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.
-
Sponsored Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna's expat health plans forever
Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
-
Russian tour guides busted in Phuket crackdown
Thailand’s sun-soaked tourist trails turned tense this week as Phuket Tourist Police swooped in on illegal tour guide operations, arresting two Russian nationals and fining two tour companies in a coordinated sting targeting unlicensed tourism activity. The crackdown, conducted yesterday, April 23, was spearheaded by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkachai Siri and involved officers from multiple police units and the Southern…
-
Phuket to stage tsunami drill at Kamala Beach
Sun, surf… and sirens? Tourists and locals on Phuket’s Kamala Beach are set to witness a full-scale tsunami emergency drill as Thailand prepares for the worst with one of its biggest disaster response simulations to date. From June 24 to 27, the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) will take part in the Crisis Management Exercise: C-MEX…
-
2 foreign tourists found dead in Phuket hotels
A holiday in paradise ended in tragedy yesterday after a 52 year old Swedish tourist was found dead in his hotel room in Patong, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his sudden death. Patong police were alerted to the incident at approximately 12.58pm yesterday, April 23. Officers quickly responded to the scene on Thaweewong Road, along with emergency…
-
Phuket Airport baggage belt still broken amid repairs
Holidaymakers flying out of Phuket are being urged to stay calm, despite ongoing baggage belt breakdowns that continue to cause delays at Thailand’s second-busiest international gateway. Yesterday, April 23, Phuket International Airport (HKT) confirmed that one of its four main baggage conveyor belts in the international terminal remains out of action, while three lines have been repaired and are back…
-
Deadly heatwave to scorch Phuket, Bangkok and 35 provinces
Thailand is bracing for a brutal blast of heat, with public health officials warning that a life-threatening heatwave is set to grip Phuket, Bangkok, and 35 other provinces. The Department of Health has raised the alarm, predicting the heat index, the temperature people feel when humidity is factored in, will soar to dangerously high levels. Phuket is expected to hit…
-
Man caught stealing from Buddhist donation tree in Phuket
A man has been captured on CCTV stealing money from a Kathin offerings tree at a shop on Bangkok Road in Phuket Town, inciting anger among residents. The footage, shared online, depicts a grey-haired man in an orange motorcycle taxi vest entering the shop and lingering near the counter. Once confident no one was watching, he approached the Kathin offerings…
-
Phuket urges residents to save water as dry season drags on
As Phuket approaches the final leg of the dry season, the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) is ramping up calls for water conservation across the island. Marking Earth Day yesterday, April 22, the PWA issued a public plea urging residents to adopt mindful water-use habits and report any burst pipes immediately, reinforcing that every drop counts in the battle against dwindling…
-
Moan alone: Randy foreign couple put on x-rated show in Patong
It’s not just the waves keeping Patong awake at night, one randy foreign couple has been giving locals an x-rated earful with their nightly sex sessions, complete with open curtains, loud moans and zero shame. Residents of Sai Kaew Road in Phuket’s Patong Municipality say they’ve endured four sleepless nights thanks to a passionate pair who seem determined to share…
-
French tourist busted in Patong for reckless riding
A thrill-seeking Frenchman landed himself in trouble after his reckless antics on Patong’s streets caught the attention of Thailand’s national immigration chief. Identified as 23 year old Ali, the tourist was arrested after CCTV footage revealed him tearing through red lights, revving up noise complaints, and riding without a helmet. The chaotic joyride didn’t go unnoticed. National Immigration Bureau Chief…
-
Drunk foreign man ends Phuket beach party with graveyard nap
Locals in the Bang Tao area of Phuket rescued a drunk foreign man who was found sleeping in a graveyard after attending a beach party. The Phuket Times shared photos of the man lying on a grassy area yesterday, April 21, with the caption: “5.20pm. A foreigner was found lying unconscious in the Bang Tao kubur (kubur means burial ground…
-
Phuket probes construction site over erosion concerns
Phuket officials have launched a major investigation into a hillside construction project in Karon after public concerns over potential illegal development and environmental damage. The inspection, conducted yesterday, April 21, was led by Surasak Anusorn, Director of the Phuket Natural Resources and Environment Office, and accompanied by officers from the Phuket Provincial Public Works and Town & Country Planning Office.…
-
Making waves: Illegal jet ski operators sunk in Phuket crackdown
Five jet ski operators have been arrested in a significant operation to clamp down on illegal rentals in Phuket. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Marine Police Division arrested the suspects, who were caught operating unregistered jet skis at Kamala Beach and a pier in Koh Kaew. The arrests highlighted ongoing concerns over unregulated tourist services in…
-
Phuket beach bonk shock! Randy tourists caught in sandy scandal
A frisky foreign couple sparked outrage in Phuket after being caught having sex on Patong Beach in broad daylight. Social media in Thailand erupted after explicit footage emerged of a tourist couple engaging in a public sex act on Phuket’s famous Patong Beach, leaving locals and fellow holidaymakers stunned and disgusted. The couple, described as a man and woman of…
-
Police hunt suspect in fatal Phuket stabbing
Police are in pursuit of a suspect involved in a stabbing in Phuket, where a 59 year old man was fatally wounded. The incident occurred yesterday, April 20 at 1.30pm in Soi Hon Sai Thong, Mueang Phuket district, Phuket province. The victim had been stabbed under the right rib cage and was discovered seriously injured in the middle of a…
-
Arrest warrant issued against Swiss man who kicked Thai doctor
Phuket Kwaeng Court issued an arrest warrant for a Swiss man who allegedly kicked a female Thai doctor in the back outside his luxury villa in Phuket after he failed to appear in court as scheduled. The 27 year old Thai doctor, Tarndao Chandam, filed a lawsuit against 46 year old Swiss national Urs Fehr in February last year. She…
