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.
-
Sponsored Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna's expat health plans forever
Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
-
VIDEO: Brothers Grimes grill Phuket’s Dylan Young
PHUKET: Young karters Ben and Sam Grimes, who compete in the 125cc Junior Class in the Rotax Asia Max Challenge (AMC) in Malaysia and the Thai Championships, recently interviewed racing driver Dylan Young about his career. The interview was the perfect opportunity for Dylan to pass on some of his experience to the brothers and for Ben and Sam to…
-
Corals allegedly damaged by seawalking company to take years to grow back
PHUKET: Corals allegedly damaged by a seawalking company off Khai Nai Island, east of Phuket, could take five to six years to grow back, explained officials as they inspected the decimated underwater habitat yesterday. Over 300 square meters of coral were damaged to create a pathway for tourists to walk on the sea floor, said the Phuket Department of Marine…
-
Phuket one-stop yacht center steers course for 2015 launch
PHUKET: With the long-awaited “one-stop center” for all yachts arriving in Phuket one year overdue, officials have now announced the complex is on track to open in 2015. The 70-million-baht rotunda-style building stands proud in Chalong Bay (map here), but remains to be occupied by the relevant agencies for yacht arrivals to clear immigration, customs and the harbor master. In…
-
Phuket raid uncovers illegal logging camp
PHUKET: A team of Phuket officers raided an illegal logging camp in Kathu yesterday evening, seizing hundreds of planks of wood cut from protected species of trees. Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol led officers into the hills behind Wat Kathu (map here) after local residents informed his office of illegal lumberjacks working in the area. “We rushed to the site,…
-
Saphan Hin teen gang member killed in Phuket drive-by
PHUKET: A series of violent incidents between two teen gangs culminated in one of the members being gunned down in the Saphan Hin area early yesterday morning. Jetsadakorn “Bank” Setnarm, 15, was shot twice in the chest and died while being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, explained Wichit Police Inspector Passakorn Sonthikun. “At about 2:30am Mr Jetsadakorn and fellow gang…
-
Swedish tourist caught in string of Phuket drug arrests
PHUKET: Karon Police arrested a Swedish tourist, along with three others, on drug charges last night. Karon Police led by Karon Police Deputy Superintendent Sophon Borirak arrested a Swedish man and his female companion at a hotel near Taina Road in Karon (map here) at 6pm. Police named the suspects as Jen Peter, 48, and Kwanpana “Tom” Thani, 29, from…
-
Phuket monks defrocked after being caught with drugs
PHUKET: Four monks and a lay worker at the well-known Wat Kajornrungsan on Ranong Road in Phuket Town were arrested Tuesday night after a tip-off led police to catch them with drugs.“We went to Wat Kajornrungsan after local residents reported to us that they suspected some monks were using drugs,” Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Prawit Engchuan told the Phuket…
-
Russian student in Phuket motorbike crash slowly improving
PHUKET: Russian student Sevastan Lukashov, in hospital since March 31 following a serious motorbike accident on the bypass road (story here), is showing signs of recovering from his coma. A source close to the case told the Phuket Gazette, “His school friends go to visit him from time to time.” “The British International School arranged the visa which allows Sevastan’s…
-
Phuket hatchet-wielding thief still at large, motorbike recovered
PHUKET: A motorbike stolen by a hatchet-wielding man on the run was found yesterday parked at the Koh Kaew Post Office.The man, thought to be dangerous, is still at large.Police first encountered the man when they signaled him to pull over at a checkpoint in Cherng Talay on Thursday. He refused to stop, almost hitting a police officer as he…
-
Reaching out for that helping hand
Suicide rates have increased 60 per cent worldwide over the past 45 years, according to the World Health Organization. Phuket is not immune, but there is help available for those in need. The Phuket Gazette’s Leslie Porterfield reports. PHUKET: KHEMMANIT Jantharaapa was 38 years old when she walked onto Thao Thepkrasattri Bridge in tears on April 24. She took off…
-
Phuket beach party ends with shotgun blast
PHUKET: A man enjoying a laid-back beach party with friends at Kalim, north of Patong Beach, last night managed to push away a shotgun that was pointed at his head just before it went off. Khatawut Sangngam, 23, was with friends on Kalim Beach (map here) when three men rode by them on motorbikes, looked them over, and rode on.…
-
No fear of floods or landslides yet, says Phuket MET
PHUKET: Despite heavy rains flooding parts of Ao Nang and Krabi Town yesterday, officers at the Southern Meteorological Center (MET) in Phuket say today that there is no need to fear floods or landslides in Phuket just yet. Deluges in Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, damaged an estimated 20 houses and caused minor flooding up to 60 centimeters…
-
Phuket Tourist Police arrest illegal Chinese guides
PHUKET: Tourist Police arrested two Chinese nationals in Phuket Town yesterday for working illegally as tour guides catering to Chinese tour groups. Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Urumporn Khundejsumrit named the two men as Hung Jin Tia, also known as “Mr Tawan”, 34, and Cao Jiandong, 40. Accompanying Tourist Police in the raid on the men’s tour kiosk on Phun Pol…
-
Police await fingerprint results over Phuket yacht thieves’ knife attack
PHUKET: Police are waiting for fingerprint test results to determine whether the two yacht thieves arrested last weekend also carried out a knife attack on a Frenchman who disturbed the duo while they were trying to rob his yacht just two days earlier. Niwat Duangmanee and Theeraphol Malasan, both 21, were charged with using knives to commit armed robbery, using…
-
Phuket football: Islanders unable to tame Port Lions
PHUKET: The Islanders drew 1-1 with the Port Authority of Thailand’s pro soccer team, Singhtarua FC on Saturday night at Phuket’s Surakul Stadium, and the home team will feel unlucky not to have claimed all three points. Playing their 9th fixture away, in their first season ever in the Thai Division 1 (Yamaha League One or YL1), the Singhtarua FC…
-
Inventive thieves fail to rob Phuket ATM with blowtorch
