Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Sponsored How much is Thai health insurance?
Health insurance in Thailand is essential for expats and locals, providing financial protection and access to quality care. Costs depend on age, health, and coverage level, with basic plans being cheaper but limited and comprehensive plans offering more benefits at...
-
Phuket Governor confirms there is enough water in Phuket
PHOTO: Bang Wad Dam, Kathu The Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana has confirmed that Phuket has enough water supplies for residential use without restrictions. The PWA announced start dates for odd/even day water restrictions to start in some areas of the island from today (Friday). But a day after the announcement, the PWA followed up by cancelling the restrictions. Read more…
-
Water Authority cancels water restrictions in Phuket
PHOTO: Bang Wad dam in Kathu The Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a cancellation for water restrictions that were set to hit some some areas around Phuket from tomorrow. The PWA announced start dates for water restrictions to start in some areas of the island on Monday. The restrictions were set on an odd/even rotation and are usually a…
-
More than ten thousand million baht generated during Chinese New Year in Phuket
The TAT Phuket has done its sums for this year’s Chinese New Year activities in Phuket from February 5 to February 12. They estimate 500,000 tourists will visit for the annual Chinese holiday which will generated 11,441 million baht for the island. Kanokkittikar Kritwutthikorn, director of the Phuket office of the TAT says, “The check-in rate is ”averaging at 88 percent which will result in…
-
Water restrictions announced as water levels in Phuket reservoirs drop
The Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) has announced a date for water restrictions to start in some Phuket areas. They say the reason is water levels at reservoirs in Phuket are getting low in the dry seasons and they predict it will continue for the next three months. Water will be restricted for residents on even dates starting February 8 for…
-
7-Eleven hands over a cash advance to a lady boy from retiree’s stolen credit card
FILE PHOTO ThaiVisa is reporting that an American retiree, living in Bangkok, claims a lady boy stole his wallet in Phuket. She then used his wallet to get a 13,550 baht cash advance at a local 7-Eleven store. The card was signed and the receipt issued to ‘Gregory M Field’ in English. But, explains ThaiVisa, the lady boy was handed…
-
Oil from a lamp started Sunday fire – Moken village headman
A village headman of the Moken Village in Phang Nga says that oil from a lamp started the fire that engulfed a large portion of the village on Sunday night. A fire destroyed part of the Moken Village (sea gypsy village) on Mu Koh Surin in Phang Nga province. About 67 houses were destroyed while about 18 houses managed to avoid…
-
Fire destroys car accessories warehouse in Phuket – VIDEO
A fire has destroyed a car accessories warehouse in Phuket Town early this morning. The damage costs are estimated at many million baht. Fire fighters were notified of the fire at Hong Kee Auto Sound on Wichit Songkram Road in Phuket Town at 01.40am. Fire fighters arrived at the scene with 11 fire engines, along with Kusoldharm rescue workers and…
-
Limit use of joss sticks and incense – Chinese New Year ‘pollution’
PHOTOS: The Nation by Pratch Rukivanarom Doctors are urging people not to burn joss paper as offerings over Chinese New Year. They’re also recommending to limit incense-burning and fireworks during this year’s celebrations this week to prevent hazardous emissions. (Apparently the ‘hazardous emissions’ have been ok in the past – Ed) The response from Doctors is in reaction to the…
-
Chinese tourists flock back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019
Chinese tourists are flocking back to Phuket for Chinese New Year 2019 after a six month hiatus following last year’s Phoenix boat tragedy. 47 Chinese tourists drowned in the incident, including many children, after the boat capsized on July 5 in a late afternoon storm as the tour boat was returning to Phuket. In the following months hotels received thousands…
-
Ridley sea turtles return to Phang Nga for breeding
PHOTO: World Wildlife Fund Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned to Phang Nga beaches to breed, following a 23 year absence from the beach in Thai Muang district. The turtle eggs have been collected and taken to the nursery at a turtle watch centre on Tha Sai beach for incubation. The nest on the beach has been…
-
Rewards given to Thais who saved Lithuanian woman at Phuket Airport
Rewards from the management of the Phuket International Airport have been made to two quick thinking Thai citizens who saved the a young Lithuania woman from jumping from the international terminal’s upper road way ramp this week. Pilot Officer Thanee Chuangchoo, the General Manager of Phuket International Airport, today gave certificates and rewards to two the Thai people, Aphichart Intaraksa and Amornrat Ankhai.…
-
Man dies in Phuket road accident at Samkong underpass entrance
A car diver has died after losing control of his vehicle near the Samkong Underpass on Bypass Road. The Phuket City Police were notified of the accident on Chalerm Phrakiet Rama 9 (Bypass Road), southbound, near the entrance of the Samkong Underpass at 1.12am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a damaged black Honda sedan. The body of…
-
Chinese tourist couple found after getting lost in Thalang jungle
PHOTOS: The Thalang Police and The Phuket Tourist Police Officers were searching for about four hours for a Chinese tourist couple who were lost in the Khao Phra Thaew Non – Hunting area forest in Thalang district last night. The local Tourist Police and the Thalang Police were notified of the pair getting lost early in the evening after they called the Phuket Tourist…
-
Wastewater from Bang Tao Canal flowing into sea
Local residents near the Bang Tao canal in Cherng Talay are again pleading for help because of the ongoing bad smells and effects from wastewater flowing down the waterway. Local Rohem Taosakun says, “This problem has been particularly bad over the past five days. Related government officials have tried solving the problem but wastewater is coming back again. This problem…
-
No injuries as ceiling collapses at Tesco Lotus Samkong
A part of a ceiling at Tesco Lotus in Samkong on the Bypass road collapsed early last night. No injuries were reported. At 5.50pm yesterday a part of ceiling at the Tesco Lotus Samkong collapsed while customers were still shopping. The incident happened above the aisle kiosks near the checkout counters and caused damages to one of the kiosks. The…
