Phuket News
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The Thaiger key takeaways Staying in budget hostels or guesthouses and eating street food keeps daily expenses low. Mixing buses, trains, and budget flights allows affordable travel between cities and islands. Free or cheap activities, such as temples, markets, parks,...
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Mayor’s grandson wanted after jealous stabbing at Phuket pub
Police in Phuket are searching for a man accused of stabbing a rival inside a popular pub during a violent altercation believed to be motivated by jealousy. Police are on the trail of a suspect wanted for a vicious stabbing at a pub in Phuket Town, with the attacker identified as the grandson of a prominent southern politician. The attack,…
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Thailand and Mexico celebrate 50 years of friendship in Phuket
Diplomats, officials and guests gathered in Phuket to celebrate five decades of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Mexico at a gala dinner event. Hosted at the elegant Silk Restaurant at Andara Resort & Villas in Kamala, the event was organised by Natthakanya Sangpho, Honorary Consul of Mexico in Phuket. The evening welcomed an illustrious gathering of guests, including dignitaries, diplomats,…
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Chinese tourist missing after being swept away in Phuket surf
A Chinese tourist went missing while swimming in rough waters at a Phuket beach, prompting a coordinated search by police, rescue teams, and local officials. The tourist was swept away by strong waves while swimming at Nai Harn Beach. The incident occurred yesterday, October 1, at around 2.48pm, prompting an urgent response from local police and rescue teams. Officers from…
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Phuket’s new governor vows to fix traffic and boost tourism
Phuket’s newly appointed governor took office, pledging to tackle traffic, infrastructure and sustainable development to improve life for residents and tourists. Phuket officially welcomed its new governor, Saransak Srikruanetra, who took office yesterday, October 1, with a promise to tackle the island’s most pressing problems head-on. The 57 year old Udon Thani native pledged to focus on infrastructure, traffic congestion,…
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Russian driver injures Thai woman and 8 year old boy in Phuket car crash
A Russian man in Phuket crashed his sedan into the motorcycle of a Thai woman and her eight year old grandson on September 25, leaving both victims in critical condition. The boy reportedly remains in intensive care. The assistant to a Phuket Member of Parliament, Udomsak Samran, took to an online community to seek clues about the foreign driver involved…
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Phuket MP blasts visa-free policy over ‘bad tourist’ surge
A Phuket MP has urged the government to review Thailand’s visa-free policy, warning it fuels unruly tourist behaviour and harms the nation’s reputation. Chalermpong Saengdee, MP for Phuket, submitted a formal request urging the government to review the policy, which currently allows travellers from several countries to enter Thailand without a visa. While the measure has boosted arrivals and revenue,…
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Phuket drowning: Unidentified foreigner found dead on beach
A foreign man drowned after being found unconscious on a Phuket beach, with police now working to uncover his identity and the cause of the tragedy. Phuket police are scrambling to identify a foreign man who drowned off Naiyang Beach after his body was found washed ashore without a single clue to his identity. Sakhu Police said they were alerted…
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Phuket splashes 48 million baht on tunnel revamp to boost safety
Phuket officials have launched a multimillion-baht project to enhance lighting in key underpasses, aiming to improve safety and reduce accident risks at night. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat made the announcement during a provincial committee meeting held on Monday, September 29, at Provincial Hall. He confirmed that contracts for the project were signed earlier this week, and work is set to…
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Debt and despair: Man dies from shotgun wound in Wichit
A man has died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound at his family home in Wichit, prompting a police investigation into the tragic incident. Wichit Police said they received a report at about 10.50am on Sunday, September 28, and arrived at the two-storey house in Village 8, Wichit, shortly after. The 30 year old man, a local, was found dead in…
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Phuket boosts hospital upgrades with 45.8 million baht investment
Phuket authorities have rolled out a 45.8 million baht plan to upgrade three hospitals across the island in a bid to modernise services and reduce patient transfers. On September 26, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob officially handed over the funds to the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO). The budget will be split…
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Phuket ice cream vendor sparks debate with free ride for foreign tourists
Thai netizens are left divided after an ice cream vendor in Phuket allowed two foreign men a free ride on his ice cream cart. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) A Thai motorcyclist encountered the two men on the cart and shared a video of them on his TikTok account, @lionqueenzyy, on…
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Historic Phuket temple hall demolished for safety despite local upset
Residents of Thalang District in Phuket have expressed their dismay following the unexpected demolition of the main ordination hall at Wat Phra Nang Sang, an ancient temple with a history spanning over 250 years. The building, known as the Ubosot, was central to religious ceremonies and rituals. The Ubosot, adorned with murals depicting local history and legends, was a symbol…
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Patong’s promenade revamp drags on with no end in sight
A major promenade upgrade in Patong has fallen behind schedule, with only partial progress made and no confirmed completion date. The long-awaited redevelopment of the Thaweewong Road promenade in Patong has hit a major snag, with only 30% of the work completed, well past its deadline and with no firm end date in sight. Kittisak Morasilp, Director of Patong Municipality’s…
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Russian pickup driver surrenders over viral sex video in Phuket
A Russian man surrendered to police today, September 26, admitting that he was the driver of the black pickup truck featured in the viral sex video in Phuket. The explicit footage, showing 23 year old Russian national Georgii and a 42 year old Thai woman engaging in sexual activity on the moving vehicle along Phuket Bypass Road, to the ire…
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Nearly 10 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Phuket sting
Phuket Airport Customs have intercepted a massive haul of illegal cigarettes worth more than 71 million baht in what is being hailed as one of the island’s largest-ever anti-smuggling operations. The seizure, confirmed by customs officials, involved a total of 9.57 million contraband cigarettes and was made as part of a national crackdown targeting violations of customs and intellectual property…
