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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    Why long-term expats in Thailand say insurance is worth every baht

    Thailand’s warm weather, low cost of living, and good healthcare attract many long-term expats, including retirees and remote workers. Life here feels easy and affordable, but medical costs can be high if something goes wrong. Private hospitals are popular because...

  • Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost | Thaiger

    Vietnam eyes Phuket for tourism and trade boost

    In a high-profile diplomatic visit yesterday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung to Phuket Provincial Hall for a courtesy meeting aimed at strengthening tourism ties, economic collaboration, and potential sister-city agreements. Held yesterday, July 31 at 2.30pm in the Governor’s Reception Room, the gathering was a show of mutual interest in deepening cultural and…

  • Armed man busted en route to Phuket gang showdown | Thaiger

    Armed man busted en route to Phuket gang showdown

    A 25 year old man has been arrested in Krabi after allegedly attempting to smuggle a loaded handgun into Phuket, with police suspecting he was preparing for a violent clash with rival youth gangs. Identified only as Natthaphong by Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers, the suspect was stopped during a routine checkpoint operation on Phetkasem Road in Ao Luek district,…

  • Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror | Thaiger

    Truck slams into cars in Phuket underpass horror

    Terrified drivers in Phuket watched chaos unfold in seconds after a semi-trailer truck ploughed into multiple vehicles inside the Darasamut Underpass this morning, leaving three people injured, including a young girl. The collision, which occurred at 10.44am today, August 1, near Central Festival Phuket, sparked immediate panic as rescue teams scrambled to the scene. Police and emergency responders from the…

  • Cement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café | Thaiger

    Cement truck flips in dramatic crash near Phuket café

    Lunchtime diners at a trendy Kathu café were left shaken yesterday when a cement mixer truck overturned, smashing through an elevated walkway before landing upside down just metres away. The terrifying crash occurred at approximately 12.30pm yesterday, July 31, near the Coffee In Farm café on Route 3030, a busy road connecting Koh Kaew and Kathu. Eyewitnesses described hearing a…

  • Transgender thief caught after snatching bracelet from foreign tourist in Phuket | Thaiger

    Transgender thief caught after snatching bracelet from foreign tourist in Phuket

    A Thai man caught a transgender thief and handed her over to police after she snatched a bracelet from a foreign tourist jogging along Patong Beach in Phuket. A Thai lifeguard, Worrayut Naophai, called officers from Patong Police Station to the scene, where they arrested the suspect, later identified as Naphasinee Yarak. The transgender woman was found to be a…

  • Phuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai | Thaiger

    Phuket taps run dry: 12-hour water cut hits Rawai

    The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has warned residents and businesses in Rawai, Phuket, to prepare for a full-day water outage tomorrow as essential pipework shuts down the supply for 12 hours. The disruption will run from 10am to 10pm tomorrow, August 1, and affects a large section of Rawai, including Soi Mittraphap, Saiyuan 1, Soi Laem Ka, Soi Wirachot, Soi…

  • Massive road revamp to shake up Phuket traffic flow | Thaiger

    Massive road revamp to shake up Phuket traffic flow

    The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans for a massive 420-million baht overhaul of Srisoonthorn Road, one of the island’s busiest and most vital thoroughfares. Residents, business owners, and commuters are invited to weigh in at a public meeting scheduled for today, July 31. The meeting will run from 9am to midday at the Chalermprakiat 84 Pansa Building, located at…

  • Phuket drowning in rubbish: Mayor vows not to quit | Thaiger

    Phuket drowning in rubbish: Mayor vows not to quit

    Mayor Suphot La-ongphet of Phuket City is standing firm as the island faces a mounting waste management crisis, with garbage piling up faster than it can be processed. On Tuesday, July 29, at 5.30pm, the mayor visited the Phuket Central Waste Disposal Centre to assess the worsening situation. He was joined by Director of the Engineering Office Yutthana Kanchanaphak to…

  • Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal | Thaiger

    Studio7 Phuket staff fired over photo privacy scandal

    An Apple retailer in Phuket has landed in hot water after a shocking breach of customer privacy ended with a private photo appearing on Tinder. Studio7, an official Apple distributor in Thailand, issued a public apology and confirmed it has fired six employees and launched legal proceedings after one of them allegedly stole a customer’s intimate photo from their phone…

  • Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects | Thaiger

    Late-night raids in Kamala and Patong net drug suspects

    Phuket’s nightlife came under fire this week as authorities launched surprise raids in Kamala and Patong, arresting suspected drug users and pushing deeper into local trafficking networks. As part of the national No Drugs, No Dealers campaign, officials from the Kathu District Office carried out surprise inspections at nightlife venues in Village 3, Kamala, near Soi Pa Jak, on Monday,…