-
Rawai villagers caught up in romance scams
by Jessada Chantharak. PHOTOS: The Nation Five impoverished residents from Rawai in Phuket’s south, say they have been tricked into opening bank accounts that were used in romance scams. Facing arrest warrants over the scams, the five villagers have filed an appeal with the Royal Thai Police’s Taskforce for Information Technology Crime Suppression for help. The five residents claim they opened…
-
Peter Denman from Channel 3 visits Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation
The famous actor from Channel 3, Thai-British Peter Denman, paid a visit to Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket on January 28. He visited so he could get to know more about the work they do and spend some quality time with the animals. He has also been nominated to be one of Soi Dog’s Brand Ambassadors as well. During the visit, he had…
-
King Maha Vajiralongkorn supports boy attacked by dogs at Sarasin Bridge
PHOTO: The Phuket PR Office His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered that the boy, bitten by soi dogs at a Phang Nga beach this week, to be under special medical care by royal command. The seven year old boy was seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge last weekend. Read the…
-
Russian man dies after drowning in a villa pool in Cherng Talay
FILE PHOTO (Original photo removed at the request of the Villa owner) A Russian man has died after drowning in a pool at a house in Cherng Talay. The Cherng Talay Police say that they were notified by the Thalang Hospital that a foreign man had died while being transported to hospital after being found floating face down in a…
-
Lithuanian woman saved from jumping from upper roadway at Phuket Airport – VIDEO
VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket A Lithuanian woman has been saved after being spotted standing on the side of the upper roadway at the Phuket International’s Airport terminal yesterday. The Sakoo Police were notified of the incident at 2.20pm. A foreign woman has been plucked to safety by two Thai bystanders after spotting the woman standing on the ledge of the upper…
-
British Embassy contact Police to release the body of the 17 year old who died in a motorbike incident last week
A representative of the British Embassy has contacted Kamala Police to retrieve the body of the teenager who died in a motorbike incident in Kamala last week. The family are trying to raise funds to repatriate the body of Anthony Ryan. The 17 year old teenager from Yorkshire in the UK died after being involved in a head-on motorbike accident…
-
Australia Day 2019 function at Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort
PHOTO: Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana and Australian Consul General for Phuket Craig Ferguson Celebrating the 2019 Australia Day, the Australian Consul General for Phuket Craig Ferguson hosted a lovely evening with guests including Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana along with other local dignitaries and invited local Australians. About 300 people were in attendance as Mr Ferguson reflected on the past year and…
-
Four Russian tourists fined in Phuket jet-ski accident
Four tourists have been fined following a jet-ski accident at Kata Noi Beach. One Russian female tourist was taken to a hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the incident. Karon Police were notified of the incident at 4.50pm yesterday (Monday) at Kata Noi Beach. Four Russian tourists were injured in a jet-ski incident offshore from the beach. The…
-
Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts appoint new director of sales & revenue
PHOTO: Paritchawan Kraiponrak (Jom), the new Director of Sales & Revenue at Twinpalms Group Mrs Paritchawan Kraiponrak (Jom) is warmly welcomed back into the Twinpalms group to take the position of Director of Sales & Revenue for the Phuket-grown hospitality brand. With well over two decades of solid work experience within Phuket’s hospitality industry and a master’s degree in ‘Hospitality &…
-
Sharks on order – Phuket seafood restaurants
PHOTO: Sunshine Sketcher “Sea food restaurants along Kata and Karon Beach are famous among tourists as prices of dishes are quite reasonable.” The IUCN is calling for every country to educate tourists to protect sharks before they become extinct. More sharks have now been discovered hanging in front of seafood restaurants along the Karon restaurant strip. Read more about recent sightings…
-
Seven year old recovering after attack from wild dogs in Phang Nga
“The dogs have been captured and are no longer a danger to beachgoers.” Daily News is reporting that a seven year old boy is fighting for his life in Vachira Hospital Phuket after being mauled by a pack of dogs at a beach near the Sarasin Bridge, on the Phang Nga side. “D-Max” was just out playing with his friends…
-
Boy seriously injured after mauling by dogs near Sarasin Bridge
A seven year old boy has been seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge. Sarasin Bridge connects Phuket with the Thai mainland. The seven year old boy is Yueanyong ‘D-Max’ Chairab. He was attacked by four dogs at a beach near Sarasin Bridge in Thanoon, Takua Tung on the Phang Nga side…
-
Chinese tourists injured in Chalong ATV accident
Two Chinese tourists have sustained injuries after driving an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle – Dune Buggy) off the side of a hillside in Karon. Rescue workers heard about the accident on the Nark Kerd Hills in Karon at 4.20pm yesterday (Sunday). When they arrived they found the two injured female Chinese tourists. The pair were identified as 28 year old…
-
OPINION – One, two, three bad incidents on Patong Hill within 24 hours
The bottom of Patong Hill, on the Patong side, has been the scene of numerous fatalities over the past 20 years. Following a steep decent and some tight windy turns, some vehicles simply come to grief. Residents and shops at the bottom of the hill have built barriers, walls and fencing to try and defend themselves from the parade of…
-
Suspect dies in Phuket road incident after killing his wife – VIDEO
The car driver, who died in the crash on Phuket’s Bypass road yesterday, appears to have crashed his car intentionally after killing his wife. The car driver was killed after colliding with a pickup truck at a U-Turn in the road. The dash cam video from the man’s car appears to clearly indicate the driver’s intentions. Read more about the…
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.