-
Phuket sting operation: man arrested with meth in rubber plantation
A coordinated sting operation led by the Thalang District Administrative Special Operations Unit resulted in the arrest of a man in Thalang, Phuket. Thousands of methamphetamine pills and a significant amount of crystal meth were discovered hidden in a rubber plantation. The arrest was announced during a press conference on April 18. Among those present were Phuket Vice Governor Adul…
-
Phuket raids uncover major illegal cigarette smuggling network
A coordinated operation in central Phuket led to raids on four key locations, targeting an illegal cigarette smuggling network. The crackdown, linked to influential figures in the area, was initiated after local reports of untaxed cigarette distribution. The operation by the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.…
-
Teenager surrenders after fatal stabbing in Phuket
A 19 year old man has turned himself in to the police following the fatal stabbing of a 59 year old man in Phuket. The stabbing victim, identified as Chatuchok, was found unconscious with a knife wound to his abdomen near a grocery store in Soi Hon Saithong, Mueang district. Emergency services transported him to the hospital, but he later…
-
Phuket landslide probe delayed due to missing evidence
The investigation into the fatal landslide in Kata, Phuket, which occurred last August and resulted in 13 deaths and numerous injuries, has been delayed as Karon Police are awaiting further documentation to confirm whether construction was a contributing factor. The questioning of victims has been concluded, but additional documents are needed, according to Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkasak Kwanwan, Senior Inspector…
-
Officials probe illegal land grabs in Phuket wildlife zone
Phuket’s lush green hills are fast becoming battlegrounds in a land war fuelled by booming tourism, high-end development, and shady deals — and now, investigators are closing in. Officials launched a fresh investigation into suspected illegal land grabs within a protected wildlife reserve in Wichit, Phuket, raising alarm over how the island’s natural beauty is being sacrificed for profit. “Phuket’s…
-
Phuket rakes in billions but begs for budget help
It may be Thailand’s crown jewel of tourism, raking in nearly 500 billion baht in revenue last year, but Phuket is struggling with crumbling infrastructure, water shortages, and traffic chaos — and local leaders say it’s time the government pays attention. Last year, Phuket welcomed 13–14 million tourists, generating 497.5 billion baht in revenue. Yet, despite the economic windfall, Governor…
-
Punches and passports: Bangla Road fight goes viral (video)
It was less of a beach holiday and more of a boxing match in Patong, as a shocking video of foreign tourists brawling on Phuket’s infamous Bangla Road has gone viral, drawing heavy criticism and fuelling online debate about visa policies and foreign gangs in Thailand. The drama unfolded in the heart of Patong’s nightlife zone, where two men were seen…
-
Phuket braces for floods as emergency pumps deployed
Phuket is battening down the hatches as officials race to prevent flash floods and landslides, with a massive emergency response underway across the island. With heavy rainfall already soaking parts of the province, the Phuket governor has issued an urgent directive to all district chiefs, local government leaders, and heads of government agencies to launch immediate preventative action. The warning…
-
Phuket reports zero road deaths during Songkran so far
Phuket is defying the odds this Songkran, with zero road deaths reported during Thailand’s notorious Seven Days of Danger, despite dozens of accidents involving both locals and foreign tourists. As the annual road and marine safety campaign nears its end, officials gathered today, April 17, at Phuket Provincial Hall to review the province’s performance. The meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice…
-
AirAsia unveils Phuket–Medan route to spark tourism boom
Thai AirAsia is turning up the heat on regional travel with the launch of a new direct route connecting Phuket to Medan, Indonesia, giving travellers even more reason to escape the ordinary and explore Southeast Asia’s hidden gems. Starting June 27, AirAsia’s new route will operate four times a week, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, offering a seamless connection…
-
Bar worker beaten outside Patong hotspot after jealous row
A Patong bar worker was left bloodied and bruised after a savage street brawl erupted outside one of the island’s busiest nightlife zones — all sparked by a petty case of jealousy. The violent incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning, April 14, just outside a popular bar near the beach road entrance to Bangla Road. The victim,…
-
Bare-faced cheek: Phuket shoppers shocked by naked man
Shoppers at a Phuket market got more than they bargained for yesterday morning, when a naked man strolled casually through the streets, leaving stunned onlookers doing double-takes. The bizarre incident unfolded yesterday, April 16, in the Tha Ruea area of Thalang district, near a fresh market and the local branch of Bangkok Bank. The man, believed to be aged between…
-
Phuket’s buffalo orange gets GI push to juice up global fame
The beautiful resort island of Phuket is hoping its native fruit, the Garcinia or som khwai (buffalo orange), will peel into prestige as a Geographical Indication (GI) product, adding some serious juice to the province’s agricultural and food industries. In a recent workshop led by deputy governor Suwit Pansa-ngiam, local producers were schooled on the ins and outs of GI…
-
Phuket woman dies after brutal assault by partner
A tragic incident unfolded at a rental room in the Mueang district of Phuket, where a woman succumbed to injuries following a violent altercation with her partner. Police apprehended the suspect, who later confessed to the assault. At approximately 10.45pm yesterday, April 13, Police Lieutenant Wutthichai Chanpai, Deputy Inspector of Wichit Police Station, was alerted to a domestic dispute resulting…
-
Man found dead after fall in Phuket’s Wichit district
A 44 year old man was found dead after falling from an abandoned building in the Wichit district, Phuket. Before the incident, he had a dispute with his wife and left on a motorcycle. The police are investigating the cause of death. At 8.50pm yesterday, April 12, Police Lieutenant Colonel Fonthip Kaewsaen, Deputy Inspector of Wichit Police Station, was informed…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.