Phuket News
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Phuket camp inferno sparks fear as migrant scandal probe heats up
A fire tore through a migrant workers’ camp in Phuket yesterday morning, just hours before a bombshell corruption complaint involving foreign labourers rocked officials in Bangkok. Flames ripped through the Wasi M&E Co compound in Moo 4, Srisoonthorn, at 8.19am yesterday, July 22, damaging around 10 rooms and destroying the personal belongings of the camp’s Myanmar residents. Thankfully, no one…
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Phuket woman hunts for foreign motorcyclist in hit-and-run
A Thai woman took to social media in a bid to track down a foreign motorcyclist involved in a hit-and-run on a beach road in Phuket. The Thai motorcyclist appealed to netizens for help identifying the foreign man who collided with her motorcycle at 7.53am yesterday, July 21. She posted brief details of the incident, along with video footage, to…
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RTN backs down in Phuket land clash as zoning deal takes shape
A bitter turf war between villagers and the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) in Phuket’s protected forest reserve is finally moving towards resolution — and the RTN is backing off. At a high-stakes meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, chaired by Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, provincial officials and senior RTN chiefs agreed to push forward with a zoning plan aimed at ending…
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Homes wrecked, power poles downed in Thalang storm chaos
Fierce winds and torrential rain turned northern Phuket into a storm zone, leaving a trail of destruction across Thalang district. The Thalang District Office confirmed extensive damage throughout the area, with multiple subdistricts hit hard as the tropical squall ripped through homes, felled trees, and toppled power poles. In Pa Khlok, nine houses near Soi Na Yao in Village 8…
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Phuket woman runs from Grab rider after fake cash promise
A Grab motorcycle rider in Phuket shared a bizarre experience with the online community, claiming that his female passenger unexpectedly ran away from him to avoid paying the fare. The app-based motorcycle taxi rider recounted the incident to the Phuket Times yesterday, July 21, along with a video of the passenger running away. The page published the post with a…
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Gale warning! Phuket reels as freak storm rocks island (video)
Phuket was left battered and on edge after a violent tropical storm tore across the island, killing one and injuring another, with officials warning the danger isn’t over yet. Governor Sophon Suwannarat urged residents, tourists and boat operators to stay on high alert after the Sunday downpour unleashed chaos across all three districts, Mueang, Thalang and Kathu, smashing into 17…
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Phuket drug dealer caught with his pills down
A suspected drug dealer was arrested in his boxers during a pre-dawn police raid in Phuket, with officers uncovering a massive stash of more than 3,500 meth pills tucked away in his house. The bust happened in the early hours of yesterday morning, July 21, in Thepkrasattri, Thalang district, as part of a targeted crackdown under the island’s tough new anti-drugs…
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Two men injured as motorbike crashes into Thailand canal
Two young men in Thailand were injured after their motorbike veered off an unlit, narrow road and fell into a canal in Wichit late on the Saturday night, July 19. Emergency services from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation responded to the incident in Soi Thida at approximately 11.45pm. Upon arrival, they found the two men in a canal about 4 metres…
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No place for predators: Phuket cracks down on child sex tourism
From five-star hotels to beachside bars, tourism bosses in Phuket are being told to open their eyes and shut the door on child sex tourism and human trafficking in a bold new campaign to protect the island’s most vulnerable. Local government officials in Phuket have launched a hard-hitting initiative aimed at stamping out child sexual exploitation in Thailand’s most visited…
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Arab tourist tries to impress woman but crashes motorcycle into Phuket pharmacy
An Arab tourist crashed a rented motorcycle into a pharmacy in Phuket on Friday, July 18, after allegedly riding at high speed and performing a wheelie to impress a woman. Channel 7 reported that the incident occurred at a pharmacy on Patong Beach Road in the Kathu district of Phuket. Witnesses told the media that they saw the pharmacist running…
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Chinese woman killed by falling tree on Phuket beach (video)
