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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Crystal-clear police drug raids in Phuket leave dealers on ice
A series of drug raids in Phuket has resulted in five suspects being nicked and over a kilo of crystal meth, also known as ya ice, scooped off the streets in a blitz that’s left local dealers shaking. Phuket City Police launched multiple operations targeting suspected drug dens, netting a haul of hard drugs, digital scales, motorbikes and mobiles, all…
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Foreign thieves steal cannabis in Phuket while friends distract staff
A Phuket cannabis shop owner is hunting for foreign thieves who were caught on CCTV stealing products from his store. The theft did not cause much loss, but the owner wanted to teach the thieves a lesson. The owner of the Shweed Panwa store in the Wichit area of Phuket, Chatchai Tanamas, shared details of the incident on his Facebook…
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British family’s £4,000 Phuket villa holiday turns nightmare
A family’s dream Christmas holiday in Phuket turned into a nightmare after discovering their £4,000 (around 176,000 baht) villa booking was a scam, leaving them stranded and scrambling for last-minute accommodation. After a gruelling 30-hour journey, Judy and Richard Loader arrived in Phuket only to discover the villa they booked through Booking.com for over £4,000 simply didn’t exist — turning…
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Phuket boosts tourism with 7 new developments
Phuket’s booming tourism industry is set for a fresh injection of new developments as four hotels and three condominiums received approval from the Expert Committee on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a recent meeting. The third EIA committee gathering of the year took place at the Phuket Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, chaired by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai. The…
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2 meth dealers arrested in police bust in Phuket
Phuket’s drug suppression unit struck a significant blow against the local narcotics trade on Monday, arresting two suspects and seizing methamphetamine and related paraphernalia in a crackdown led by top provincial police officials. Under the command of Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Police deployed a focused operation headed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phichit Thongto, head of the Narcotics…
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Phuket transwoman arrested for pickpocketing Turkish tourist
Police arrested a Thai transwoman for pickpocketing a Turkish tourist in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket in the early hours of this morning. Stolen cash amounting to 4,000 baht was recovered. The 38 year old Turkish tourist filed a complaint with officers at Patong Police Station at 4am today, May 27. He suspected a transwoman of stealing 4,000 baht in cash…
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Phuket anti-corruption chief slams dropped appeal in graft case
Phuket’s top anti-corruption official has sharply criticised the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for declining to appeal the overturned conviction of MaAnn Samran, a former local official convicted of corruption but later acquitted on appeal. MaAnn, once the powerful Chief of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) overseeing Phuket’s prized beach areas, including Bang Tao, was sentenced in…
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Major power outage hits Cherng Talay in Phuket May 29
Residents and businesses in Cherng Talay are bracing for a major power outage this Thursday, May 29, as the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Thalang branch (PEA Thalang) undertakes essential upgrades to the high-voltage distribution system. The electricity cut will last from 9am to 4.30pm, affecting a wide area stretching from Blue Tree Water Park to the entrance of Wat Thepwanaram. This…
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Teen gun and firecracker attacks spark Phuket crackdown
Seven people have been arrested for the gun attack on Saturday. Last weekend, a group of teenagers unleashed gunfire and massive firecrackers in Phuket, injuring two people. The trouble began late on Saturday night, May 24, in Soi Bang Thong 3, Kathu, when a gang of teenagers opened fire and hurled explosives. A 15 year old boy, Athinan Ruangsantidamrong, was…
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Pakistan’s top envoy brings friendship mission to Phuket
In a warm show of diplomacy and island hospitality, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Thailand Rukhsana Afzal paid a high-profile visit to Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat yesterday, reaffirming her country’s commitment to deepening ties with the popular tourist province. The meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, was more than just a polite exchange of pleasantries. According to an official report, it marked a…
