Phuket News
-
Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
-
More ‘land owners’ step forward in Naka Noi dispute
PHUKET: Three people who allegedly owned land documents for chunks of Naka Noi Island off Phuket’s east coast have challenged the family of Thai actor Puri Hiranpruk with the suggestion that all parties involved in a recent land dispute should donate their property to the public as a conservation area for local wildlife. Jeya Tonkhlang, Dolmanap Tonkhlang and Jessada Thorthip…
-
Military to ask Baron to halt development
PHUKET: The Royal Thai 41st Military Circle will ask Baron World Trade Company to halt construction on a long-disputed Rawai development, Commanding General Teenachat Jindangen told the Phuket Gazette on Tuesday. The general made the remarks after meeting with sea gypsy community leaders in an effort to mediate between the two sides and avoid any further conflicts erupting. The land…
-
Boy survives savage jellyfish stings
KRABI: A Krabi boy is recovering from savage jellyfish stings sustained while fishing with his father in Ao Nang Monday evening, confirmed doctors at Krabi Provincial Hospital. Suttitaste Tuekkuntos, 12, suffered scarring on both his calves, after diving into the water from his boat to disentangle fishing tackle. The boy’s life was possibly saved by his quick-thinking father, who treated…
-
BREAKING NEWS: Restaurant owner makes last stand against beach demolition
PHUKET: Demolition is about to begin on shop houses at Lay Pang Beach after the owner of Tony Restaurant made a last-ditch effort to save his restaurant this morning. Clutching court orders and other documents, restaurant owner Kanokpon ‘Tony’ Somrak made a one-man stand, insisting he had the right to operate his restaurant on the beachfront land. After a brief…
-
Volunteers needed to establish Phuket suicide hotline
PHUKET: After a rash of tourists dying of allegedly self-inflicted injuries, Dr Surin Bamrungphol, Phuket’s anti-corruption champion, is calling for volunteers to help establish a suicide hotline. “We see frequent newspaper reports of alleged suicides in Phuket, which is very disturbing,” Dr Surin said. “People are driven to take their own lives for many reasons – they could be stressed…
-
Artificial reef sunk off Tri Trang Beach
PHUKET: Concrete structures to create an artificial reef were lowered into the sea off Tri Trang Beach on Friday as part of a sustainable tourism initiative backed with private funding. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources placed more than 120 cement cubes and cones on two rai of seabed to become homes for marine life and attract divers to…
-
Krabi locals link temple sinkhole to Naga appearance
KRABI: The sudden appearance of a four-meter-deep sinkhole in the grounds of a temple in Krabi has some locals claiming the hole was made by a Naga – a mythical three-headed snake-like creature. The hole in the ground appeared at Khao Phanom temple and almost swallowed up the temple’s abbot as he was sweeping the temple grounds. “I was clearing…
-
Video report: Homeschooled siblings claim bronze at international competition
PHUKET: Two homeschooled youngsters from Phuket won bronze medals at the Malaysian International Young Inventors Olympiad (MIYIO) this month for their innovative automated plant-watering invention. Nattaya Sompranon, 14, and Phimphan Sompranon, 10, invented the ‘Smart Watering Controller’, which automatically waters plants when the humidity in the soil is low. The young Phuket-based inventors were among more than 280 teams competing…
-
Thousands make first crossing on foot between Krabi islands
KRABI: Thousands of members of the public turned out on Saturday to make the first crossing on foot between Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai islands, with the official opening of the recently completed Lanta Bridge in Krabi. Krabi Governor Pinit Boonlert chaired the opening ceremony of the 400-million-baht bridge. The event was titled ‘Starry Night Over Lanta Bridge’. “It was…
-
New B650mn sports complex planned for Krabi
KRABI: Ao Nang in Krabi is to get a brand new 650-million-baht sports complex, local officials have confirmed. “We drew up the plans for the 3,000-seat stadium about six years ago and have recently received partial funding of 87.4mn baht from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT),” said Ao Nang Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Pankum Kittithonkun. “Preliminary plans for the…
