Phuket News
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Suspect arrested in Phuket for global hacking spree is Russian spy
A Russian man suspected of being a GRU military intelligence officer was arrested in Phuket by Thai cyber police for alleged involvement in global cyberattacks. A 35 year old foreign national arrested in Phuket earlier this week is believed to be GRU military intelligence officer Aleksey Lukashev, a suspected cybercriminal linked to high-profile global hacking campaigns, including attacks on US…
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Foreign man spits on couple in Phuket restaurant without provocation
A Phuket restaurant owner condemned a foreign man after he spat on another foreign couple who were dining at his establishment, without any provocation or prior conflict. The restaurant owner shared CCTV footage of the incident with the Phuket Times Facebook page, where it was made public today, November 14. The owner did not reveal to the media the exact…
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Drunk Russian tourist hauled off Patong street after outburst
A Russian tourist was arrested in Patong after police responded to reports of public intoxication and disorderly behaviour near a busy roadside canal. The incident unfolded around 10.30am today, November 13, when officers from Patong Police Station were called to Sai Nam Yen Road in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district. The 43 year old man was found near a canal adjacent…
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Phuket drug dealer arrested in late-night narcotics crackdown
Officers in Phuket arrested a suspected drug dealer during a late-night raid as part of a new 120-day crackdown on narcotics and organised crime. Phuket has launched a hardline law enforcement campaign dubbed Phuket 120 Days Nonstop, aimed at stamping out crime, drugs, and vice across the province. The operation, part of a wider Ministry of Interior policy, is focused…
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Phuket bus loses power, slams into car and shop on steep hill
A passenger bus on a steep Phuket road lost power and rolled backwards, crashing into parked vehicles and a shop, causing damage and minor injuries. The incident occurred around 12.30pm today, November 12, at the Tom Yum Kung intersection on Khok Tonod–Rawai Road. According to Karon Police, the EV passenger bus, travelling the Airport–Rawai route and bearing the registration number…
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Police arrest foreign rider for dangerous stunts in Phuket
Police arrested a foreign motorcyclist yesterday, November 11, for dangerous riding, where he was captured on video performing wheelies on a road in Thalang district, Phuket. A Thai man recorded the act and shared the footage in the Facebook group แบบนี้ต้องประจาน ภูเก็ต (This kind of actions must be exposed – Phuket), captioning it… “This occurred near Nai Yang Beach. I have…
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Phuket leads Thailand’s tourist rebound with Russian boom
Phuket’s tourism sector has surged ahead of other Thai regions as international arrivals, led by Russian travellers, boosted hotel occupancy and revenue. From January to October this year, more than 4.16 million international travellers arrived directly in Phuket, bringing the island’s tourism recovery to 97.5% of pre-pandemic levels. That’s up from 4.09 million during the same period last year, according…
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Foreigner steals motorbike in Phuket after petting dog (video)
A foreign man pulled off a bizarre motorbike theft in Phuket by pretending to play with a dog before hopping on a parked bike and riding off in front of its stunned owner. The incident occurred yesterday, November 11, in the Samkong area of Phuket. According to witnesses and CCTV footage, the suspect casually approached the dog outside a property…
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Aussie woman dies in Phuket after hotel fling with German tourist
A German tourist found his Aussie companion unresponsive after a one-night stand at a Phuket resort, hours after penning a heartfelt letter as she slept beside him. A 49 year old German man found himself at the centre of a heartbreaking incident after a night of drinking and intimacy with 47 year old Australian tourist Karla Drescher, originally from New…
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Phuket parents demand removal of school director over integrity
Parents in Phuket staged a protest outside a local school, calling for the removal of its director over leadership concerns and alleged mismanagement. Angry parents staged a protest demanding the immediate transfer of Cherng Talay Witthaya School’s director, Pajaree Suwatthikun, citing poor leadership, internal conflict, and financial transparency concerns. On Sunday, November 9, around 20 frustrated parents and residents gathered outside…
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Thai man arrested for killing and robbing Phuket tour guide
Police arrested a Thai man who attempted to flee from Phuket to Phang Nga province after killing a female tour guide and robbing her. The family of the victim, 56 year old Orrathai, reported her missing to Wichit Police Station on November 7. Orrathai had left home for work that morning and never returned. According to her family, Orrathai usually…
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Foreigner’s cash hunting game labelled as harmful among Phuket residents
Phuket residents criticised a foreign TikToker for launching a cash hunting game on the island, fearing it could pose dangers to participants. Some also questioned the motive behind the stunt. The treasure-hunting game in Phuket drew widespread attention after it was reported by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, November 9. The game was organised by a TikTok user under…
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Foreign woman caught offering illegal travel packages in Phuket
A Member of Parliament (MP) for Phuket province criticised a foreign woman allegedly offering travel packages illegally to tourists on a beach. Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP from the People’s Party, shared a video of the woman on his Facebook page on Friday, November 7. The nationality of the foreign suspect has not yet been identified. In the footage, the woman…
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Phuket police urged to act after Polish man’s repeated stabbing threats at hotels
A Polish man in Phuket made headlines once again on November 9, just days after he threatened to stab and kill a Thai hotel staff member last week. A Thai woman shared footage of the foreign man’s behaviour with the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, November 9. She claimed the man was a 41 year old Polish national, the same…
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Phuket airport expansion delay threatens tourism growth
Phuket’s tourism sector is facing concerns as Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association, criticises the delay in the Phuket International Airport Phase 2 expansion. He warned that waiting nearly another decade could leave the island struggling to meet increasing passenger demands. During a meeting at Splash Beach Resort in Mai Khao on Thursday, November 6, Thaneth highlighted the…
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Phuket boat taxi trial hits delay but promises smoother trips