A Chinese woman lost her life after being struck by a falling tree during a heavy thunderstorm in Phuket yesterday, July 20. Her husband sustained minor injuries in the incident. Officers from Chalong Police Station responded to the fatal tree fall at approximately 5.30pm on Koh Hey Beach in Chalong sub-district, Mueang district, Phuket. Locals who witnessed the incident already…
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Naked Russian man jumps to his death at Phuket villa
A naked Russian man reportedly climbed onto the roof of a villa on Nai Thon Beach in Phuket before jumping off and dying on Saturday, July 19. Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation and officers from Chalong Police Station responded to the incident at a villa on Nai Thon Beach in Phuket’s Rawai subdistrict after being alerted by the…
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Thailand mulls first suspension bridge to link Phuket and Phang Nga
Thailand is considering constructing its first suspension bridge to connect Phuket with Phang Nga province, as part of a significant upgrade to the region’s Highway No. 402. This development, led by the Department of Highways, aims to improve connectivity and boost local tourism. The new bridge, proposed during a seminar held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, would be the…
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Illegal homestay found on aquatic cage off Phuket’s coast
Officials from the Phuket Marine Office and Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 (Thai-MECC 3) have identified an illegally constructed homestay off Phuket’s east coast. According to Captain Pichet Songtan, spokesperson for Thai MECC 3, the structure was discovered on a cage used for raising aquatic animals near Koh Kala, Mai Khao. Koh Kala is a small island located…
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Phuket’s new ‘OneMap’ takes the stress out of island travel
Phuket’s tangled public transport network just got a digital makeover. In a bold step toward smart mobility, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing Phuket OneMap — a sleek new web platform that shows live public bus routes, estimated arrival times and stop info in one place. No app downloads needed. Just load it on any phone browser and…
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Big Buddha deadlock: Locals demand justice, abbot stalls
Phuket’s iconic Big Buddha Viewpoint remains closed nearly a year after a deadly landslide claimed 13 lives, as tensions mount between locals, temple authorities, and government officials over who should take responsibility — and whether the site should reopen at all. The sole legal owner of the land, the Royal Forest Department’s Phuket branch (RFD Phuket), has issued a list…
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Copper conned! Aussie cop fleeced in Thai cryptocurrency scam
A retired Aussie police officer hoping to enjoy a quiet life in Thailand has instead been left nearly penniless, after being duped out of more than 40 million baht in a slick cryptocurrency scam run by a German expat in Phuket. Michael “Tom” Reinecke, thought he was investing in a high-return digital currency venture but now says he’s the latest…
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Wheels of misfortune: Woman crushed in Phuket truck horror
A sunny Phuket afternoon turned into a nightmare when a young woman riding pillion was killed after a six-wheeled lorry ploughed into a motorbike on Wiset Road in Rawai, sparking fresh calls for better road safety. The fatal crash happened at around 1.45pm yesterday, July 17 near the Go Wholesale branch in Rawai, when a white Hino truck collided with…
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Frenchman in Phuket claims he buried dog alive by mistake
A Frenchman in Phuket defended himself against accusations of animal cruelty, claiming he believed one of his three Siberian Huskies had already died, prompting him to bury it in his yard. A foreign woman yesterday, July 17, took to an online community to raise concerns about the welfare of her neighbour’s Siberian Husky. She reported hearing a distressing howl and later witnessed…
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Phuket tourism revenue set to rise 10% amid European off-season surge
Phuket is experiencing a notable shift in tourism patterns as European visitors increasingly opt for off-season travel, with tourism revenue anticipated to grow by over 40 billion baht, or approximately 10%, this year, according to the Phuket Tourist Association. The association’s president, Thanet Tantipiriyakit, highlighted a growing interest among tourists from the UK, Germany, and France in visiting Phuket during…
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Bang out of order! Teen tearaways caught with grenades in Phuket
