Phuket News
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Phuket’s Mai Khao Beach disgraced in social media
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong is demanding fast action from officials in Sirinat National Park over a stream of complaints from tourists and local villagers about an accumulation of ‘huge’ amounts of trash on the beach at the threshold to the runway at Phuket International Airport. Access to that stretch of beach is through Soi Mai Khao 4, next to the…
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Erection of fence angers Phuket market vendors on Koh Siray
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad held a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday over an erection on Koh Siray of a fence that is alleged to have damaged the income of vendors in a local market. At the meeting, among others, were concerned officials, vendor leader Sontaya Chulpum, and a representative of Siam Dock Yard Co (SDYC) who had installed…
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Cause of Phuket volunteer diver’s death continues under investigation
PHUKET: A volunteer diver died on duty while planting coral off Racha Yai island yesterday. Police are not sure about the cause of her death but are looking into personal health issues and the possibility that her tank ran out of air. The diver, Lakkana Sakunpong, 40, was on a volunteer job arranged by the Department of Marine and Coastal…
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Phuket police nab, charge man selling drugs to teenagers
PHUKET: A man from Sukhothai has been apprehended and charged with selling drugs to teenagers in Phuket. The arrest of Nawareuk Lekam, 35, was announced yesterday by Capt Amphon Samorthai of the border patrol police. The arrest occurred in front of a shop on Phuket’s Pattana Rd on June 15. “We learned from local police patrols that Mr Nawareuk had…
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Officials try to curb growing numbers of beggars in Phuket
PHUKET: Officials are trying to counter the increasing numbers of beggars in Phuket, particularly in Rawai. Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad yesterday held a meeting with concerned officials and sea gypsy representatives to discuss ideas and solutions after a growing number of sea gypsy children were seen pestering tourists for money. “We have been informed by Rawai residents that a…
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King Cobra rescued and released
PHUKET: A king cobra was captured after it was found underneath the hood of a car parked at the ‘Nature and Wildlife Education Center’ at Khao Phra Thaew yesterday. The cobra was just over two meters long and weighed about 3kgs. It was released into a jungle near the center. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene after locals…
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Thailand receives ranking upgrade for combating IUU fishing
PHUKET: The European Commission has formally upgraded Thailand’s fisheries ranking, citing the Kingdom’s efforts to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing over the past two years. Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news during a ‘Point of Contact’ marine resources conference with Andaman officials at Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.…
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Technician injured from electric shock in Phuket
PHUKET: A 24-year-old man was injured from an electric shock after he accidentally stepped on a wire while fixing an electronic display sign in Kamala this morning. “The incident occurred in front of Tesco Lotus. The sign was located above a 7/11 store. Rescue workers climbed up a ladder to bring him down,” said Capt Chatchawan Poonaruemit of Kamala Police.…
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Phuket gov announces improvement plans at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has announced plans to boost security protocols at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint to ensure that no illegal substances are being smuggled in or out of Phuket. The governor unveiled his plans during a meeting with relevant officers at the Mai Khao OrBorTor office yesterday. “The final improvement plans have already been laid out. Some of…
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Victim helps arrested bike thief in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police arrested a motorbike thief at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town yesterday, about six hours after he made off with a bike that had been parked at Dragon’s Monument in Talad Yai. The suspect, 42-year-old Suraphol Punpek, had earlier this year been released from jail where he was serving a sentence for theft. The incident occurred sometime between 4am…
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Teenaged tourist drowns, four others rescued on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Another Chinese tourist drowned and four others were rescued at Phuket beaches in two days, prompting the Phuket Governor to urge officials to find better safety solutions for tourists. The governor was present at the scene when the body of an 18-year-old Chinese tourist, Wei Peixin, washed up at Kamala Beach this morning after rescue workers were unable to…
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Aussie, Argentinian hospitalized after Krabi rock climbing accident
PHUKET: Two tourists were rescued but suffered serious injuries after falling off a cliff while rock climbing in Krabi yesterday. The accident occurred while climbing a cliff between Ao Ton Sai and Ao Pai Plong. Rescue teams, including tourist police, marine police and Nopparat National Park officers, went in search of them after the mishap was reported. Australian national Thomas…
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Belgian tourist arrested for shoplifting in Phuket
PHUKET: A Belgian tourist was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday, more than two weeks after he reportedly stole a mobile phone accessory from an electronics store in Phuket. Tourist Police were able to apprehend the suspect, Oliver Jerome Georges Verhaeghe, 58, while he was waiting to board Qatar Airways flight QR841 to Doha. Mr Verhaeghe was originally seen stealing…
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EGA launches ‘smart kiosks’ in Phuket
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong last week chaired a seminar titled ‘GovChannel Roadshow 2017: Digital Local Government’ at Novotel Phuket Phookeethra in Phuket Town. The seminar introduced the launch of a ‘smart kiosk’ at Big C supercenter, making Phuket the first province in the South to have one. “In continuation of the Smart City project, the GovChannel roadshow was…
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Body of missing swimmer found in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Thai man who went missing after swimming in a red-flagged zone at Karon Beach on Sunday (story here) was found near Laem Sai yesterday. The victim, Arnon Rodjui, was found about 2km from where he first disappeared. Fishermen in the area informed Karon Police of a body floating near the rocks at about 3pm. “We…
