Phuket News
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Lethal Suarez gives Uruguay 2-1 win over England
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lethal Suarez gives Uruguay 2-1 win over England Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Luis Suarez struck twice including a dramatic late winner to earn Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England in a pulsating World Cup Group D match on Thursday. Restored to the lineup after injury,…
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Ukrainian ‘Pedo Heaven’ expat arrested in Phuket gets 30 years for child porn
PHUKET: Ukrainian Maksym Shynkarenko, arrested in Phuket in 2009, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison on child pornography charges. Shynkarenko, 35, pleaded guilty to starting and operating a hard-core child pornography website for three years, for which a federal judge in New Jersey on Tuesday sentenced him to three decades in prison, reported Reuters. In January, Shynkarenko admitted…
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Police ramp up Phuket taxi mafia money laundering probe, identify targets in Patong
PHUKET: Officers from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) will join the police investigation into taxi drivers who are possibly laundering money, as the Phuket taxi mafia crackdown continues with officers focusing their efforts on Patong. “We recently contacted AMLO and confirmed that a team from their office will come to Phuket this month to assist in our investigation,” Maj Gen…
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Phuket residents rail against Kata beachfront land stake
PHUKET: More than 100 Phuket residents gathered for three hours yesterday to halt the construction of a fence along Kata Beach, on land adjacent to Club Med Phuket, arguing that it was encroaching on public land. “We don’t understand how someone can build on this land; it is along the beachfront,” said Karon resident Wichit Yaowarot. “We want officials to…
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After recent damage, Krabi seeks ways to protect ancient fossils
PHUKET: Recent storm damage to fossil formations in Krabi’s famous Shell Cemetery has prompted local officials to declare the area off-limits and to request a budget to build a seawall at the site. “The fossils are 75 million years old,” said Pinij Engchuan, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara National Park. “They have been slowly cracking since the tsunami in 2004…
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Turtles wash ashore in high seas
PHUKET: Two sea turtles that washed ashore at Mai Khao Beach during recent rough weather are being treated at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). “A Hawksbill was found on June 11 and an Olive Ridley was found yesterday,” said Kittipan Supkoon of the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation (click here). “The Hawksbill is about 8-10 years old and 40…
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Champions Spain crash out of World Cup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Champions Spain crash out of World Cup, Dutch march on Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Holders Spain crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday with barely a fight after their second shock defeat while 2010 runners-up the Netherlands continued their perfect start with another high-scoring…
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Mayor denounces reports that legal Phuket beach club structures face demolition
PHUKET: In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette, Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-ann Samran this afternoon denied English-language reports in Phuket that buildings on the east side of the beachfront path at Surin Beach would be demolished. The news comes amid a flurry of reports about the demolition of beach club structures encroaching on the sand at the beach as…
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Brazil delivering great quotes to go with great goals
PHUKET: A World Cup that has delivered fantastic goals in the first round of group games has also produced gems away from the pitch with players and coaches coming up with memorable quotes. Croatia coach Niko Kovac got the tournament off to a fiery start by blasting the Japanese referee after their defeat by Brazil in the opening match. After…
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Pinkeye outbreak leads to cancellation of Phuket FC vs Phang Nga FC warm up match
PHUKET: In a statement posted on the Phuket FC official Facebook page, the club confirmed that tomorrow’s match against Phang Nga FC will not take place. The reason? A pinkeye outbreak. “Due to at least five of Phuket FC players suffering from pinkeye – a condition that can easily spread to other players – the warm up game between Phuket…
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Police join forces to hunt B1mn holdup robbers
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police are now involved in the hunt for two men on a motorbike who robbed gas station staffers at gunpoint and made off with nearly 1 million baht on June 11. The person riding pillion on the motorbike pulled out a gun and demanded money from the staffers transporting it from the Shell gas station on Phra…
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Sunken pillar at Chalong Marina poses threat to boats
PHUKET: Officials have posted a line of small red and white flags to mark a large metal pillar that lies submerged near Chalong Pier and is a possible danger to passing boats. The pillar, called a stanchion, had been attached to a pontoon and was part of the Chalong Marina still under construction. “The pillar broke during last weekend’s storm,”…
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Phuket radio stations remain off-air as “collateral damage’
PHUKET: Popular English-language radio stations in Phuket remained off-air today, 27 days since the military seized power and silenced the airwaves with a ban on all private community radio broadcasts. The ban continues despite the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announcing on Saturday that Voice TV, which is owned by fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (story here), may…
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Relief fund set up to assist residents after storm lashes Phuket
PHUKET: The Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) will use cash from a 4-million-baht emergency-relief fund to help residents who suffered property damage from the storm that hit Phuket over the weekend. “We set this up after the recent strong winds damaged local homes,” Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-ann Samran told the Phuket Gazette today. A total of 10 families suffered…
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Surin beach clearout “70 per cent complete’ as deadline looms
PHUKET: Surin Beach is a flurry of activity as businesses big and small seek to comply with the June 18 deadline to dismantle illegal structures on the beach. The clear-out is part of an official crackdown on more than 100 businesses operating along the beachfronts at Surin, Bang Tao, Laypang and Layan beaches (story here). Vendors who refuse to comply…
