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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Phuket under siege: Tidal wave of trash threatens tropical paradise
The once-idyllic waters and landscapes of Phuket is in danger of being flooded in a rising tidal wave of trash is threatening to overwhelm this renowned tourist haven. Plastic bottles and empty beer cans now clutter the ocean floor while the island itself groans under the weight of mounting rubbish, casting a shadow over its famed beaches. Behind the scenes,…
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Phuket cracks down on parasailing risks following accident
Officials in Karon announced a sweeping crackdown on water sports safety protocols following the death of a parasailing staff member earlier this month. The high-profile meeting, held on Tuesday, January 14 at Karon Municipality, aimed to bolster safety for tourists and operators. Chaired by Karon Police Chief Police Colonel Khundet Na Nongkhai and Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchapong Pranit, the…
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2 Frenchmen arrested for brutal assault of Burmese employee in Phuket
Police arrested two French restaurant owners in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket for brutally assaulting a Burmese employee, allegedly for being late for work. A video of the physical assault, which occurred on the roadside in Patong, was shared yesterday, January 14, by the news Facebook page Phuket Times. The page captioned the video… “Cruel! Patong. A French gang brutally…
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Jet ski crash in Phuket leaves Chinese man dead, another injured
A Chinese man lost his life in a jet ski crash in Phuket yesterday while another Chinese national sustained minor injuries. The accident occurred in the waters off Patong Beach, in the Kathu district of Phuket, at around 2pm yesterday, January 14. The two injured Chinese men were identified as 33 year old Liu Hong Chao and 28 year old…
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Phuket tourists smash wheel lock with rock, sparking outrage (video)
Foreign tourists in Phuket sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law by smashing a police wheel lock with a rock in broad daylight. The brazen act occurred outside a shopping mall on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong today, January 14. A 23-second video of the incident was shared by the Phuket Newshawk Facebook page, captioned:…
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Motorbike tragedy: Nigerian tourist killed in Phuket red-light crash
A Nigerian tourist tragically lost his life in Phuket yesterday, January 13 after running a red light at the Samkong Intersection in Ratsada subdistrict, Kathu district, and colliding with a speeding passenger van. The fatal accident, which occurred at 3.10pm has reignited public outrage over reckless driving and traffic violations in the province. Dashcam footage shared by Facebook user Chawalit…
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Tourist theft in Patong escalates to stabbing incident
A foreign tourist caused a disturbance in Patong early yesterday morning, January 13, following an alleged theft of headphones from a local shop and injuring a passerby who tried to assist. The incident took place around 1.30am at a shop on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, known for selling bags, headphones, and various items. Police Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Mekchai from the…
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Polish man vanishes with valuables after sex with Phuket woman
A Thai woman issued a warning to others after losing cash and valuables following a sexual encounter with a Polish man in Phuket. The victim shared her story with the Phuket Times yesterday, December 12. She expressed her interest in foreign men and cautioned other Thai women with similar preferences to be wary of deceitful foreigners. She did not disclose when…
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Phuket hit-and-run foreign driver caught after citizen’s pursuit (video)
A foreign national involved in a hit-and-run incident in Phuket was apprehended by the police after a pursuit by a concerned citizen. The incident occurred when the foreigner, driving a white Hyundai, collided with a motorcycle on the Thep Krasattri Road heading out of Mueang district, Thalang. The collision took place as the car attempted to cut in front of…
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17 arrested: Phuket police roll the dice on illegal gambling
Phuket City police swooped down on an illegal gambling den in Phuket Town on 12 January, bagging 17 people in the process of a dramatic after-dark sting. The raid, executed with precision by officers in tandem with provincial police, caught the crooks red-handed at a residence on Soi Wichit Songkhram 4, just after 9pm. Upon arrival, officers immediately sensed something…
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Russian man remains free after jet ski theft attempt in Phuket
Police are searching for a Russian man who stole a jet ski from a Thai operator on Bang Thao Beach in Phuket on Friday, January 10. Fortunately, the victim managed to retrieve the stolen vehicle. The Thai jet ski rental operator filed a complaint against the Russian man, identified as Mikhail Kolodnyi, at around 3pm on Friday at Choeng Thale…
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Phuket scam busted: Con artist’s mule accounts hit a dead end
Phuket police slammed the brakes on a staggering 22 million baht scam operation, ensnaring a suspect accused of creating mule accounts for a crafty con gang, with one even masquerading as a top politician The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) revealed that the devious group duped unsuspecting victims by impersonating a well-known political figure, luring them into investing in a…
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Man falls from 15-storey height in Phuket parasailing accident
A man fell from a parasailing activity off the coast of Phuket, resulting in his death. The fall was reported to be nearly as high as a 15-storey building. The police are actively investigating the situation following a video shared by Phuket Times, which shows the fall accompanied by a message expressing condolences. The incident took place at Karon Beach,…
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Ex-inmate arrested in Phuket for 22 million baht crypto scam
An ex-inmate has been apprehended in Phuket for impersonating a well-known politician to entice a woman into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme, resulting in a loss of 22 million baht. The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) police arrested 36 year old Pratya at a residence in Koh Kaew, Mueang district. He faces charges of public fraud and inputting false…
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Young man found dead in Patong home in suspected suicide
Patong police are investigating the death of a 29 year old man found unresponsive in his home on Pisit Gorani Road early this morning. The grim discovery was made by the victim’s mother, leaving a community in shock. Officers arrived at the scene around 7.30am, today, January 10, to find the man, identified as Ritthakiat Petchploy, lying shirtless on his…