Phuket’s boat taxi project, aimed at easing traffic for tourists and locals, has been delayed, pushing back the start of its much-anticipated trial run. The pilot run of Phuket’s boat taxi service, a project touted as a game-changer for the island’s notorious traffic problems, has been pushed back to mid-December. The trial, originally scheduled to launch earlier, will now take…
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Foreign tourist arrested with loaded ammo at Phuket airport
An Israeli tourist was arrested at a Phuket airport when police discovered a loaded ammunition magazine in his checked luggage during a routine scan. The arrest took place at around 4.30pm yesterday, November 6, after security staff at the airport’s domestic terminal flagged a suspicious item during a routine baggage scan. The 26 year old traveller, who had flown in…
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Repeat wildlife snapper caught again at Karon night market
A woman was arrested at a Phuket night market after being caught offering a protected slow loris to tourists for paid photos, despite past offences. The woman, who has now been arrested three times for similar offences, was detained at Karon Night Market yesterday, November 6, during a joint operation led by Karon Deputy Mayor Trin Thipmongkol. The raid included…
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4 foreign tourists rescued after speedboat stranded off Phuket
Four foreign tourists were safely rescued after their speedboat became stranded on rocks near Maiton Island in Phuket yesterday. Vice Admiral Weerudom Muangjeen, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command, ordered officers from the Third Naval Area Command and the Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre Region 3 to rescue the four tourists after receiving a report that their speedboat was hit…
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Phuket braces for floods as storm lashes Andaman coast
Phuket officials have warned residents to prepare for flash floods, heavy rain, and strong winds as a powerful monsoon system moves across the island. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has issued an urgent public warning as intensified southwesterly monsoon winds fuel extreme weather across the Andaman coast. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts continuous rainfall from November 5 to 10, with…
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Foreign man threatens Phuket hotel staff after being denied entry with cat
A foreign man allegedly threatened to stab and shoot a hotel employee in Phuket yesterday, November 6, after being refused permission to bring a cat into the accommodation. The victim shared details of the violent behaviour with the Phuket Times Facebook page, which also released CCTV footage capturing part of the incident. In the video, the foreign man, dressed in…
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Phuket bosses demand action on Kathu-Patong tunnel plan
Business leaders in Phuket are urging the government to move forward with a vital tunnel project, warning that proposed changes could cause costly delays. At a recent press conference, 24 private-sector organisations joined forces to urge the Transport Ministry to move forward without further alterations or delays. The 3.98-kilometre tunnel, approved by the Cabinet on August 26, comes with a…
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Drug duo arrested in Phuket police raid on Cherng Talay home
Police in Cherng Talay arrested a Nigerian man and a Thai woman after raiding a home where multiple types of illegal drugs were discovered during a crackdown. Cherng Talay Police arrested 37 year old Nigerian national Kenneth Sibowo Nat and 32 year old Thai woman Nitida Karaket during a targeted raid on a house in Soi Cherng Talay 14 on…
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Brazen Russian gang plasters Phuket with drug-selling QR codes
Chalermpong Saengdee, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Phuket (Zone 2) from the People’s Party, has warned of a new form of drug trafficking spreading across the island via a post on his personal Facebook page. Chalermpong revealed that foreigners are placing QR code stickers in tourist attractions and public areas throughout the province. These stickers link to online drug…
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Patong man found dead with lawnmower in suspected accident
A man was found dead beside a shed in Patong with injuries to his neck and face while holding a lawnmower, prompting a police investigation into the cause. Officers were alerted at 8.50pm yesterday, November 3, to a possible fatality on Soi Som Kwai Yai. When they arrived at the scene, accompanied by Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation rescue volunteers, they found…
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Tuk tuk driver killed in Patong knife fight over passengers
A late-night fight between two tuk tuk drivers outside a busy Patong shopping mall ended with one man dead and another injured, police have confirmed. The violent altercation unfolded in front of the Jungceylon shopping mall on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road at around 11.10pm on Sunday, November 2, where witnesses say a long-standing rivalry between two drivers spiralled out of…
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Search continues for missing Russian tourist swept away at Phuket beach
Rescue teams are continuing the search for a Russian man who went missing after swimming with friends in the sea off Nai Thon Beach in Phuket yesterday. Officers from Sakhu Police Station were alerted to the incident shortly before noon and rushed to the scene near the Andaman White Beach Resort in Thalang district, accompanied by volunteer divers from the…
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Phuket governor hails success of U-turn safety project
Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra says no serious accidents have occurred at locations where the new U-turn barriers were installed, marking a significant improvement on what was previously one of the island’s most dangerous road sections. Speaking during the October provincial committee meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, Governor Saransak said the U-turns had significantly reduced traffic accidents and fatalities. The meeting…
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Australian man caught stealing phone and football jerseys from Phuket mall
Police arrested an Australian man for allegedly stealing football jerseys and a mobile phone at a shopping mall in Phuket yesterday, November 2. Officers from the Special Service Division responded to an immediate theft case while on patrol at the Central Phuket shopping mall. The owner of a mobile phone shop in the mall discovered a missing product and reviewed…
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Phuket transforms into open-air gallery for art biennale
Phuket is finalising preparations to host Thailand’s largest international art festival, which will feature global artists and run for several months. Officials confirmed that the Thailand Biennale Phuket 2025 is now over 90% ready, with the grand opening set for November 29 at Saphan Hin Park. The announcement came following a high-level planning meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall on…
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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