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One missing, six rescued from drowning at Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Two Thai tourists were safely rescued while one is still missing after the trio went swimming in a red-flagged area at Karon Beach yesterday afternoon. The missing man, Arnon Rodjui, is originally from Samuthprakan, reported Col Charnarong Krongkue of Karon Police. Officers from the Karon Tourist Help Center and Karon Police searched for Mr Arnon using jet-skis this morning,…
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Two charged for stealing Phuket tourist’s gold jewelry
PHUKET: An Indian tourist was reunited with his stolen jewelry after Patong Police tracked down the snatchers via CCTV footage and arrested them last night. The victim, Dr Deepak Kumar Sharar, was visiting Phuket for a conference. He reported the incident, which occurred near Novotel Phuket Vintage Park Resort on Saturday night, to Patong Police. “Mr Kumar told us that…
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20-passenger speedboat collides with another at Phuket pier
PHUKET: A speedboat carrying 20 passengers crashed with another at the Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew yesterday evening. No injuries were reported. A speedboat belonging to ‘Golden Dragon Tour 1’ was carrying passengers from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket when it collided with, and landed partly on top of, another speedboat, ‘K. Kanreab‘, which was not carrying any passengers at…
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Coldwell Banker launches operations in Phuket
PHUKET: American real estate firm Coldwell Banker this week announced its launch in Phuket. The agency has officially opened its doors in Baan Don Cherngtalay, bringing to the island the strength and reach of its global brand with a real estate network of 3,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 50 countries and territories, and more than 86,000…
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Phuket beauty pageant with a purpose
PHUKET: Phuket is slated to hold the first ‘Miss Supranational Phuket 2017’ contest next month. All profits from the event will be donated to Vachira Phuket Hospital. The concept of the pageant is ‘Absolutely Phuket’ and organizers aim to find the “most beautiful woman who truly represents the island”. “This is the first time that this event has been organized…
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Thai, Russian tourist team up to save injured turtle at Phuket national park
PHUKET: A Thai and Russian tourist received praise for rescuing an injured turtle stuck in a fishing net at Sirinath National Park yesterday. Officers from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) came to examine the creature after receiving reports from the Thai tourist, Chanyut Butrgrim, who was visiting the park at Nai Yang Beach. “It is an olive ridley sea…
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Fake Facebook profile of Phuket vice governor sparks concerns
PHUKET: A Phuket vice governor has warned the public to be wary of his Facebook impostor after a user with a fake profile added people and asked to borrow money from them. Vice Governor Teera Anantaseriwidhya said he will today file a complaint against the Facebook user who created a profile in his name (in Thai). “Please do not accept…
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TCEB, Phuket officials request hotels to participate in MICE database initiative
PHUKET: Officials from the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) are seeking help from private sector businesses and hotels in Phuket after coming up nearly empty handed in a search for information to build a Phuket database. The information is required to sustain and promote MICE initiatives in Phuket and other provinces of Thailand. MICE, which stands for ‘Meetings, Incentives,…
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Spree of electric wire thefts in Phuket casues B2mn in damages
PHUKET: Police are hunting for a thief or thieves who have been stealing wires and equipment from electric poles in many areas of Phuket, causing more than 2 million baht worth of estimated loss. Locals in many areas, particularly Thalang and Kathu, have filed several complaints about unlit streets in their areas for the past two months. “They are not…
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Malaysian fraudsters arrested for skimming Phuket bank accounts
PHUKET: Three Malaysian ATM skimmers were arrested at the Sadao border checkpoint between Malaysia and Thailand on Tuesday. The arrests were made by the Songkla Immigration Office and Sadao Provincial Police. The suspects were wanted for conducting unauthorized money withdrawals in Songkla and Phuket, skimming more than 600,000 baht from 13 Phuket and Songkla-based accounts last month (story here). “We…
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Marine chief dispels rumors of ‘oil spill’ at Phuket beach
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office Chief has negated concerns about ‘oil spills’ on Karon Beach after a video was shared on social media claiming that that was the case. Facebook user ‘Tonya So Say’ yesterday posted a 14-minute video on the group Siang Prachachon Khon Phuket (‘The Voice of Phuket Citizens’) with the caption: “There is oil spreading on Karon…
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Phuket police investigating horrific road death of 26-year-old biker
PHUKET: A bike rider was killed after he hit a car, flew off his bike and had his head crushed by an 8-wheeled truck in Phuket yesterday. “The accident occurred at about 2:30pm on Chao Fa West road near a shop named ‘Prompan’. It was raining heavily at the time. At the scene, we found the body of Jeerawat Chitchua,…
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Truck on fire on tarmac at Krabi International Airport
KRABI: Krabi International Airport came under fire after the engine of a pick-up burst into flames on the tarmac yesterday afternoon as bystanders looked on in panic. The pick-up was being used by airport employees for pre-flight ckecks. The flames were soon brought under control by rescue workers and firefighters. “We later discovered that the engine of the pick-up was…
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Phuket gov launches weekly farmer’s market
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong officially unveiled a ‘Farmer’s Market’ at Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town this week. The market is aimed at allowing farmers to directly supply fresh, high quality produce and provide a wider choice to customers. The new market will be held every week from Friday to Sunday, with a variety of organic products on offer. However, pineapples…
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Bypass trees chopped down to ‘ease traffic’, says Phuket highways chief
PHUKET: Officials from the Phuket Highways Office say that the reason for chopping down the more than 20 towering pine trees near the Premium Outlet on the Bypass Road this morning was to provide a ‘better view’ of that road to drivers on both sides. “Due to ‘heavy rain’ these days, it was necessary for us to cut down the…
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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