Two teen tearaways have been nabbed by police, who discovered them with four homemade grenades, allegedly intended for a revenge attack on rivals in the Wichit area of Phuket. The dramatic arrest unfolded during a routine patrol led by Police Lieutenant Sunthon Phetsangk, Deputy Chief of Investigation at Wichit Police, last night, July 16. While conducting crime suppression duties on…
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UAE island fever: Phuket and Madagascar top wishlist
Island fever is sweeping the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with travellers trading city breaks for sun-soaked escapes like Phuket. Expedia’s 2025 Island Hot List reveals a 30% global spike in demand for tropical getaways, and UAE holidaymakers are leading the charge, craving culture-packed, nature-filled trips that go beyond beach loungers and cocktails. According to Expedia’s latest insights, UAE travellers are…
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Creamer crime! American nabbed with heroin ‘brew-tally’ hidden
In a dramatic sting at Phuket International Airport, an American man was arrested while attempting to smuggle over 6 kilogrammes of heroin out of Thailand. The jaw-dropping plot, uncovered by a coordinated operation involving the Tourist Police, Customs, and narcotics officers, has raised alarms throughout the region. The alleged suspect, Tyler Trong Luong, was intercepted yesterday, July 16 as he…
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Howl of shame: Foreigner accused of burying Siberian Husky alive in Phuket
Foreign residents in the Rawai sub-district of Phuket rescued a Siberian Husky yesterday, July 16, after it was allegedly buried alive by its foreign owner. The dog and its parents are now under the care of a non-profit organisation. A foreign woman contacted the administrator of the Facebook page ขยะมรสุม MONSOONGARBAGE THAILAND to report the incident. She explained that she…
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Fight for the future: Phuket steps up Muay Thai game with training blitz
Phuket kicked off a major push to raise the bar in Thailand’s most iconic martial art, as dozens of aspiring coaches began intensive training to earn their official Muay Thai credentials. Today, July 16, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) held the opening ceremony for the C-License Muay Thai Coach Training Project at the Bukitta Boutique Hotel in Phuket. The…
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Mentally ill man nabbed after bag theft at Phuket hospital
Chaos erupted at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday when a man suffering from mental illness allegedly snatched a nurse’s shoulder bag and bolted, sparking a frantic search across the city. The incident unfolded around 3pm yesterday, July 15, inside the outpatient examination room on the hospital’s third floor. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect grab the bag before sprinting out of the…
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Phuket MP fury as budget crumbs leave paradise island penniless
A furious Phuket MP slammed the Government of Thailand over a shockingly low stimulus handout, calling the move “a betrayal” and “an insult” to one of the country’s top tax-contributing provinces. Chalermpong Saengdee, who represents Constituency 2 for the opposition People’s Party, hit out after Phuket was handed just 267.34 million baht from the 157-billion-baht national stimulus budget, ranking 75th…
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Uzbek man arrested for abusing, stealing from girlfriend in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested an Uzbek man on suspicion of physically abusing his girlfriend and stealing her belongings. The victim, whose nationality was not reported, filed a complaint with Wichit Police Station on Sunday, July 13, alleging that her Uzbek boyfriend, later identified as 41 year old Artur Amirbekov, had attacked her at her condominium in the Wichit sub-district…
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Phuket declared nearly rabies-free thanks to Soi Dog
In a remarkable triumph for animal welfare and public health, Phuket has emerged as one of the safest destinations in Southeast Asia for pet-loving tourists, thanks to a relentless campaign that has driven rabies risk down to almost zero. Southeast Asia’s largest dog and cat charity, Soi Dog Foundation, announced this week that the island has recorded only one human…
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Patong Tunnel project advances with 16.76 billion baht budget
The Kathu-Patong expressway project, commonly referred to as the Patong Tunnel project, is advancing with a budget of 16.76 billion baht. Land expropriation has been completed and the Patong Municipality, appointed by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), has started land clearing, expected to be completed by September 7. Weerawit Kreuasombat, President of the Patong Municipality Council, confirmed that 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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