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Vapes on a plane: Tourists nabbed for vape on Nok Air flight (video)
Three unruly tourists caused quite a stir aboard a Nok Air flight when they audaciously started vaping mid-flight, leaving fellow passengers astounded. The high-altitude hijinks happened on Sunday, January 5 on flight DD-532, winging its way from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Phuket. One passenger’s quick-thinking video capture shows the offbeat antics, with one man brazenly puffing away and…
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PM pledges to polish Phuket into a top-tier tourist hotspot
Phuket is turning up the glamour stakes as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra unveils ambitious plans to transform the island into a premier tourist magnet. On her whirlwind visit to the sun-drenched southern province, the Thai premier set out a bold vision to tackle key issues facing the beloved getaway, from sorting out traffic snarls to bolstering its allure as a…
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Bitcoin hits the beach: Thailand’s sizzling crypto coup in Phuket
Phuket is set to become a crypto paradise as Thailand trials a new payment system using cryptocurrencies, all in a bid to make it easier than ever for tourists to splash their cash. The architect behind this brainwave reckon it’ll not only put a smile on the face of tech-savvy travellers but will also give the nation’s tourism sector a…
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Phuket’s healthcare crisis: PM pushes for cancer centre
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra spotlighted healthcare as a critical issue for Phuket, amid public outcry and fundraising efforts to improve cancer treatment facilities on the island. At a high-level meeting held at Phuket International Airport this morning, the 38 year old Thai PM addressed the urgent need to upgrade state hospitals like Vachira Phuket Hospital to better handle diseases such…
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British drug dealer arrested after his suspicious behaviour in Phuket
Police arrested a British drug dealer in Phuket after observing him behaving suspiciously while meeting traffic officers on a road. Traffic officers from Kamala Police Station stopped the British man, whose identity remains undisclosed, in the Kamala area of Phuket yesterday, January 8. The officers reported that they were conducting routine patrols when they noticed the man, who appeared nervous…
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Sand wars settled: Kata Noi Beach reclaims its shores
The sandy battle for Kata Noi Beach appears to be over, with beachgoers celebrating their newfound space. What was once a sprawling battlefield of beach chair vendors has been transformed into a haven for snorkellers and sunbathers alike. One local reported that the long-standing “sand grab” has been resolved, with clear and accessible spaces now available along the beach. “I…
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British man’s death in Phuket leaves family searching for answers
The heartbroken family of a British man is desperately seeking the truth after his body washed ashore a Phuket beach. The body of Regan Kelly was discovered on Saturday, January 5, floating in the sea off a Thai beach. The 28 year old South London man’s body was discovered naked and face down merely hours after he was seen dashing…
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Kazakh man reports Phuket investment scam run by Ukrainian and Thai men
A Kazakh businessman filed a complaint with the Phuket Governor after being tricked by Ukrainian and Thai men into investing in a real estate project in the province. However, he has not received any profits from the investment. The Kazakh victim, Takhir, initially reported the investment scam to Choeng Thale Police Station. He and his legal team subsequently met with the Phuket Governor,…
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Ruble ruckus: Russian suspect nabbed in Phuket hotel heist
Police yesterday arrested one of two Russian suspects for stealing approximately US$5,000 (nearly 200,000 baht) in cash from a fellow countryman at a hotel in Phuket on Sunday, January 5. The 31 year old Russian victim, Zelimkhan Iusupov, rushed to Karon Police Station at around 3.30am on Sunday after being physically assaulted and robbed by one of the suspects, later identified…
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Lifesaving heroine: Student performs CPR on elderly man in Phuket
A female high school student was praised for her quick response in assisting an elderly man whose heart had stopped while riding a motorcycle with a sidecar. The incident took place yesterday, January 6 at 2pm near the Cherng Talay Shrine on Srisoonthon Road in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket province. Upon receiving a report of an unconscious person…
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British family mourns tragic holiday heartbreak in Thailand
A British family are reeling from the heartbreaking loss of a family member who met a tragic end in a motorbike crash while holidaying in Thailand. Corey Beavis, a “larger than life” young man from Barry, South Wales, died in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, January 4, in Phuket. The crash has left his 28 year old twin brother Liam,…
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Foreign woman allegedly assaults Thai woman over seat dispute at Phuket airport
A Thai woman is seeking justice after an alleged physical assault by a foreign woman during a dispute over a seat at Phuket International Airport. The 22 year old Thai woman, whose name has not been disclosed, shared her story with the Phuket Times yesterday, January 6. The incident occurred on the night of January 3 in Phuket Airport’s boarding lounge…
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Ruble trouble: Russian tourist robbed and roughed up in Phuket
A Russian man is seeking justice after a fellow countryman physically assaulted him and stole approximately US$5,000 (nearly 200,000 baht) from him at a hotel in Phuket. The theft reportedly had ties to the victim’s rival. The Russian victim, 31 year old Zelimkhan Iusupov, filed a complaint at Karon Police Station today, January 6, following the theft, which occurred at a…
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Drunk tourist clashes with Phuket bikers over massage ride
A drunken tourist attacked three Thai app-based motorcycle taxi riders in Phuket, allegedly because he wanted a lift to a massage parlour. However, the riders declined to serve him, citing that they were fully booked. Several news agencies shared a video of the foreign man attacking three Thai men on a footpath yesterday, 5 January. In the video, the foreigner, wearing…
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Foreigner dies in Phuket motorbike crash after losing control
A tragic accident occurred in Phuket yesterday morning, December 4, resulting in the death of a foreign man who lost control of his motorbike and crashed into a guardrail in Kathu. The incident took place on Wichit Songkhram Road, with local police responding to the scene around 7.30am. Upon arrival, Kathu Police and rescue workers found a severely damaged Honda…
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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