  • Aeroflot flight drama: Phuket return sparks hacker rumours | Thaiger

    Aeroflot flight drama: Phuket return sparks hacker rumours

    An Aeroflot flight bound for Novosibirsk was forced to return to Phuket International Airport yesterday morning just minutes after takeoff, following what was reported as a technical malfunction, but speculation is swirling after the airline confirmed a cyberattack just one day earlier. The Airbus A330, operating as flight SU637, took off at 9.53am local time, around 30 minutes behind schedule. But…

  • Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket | Thaiger

    Missing jet ski operator found dead on island off Phuket

    A routine day on the water turned tragic after a young jet ski operator vanished off Koh Naka Yai; his body was pulled from mangroves two days later. The body of 22 year old Jessadawut Hom, also known as Bass, was discovered yesterday afternoon, July 29, tangled in mangroves along the shore of Koh Naka Yai, off Phuket’s east coast.…

  • Malaysian woman reunited with lost cash thanks to New Zealand tourists | Thaiger

    Malaysian woman reunited with lost cash thanks to New Zealand tourists

    Two New Zealand tourists found a bundle of Malaysian ringgit in Phuket and sought assistance from local police officers to return it to the rightful Malaysian owner. The tourists discovered several 100-ringgit banknotes at the Chartered Bank Intersection yesterday, July 28, and brought the cash to the Phuket Tourist Police office. The exact amount was not disclosed in the official…

  • Search continues for missing jet-ski operator off Phuket coast | Thaiger

    Search continues for missing jet-ski operator off Phuket coast

    Efforts continue to search for a 22 year old jet-ski operator who fell into the sea off Naka Yai Island on July 27. The man, Chetthawut Hom from Pa Khlok, went missing after the incident. Chetthawut was reported missing at 7.10pm, having fallen overboard while operating a jet-ski near Naka Yai Island, located off the east coast of Phuket. At…

  • Private photos leaked after phone repair at Phuket shopping mall | Thaiger

    Private photos leaked after phone repair at Phuket shopping mall

    A Thai woman accused six employees at Studio 7 in Central Phuket of allegedly stealing private photos from her phone and distributing them via the Telegram application. The 22 year old victim shared the details of her case on the Facebook page Rose to Universe to raise public awareness in the hope of obtaining justice. The incident reportedly took place…

  • French drug trafficking suspect captured in Phuket | Thaiger

    French drug trafficking suspect captured in Phuket

    A 22 year old French national, sought in France for drug trafficking, has been apprehended in Phuket after evading capture for several weeks. Phuket Immigration Police confirmed the arrest of the suspect, known only as Bachir, with assistance from the Crime Suppression Division of Immigration Bureau 6. Bachir is wanted in connection with a significant international drug trafficking network and…

  • Phuket drug raids intensify, over 40 arrests made in crackdown | Thaiger

    Phuket drug raids intensify, over 40 arrests made in crackdown

    Phuket’s intensified drug raids continue under the national No Drugs, No Dealers policy, with several arrests made and drugs seized across the island. Efforts spearheaded by local authorities aim to eliminate drugs from every village within three months. The campaign, led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Provincial Police Commander Sinlert Sukhum, involves collaboration between police, administrative officers, and defence…

  • Saudi tourist found dead after Bang Tao Beach disappearance | Thaiger

    Saudi tourist found dead after Bang Tao Beach disappearance

    A 22 year old Saudi tourist, Dhaher Suhayb Mohammed S, who went missing while swimming at Bang Tao Beach on July 26, was found dead near Layan Beach in Cherng Talay today, July 28. Lifeguards discovered his body early in the morning near the southern end of Sirinat National Park, wearing only swimming trunks. Cherng Talay Police, along with rescue…

  • Van crash in Phuket leaves driver seriously injured | Thaiger

    Van crash in Phuket leaves driver seriously injured

    A 25 year old van driver sustained serious injuries after his vehicle collided with a power pole in Koh Kaew, Phuket, during the early hours of July 26. He remained trapped in the wreck for nearly 30 minutes. The incident occurred around 3.30am on Thepkrasattri Road near the Bangkok Bank Koh Kaew branch, heading towards Phuket Town. The Narendhara Andaman…

  • Body of missing swimmer found at Nai Thon Beach | Thaiger

    Body of missing swimmer found at Nai Thon Beach

    The body of a 23 year old man, Nianus Salae, has been discovered near the rocks at Nai Thon Beach after he was swept away by waves while swimming. Rescue workers have taken the body for forensic examination before it is returned to his family for religious rites. Nianus, who worked in Phuket but hailed from Pattani province, was swimming…

