Phuket News
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Phuket gov announces improvement plans at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has announced plans to boost security protocols at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint to ensure that no illegal substances are being smuggled in or out of Phuket. The governor unveiled his plans during a meeting with relevant officers at the Mai Khao OrBorTor office yesterday. “The final improvement plans have already been laid out. Some of…
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Victim helps arrested bike thief in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police arrested a motorbike thief at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town yesterday, about six hours after he made off with a bike that had been parked at Dragon’s Monument in Talad Yai. The suspect, 42-year-old Suraphol Punpek, had earlier this year been released from jail where he was serving a sentence for theft. The incident occurred sometime between 4am…
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Teenaged tourist drowns, four others rescued on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Another Chinese tourist drowned and four others were rescued at Phuket beaches in two days, prompting the Phuket Governor to urge officials to find better safety solutions for tourists. The governor was present at the scene when the body of an 18-year-old Chinese tourist, Wei Peixin, washed up at Kamala Beach this morning after rescue workers were unable to…
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Aussie, Argentinian hospitalized after Krabi rock climbing accident
PHUKET: Two tourists were rescued but suffered serious injuries after falling off a cliff while rock climbing in Krabi yesterday. The accident occurred while climbing a cliff between Ao Ton Sai and Ao Pai Plong. Rescue teams, including tourist police, marine police and Nopparat National Park officers, went in search of them after the mishap was reported. Australian national Thomas…
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Belgian tourist arrested for shoplifting in Phuket
PHUKET: A Belgian tourist was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday, more than two weeks after he reportedly stole a mobile phone accessory from an electronics store in Phuket. Tourist Police were able to apprehend the suspect, Oliver Jerome Georges Verhaeghe, 58, while he was waiting to board Qatar Airways flight QR841 to Doha. Mr Verhaeghe was originally seen stealing…
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EGA launches ‘smart kiosks’ in Phuket
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong last week chaired a seminar titled ‘GovChannel Roadshow 2017: Digital Local Government’ at Novotel Phuket Phookeethra in Phuket Town. The seminar introduced the launch of a ‘smart kiosk’ at Big C supercenter, making Phuket the first province in the South to have one. “In continuation of the Smart City project, the GovChannel roadshow was…
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Body of missing swimmer found in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Thai man who went missing after swimming in a red-flagged zone at Karon Beach on Sunday (story here) was found near Laem Sai yesterday. The victim, Arnon Rodjui, was found about 2km from where he first disappeared. Fishermen in the area informed Karon Police of a body floating near the rocks at about 3pm. “We…
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One missing, six rescued from drowning at Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Two Thai tourists were safely rescued while one is still missing after the trio went swimming in a red-flagged area at Karon Beach yesterday afternoon. The missing man, Arnon Rodjui, is originally from Samuthprakan, reported Col Charnarong Krongkue of Karon Police. Officers from the Karon Tourist Help Center and Karon Police searched for Mr Arnon using jet-skis this morning,…
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Two charged for stealing Phuket tourist’s gold jewelry
PHUKET: An Indian tourist was reunited with his stolen jewelry after Patong Police tracked down the snatchers via CCTV footage and arrested them last night. The victim, Dr Deepak Kumar Sharar, was visiting Phuket for a conference. He reported the incident, which occurred near Novotel Phuket Vintage Park Resort on Saturday night, to Patong Police. “Mr Kumar told us that…
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20-passenger speedboat collides with another at Phuket pier
PHUKET: A speedboat carrying 20 passengers crashed with another at the Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew yesterday evening. No injuries were reported. A speedboat belonging to ‘Golden Dragon Tour 1’ was carrying passengers from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket when it collided with, and landed partly on top of, another speedboat, ‘K. Kanreab‘, which was not carrying any passengers at…
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Coldwell Banker launches operations in Phuket
PHUKET: American real estate firm Coldwell Banker this week announced its launch in Phuket. The agency has officially opened its doors in Baan Don Cherngtalay, bringing to the island the strength and reach of its global brand with a real estate network of 3,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 50 countries and territories, and more than 86,000…
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Phuket beauty pageant with a purpose
PHUKET: Phuket is slated to hold the first ‘Miss Supranational Phuket 2017’ contest next month. All profits from the event will be donated to Vachira Phuket Hospital. The concept of the pageant is ‘Absolutely Phuket’ and organizers aim to find the “most beautiful woman who truly represents the island”. “This is the first time that this event has been organized…
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Thai, Russian tourist team up to save injured turtle at Phuket national park
PHUKET: A Thai and Russian tourist received praise for rescuing an injured turtle stuck in a fishing net at Sirinath National Park yesterday. Officers from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) came to examine the creature after receiving reports from the Thai tourist, Chanyut Butrgrim, who was visiting the park at Nai Yang Beach. “It is an olive ridley sea…
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Fake Facebook profile of Phuket vice governor sparks concerns
PHUKET: A Phuket vice governor has warned the public to be wary of his Facebook impostor after a user with a fake profile added people and asked to borrow money from them. Vice Governor Teera Anantaseriwidhya said he will today file a complaint against the Facebook user who created a profile in his name (in Thai). “Please do not accept…
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TCEB, Phuket officials request hotels to participate in MICE database initiative
PHUKET: Officials from the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) are seeking help from private sector businesses and hotels in Phuket after coming up nearly empty handed in a search for information to build a Phuket database. The information is required to sustain and promote MICE initiatives in Phuket and other provinces of Thailand. MICE, which stands for ‘Meetings, Incentives,…
