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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Iranian tasered after trying to stab Phuket hotel workers with syringe
Thai police officers used a stun gun to subdue an Iranian man who went on a rampage yesterday at a hotel in the Karon area of Phuket and attempted to stab hotel workers with a syringe. Officers from Karon Police Station were alerted to the foreign man’s rampage at 6.11pm yesterday, March 17, and rushed to the scene. The suspect…
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British man’s sun-soaked dream escape turns tragic in Thailand
A dream holiday in paradise has turned into an unimaginable nightmare for a British man whose life hangs by a thread in a Thailand hospital. The family and friends of British restauranteur Ricky Eury are by his bedside praying for his life following a shocking accident at a luxurious Thai resort. The 39 year old Brit, who was enjoying a…
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Shell shocked: Minister calls for united front to save dugongs (video)
An impassioned call for collective action to tackle the conservation crisis threatening seagrass and dugongs was issued by Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment at the Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort. The turtle release ceremony, held on March 14, emphasised the urgent need for all sectors to collaborate in safeguarding these endangered marine species. Chalermchai lauded the efforts…
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Race against crime: Phuket police crack down on illegal street racers
Police in Wichit stepped up their campaign against illegal motorcycle racing, confiscating 22 motorcycles and arresting 10 young people in a focused operation addressing reckless riding. The action occurred on Saturday, March 15, as Wichit officers concentrated on key areas within Mueang district. Starting at 9pm, a team led by Wichit Police Chief Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang, together with other…
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Body found in Phuket sea believed to be missing American woman
Thai fishermen yesterday discovered the body of a foreigner floating between Koh Racha Yai and Koh He in Phuket province. The foreigner is suspected to be the missing American woman. Officers from the Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre (Khai Mook Centre) investigated the floating body at around 8.20am, yesterday, March 16, after being notified by a local fishing boat. The body…
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Bugged out! Mosquito bite leaves British dad in Tourette’s grip
A British father’s dream holiday in Thailand took a nightmarish twist after a vicious mosquito bite not only gave him Tourette’s syndrome, but set off a series of bizarre, life-altering health issues. Ross Constable returned from a family holiday to Phuket, never expecting a simple insect bite to transform his life in the most shocking way. The 48 year old…
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Thailand seeks private investment for Phuket expressway project
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is seeking private sector involvement in the Phuket Expressway Project to enhance road infrastructure, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve connectivity for both locals and tourists. On March 7, a public hearing took place at the Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit, where private investors were invited to share their views on the project’s feasibility and investment…
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South Korean tourist found dead in Phuket luxury spa sauna
A South Korean tourist was found dead in a sauna room at a luxury spa in Phuket. His wife revealed that he had entered the facility before losing consciousness. Attempts to revive him with CPR were unsuccessful. Police are set to investigate the cause of death. Today, March 16, reports emerged that yesterday, March 15 at 6.30pm, Police Captain Yutthaphon…
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Ex-finance minister exposes Phuket police extortion
A former finance minister has blown the lid off corrupt police practices in Phuket, exposing a rampant extortion racket targeting tourists. Sommai Phasee took to Facebook to reveal how officers are demanding bribes of 10,000 to 20,000 baht from foreign visitors to avoid being dragged to the police station. “I can’t stand it anymore. Corruption is everywhere in Thailand—it’s a…
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Phuket leads Thailand’s push for sustainable tourism
Thailand is going green in a big way, with Phuket at the forefront of a bold push to revolutionise sustainable tourism. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has launched the Green Hotel Plus Phuket Sandbox project, a key initiative to raise hotel sustainability standards to global levels. Minister Chalermchai Sri-on, who chaired the event on Thursday, March 13,…
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Phuket mayor vows clean drinking water for all
Phuket Town residents may soon enjoy safe, drinkable tap water as city officials push forward with a major water quality upgrade. At a public event held at the Phuket City Municipality’s Waterworks Division yesterday, March 13, Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas assured residents that progress is being made in providing clean, potable water across the town. Flanked by key officials—including Deputy Mayor…
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No freedom at Freedom Beach: Land dispute sparks Phuket showdown
A heated land dispute has erupted over Phuket’s Freedom Beach, with the heirs of a landowner demanding the suspension of its recent designation as a recreational forest. Lawyers representing the family of Panthong Na Ranong petitioned the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), arguing that unresolved land rights issues must be settled before the area is officially…
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3 British men arrested for car crash and stabbing attempt in Phuket
Thai police this week arrested three British men involved in a car crash and a stabbing attempt that occurred outside Patong Hospital in Phuket. Yesterday, March 13, a Thai motorcyclist took to social media to seek assistance from netizens in locating the foreign pickup driver who collided with him on Wednesday and attempted to stab him before fleeing the scene.…
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Patong car thief caught after GPS tracks stolen vehicle
A reckless car thief learned the hard way that technology always wins after police tracked and arrested him within hours of stealing a vehicle left running outside a Patong 7-Eleven. The suspect, 48 year old Pradit Phomduang from Trang province, swiped a parked Suzuki Swift after its owner, 27 year old Chanyanuch Boon-anan, left it running while making a quick…
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Myanmar fisherman found dead at sea near Phuket
Thai police are investigating the mysterious death of a Myanmar fisherman whose body was found floating in the sea between Phuket and Krabi, hours after he was reported missing from a fishing boat. The body of 39 year old Zaw Min Thuy (also spelt Zaw Min Htoo) was discovered at around 3pm yesterday, March 12 and later brought ashore at…