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Jet-ski operator arrested for helmet attack in Phuket
In Phuket, a jet-ski rental operator has been detained following an altercation involving an elderly three-wheeler driver, during which the suspect used a helmet as an attack weapon in Thalang yesterday, May 25. The incident occurred at approximately 10.30am and was caught on video, which gained traction on social media. The footage shows the 45 year old, identified as Wisan…
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Myanmar man’s body found after tragic Phuket fishing accident
The body of a 26 year old Myanmar man, who was swept into the sea while fishing with friends near Paradise Beach, Phuket, has been recovered, as confirmed by the police. The incident occurred on May 24. Wasana Khamchomphu reported the disappearance of her employee, Lone Lone, to Patong Police at 5.53pm on the same day. Lone Lone and two…
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Phuket violence: teens clash with guns and explosives
In Phuket, an altercation between rival groups of young people escalated into a violent incident involving firearms and explosives. Today, May 25, at 12.35am, Police Lieutenant Sumet Phetruenthong received reports of teenagers using vehicles to pursue and shoot at each other, including throwing large firecrackers, along a road near Chamcha Market in the Talat Nuea subdistrict. Upon arriving at the…
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Phuket man found dead in suspected suicide, police investigate
In Phuket, a 29 year old man was discovered deceased in his bedroom early yesterday, May 24, with police suspecting suicide as the cause. Police and emergency services were summoned to a residence in Moo Baan Phra Pin, off Luang Por Chaem Road, located in Moo 4, Chalong, at approximately 1.17am. The deceased was identified as Kittisak Mawan. Chalong Police,…
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Cement mixer crash sparks chaos on Phuket’s slippery roads
A cement mixer truck overturned on a rainy morning in Phuket, leaving a driver injured and traffic snarled on a busy route. At 9.45am yesterday, May 23, rescue teams at Kusontham Muang Mai Centre were alerted by the Andaman Narendra Centre about the accident. The incident took place on Thep Krasattri Road, just before the Mueang Mai Tunnel’s red light.…
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Bomb threat panic on Phuket flight sparks emergency evacuation
Chaos broke out yesterday at Phuket International Airport when a passenger on an AirAsia flight caused panic by jokingly warning of a bomb in his bag — triggering a full-scale emergency response and a police investigation. At 3.50pm yesterday, May 23, officials were alerted after 62 year old Thanawut Wichaidit reportedly told a flight attendant, “Watch out for the bomb…
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Foreign tourists caught defecating outside restuarant in Phuket
A Thai restaurant owner in Phuket urged the government to consider increasing the number of public bathrooms after foreign tourists defecated outside his business on two separate occasions. The owner of Salaloy Restaurant, Pananut Asawapitakchon, shared details of the unpleasant incidents on his Facebook account yesterday, May 22. He explained that the incidents occurred twice beforehand, last week and this week,…
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Parcel firm under fire for blocking traffic in Wichit, Phuket
A parcel delivery company on Chao Fa East Road in Wichit town, Phuket, is under fire for allegedly encroaching on public land and causing serious traffic disruptions, sparking outrage among locals. After a flood of complaints, a joint government inspection took place yesterday, May 22, probing the firm’s use of public space to park large delivery vehicles, which residents say…
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China backs green Phuket push to boost tourism and tunnels
China is throwing its support behind Phuket’s dream of becoming a low-carbon tourist haven, following a high-level diplomatic visit that’s turned heads across the island. Yesterday, May 21, Chinese Consul General in Songkhla Wang Zhijian paid a courtesy visit to Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat at the Phuket Provincial Hall. The visit wasn’t just ceremonial—both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen…
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Patong card game bust: 4 arrested in secret gambling raid
A not-so-secret card game ended in handcuffs when police raided a small shop in Patong, arresting four people allegedly caught gambling illegally. The dramatic bust took place in Soi Kebsup, at the southern end of the island’s party capital, following an investigation into what officers described as a “covert gambling network” operating under the radar of Patong’s bustling nightlife scene. Patong…
