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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Boatload of change: Phuket makes waves with water transport plan
Phuket is set to make a splash with an innovative plan to tackle its notorious traffic woes—by taking to the water. In a bid to ease the island’s increasing congestion, local officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall’s Smart Operations Center yesterday, February 17, to explore the integration of water transport systems, with a focus on a pioneering ‘Boat Taxi’ project.…
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Tragic Phuket crash: Man killed as car overturns
A 30 year old man lost his life in a horrific late-night crash after his car flipped and smashed into a roadside barrier in Wichit, Phuket, early yesterday morning. Wichit Police were alerted to the accident at around 2.30am, yesterday, February 17, near the Bangchak petrol station on Mueang Chaofa Road, a key route linking Prince of Songkla University’s Phuket campus…
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American man arrested in Phuket for violating foreign business act
Police arrested an American man wanted on multiple warrants at a restaurant in Phuket Old Town on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Officers from the Phuket Immigration Bureau and Mueang Phuket Police Station sought a court-issued arrest warrant for the 67 year old American man, Ronald Ray, mainly for violating Section 8 of the Foreign Business Act: operating a business in…
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Last laugh: Frenchman arrested for laughing gas sale in Phuket
Police arrested a Frenchman at a house in the Patong sub-district, Kathu district, Phuket, yesterday, February 16, for selling nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. Officers from Patong Police Station posed as customers and ordered laughing gas from the 30 year old Frenchman, whose name has not been disclosed. The suspect directed the officers to collect the item from…
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Phuket police impound 20 bikes over reckless tourist driving
Phuket’s Patong police impounded 20 motorbikes and addressed the issue of foreign tourists driving recklessly during a late-night operation intended to enhance road safety. Yesterday, February 15, at 12.30am, Patong Police officers carried out an inspection near Kasikorn Bank on Prachanukroh Road, located at the southern end of Patong. The operation focused on identifying and addressing reckless driving and other…
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Russian, Thai nationals arrested in Phuket over wire fraud charges
A Russian national and three Thai citizens have been detained in Phuket in separate operations. The Russian, Egor Nikolaevich Glebov, is wanted by US police for wire fraud charges. Phuket Immigration officers and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) carried out the raids. Glebov, a 38 year old Russian national, was apprehended at a residence in Supalai Palm Springs, Srisoonthorn.…
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Azerbaijan eyes Phuket: Talks on direct flights and sister city plans
Phuket is on the radar for deeper ties with Azerbaijan. Governor Sophon Suwannarat rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, February 13, for Ambassador Elchin Rakub Ogul Bashirov of Azerbaijan at the Phuket Provincial Hall, where the two discussed ramping up diplomatic and tourism cooperation. With Phuket’s tourism boom in full swing: 13.1 million visitors raking in over 497 billion…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi feud turns bloody in street stabbing
A long-standing rivalry between two motorcycle taxi drivers erupted into a brutal knife fight outside Vachira Phuket Hospital last night, leaving one man seriously injured. The violent altercation, which unfolded at around 9pm yesterday, February 13, saw the men stab each other in a heated dispute over passengers. Phuket City Police, led by Deputy Chief of Investigation Police Captain Pawinut…
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Drunken tourist brawl erupts in Phuket, sparks online outrage (video)
A wild street brawl involving foreign tourists outside Cafe del Mar in Kamala has set social media ablaze, reigniting debates over the type of visitors Phuket is attracting. The 1-minute, 37-second clip, shared by the โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page today, February 14, captures the chaotic fight, with drunk tourists trading punches as stunned onlookers watched. The altercation began outside the…
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Phuket forest fire sparks panic before firefighters contain blaze
A raging forest fire in Thepkrasattri subdistrict, Phuket, sent firefighters and locals scrambling to contain the fast-spreading blaze yesterday, February 13. The fire engulfed over 6 rai of land in Khao Kluay, Baan Pak Pli, before emergency crews managed to bring it under control after a tense four-hour battle. The Thepkrasattri Subdistrict Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) first reported the incident, which…
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Phuket mum on the run after wild high-speed chase
A high-speed rampage through Thalang district has left Phuket residents in shock after a pickup-driving mother smashed into multiple vehicles before fleeing the scene, leaving behind her terrified three year old son. The dramatic series of crashes began in front of a fresh market in Thepkrasattri, where municipal officers witnessed a pickup truck colliding with several vehicles and motorcycles. The…
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Nigerian man arrested in Phuket for selling cocaine to tourists
Phuket Immigration officers detained a 37 year old Nigerian man in the Thepkrasattri subdistrict for possessing cocaine with the intention to sell. The individual, identified as John Paul, was arrested at a rented residence in Village 11, Thepkrasattri yesterday morning, February 13. The operation was a joint effort by Phuket Immigration and officers from Thalang Police Station. During the arrest,…
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Shocking discovery: Thai man found dead in Phuket resort room
Police are investigating the mysterious death of a 59 year old Thai man whose lifeless body was discovered in a Phuket resort room last night, February 12. The cause of death remains unknown, with no immediate signs of foul play. The police were alerted at around 9.30pm and arrived at the Kamala resort with a medical examiner from Vachira Phuket…
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Driver trapped as car crashes into Phuket’s Seahorse Circle
A young driver was left trapped and seriously injured after losing control of his car and crashing into a power pole at Phuket’s infamous Nimit Traffic Circle, also known as Seahorse Circle, in the early hours of yesterday morning. Rescue workers from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation arrived at the scene at around 3am, yesterday, February 12, to find a wrecked…
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Phuket probes kindergarten injuries amid social media uproar
Officials in Phuket have launched an investigation into alleged student injuries at Patong Kindergarten following concerns highlighted on social media. A high-level meeting was convened on February 10, with officials committing to a comprehensive and impartial inquiry. Attendees of the meeting included Phuket Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri, Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri, Deputy Mayor Lalita Maneesri, Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee, senior…