  • Phuket invests 50 million baht in underpass lighting upgrades | Thaiger

    Phuket invests 50 million baht in underpass lighting upgrades

    The Phuket Highways Office has announced plans to enhance visibility in the Darasamut Underpass with the installation of new lighting. The underpass has been identified by police as the most accident-prone on the island, with three to four accidents occurring monthly. Police Lieutenant Colonel Wutthiwat Liangboonjinda, Deputy Superintendent of Traffic at Wichit Police Station, located approximately 1 kilometre from the…

  • Artists flock to Phuket for Asia’s biggest sketch fest | Thaiger

    Artists flock to Phuket for Asia’s biggest sketch fest

    Phuket is gearing up to welcome an international crowd of artists, art lovers and cultural travellers for the Asialink Sketch Walk Phuket 2025, a major arts event aimed at boosting creative tourism and rebranding the island as a year-round cultural hotspot. Scheduled for August 14–17, the event was officially announced at a press conference held at Limelight Avenue Phuket, led…

  • Weed stench driving tourists away, claims Phuket MP | Thaiger

    Weed stench driving tourists away, claims Phuket MP

    A Phuket MP has lit up controversy by claiming that the smell of cannabis on local beaches is driving away big-spending tourists and damaging the island’s reputation. Yesterday, July 25, Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP for Phuket from the People’s Party, issued a fiery statement slamming the lack of cannabis regulation and the government’s “careless” visa-free policy, warning that Thailand’s top…

  • Thai police ends child predator’s reign of terror in Phuket | Thaiger

    Thai police ends child predator’s reign of terror in Phuket

    A 53 year old man, accused of heinous crimes against a child, was apprehended in Phuket by the CIB’s Anti-Human Trafficking Division, ending a terrifying ordeal. The incident began when the child revealed to her mother that the suspect, Anan, had allegedly abducted her and taken her to Langu district, Satun province. Swift and decisive action by officers at Langu…

  • Phuket Fortuner thieves busted with GPS jammer | Thaiger

    Phuket Fortuner thieves busted with GPS jammer

    Two women who posed as tourists to steal a Phuket-registered Toyota Fortuner were arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan after attempting to drive the stolen vehicle across Thailand undetected. The suspects, identified as Supaporn and Khemnan, were intercepted at the Nong Phai Intersection red light on Highway No. 37, in Thap Tai subdistrict, Hua Hin district, following a tip-off from the…

  • Vodka vroom: Drunk Russian wrecks Thai woman’s car in Phuket | Thaiger

    Vodka vroom: Drunk Russian wrecks Thai woman’s car in Phuket

    A Thai woman is seeking accountability from a Russian man who crashed his car into her two parked vehicles while driving under the influence in Phuket on Tuesday, July 22. The victim, Atiya Sharon, took to social media to request assistance from netizens in locating the Russian suspect. She posted details of the drink-driving incident along with CCTV footage showing…

  • AC unit blamed for fire scare at Karon hotel spa | Thaiger

    AC unit blamed for fire scare at Karon hotel spa

    A fire broke out last night at the Karon Phunaka Resort & Spa in Phuket, sending staff into emergency mode just before guests were due to arrive. The blaze, which erupted in the spa lounge’s reception area, is believed to have been sparked by a faulty air conditioning unit. Police were alerted to the incident around 6.30pm yesterday, July 23,…

  • Caught red-handed: Copper crook’s Phuket crime spree ends | Thaiger

    Caught red-handed: Copper crook’s Phuket crime spree ends

    A 25 year old man has been apprehended in connection with a series of copper wire thefts that have disrupted Phuket Town over the past two months. The repeated incidents have caused significant inconvenience and frustration among the public. Officers from the Phuket City Police apprehended Pipatson “Nok” Thongwicha at a rental room on Surin Road in Phuket Town around 4pm…

  • Phuket police crackdown: 18 teens arrested, 14 bikes seized in raid | Thaiger

    Phuket police crackdown: 18 teens arrested, 14 bikes seized in raid

    In the early hours of this morning, police in Phuket apprehended 18 underage people and confiscated 14 modified motorbikes during a crackdown on street racing and activities causing public disturbances in the Laem Dinso area of Wichit. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Wichit Police Station, directed by Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, beginning at 1.30am, today, July…

  • Phuket heartbreak as young Aussie tourist found dead in hotel | Thaiger

    Phuket heartbreak as young Aussie tourist found dead in hotel

    A 21 year old Australian man has been found dead in a Phuket hotel room, just five days after an accused rapist from Down Under was also discovered lifeless on the same Thai island. Police in Thalang, northern Phuket, are investigating the sudden death of a young Aussie traveller who was found dead in his hotel room yesterday, July 23,…

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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.