Phuket News
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Hackers hijack Phuket ride-hailing apps in taxi scam chaos
Phuket officials vowed to crack down after hackers scammed ride-hailing drivers by hijacking app accounts and demanding ransom for registration unlocks. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has vowed a sweeping crackdown after dozens of ride-hailing drivers reported falling victim to a sophisticated hacking scam. The revelation came during a crisis meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, where Governor Saransak and local MP…
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Fire breaks out at Phuket condo site, no injuries reported
A fire broke out at a Phuket condo construction site at night, prompting a swift response from firefighters who contained the blaze before it spread. The fire erupted around 9.30pm on Sunday, October 19, at The Origin Kathu-Patong project on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, approximately 3 kilometres from the eastern base of Patong Hill. The building, currently unoccupied, is part…
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Myanmar crewman dies in boat accident off Phuket coast
A 36 year old Myanmar national has died after suffering a fatal head injury while working aboard a fishing vessel caught in rough seas off Koh Racha Yai. The tragic accident occurred yesterday morning, October 20, while the crewman, identified as Tin Maung Htwe, was on duty as a mechanic aboard the Kiang Chai 3 fishing boat. He reportedly slipped…
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Phuket’s 2.3 billion baht underpass shelved over flood, chaos fears
A major underpass project in Phuket has been scrapped after residents raised concerns about traffic disruption and flooding during construction. The Department of Highways has scrapped its 2.38-billion baht bidding process for the Heroines Monument underpass project in Thalang, following growing concerns about its impact on traffic and the potential for worsening flooding. The decision comes after strong local opposition,…
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Foreign driver sparks outrage with dangerous speeding on Phuket road
A foreign man was caught on a viral video driving his luxury car dangerously on a crowded road in Phuket on Saturday, October 18. The video circulated on Thai social media yesterday, October 19, after a local motorist witnessed the incident and shared it with news agencies. The road in the video was reported to be located in the Patong…
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Foreign man allegedly takes over public mooring and threatens boat drivers with knife
A local boat operator called on relevant government officials to take action against a foreign man who allegedly took control of a public mooring near Koh Hey in Phuket and threatened other boat drivers with a knife. The local boat operator, who claimed to be threatened by the foreign man, shared a video of the encounter with the Facebook news…
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Danish boxer stopped from jumping off Phuket building
Police intervened to prevent a Danish boxer from jumping off the roof of an accommodation building in the Kata area of Phuket on Saturday, October 18. Several local media outlets shared pictures and videos of the foreign man, later identified as a Danish national. The man was seen on the roof of a building in Soi Green Drinking Water, Kata,…
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Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image
Phuket’s authorities are advocating for more stringent cannabis regulations after a rise in incidents involving foreign tourists displaying erratic behaviour has negatively impacted the island’s tourism image. Sarayut Mallum, vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, highlighted that many instances of foreign visitors behaving unusually have been linked to excessive cannabis consumption. He noted, ‘Some tourists smoked multiple joints consecutively, resulting…
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Late-night blaze guts Phuket home in suspected power fault
A fire tore through a two-storey home in Kathu, Phuket, late on Thursday night, causing extensive damage but fortunately no injuries, as three residents managed to escape just in time. The blaze broke out around 11.45pm on Thursday, October 16, at a property in Soi 8, Anuphas Golf Ville, Kathu subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaya Suphanphong from Kathu Police Station…
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Pakistani man arrested at Bangkok airport for assaulting Phuket transwoman
Police today, October 17, arrested a Pakistani man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for assaulting a Thai transwoman in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht. The transgender victim, identified only as Barbie, took to social media to share photos of herself with bloodstains on her face and chest in a plea for information about the attacker. She initially identified the suspect as…
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Cargo ship and foreign yacht collide off Phuket coast, no injuries
A cargo boat collided with a foreign yacht in open waters near Phuket during a routine journey, prompting an official investigation into the cause. The incident occurred at approximately 8am today, October 17, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the cargo vessel’s captain, the sailboat appeared to be drifting unusually close, with no one visibly steering. “I sounded…
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Brave parasailing assistant jumps into sea to save tourist off Phuket beach
A brave parasailing assistant made a split-second decision to drop into the sea off Phuket to save a tourist after a parasailing boat capsized near Kata Beach yesterday, October 16. A sudden storm hit Kata Beach in Phuket’s Karon district at around 3pm, overturning a parasailing boat. The tourist, along with the parasailing staff member controlling the parachute, was still…
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Snail-paced start for Phuket’s new co-payment scheme
Phuket officials have launched a new co-payment scheme to support small businesses, though early registration numbers remain lower than expected. The scheme, also known as Khon La Khrueng Plus, or half-half payment scheme, designed to support small businesses and ease the cost of living through 50% government subsidies on purchases, opened registration via the Tung Ngern system yesterday, October 15.…
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Box jellyfish sting scare hits tourists at Patong Beach
Lifeguards on a popular Phuket beach have reported a surge in jellyfish stings affecting tourists, with several victims requiring urgent hospital care. The incidents, which have involved the notoriously venomous box jellyfish, have left beachgoers with burning skin, rashes and in some cases, serious allergic responses. Lifeguards confirmed that the stings occurred both near shore and in deeper water. Some…
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Thai man arrested for stealing speedboat from Phuket pier
Police arrested a Thai man for stealing a speedboat belonging to a travel agency from the Asia Marina Pier on Sire Island, Phuket, on October 7. The travel agency, Phuket New Generation Travel (PNT), sought help from online communities and local media outlets to locate the missing speedboat, named Kantee. CCTV footage showed that the vessel was stolen at around…