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Interpol discusses Asean counter-terrorism in Phuket
PHUKET: More than 50 high-ranking police officers from eight Southeast Asian nations met in Patong this morning to discuss strategies to counter chemical and explosive terrorist attacks. Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 division, welcomed the delegates, which included representatives from the Asean member states of Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos…
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Early-bird deadline for Raceweek entries extended (video)
PHUKET: Due to a flurry of late bookings, the organizers of the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek have extended the early-bird discount deadline to allow more crews to take advantage of the reduced price. Raceweek organizers are predicting a large and competitive field this year, with many local, regional and some chartered entries from afar having already registered, booked their…
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Gambling den raided; police announce zero tolerance for World Cup betting
PHUKET: Police are keeping a close eye out for gambling during the World Cup, and yesterday nabbed one suspect and five computers in a raid in Patong. “We were notified by an undercover officer of an illegal online gambling den in a retail shop on Soi Paradise,” Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Cambodian exodus continues, 37 more illegals arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Immigration officers at Phuket’s Rassada Pier last night arrested 37 Cambodian workers who claimed to be fleeing Thailand amid fear a coup-related crackdown on illegal immigrants. One of the workers told the Phuket Gazette that the workers were trying to leave Thailand as soon as possible for fear that the Army would crack down on foreigners living in the…
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Passport overload prompts British embassy to issue extensions
PHUKET: The British embassy in Bangkok today was to begin accepting applications for passport extensions for up to one year in order to help stave off the flood of applications received by Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) in the UK. A British Government notice issued on Friday cited Home Secretary Theresa May as announcing the news as part of “a…
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Phuket power down starts tonight
PHUKET: The reduction of power usage throughout Southern Thailand provinces, including Phuket, is urged between 6:30pm and 10:30pm from today until July 10. “We would like everyone to conserve power during peak usage hours,” said Phuket Energy Chief Wiroj Damkong. However, the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts…
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Schumacher comes out of coma
PHUKET: Formula One ex-champion Michael Schumacher, who sustained severe head injuries in a ski accident in late 2013, is no longer in a coma and has left the French hospital where he was being treated since the accident, his spokeswoman said on Monday. “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble (hospital) to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not…
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Phuket crowds throng to revel in free Naresuan epic
PHUKET: Hundreds of people turned out at major cinemas throughout Phuket yesterday to enjoy a free screening of The Legend of King Naresuan 5. The latest cinematic installment recounting the insurmountable odds overcome by the famed king who laid the foundation for Thailand as a nation was shown free of charge at cinemas throughout the country under the “Return Happiness…
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Russian tourist dies after overshooting curve on wet Rawai road
PHUKET: A Russian tourist was thrown from his vehicle and died last night after overshooting a curve and crashing into a wall on Wiset Road. Chalong Police were called to the scene at about 11:30pm. “When we arrived, we found a badly damaged Toyota Fortuner lying on its side in the middle of the road. On the side of the…
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Mother denies rumors that pregnant daughter raped by twins committed suicide
PHUKET: The mother of the pregnant woman who was raped by twins earlier this year has stepped forward to dispute rumors that her daughter had committed suicide. The mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter’s identity, pleaded for people to stop spreading the rumors, which she learned of through Facebook, the online chat application Line and word of…
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Disaster averted at Phuket gas station as toddler rescued from locked BMW
PHUKET: Rescue workers safely averted a potential disaster early yesterday morning when they recovered a two-year-old boy from a locked BMW that was still running while parked at a Phuket gas station. Manus Chailiem, the boy’s grandfather, alerted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers to the danger at 6:30am. Mr Manus, his daughter and Nong Phi, age 2, were en route to…
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Phuket Police hunting boyfriend after woman slashed, beaten
PHUKET: Police are searching for the boyfriend of a woman who was repeatedly slashed and beaten in Thalang yesterday. Amporn Parawech, 23, suffered a deep cut in the neck and had multiple cuts and bruises on her back when she arrived at a shop near her house pleading for help, said Lt Col Sanit Nookong of Thalang Police. Rescue workers…
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Police raid gambling den near Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Police arrested 10 suspects for gambling after an impromptu raid on an abandoned house south of Phuket International Airport on Saturday afternoon. The raid, in Sakoo, took place at about 4pm after patrol officers noticed a large number of cars parked in front of the home, said Tah Chat Chai Police Deputy Superintendent Teerawat Liamsuwan. “Officers also saw several…
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Tourists told to avoid speedboat trips as weather warning issued
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department has warned tourist against joining speedboat day trips, as a small boat warning is now in effect in Phuket due to big waves and high winds. “Wave heights are at 2-4 meters, and we will have wind speeds of up to 45k/h,” said Santhad Panbanpeaw, director of the Thai Meteorological Department’s Phuket Office. “All small…
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Patong Police sweep party town for illegal weapons
PHUKET: Only one gun was discovered during a sweep for illegal firearms in Phuket’s premier party town early this morning. The five-team sweep composed of Patong Police officers and Civil Volunteers raided five targets after securing search warrants from the Phuket Provincial Court, Lt Col Suttichai Chairat of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “We received orders to…
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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