Phuket News
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Phatthalung student drowns at Bang Tao Beach in Phuket
A 16 year old girl from Phatthalung drowned while swimming at Bang Tao Beach in Phuket yesterday afternoon, October 6. The victim, identified as Wimonrat Yang-aphai, was swimming about 50 metres from shore with a friend, Kasakorn Prayot, when both were caught in strong waves at around 4pm. Resort security guards and locals rushed to assist and contacted emergency services.…
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Foreign man scams Phuket exchange shops with fake pound banknotes
Several money exchange shops in Phuket collectively lost nearly 40,000 baht to a foreign man who exchanged counterfeit banknotes. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported that it received multiple alerts from exchange shops across the island and issued a warning to the online community today, October 6, to prevent further victims. A photograph of the foreign suspect was included in the…
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Phuket motorbike rider arrested after threatening taxi driver with fake gun
A motorbike rider in Koh Kaew, Phuket, was arrested after threatening a taxi driver with what appeared to be a gun, prompting a police investigation and multiple charges. The incident took place around 1pm on October 5 and was captured on a dashcam. The footage circulated online, leading Phuket City Police Chief, Police Colonel Chatree Chukaew, to order officers to…
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Myanmar national fatally stabbed in Patong altercation
In Patong, a Myanmar national was fatally stabbed during a confrontation on October 3. Patong Police were alerted to a rental room in an alley off Soi Klong Bang Wat, Ratchapathanusorn Road, at 7.02pm. They discovered 38 year old Zaw Min Win outside his accommodation, suffering from severe stab wounds and lying in a pool of blood. Rescue workers from…
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Phuket pub stabbing suspect turns himself in to police
A southern politician’s grandson surrendered to Phuket police after allegedly stabbing a young man during a late-night confrontation at a local pub. The grandson of Phatthalung Town Mayor Kraiwat Thammapetch, surrendered to police yesterday, October 3, after being accused of stabbing a 25 year old man at a local pub on Wednesday, October 1. Thirayut Thammapetch, accompanied by his lawyer,…
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New Phuket governor kicks off term with youth unity project
The newly appointed governor of Phuket headed to a neighbouring province to join a youth event promoting unity, culture, and leadership through shared experiences. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra travelled to Phang Nga on Thursday, October 2, to join more than 100 youths from Thailand’s southern border provinces as part of the 45th San Jai Thai Su Jai Tai project. The…
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Body of missing Chinese tourist found off Phuket’s Nai Harn
The body of a young Chinese tourist was found off a Phuket beach after he went missing while swimming, prompting a large-scale search by rescue teams. The body of 21 year old Yuan Wenyi was pulled from the sea, two days after he vanished while swimming at Nai Harn beach. Yuan disappeared on Wednesday, October 1, while swimming near the…
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CCTV captures foreign thief stealing laptops and wallet in Phuket
A Thai man is seeking clues to the identity of a foreign suspect who allegedly stole two laptops and a wallet from accommodation in the Bang Tao area of Phuket on Wednesday, October 1. The victim, Ferosh “Eve” Suriya, posted CCTV footage of the alleged thief on his Facebook account yesterday, October 2, urging netizens to provide any information if…
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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…
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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