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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Accomplice to Michelle Smith’s killer changes plea, admits guilt
PHUKET: The man who drove the motorbike, used in the attack that led to the death Australian tourist Michelle Smith on June 20, changed his plea today after initially denying all charges against him. At the beginning of today’s court proceedings, Surasak Suwannachote admitted to his part in the crime and pleaded guilty to the charge of “gang robbery causing…
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Ailing dolphin under treatment in Phuket
PHUKET: Veterinarians at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) say that a striped dolphin that washed ashore in Phang Nga last week is in a stable condition at their facility, but fear for its long-term survival prospects due to its inability to feed on its own. Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong told the Gazette this morning that the dolphin, which washed ashore…
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Phuket cop arrested, linked to meth trade
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested a fellow policeman on Saturday just hours after he was named by another drug suspect for involvement in the sale and distribution of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine). Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Jamroon Plaiduang told the Phuket Gazette this morning that officers arrested Sen Sgt Maj Kumthorn La-orsuwan, 40, after drug suspect Mana “Tham” Jindamanee, 37,…
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Michelle Smith attacker pleads guilty to ‘gang robbery causing death’
PHUKET: Surasak Suwannachote, the man on trial for stabbing Australian tourist Michelle Smith in a bungled bag snatch on June 20, appeared at Phuket Provincial Court this morning and confessed to gang robbery resulting in death. Surin Tadthong, the driver of the motorbike in the attack, denied all charges against him. Surin’s denial came despite an earlier confession, which he…
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Krabi – Phuket match marred by hooliganism
PHUKET: Some 400 Phuket FC fans, players and staff were held hostage for nearly three hours inside Krabi Provincial Stadium last night following a heated derby match that ended in a goalless draw. Traveling to Krabi by bus, members of Phuket’s three main fan clubs – the Hard Core, Hulk and Mask – were united into one energized cheering force…
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Phuket FC prepared for ‘Andaman Eagles’
PHUKET: Die-hard Phuket FC fans will be heading across Phang Nga Bay tomorrow to cheer their side in a southern derby against premier league hopefuls Krabi FC. Kickoff for tomorrow’s match, to be played at Krabi Provincial Stadium, is at 6pm. The 6,000-seat capacity can fill up pretty quickly; those seeking good vantage points should get there at least an…
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Korat Boy, 14, dies after crashing into parked truck in Phuket
PHUKET: A 14-year-old boy from Nakhon Ratchasima died after crashing his motorbike into a large truck parked by the side of the road in Phuket yesterday afternoon. Chalong Police at 2:15pm received a report of a crash near the Land & Houses residential estate on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong. Arriving at the scene with Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation…
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‘Stars’ to shine in Phuket Life Music Festival tonight
PHUKET: Jaruwat “Dome” Cheawaram, better known as “Dome The Star”, will headline at the Phuket Life Music Festival 2012 in Phuket Town tonight. The concert will be held at Anuphas Field on Phang Nga Road, site of the old Phuket Weekend Market, from 7 to 10:30pm. Other live acts to appear on the night include “Hun and Can”, two contestants…
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Phuket Violence: Another tourist severely beaten by taxi drivers
PHUKET: An Australian tourist filed a police complaint yesterday alleging that he was severely beaten after confronting a taxi driver about a sexual comment made to his girlfriend. Accompanied by the girl and an Australian consul, Peter Hulands filed the complaint with Patong Police shortly being released from hospital. He suffered a broken nose and a shattered eye socket in…
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Charity rally to support Phuket Stray Dog Shelter
PHUKET: The sixth “Rally Dogkar” charity fundraiser will take place in Phuket this weekend, giving dog lovers and their pampered pets a chance to raise money for about 500 less-fortunate animals cooped up at the provincial dog pound in Thalang. The event, which runs from 8:30am to 3pm on Sunday, will start with registration at “Cafe de Lad” at the…
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Phuket Prison gates swing open for mothers’ hugs
PHUKET: The gates of Phuket Provincial Prison will be open on August 15 and 16 to enable mothers to hug their children inside the facility in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday on August 12. During those two days, mothers will be allowed to visit their inmate children, and inmates’ children will be allowed to visit their convicted mothers,…
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Phuket mum not saddened by son’s Olympic exit
PHUKET: The mother of Phuket badminton star Maneepong Jongjit had words of encouragement for her son after his quarterfinal-round exit from the Men’s Doubles competition at the London Olympics 2012 yesterday. Pranee Jongjit was among more than 1,000 people who gathered at a hall in Saphan Hin at 3pm yesterday to watch Maneepong and his partner Bodin Isara of Bangkok…
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Justice Minister eyes new billion-baht Phuket Prison
PHUKET: Justice Minister Pracha Promnok today reviewed plans to close the 115-year-old and heavily overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison in Phuket Town and establish a 3,000-person capacity prison in Thalang. Pol Gen Pracha announced details of the new prison, which is set to be established on 108 rai of government land near the Bang Jo detention center in Srisoonthorn, Thalang. However,…
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D-Day looms for illegal Phuket taxis, jet-skis
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor will sign an order giving illegal taxi operators 15 days to register their vehicles, officials were told yesterday.The news came at a meeting headed by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who said the order will be signed into effect ahead of a report being submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.The deadline for filing the report,…
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Man found dead in tin mine lagoon
PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify the body of a man found floating in an old tin mine lagoon in Chalong yesterday afternoon. Phuket Ruamjai Foundation rescue workers and Lt Col Boonlert Onklang arrived along with officers from the Chalong Police to find a large crowd of people gathered at the scene on Luang Por Chuang Road. The man was…
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Flood of candidates register for OrBorJor election
PHUKET: Scores of people arrived at Phuket Community Hall on Tuesday as candidate registration for the August 26 Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council election opened. A total of 24 council seats are up for grabs, with 15 for Muang district, six for Thalang district and three for Kathu. OrBorJor Chief Administrative Officer Manop Leelasuthanon told the Phuket Gazette that…
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Phuket Sports: Badminton scandal rocks London Olympics
PHUKET: The badminton scandal that has rocked the London Olympics not only reflects badly on the players involved, but also on the sport as a whole. Speaking to iSportconnect, before the eight players were disqualified from the women’s doubles, President of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Dr Kang Young-Joong was confident the sport would be successful at the Olympics, and…
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Two-day booze ban in effect in Phuket from tomorrow
PHUKET: Retail sales of alcohol will banned in Phuket tomorrow and Friday, when Buddhists will celebrate Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Pansa Day, the start of Buddhist Lent. Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayut Karajedee confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that alcohol sales will be banned on both days under the Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverage Sales Act of 2009. “Thursday…
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Phuket’s first “Safety Zone’ set up in Patong
PHUKET: In the wake of several high-profile violent crimes that have rocked Phuket over the past few months, Phuket Police are moving ahead with their plan to set up “safety zones” in key tourist areas, starting with Patong. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangkul delivered the news to more than 800 people from different walks of life in Patong, all…
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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