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Phuket marks Austrian consul handover with honour and ceremony
Phuket hosted a diplomatic ceremony where Austria honoured a former consul and appointed a successor to strengthen ties in tourism, trade, and culture. Phuket marked a major milestone in Thai-Austrian relations on Tuesday, October 14, as long-serving diplomat Wanida Hongyok was honoured for her service, and Montawee Hongyok was officially appointed as Austria’s new Honorary Consul on the island. The…
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Phuket pushes ahead with AI traffic lights to ease jams
Phuket is moving forward with plans to use AI-powered traffic lights to manage congestion at busy intersections as part of a major transport upgrade. Artificial intelligence will soon take the wheel in managing Phuket’s chaotic traffic, as part of a major two-phase overhaul aimed at tackling congestion ahead of the tourist High Season. The Phuket Highways Department has unveiled a…
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Phuket transwoman assaulted and robbed by Polish client after sex service
A Thai transwoman called on Phuket officials to improve safety measures, claiming that a Polish man assaulted her and stole her bag after a sex service. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The transgender victim reached out to the Phuket Time Facebook page today, October 15, to report the robbery. She shared…
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2 foreign teens condemned for spray-painting Phuket building
Thai netizens condemned two foreign teenagers after they were caught in a viral video spray-painting the wall of a roadside accommodation in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the teenagers today, October 15, with a caption that read… “Foreign teenagers climbed onto the roof to spray-paint the wall for video content. This happened last…
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Patong gets safety boost with new traffic barriers
Police in Patong partnered with a local foundation to provide new traffic barriers, aiming to improve safety and city image ahead of peak tourism season. In a joint effort to boost public safety and improve Patong’s image ahead of the High Season, the Patong Development Foundation has donated new traffic barriers to Patong Police. The handover ceremony took place yesterday,…
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Phuket’s shortest-serving governor axed after just 14 days
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket’s newly appointed governor, just weeks after he began his term, sparking public scrutiny. The Thai Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra after only two weeks in office. Saransak, who began his term on October 2, is now officially Phuket’s shortest-serving governor. His shock exit was confirmed…
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Slow loris dumped on Phuket beach sparks wildlife crackdown
A slow loris, believed to have been used in illegal tourist photo operations, was rescued after being abandoned on Kata Noi Beach in Phuket. The animal was found left in a bag on the sand, prompting an official investigation by local police and wildlife officers. Karon Police Chief Police Colonel Khundet Na-NongKhai confirmed that officers are still pursuing the suspect.…
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Russian man allegedly stalks Phuket woman after being rejected
A Thai woman accused a Russian man in Phuket of stalking, harassing, and threatening to harm her after she rejected his romantic advances. The woman, who works at a café in Patong, said she felt unsafe and decided to share her story with the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, October 14. She insisted that she had never encouraged the Russian…
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Indian man wanted for attacking Phuket transwoman and stealing 10,000 baht
An Indian man remains at large after attacking a Thai transwoman in her rented room in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht in cash from her yesterday, October 13. The Thai transgender victim took to social media and shared her story with local news outlets to warn others and help locate the Indian suspect. In an interview with the Phuket Times…
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Phuket police hunt foreigners after Patong Beach fireworks incident
Police in Phuket are actively searching for two foreigners suspected of igniting fireworks that exploded hazardously on Patong Beach yesterday, on October 11, causing minor injuries to a beachgoer and damage to property. The incident, which took place around 12.15am, was reported to the Phuket Provincial Police Commander by Patong Police. Initially, Patong lifeguards detained two Omani nationals, Al-Amri Basim…
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Phuket cracks down on vapes with schoolyard smoking ban
Phuket officials launched a campaign in local schools to ban smoking and vaping, aiming to protect students’ health and raise community awareness. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has launched a new campaign to make local schools entirely smoke-free and e-cigarette-free, starting with five pilot institutions. The initiative was officially rolled out at Baan Mai Riab PPAO School (Tantikowit Bamrung),…
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Wrong-way rider killed in fatal Phuket motorbike crash
A man has died following a head-on collision between two motorbikes in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang, Phuket, as the island’s road death toll continues to rise. The crash occurred around 4.30pm on Thursday, October 9, on the Mueang Mai–Pa Khlok Road, directly in front of the SuperCheap store. Thalang Police received the emergency report and dispatched officers and…
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Foreigner escapes blazing car inferno on Phuket roadside
A foreign man was hospitalised after his car caught fire on a roadside in Phuket, prompting a late-night emergency response from local firefighters. The incident unfolded around 10.50pm on Thursday, October 9, on Wiset Road in Rawai, when residents spotted a Ford sedan engulfed in flames along the roadside and quickly alerted emergency services. Rawai Municipality firefighters dispatched two water…
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Phuket man shoots wife in drunken rage at family home
A man was arrested in Phuket after allegedly shooting his wife during a drunken argument at their home, prompting a late-night police and rescue response. Phuket City Police were alerted to the incident at 11.40pm yesterday, October 9, by the 191 Emergency Call Centre, reporting that a woman had been shot at a residence on Sri Suthat Road. Police Lieutenant…
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Phuket seaplane plan aims to jet-set luxury tourism sky-high
Officials and private stakeholders met in Phuket to discuss a proposed seaplane project aimed at boosting luxury tourism and improving regional connectivity. A bold proposal by Thai Seaplane Co Ltd aims to introduce seaplane operations in Phuket Bay to boost the island’s luxury tourism sector while meeting strict environmental standards. The public forum, held yesterday, October 9, at a multipurpose…
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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