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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Sponsored 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Foreigners brawl on Patong Beach sparks criticism of Thai laws
A viral video showing two foreigners fighting each other on a road along Patong Beach in Phuket sparked criticism of weaknesses in Thai laws. A Thai man shared the video of the altercation on his TikTok account, @aifkiatprasert, yesterday, November 5. He later shared it with the news Facebook page, Phuket Times, before deleting it from his account. The page…
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World’s most beautiful ship, Amerigo Vespucci, docks in Phuket for free tours
The Italian tall ship Amerigo Vespucci, often hailed as the “most beautiful ship in the world,” is docked in Phuket and welcoming visitors aboard for free tours from tomorrow, November 6 to 10. This legendary vessel was built in 1931 and named after the Italian explorer and navigator Amerigo Vespucci. The ship, measuring 101 metres in length and 15.5 metres…
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Slippery surprise: Python makes ‘splash’ at Kamala Beach, Phuket
A typical day at Kamala Beach quickly transformed into an unexpected spectacle when beachgoers spotted a 100-kilogramme python swimming approximately 50 metres from the shore yesterday, November 4. Tourists enjoying the sun and sea were taken aback as the large reptile made its presence known in the water. Lifeguards on duty noticed the python around 1.10pm and promptly contacted local…
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Condor jet declares mid-descent alert on Phuket–Frankfurt route
A Condor Airbus A330-900, en route from Thailand’s paradise island of Phuket to Frankfurt, Germany, triggered a high alert after declaring an emergency while descending to its destination. Flight DE2369, operated by the German carrier, set alarm bells ringing as it squawked the 7700 transponder code, signifying a general emergency, just as it passed through 20,000 feet in German airspace.…
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Phuket steps up: Old town charm and cultural delights awaits
Get ready to step back in time and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Phuket as the island gears up for the Travel Old Town, Telling Phuket tourism festival. From November 27 to December 1, Queen Sirikit Park on bustling Thalang Road will transform into a cultural hotspot, with the iconic dragon statue standing guard over festivities. Organised by…
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Russian driver allegedly flees responsibility after Phuket accident
A Thai man demanded that a Russian pickup driver take responsibility for a car accident on Rawai Road in Phuket on October 29 after the foreign man twice failed to appear at a police station. The Phuket Times reported on October 29 that the Russian man, whose name remains undisclosed, allegedly ignored a red light on Rawai Road and drove…
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Bus-ting with green energy: Phuket’s smart bus takes fresh direction
All aboard the eco-friendly Phuket Smart Bus express. Phuket’s transport scene is getting a high-voltage makeover with the launch of the spanking new Phuket Smart Bus service, and it’s already steering the island’s travel scene in a new direction. Connecting Phuket Town and Patong with ease and style, this service is run by Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD) and…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi driver arrested after clash with tourists
Patong police in Phuket apprehended a motorcycle taxi driver following a heated altercation between tourists and a local taxi driver. The incident unfolded on October 31 at the intersection near the football field on Thawiwong Road, leading to several charges being filed against the motorcycle driver. Around 5.30pm, two tourists had just boarded an electric vehicle (EV) taxi they had…
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Hundreds of Phuket families await relief as flood damage mounts
Phuket’s flood-stricken families are still waiting for disaster relief funds, as officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday, October 31 to address pending disbursements. The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Adul Chuthong and attended by Sopon Thongsai, head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket), reviewed the island’s slow-moving relief fund process. The gathering united…
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Malaysian tourist falls from Phuket hotel balcony onto parked car
A Malaysian tourist‘s trip to Phuket took a dramatic turn when she fell from a hotel balcony in Patong, landing on a parked car below. The incident occurred early today, November 1, sending shockwaves across the bustling tourist area. The local police in Patong responded swiftly to an emergency call at 4.37am, arriving at the hotel situated on Rat-U Thit…
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Phuket woman injured by stray bullet during Halloween evening
A Halloween evening in Phuket took a terrifying turn when a woman was unexpectedly struck by a stray bullet while outside her residence in Srisoonthorn. The incident occurred yesterday evening, October 31, raising concerns about safety in the usually peaceful neighbourhood. The Thalang Police, along with rescue workers, responded promptly to the distress call from Moo 8, Srisoonthorn, arriving around…
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Karon police ‘taxi’ the bull by the horns: No more illegal rides
Karon police have hit back at online accusations claiming they’ve been lax in tackling illegal taxi operations. In a bold announcement, they revealed that a whopping 208 illegal taxis have been stopped and seized since the start of July. In a statement released earlier yesterday, October 31, Karon Police reassured the public that their officers have been conducting checkpoints at…
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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