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Phuket cybercrime bust: Six arrested in online gambling crackdown
A significant operation against international cybercrime in Phuket has led to the arrest of six people, including three Taiwanese nationals, connected to a complex online gambling and money laundering scheme. This was part of an initiative by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). The arrests were publicised yesterday, February 11, at the CCIB headquarters in Bangkok. The operation, named Hunting…
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Black water crisis: Pollution hits Kamala Beach again
Phuket’s paradise image is once again under threat as black wastewater was seen gushing onto Kamala Beach, where unsuspecting tourists and locals swim. Despite repeated promises of urgent action, pollution continues to plague the island’s beaches, raising serious health concerns. Following public outrage, Pollution Control Department (PCD) Director General Preeyaporn Suwannaket ordered an urgent investigation into the foul-smelling wastewater contaminating…
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Canadian man found dead in car near Phuket beach
Police have launched an investigation after a Canadian man was found dead inside a parked car near Nui Beach in Karon yesterday morning, leaving officers puzzled over the circumstances of his death. Karon Police were alerted to the scene at approximately 9.15am yesterday, February 10, where they found the man’s body inside a Mitsubishi Xpander with Phuket registration. His lifeless…
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From bars to blooms: Phuket’s old prison set for a green makeover
Phuket’s infamous Twilight Zone is getting a green makeover! The historic Phuket Prison, one of Thailand’s oldest correctional facilities, is being transformed into a sprawling public park in the heart of Phuket Town. The ambitious project, led by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), will turn the 33-rai site into a vibrant recreational space featuring an observation tower, a multipurpose…
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Russian woman arrested for smoking in Phuket shopping mall
Phuket police officers arrested a Russian woman who fled without paying for a haircut and smoked a cigarette inside a shopping mall despite a warning from security guards. The news Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (which translates to Phuket is so brutal) shared the video of the foreign woman yesterday, February 10, with a caption that read… “What drugs are you high…
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Witnesses overturn car to save motorcyclist who later dies in hospital
Nearly 20 Thai, Burmese, and foreign witnesses worked together to overturn a sedan to save a motorcyclist who was trapped beneath the vehicle on a road in Phuket yesterday, February 9. They successfully retrieved the rider but he later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. The Phuket Times shared a touching video showing a group of people working hard to…
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5 foreigners, 2 Thais arrested at illegal nurseries and Muay Thai gym
Police arrested five foreigners and two Thai citizens at illegal nurseries and a Muay Thai training gym in Phuket on Friday, February 7. Phuket Provincial Police officers raided three suspicious businesses in the province on Friday, including two nurseries in the Thalang district and a Muay Thai training gym in the Mueang district. At the first nursery, police encountered 10…
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Phuket police turn up the heat on Peach Hill Resort fire probe
Phuket City Police have launched a probe into a fierce fire that ignited at the Peach Hill Resort on Laem Sai Road in Karon on the evening February 7. The flames spurred a dramatic emergency response, with local police and fire teams racing to the scene shortly after being alerted at around 6pm. The alarm bells first rang for Police…
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Phuket Airport staff under scrutiny for corruption but no formal probe yet
The National Anti-Corruption Commission‘s Phuket office clarified that no formal investigation has started regarding four Airports of Thailand management staff at Phuket International Airport, despite acknowledgements of corrupt conduct by the organisation. The NACC is still in the evidence-collection phase, with the staff in question retaining their positions. In late November last year, central NACC officials from Bangkok visited the…
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Baby turtles hatch on Phuket beach, but not all survive
A magical moment unfolded on Kata Noi Beach as around 70 baby sea turtles hatched and made their way into the Andaman Sea yesterday, February 6. However, not all survived the journey, with officials discovering several lifeless hatchlings and one struggling to survive. The Andaman Sea Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center was first alerted to the hatching by a…
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Foreign man steals iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from Phuket shop
A foreign man remains at large after stealing an iPhone worth nearly 60,000 baht from a local shop near Chalong Intersection in Phuket. A Thai man took to social media in an attempt to track down the foreign thief who stole from his younger sister’s mobile phone shop near Chalong Intersection on Wednesday, February 5. He shared CCTV footage of the…
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Scouting trouble: Russian woman nabbed after uniform theft in Phuket
Police arrested a Russian woman in Phuket after breaking into a local’s house and stealing a scout uniform before leaving. The homeowner took to social media to share details of the unusual theft with his followers. He posted a picture of a leopard-print shirt along with a caption that read… “Beware of a Russian woman walking around in a scout…
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Trafficking crackdown: Officials inspect Phuket fishing boats
Phuket Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri led a thorough inspection of several commercial fishing boats in Phuket yesterday, February 6, aiming to prevent human trafficking and ensure adherence to labour laws. The inspections took place at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute Pier at Cape Panwa and involved officials from over 14 agencies. The primary focus…
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Phuket ranks among top winter sun destinations – But is it worth it?
Phuket has been named the third-best winter sun destination in the world, according to travel and luggage experts Bounce. The ranking was based on temperature, rainfall, sea conditions, and sunshine hours, making the Thai island a top pick for sun-seekers escaping the winter chill. With a winter sun score of 6.24 out of 10, Phuket secured the third spot, trailing…
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Phuket drug den busted: Cops seize 25,000 meth pills
Thalang Police smashed a major drug operation in Phuket, seizing over 25,000 methamphetamine pills (meth pills) and arresting two women in a raid at a housing estate in Srisoonthorn. The bust yesterday, February 5, began with the arrest of 33 year old Prathana Khummit at a rental unit in the Keha Eua-Athorn housing estate. Officers found 602 meth pills and 2.8…
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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