-
Kamala co-operative helps out with annual circumcisions
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Childcare Center in Kamala performed free circumcisions on about 25 Muslim boys aged 5-9 years old yesterday. The tradition involves surgically removing the foreskins of young Islamic males and was sponsored by the Phuket Islamic Saving Co-operative, which donated 20,000 baht to the Kamala Administration Organization (OrBorTor). “The circumcisions are done in different sub-districts each year. This…
-
Phuket Immigration not demanding social media account details – yet
PHUKET: Immigration forms asking foreigners to detail their regular hangouts, social media accounts, bank accounts and other personal information are not being used in Phuket, according to a source in the local provincial Immigration office. “The form is only being used in Bangkok, at least until further notice,” the local Immigration officer told Phuket Gazette on condition of anonymity today.…
-
Phuket worker camp raid turns up guns, drugs
PHUKET: Police arrested three suspects for possession of drugs and illegal firearms during a raid on a worker camp in Phuket yesterday. Two of the Thai suspects were named as Chatchana Poosangka, 29 and Nattapong Rithidet, 19. A 16-year-old minor was not named. “We had been keeping an eye on the camp as a number of teenagers were visiting it…
-
Phuket orangutan in critical condition
PHUKET: An orangutan recently confiscated from Phuket Zoo is in critical condition. The beloved 13-year-old orangutan Milo was moved from the Phang Nga Wildlife Nursery Station to the intensive care unit of the Pasupalun Livestock & Wildlife Hospital in Kanchana Buri on Thursday. “Initial tests have shown that her red blood cell count is very low. She also has vitamin…
-
Military summons Phuket sea gypsies, activists over land dispute
PHUKET: A total of twelve sea gypsies and human rights activists have been summoned by the 41st Military Circle for questioning about an on-going land dispute between Baron World Trade Company and a sea gypsy community in Rawai. An official letter, issued on April 20, was sent to Rawai sea gypsy community leader Ngeem Damrongkaset. It summoned nine sea gypsies…
-
Tourists escape another Phuket bus fire
PHUKET: A group of Chinese tourists narrowly escaped serious injury after fleeing a burning tour bus in Karon yesterday. “The driver was en route from the airport to Patong via Karon at about 5:30pm. After spotting thick, black smoke emanating from the back of the bus, the driver stopped and evacuated the 24 tourists,” said Lt Col Sathid Noorit of…
-
One tonne of dead fish found in Phuket park
PHUKET: A large number of fish and shrimp have died in a pond in Suan Luang Park in Phuket Town from either a rise in temperature or polluted water, confirmed officials. “The local community around the park has complained about the dead fish,” said Phuket City Deputy Mayor Thavorn Jirapattanasophon. “About one tonne of dead fish have been found since…
-
Asleep at the wheel: driver hits eight motorbikes in Phuket
PHUKET: A pick-up truck driver, who fell asleep at the wheel, flipped his vehicle into eight motorbikes and another truck parked along Thepkrasattri Road early this morning. “Wasan Wijitwithayakul, 46, confessed to having dozed off while heading home to Thalang from Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town,” Lt Col Chaliao Thaihoo of the Phuket City Police said. Mr Wasan was…
-
Must stamp out illegal migrant camps, says Phuket V/Gov
PHUKET: Local officials must prevent illegal migrant camps from popping up along construction sites throughout the province, Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul said on Tuesday. “Foreign workers build their shacks in and around local communities. They live in unhygienic conditions that spread disease, and indulge in the illegal trade of vegetables, fish and drugs,” said Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. The…
-
Excuse Buster: The hidden health dangers of fungi
PHUKET: “It is ironic that this humble fungus, hailed as a benefactor of mankind, may by its very success prove to be a deciding factor in the decline of the present civilization”, said Dr John I Pitt, in The Genus Penicillin, 1979. ‘Antibiotics save lives.’ But has our overuse of antibiotics for killing bacteria contributed to creating a dangerous internal…