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Naked tourist dances on Soi Bangla, sparks online backlash
A foreign tourist shocked partygoers after stripping naked and dancing on a busy Phuket nightlife street, drawing criticism and concern from netizens. A video, lasting just 21 seconds, was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral. It shows a man undressing and dancing to loud music, completely oblivious to the stunned onlookers around him. He is later seen picking up…
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Unidentified foreigner drowns at sunset off Karon Beach
A foreign man drowned while swimming off a Phuket beach at sunset, prompting police to investigate his identity and the circumstances surrounding his death. A foreign man, believed to be around 60 years old, was pronounced dead last night after being pulled from the water off Karon Beach. His identity and nationality remain unknown. The incident occurred around sunset yesterday,…
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Phuket pickup truck sex: Russian man banned and Thai woman arrested
Police yesterday, September 25, arrested a Thai woman who was caught having sex with a Russian man in the back of a moving pickup truck on a road in Phuket. She claimed the foreign man threatened her into making the video and paid her 1,000 baht. An explicit video of the Russian national, 23 year old Georgii, and the 42…
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Phuket boat captain dies in 500kg meth bust at sea
A massive haul of meth was seized from a tourist boat in Phuket after a late-night raid, leaving one crew member dead while trying to escape arrest. More than 500 kilogrammes of crystal meth were seized from a tourist dive boat anchored in Chalong Bay, Phuket, during a late-night police operation. The vessel’s captain, a 61 year old Myanmar national…
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Russian man arrested over viral Phuket pickup sex video
Police arrested a Russian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok after he was caught in a viral video having sex on a moving pickup truck in Phuket. A Thai motorist who witnessed the explicit act filmed the couple and shared the footage on social media. The pair were seen engaging in sexual activity on the back of the pickup…
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Gold necklace swiped in late-night burglary in Phuket’s Wichit
Police are investigating a burglary at a housing estate in Wichit, where a gold necklace worth over 170,000 baht was reported stolen during the early hours. The break-in occurred during the early hours of today, September 25, prompting a call to Wichit Police Station at 1.37am. The report was made by Sujittra Phummuang, the homeowner, who discovered signs of forced…
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Hooked turtle rescued in Phuket as another dies from net injury
Marine officers in Phuket rescued an injured sea turtle found with a fishhook in its mouth, while another died after being entangled in a discarded net. At around 6.45pm yesterday, September 24, Cherng Talay Police received a report of a stranded turtle near Leypang Beach. Police Lieutenant Suwarin Mueat Muang, a patrol officer from Layan, was dispatched to the scene,…
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Foreign couple filmed having sex on moving pickup in Phuket
Police are searching for a foreign couple, believed to be Russian nationals, after they were caught having sex in the back of a moving pickup truck on a road in Phuket. The footage appears to have been recorded along the Phuket Bypass Road. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) Explicit images and…
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Drunk Norwegian woman found on Phuket street returned safely to hotel
Police last night, September 23, escorted a Norwegian woman safely back to her hotel after she was found drunk and lying on a footpath in Phuket alongside an Israeli man she had met earlier at an entertainment venue. Her husband was reportedly panicking at the hotel. Police officers and volunteers were patrolling along Rat Uthit 200 Years Road when they…
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Phuket pushes 300km pipeline plan to secure water future
Phuket officials met with consultants to discuss a proposed 300km pipeline project aimed at securing long-term water supplies for the island and nearby provinces. The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) Phuket Branch and Team Consulting Engineering and Management Public Co Ltd met Governor Sophon Suwannarat yesterday, September 23, to present updated findings from a feasibility study on the ambitious project. According…
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Phuket underpass chaos as 15-car crash halts traffic
A multi-car crash in a Phuket underpass left one person injured and caused hours of traffic disruption as police and rescue teams rushed to the scene. The crash happened at around midday yesterday, September 22, in the Darasamutr Intersection underpass, prompting a large police and emergency response. Wichit Police confirmed that 15 vehicles were damaged in the collision, though no…
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Bhumjaithai bets big on Phuket with 3 fresh candidates
The Bhumjaithai Party has announced three candidates who will contest Phuket constituencies in the next general election as it targets seats in the South. The move is part of the party’s ambitious drive to capture 30 seats across South Thailand. At a press conference yesterday, September 22, senior party figure Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn joined Supachai Jaisamut, Bhumjaithai’s legal team leader, to…
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Naked foreign man causes chaos in Phuket and attacks police
A foreign man walked naked through the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket yesterday, September 22, and allegedly attacked a police officer who intervened in his indecent behaviour. A viral video shared on the Phuket Times Facebook page showed the man walking unclothed along a busy road in Patong. The street was crowded with vehicles and tourists, both Thai and international, and lined…
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Bahraini tourist missing after ignoring red flags at Phuket beach
A man is missing and presumed drowned after he and his brothers entered the sea during dangerous surf conditions at Karon Beach in Phuket on Friday evening, September 21. Karon Police were alerted to the incident at around 6.30pm. Three Bahraini men had entered the water despite red warning flags being clearly posted along the shoreline. All three were swept…
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Phuket’s fuel consumption soars over 1 million litres daily
Phuket’s residents are consuming over a million litres of fuel daily, with expectations for this figure to rise, according to Rattakorn Klinchan, Chief of the Ministry of Energy Phuket Office. Last year, fuel expenditure in Phuket reached 13.7 billion baht, averaging 37.534 million baht daily. This accounts for 37.5% of the nation’s total fuel purchases. Rattakorn emphasised the need for…
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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