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Body of foreign man found floating near Nui Beach, Phuket
The body of a tattooed foreign man has been found floating in the sea off Phuket’s Nui Beach, marking yet another tragic case of tourists meeting their end in the island’s waters. Karon Police were alerted to the grim discovery at around 3.20pm yesterday, May 21, after beachgoers spotted a body drifting offshore. Lifeguards responded quickly, using a speedboat to…
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Drunk motorcyclist goes against traffic flow and kills female rider
A drunk Thai man rode his motorcycle against the flow of traffic and collided with a female rider, resulting in her death, on Number 4027 Road in Phuket on Tuesday night. The accident was reported to officers at Thalang Police Station and Thalang Hospital at approximately 11.45pm, May 20. It occurred near the PTT petrol station at the Paklok branch in…
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Russian woman busted in Phuket sex sting in tourist crackdown
A late-night sting in Phuket ended with the arrest of a young Russian woman accused of selling sex at a luxury villa, just as Thai police ramp up efforts to clean up crimes affecting tourism. Tourist Police confirmed the 25 year old woman, whose name has not been released, was arrested around midnight on Tuesday, May 20, at a private…
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Royal Thai Navy seizes illegal Indonesian fishing boats off Phuket
A dramatic high-seas sting netted two Indonesian fishing boats and 18 crew members, all caught red-handed illegally operating in Thai waters — and the Royal Thai Navy wasn’t letting them get away. The bust took place on Monday, May 19, when the HTMS Longlom intercepted the foreign boats about 80 nautical miles southwest of Phuket, within Thailand’s Exclusive Economic Zone…
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Motorcyclist driving wrong way in Phuket kills woman
A heavily intoxicated 32 year old man drove his motorcycle against the flow of traffic, resulting in a tragic accident that claimed the life of a woman. Police confirmed the suspect had high blood alcohol level in his system after he admitted to consuming alcohol before the incident. Police Colonel Yutthaphon Wathaseth, an investigating officer from the Thalang District Police Station,…
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Visa villains nabbed in Phuket immigration crackdown
Phuket’s Immigration officers are cracking down hard on visa overstays, hauling in four foreign nationals in a high-profile sweep as part of a nationwide effort to stamp out illegal immigration. In an operation launched on Monday, May 19, Phuket Immigration, in coordination with local agencies, arrested four men who had overstayed their legal permission to remain in Thailand. The arrests…
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Thai motorcyclist and Italian passenger seriously injured in Phuket crash
A dramatic day unfolded on the roads of Phuket yesterday, when a Thai motorcyclist and his Italian passenger made a swift getaway after smashing into a van. Their escape, however, was short-lived as they later collided with an SUV, leaving both with serious injuries. Officers from Patong Police Station responded to the accident near Phra Baramee Soi 5 on Phra…
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Phuket Covid surge: Island ranks 3rd in Thailand
Phuket’s picture-perfect beaches may be drawing tourists in droves but the island is quietly battling a Covid-19 surge that places it among the top three provinces for infection rates in Thailand this year, though remarkably, not a single death has been reported. According to the Department of Disease Control, from January 1 to May 10, 2025, Phuket recorded 1,287 cumulative…
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Phuket shopper horrified by squirming surprise in salted fish
Nothing says “good morning” like finding live worms wriggling in your breakfast. That’s exactly what happened to one unfortunate shopper in Phuket who made a stomach-churning discovery in a serving of fried salted fish bought from a local shop. The shocking incident, which quickly went viral, sparked a wave of online outrage and renewed calls for stricter food safety standards…
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Body of Myanmar man missing after drowning in Phuket pond
What began as a relaxing day off ended in heartbreak when a young Myanmar man drowned while swimming with friends in Phuket. The 20 year old man vanished beneath the surface in front of his horrified mates, sparking a desperate search by local rescue teams. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, May 18, in Srisoonthorn, Thalang district. At around 6.30pm, officers from Thalang…
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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