PHUKET: In a first-of-its-kind robbery in the area, thieves attempted to rob an ATM machine at the Deep Sea Port by using a blowtorch.“This is something new for us,” said Sub Lt Suporn Muengkai of the Wichit Police. “We haven’t had anyone try to rob an ATM with a blowtorch before.”The robbery at a stand-alone ATM on Sakdidet Road occurred…
-
More trekking elephants suspected illegal in Phang Nga raids
PHUKET: Officers from the regional Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division have identified 26 more elephants they suspect were illegally acquired. The news follows raids on elephant trekking companies in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, earlier this week, during which officers identified 40 elephants they suspect are illegal (story here). The trekking camps are well known for providing popular…
-
Tourism minister pledges to push B100mn Phuket Port expansion plan
PHUKET: The Minister of Tourism and Sports, in Phuket to inspect the Deep Sea Port today, has pledged to push forward the 100-million-baht plan to expand Phuket’s key port facility.“I will raise the issue with the Minister of Transportation next week,” Somsak Pureesrisak told reporters today.Joining Mr Somsak in his visit to Phuket today was Tourism of Thailand (TAT) Governor…
-
Man arrested for selling corals at Phuket market
PHUKET: Police last night arrested a market trader for selling pieces of dead coral as ornaments fitted to leather bands at the popular Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town. Officers moved in and arrested Suphachok Worramatamart, 37, after they received a tip-off that dead specimens of coral were being sold at the market. Marine Police Region 8 Deputy Superintendent Lt…
-
Phuket to host joint full-scale tsunami drill
PHUKET: Rescue services from three provinces will join Phuket emergency first-responders for three days of intensive training and to conduct a full-scale tsunami response drill on May 29. The fellow rescue teams to join the exercise will be from the Andaman provinces of Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang. The rescue crews will explore response plans on May 27-28 and stage…
-
Dwarf sperm whale treated, released in Patong
PHUKET: A dwarf sperm whale measuring 2.4 meters long was treated with a dose of antibiotics and released back into the sea after being spotted off Patong Beach on Wednesday.Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) officers received a report of the ill whale at about 8:30am.The animal, weighing only an estimated 150 kilograms, was found in front of the police box…
-
French expat, 26, found hanged in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a 26-year-old French expat was found hanging in a rented Rawai house on Tuesday.Chalong Police and Ruamjai Foundation rescue workers were notified of the death at about 4:30pm, after the owner of the house had entered the building to investigate a stench that was disturbing neighbors.“Officers on duty found the body of the foreigner sitting inside,…
-
Governor proposes solution for Rassada water pollution
PHUKET: After inspecting the site in Rassada where highly polluted wastewater is pumped directly into the Bang Yai Canal in Phuket Town (story here), Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has drawn up a plan to solve the problem. Before drawing up his plan, Gov Maitri broadened his scope of appraisal and inspected drainage ditches behind the Radio of Thailand official residences…
-
Phuket hits high on buffalo agenda
PHUKET: After previous editions in Cairo, Delhi, Manila, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, the World Buffalo Congress will this year make its way to Thailand, where Phuket will host the triennial event at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon from May, 6 to 8. More than 500 participants from 35 countries are scheduled to attend the event,…
-
Phuket bike burner confession treated as ambiguous, police continue search
PHUKET: A man who rambled while confessing to police that he had burned several motorbikes in Phuket has been arrested while police continue their investigation and look for accomplices.Police picked up Thaweesak Nathang, 37, on Monday because he looks similar to a man seen in CCTV images of a motorbike burning in Kamala.When questioned by police, Mr Thaweesak confessed to…
-
Serial Phuket resort thief nabbed
PHUKET: A joint investigation by police from Karon, Kathu and Phuket City has resulted in the arrest of a Bangkok couple who stand accused of robbing guest rooms at nine high-end hotels and resorts in Phuket.Ritthimeth Singhaumpai, 33, and Sasithorn Seekam, 22, were arrested on Wednesday after they entered the Jungceylon car park in a black-on-black Mercedes-Benz E200 sports sedan.The…
-
After five months, missing American Brett Bean calls home
PHUKET: Brett Bean, the American expat whose disappearance last November gained extensive press coverage, has contacted his family after 155 days of unnerving silence, the Phuket Gazette has confirmed. “It was a very brief call,” his mother, Lynne Bean, said. “We still do not know where he is, but it was very good to hear his voice,” she added. “At…
-
40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike tourism trekking companies
PHUKET: Officers from the regional Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division raided seven tour companies in Phang Nga this week following reports that the companies were in possession of illegal elephants. Col Watcharin Phusit, who headed the elephant raids in Phuket last year, also led the raids north of Phuket. “We investigated the ATV Tour Company, Pang Kaew elephant…
-
Phuket FC to entertain with Singhtarua
PHUKET: The Islanders will be hoping to get their push for promotion back on track when they host 4th place Singhtarua FC at Surakul Stadium this evening. Phuket FC lost their last away game to Air Force United 2-1. The match was the second time in three days the two teams played each other at Thupatemee Stadium, on the northern…
-
Burmese girl, 6, first dengue fatality on Phuket this year
PHUKET: In the wake of a six-year-old Burmese girl dying from dengue fever after arriving on the island in April, the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is urging everyone to bolster efforts to remove possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes potentially carrying the disease. The young girl was in Phuket for less than two weeks before she was admitted to Vachira…
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.