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Spree of electric wire thefts in Phuket casues B2mn in damages
PHUKET: Police are hunting for a thief or thieves who have been stealing wires and equipment from electric poles in many areas of Phuket, causing more than 2 million baht worth of estimated loss. Locals in many areas, particularly Thalang and Kathu, have filed several complaints about unlit streets in their areas for the past two months. “They are not…
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Malaysian fraudsters arrested for skimming Phuket bank accounts
PHUKET: Three Malaysian ATM skimmers were arrested at the Sadao border checkpoint between Malaysia and Thailand on Tuesday. The arrests were made by the Songkla Immigration Office and Sadao Provincial Police. The suspects were wanted for conducting unauthorized money withdrawals in Songkla and Phuket, skimming more than 600,000 baht from 13 Phuket and Songkla-based accounts last month (story here). “We…
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Marine chief dispels rumors of ‘oil spill’ at Phuket beach
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office Chief has negated concerns about ‘oil spills’ on Karon Beach after a video was shared on social media claiming that that was the case. Facebook user ‘Tonya So Say’ yesterday posted a 14-minute video on the group Siang Prachachon Khon Phuket (‘The Voice of Phuket Citizens’) with the caption: “There is oil spreading on Karon…
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Phuket police investigating horrific road death of 26-year-old biker
PHUKET: A bike rider was killed after he hit a car, flew off his bike and had his head crushed by an 8-wheeled truck in Phuket yesterday. “The accident occurred at about 2:30pm on Chao Fa West road near a shop named ‘Prompan’. It was raining heavily at the time. At the scene, we found the body of Jeerawat Chitchua,…
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Truck on fire on tarmac at Krabi International Airport
KRABI: Krabi International Airport came under fire after the engine of a pick-up burst into flames on the tarmac yesterday afternoon as bystanders looked on in panic. The pick-up was being used by airport employees for pre-flight ckecks. The flames were soon brought under control by rescue workers and firefighters. “We later discovered that the engine of the pick-up was…
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Phuket gov launches weekly farmer’s market
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong officially unveiled a ‘Farmer’s Market’ at Limelight Avenue in Phuket Town this week. The market is aimed at allowing farmers to directly supply fresh, high quality produce and provide a wider choice to customers. The new market will be held every week from Friday to Sunday, with a variety of organic products on offer. However, pineapples…
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Bypass trees chopped down to ‘ease traffic’, says Phuket highways chief
PHUKET: Officials from the Phuket Highways Office say that the reason for chopping down the more than 20 towering pine trees near the Premium Outlet on the Bypass Road this morning was to provide a ‘better view’ of that road to drivers on both sides. “Due to ‘heavy rain’ these days, it was necessary for us to cut down the…
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Phuket gov to reconsider poor communities’ land issue
PHUKET: Hundreds of people from poor communities in Phuket gathered outside Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to protest an official announcement disqualifying them from attaining ‘community’ status. The sit-in was organized by the ’23 Communities Network’, which comprises of poor and marginalized communities in Phuket. As an officially-labeled ‘community’ the group would be entitled to the use of communal land…
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PEA announces temporary blackout schedule for Phuket
PHUKET: The Provincial Electricity Authority has announced a series of “temporary” blackouts again, this time for “maintenance” in various parts of Phuket, starting tomorrow. The power cuts, which are expected to last from 9am-4:30pm, are scheduled as follows: June 6: Premium Outlet to Biztown and from Siam Niramit to Phuket A&P Trading. June 8: Rock Garden Bypass Housing to Moo…
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One injured as Phuket International Airport ceiling collapses
PHUKET: A 59-year-old Thai passenger was hospitalized with head injuries when part of the ceiling at Phuket International Airport’s domestic terminal crashed down on Saturday. Bancha Sanguannam was travelling to Bangkok via NokAir. He was seated at Gate 81-82 while waiting for his flight when the incident occurred. Mr Bancha was taken to Thalang Hospital where he received nine stitches…
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Thousands participate in the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon
PHUKET: More than 4,000 runners lined-up yesterday morning to run the Marathon and Half Marathon distances at the 12th annual Laguna Phuket Marathon. With a record turnout of almost 7,000 runners during the two-day event, the Marathon and Half Marathon proved to be the most popular. With more than 1,600 athletes competing in the marathon alone, it was the largest…
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Mom Tri’s Villa Royale to host 5-course wine dinner
PHUKET: Mom Tri’s Villa Royale is hosting a five-course wine dinner from 7pm onwards on Tuesday (June 6). Featuring seared tuna; kurobota pork Italian tradition; veal sirloin and cheek ravioli; an Italian cheese collection; and a layered chocolate and coffee cake for dessert; each course is paired with vintage wine especially chosen by Mom Tri’s Wine Director George Ciret. With…
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Phuket woman wanted for allegedly cheating ‘savings group’ out of millions
PHUKET: Police are searching for a woman who allegedly swindled a ‘rotating savings’ group out of millions of baht. ‘Rotating savings’ is a form of combined peer-to-peer banking and lending system wherein a group of individuals agree to contribute a certain amount of money per month in order to save with and borrow from each other. Thirty people yesterday went…
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Another dead marine creature washes up on Phuket beach
PHUKET: A dead turtle in an advanced state of decay washed up at Surin Beach yesterday, two days after a beached whale in a similar state was discovered in the same place (story here). Officers from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) came to examine the creature after receiving reports from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). They took…
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Bus driver caught with nearly 1,000 protected marine creatures
PHUKET: A bus driver was arrested in Phang Nga early this morning with nearly one thousand protected marine creatures. He was enroute to Phuket. “We received information from one of our sources that a big delivery of marine creatures would be made by bus today. We monitored the route and finally spotted the bus on Petchkasem Road in Moo 2,…
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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