle, preying on small eateries with a scam that left at least 10 victims…
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Israeli man nabbed for Phuket motorcycle theft after week-long hunt
An Israeli man was finally apprehended on April 30 after stealing a motorcycle from the car park of a hospital in Phuket on April 21 and evading arrest for over a week. The Thai victim, whose identity was not disclosed, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station on April 24, reporting that his white Honda Click motorcycle was stolen from…
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Phuket honours real-life heroes for lifesaving acts
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has honoured eight everyday heroes with certificates of recognition for their bravery, kindness and unwavering service to others throughout 2024. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, April 28, alongside the 4th meeting of the Phuket Provincial Committee and Department Heads for 2025. Governor Sophon, who presided over the…
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Australian man dies after falling from staircase at Phuket hotel
An Australian man fell to his death from a staircase at a hotel in Phuket on May 1, allegedly due to intoxication, in full view of his wife. Officers from Patong Police Station and rescuers from the Kusontham Foundation rushed to a hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road in the Kathu district of Phuket after being alerted to an…
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Chalong Police arrest youths after motorbike gang clash in Phuket
Chalong Police in Phuket have apprehended several youths following a gang-related incident involving rival members on motorbikes. The altercation, which occurred on Wiset Road in Rawai, included the use of multiple ping pong bombs. CCTV footage from Rawai Municipality captured the event at 12.20am on April 26, showing over 20 youths on at least 10 motorbikes. One group chased a…
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Drug raid in Phuket worker camps leads to three arrests
Raids at two worker camps in central Phuket led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals and one Thai national after methamphetamine use was detected among six Myanmar workers. The operation took place in Srisoonthorn on April 29, as reported by the Thalang District Office. The coordinated effort aimed at combating drug-related activities involved approximately 150 workers and was carried…
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Phuket police crack down on teen gang with guns and bombs
A dangerous teen gang armed with guns and explosives was swiftly taken down by Phuket police in a high-stakes operation, preventing what could have been a major incident in the city. Yesterday, April 29, at 6pm, Chalong Police Station launched a bold crackdown on a group of teens suspected of disturbing the peace and planning an attack. Under the direction…
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British ambassador issues cannabis warning in Phuket
British tourists lighting up in Thailand have been hit with a harsh reminder—bring cannabis home and you could face serious jail time. During an official visit to Phuket on Monday, April 28, British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Gooding urged Thai officials to continue warning tourists that cannabis remains strictly illegal in the UK. The message was delivered during a meeting…
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Foreign man injured after falling on jet ski while parasailing in Phuket
A foreign man sustained a leg injury after falling onto a jet ski during a parasailing activity off Patong Beach in Phuket. The Kusoltam Patong Rescue Foundation was called to assist the man, whose nationality and identity were not disclosed, at 2.19pm, yesterday, April 29, on Patong Beach. The man reportedly fell while parasailing, although the height from which he…
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Phuket Airport soars as Russians jet in while China jets off
Phuket Airport is flying high despite a sharp drop in Chinese tourists, with Russian and Turkish travellers stepping in to keep the island’s tourism industry cruising toward a record-breaking 18 million passengers this year. Phuket International Airport is on course to welcome a whopping 18 million passengers in 2025, even as the number of Chinese arrivals nosedives, according to airport…
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Drunk tourist walks naked through Phuket, sparks outrage
A drunk foreign tourist was filmed walking naked through the streets of Phuket Town, prompting locals to voice concerns about the growing problem of unruly visa-free tourists. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต shared a shocking video of a foreign man stumbling down Rattanakosin 200 Years Road in Talat Nuea subdistrict, Mueang district, completely naked. The man, visibly intoxicated, appeared to…
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Heartless taxi blocks Phuket ambulance rushing patient to hospital
A green taxi is at the centre of an incident in Phuket after blocking an ambulance with a 62 year old man suffering from heart failure onboard. The patient died in the ambulance, just moments away from receiving life-saving treatment. On the morning of Sunday, April 27, a 62 year old man with a history of heart disease began feeling…
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Wheely reckless: Aussie tourist pops stunts on Phuket streets
A thrill-seeking Aussie tourist landed himself in hot water after being caught on camera pulling dangerous wheelies down a busy Phuket road, prompting furious locals to demand action. The 32 year old Australian man has been arrested after a viral clip showed him performing motorcycle stunts along Witsanu Road in Rawai, causing mayhem and putting lives at risk. The reckless…
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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