-
Phuket voted 8th among world’s top 10 islands
PHUKET: Phuket has won eighth place among the world’s top 10 islands in the latest reader survey conducted by travel review website TripAdvisor. Phuket was described by TripAdvisor as an island with “blue lagoons and salmon sunsets [that] make for a dream-like atmosphere, and indeed, a vacation here can feel a bit surreal”. It also said: “Water sports are the…
-
Video Report: Portraits of Princess on show in Phuket Town
PHUKET: An exclusive collection of portrait photographs of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is on display at two exhibition venues in Phuket Town throughout April. Photographs by esteemed national artist Nitikorn Kraivixien, who is the president of The Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, are on show at the Baba Museum (Peranakan Nitat) and the On-On Hotel on Phang…
-
Video report: New demolition plan brings Surin businesses to the ground
PHUKET: A number of iconic beach clubs on Phuket were crushed during the demolition of the shop houses along the Surin Beach boardwalk yesterday (story here). “We are not ruining Surin Beach; we are returning it back to the unobstructed, beautiful beach it once was,” Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat insisted, attempting to explain to a group of stunned tourists…
-
Songkran crime sweep nets hundreds of suspects
PHUKET: More than 1,500 arrests related to drug, illegal firearms, gambling and other criminal activities were made in Phuket and the surrounding provinces between April 1 and 17. “In the raids, a total of 171 suspects were arrested for firearms offences. A total of 165 unregistered guns were seized along with 750 rounds of ammunition, as well as two bombs…
-
Phuket man injured in drive-by shooting
PHUKET: One man was injured in a drive-by shooting in Srisoonthorn yesterday. “Weerachart Laloy, 20, was shot twice on his left hip at about 6pm,” said Lt Suporn Muangkai of the Thalang Police. Mr Weerachart was riding pillion behind his friend Nattapong Kerdthai at the time of the attack. Mr Nattapong rushed him to the emergency room at Thalang Hospital.…
-
Police suspect arson in Phuket speedboat blaze
PHUKET: Police suspect arson may be the motive behind a fire that engulfed five speedboats at Chalong Pier yesterday (story here). Forensic officers believe the fire started on the middle of the row of boats, quickly spreading to those around it. The boats were removed from the scene for further examination. “There are two possible scenarios. Either someone set the…
-
Breaking News: Surin Beach demolition underway
PHUKET: Demolition of the last remaining buildings along Surin Beach is underway. Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat and Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization(OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran, accompanied by military personnel, were on site as a backhoe digger began pulling apart the buildings that once housed beachfront shops, bars and restaurants. “Finally, the day we have been waiting for has arrived…
-
Phuket bomb squad called to Daorung Intersection
PHUKET: A bomb disposal squad was called on to deal with an abandoned suitcase at the Daorung Intersection in Wichit this afternoon. Passing motorists, fearing that the lone suitcase lying in the road might be a bomb, took snapshots, which quickly went viral on social media. “Luckily, the case was empty,” said Lt Prachpong Keawkamjan, head of the Phuket Provincial…
-
Patong Bay water sent to Bangkok for testing
PHUKET: Officials have recently collected samples of water in Patong Bay and sent them to Bangkok to determine whether it is pollution or algae that has caused the sea water to turn brown. Akkarawat Hirunphun, an environmental specialist in the Phuket-based Regional Environmental Office, and his staff inspected the green-brown water along the Patong coast (story here) for contamination. “We…
-
Officials mull big bike licence
PHUKET: A specific driver’s licence for those wanting to mount a big bike is still in the works, officials told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “I know that there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of creating a separate driver’s licence for motorcycles with engines that are at least 400cc,” said Jaturong Kaewkasi, chief policy adviser at the Phuket Land Transport…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.