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Taxi scam: Grab driver overcharges Phuket tourist
A frustrated tourist in Phuket has once again fallen victim to an overcharging taxi driver: this time through the Grab app. Despite booking a ride at a fixed price of 264 baht, he was hit with an unexpected 100-baht surcharge midway through the trip, leaving him fuming and questioning Grab’s ability to protect customers from exploitation. The incident occurred yesterday,…
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Foreign driver attempts to stab Thai motorcyclist after Phuket crash
A foreign pickup driver yesterday allegedly crashed into a Thai motorcyclist on a Phuket road and attempted to stab the victim. The Thai motorcyclist took to Facebook to seek assistance from netizens in locating the foreign pickup driver who collided with him yesterday, March 12. He revealed that the foreigner was driving a white Ford Raptor with the registration plate…
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Tourist beaten by ladyboys on Soi Bangla after dine-and-dash
A wild brawl erupted in the early hours of yesterday on Phuket’s infamous Bangla Road after a tourist allegedly skipped out on paying for his meal. The chaotic scene, which unfolded yesterday, March 12, in the heart of Patong, Kathu district, saw a group of local ladyboys, unhappy at the dine and dasher’s behaviour, confronted the man before the situation…
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Drug-fuelled taxi rage: Man arrested with gun and meth in Phuket
A man was arrested after allegedly threatening a taxi driver with a pen gun near Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market, only for police to discover he was also carrying crystal meth. The dramatic incident unfolded at 6pm on Monday, March 10, when Wichit Police received a report of a man menacing a taxi driver with a concealed weapon on Kata…
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Luxury v law: Phuket crackdown targets beachfront land grab
Officials in Phuket are ramping up efforts to reclaim Bang Tao Beach from unauthorised developments, with high-end hotels and businesses facing potential demolition after illegally encroaching on public land. Yesterday, March 11, officials from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket branch, led by Director Suwat Saowarun, launched their second crackdown on beachfront encroachments in Cherng Talay. Joined by Thalang District…
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Russian woman accuses Phuket taxi driver’s wife of assault
The wife of a taxi driver in Phuket denied assaulting a Russian passenger during a ride. Instead, she turned the tables on the Eastern European and accused the woman of insulting her. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (Phuket is so brutal) shared a video recorded by a 31 year old Russian woman, whose name has not been disclosed, with a caption stating……
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Nigerian drug dealer in Phuket arrested after client’s viral drug use video
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer in Phuket after a viral video showed one of his clients using cocaine by the roadside. The news Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (meaning Phuket is so brutal) shared the video of two foreigners using drugs by the roadside on March 6, accompanied by a caption that read, “What are you doing, bro?” In the…
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Phuket cops hit a high note as drifting Nigerians sing through arrest
Police arrested two Nigerian men last night for drifting a sedan in the middle of an intersection on a Phuket road. Upon arrest, the Nigerians refused to cooperate and speak English with police and resorted to singing with them instead. Newshawk Phuket yesterday, March 11, shared a video of the white sedan drifting for five rounds in the middle of the…
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Speedboat leakage leaves Phuket holidaymakers in deep water
Nearly 30 foreign holidaymakers found themselves in deep trouble when their speedboat began taking on water en route from Koh Lipe to Phuket. The drama unfolded near Koh Poda Nok, just off the Krabi coast, as powerful waves battered the vessel, causing a leak. Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park sprang into action, sending out a park patrol…
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Phuket police swoops on 3 foreign nationals in overstay crackdown
In a sweeping crackdown on immigration and employment law violators, Phuket police swooped to arrest three foreign nationals in separate stings, as part of a robust campaign to keep the province squeaky clean for tourists and locals alike. Phuket police officers yesterday, March 10, detained two foreigners for visa overstays in targeted inspections. The culprits, known only as “Jay,” an…
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Swiss tourist in a high-profile jam! Phuket drug bust goes viral
A Swiss tourist found himself in hot water after an alleged roadside drug scandal in Kamala, Phuket, spread across social media like wildfire. Locals were left stunned as the Swiss man, Sascha, was reportedly spotted brazenly indulging in drug taking in a motorbike parking area along the bustling Kamala-Patong road last Thursday, March 6. Eyewitnesses couldn’t believe their eyes as…
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Phuket generates most revenue for Thailand, but locals question budget use
Phuket ranks at the top among the 77 provinces that generated the most revenue for Thailand’s tourism industry in 2024 but locals are questioning where the money went. The spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Sasikarn Wattanachan, revealed the Thai tourism revenue generated by each province during a press conference, today, March 10. She shared the rankings of the top 10…
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Foreign beachgoers, Thai lifeguard return caught ray to Phuket sea (video)
A viral video shared on Thai social media today showed a group of foreign beachgoers and a Thai lifeguard rescuing a ray and returning the animal to the sea. The Phuket Hotnews, along with other media outlets such as PPTV HD and MGR Online, shared the video of the ray’s rescue mission today, March 10. The animal was seen lying…
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19 year old American boy missing for 3 weeks in Phuket
The parents of a 19 year old American boy who vanished in Phuket three weeks ago have turned to social media in a desperate bid to find him. He was last seen with his bicycle in the Mueang district of Phuket. The parents of the American teenager, Steven, turned to social media platforms, and The Thaiger today, March 10, in…
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Revved up: Phuket police clamp down on noisy motorcyclists
Phuket City police swooped in during the early hours of Saturday morning in a high-octane operation to apprehend a group of young motorcyclists causing a ruckus with their customised, noisy rides. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ratchaphas Buakaew and Police Lieutenant Thanakorn Chuaphong were behind the crackdown that revved into action at 4am on Saturday, March 8 on the bustling bypass road.…
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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