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.
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Phuket Tourist Police asks night clubs to take care of foreign female customers
Tourist Police are asking Phuket night club operators to be responsible and look after female tourist customers. This follows Phuket police arresting a man who sexually assaulted a British female tourist at Nai Harn last week. Read more about the assault and arrest HERE. The suspect, 40 year old Amnart ‘Mai’ Attajan, is now in custody for sexually assaulting the woman…
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Marine activity banned around the charred remnants of yacht off Patong
The Phuket Marine office has banned marine vessels from going near the area where the ‘Soraya’ was destroyed on Wednesday evening. The announcement states… “The ‘Soraya’ caught fire on Wednesday night 400 metres off Patong Beach. Some parts of the yacht are still on the water surface and some parts under water. “For the best chances of navigation and to…
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Boats still banned around the Phoenix salvage zone
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when navigating around the area where the Phoenix salvage operations are still underway of Koh Hei, south-west of Phuket. “The Phoenix salvage operations are underway south off Koh Hei at 7º42’14.6″ North, 98º23’06.9″ East. Boats must be careful when travelling from November 16 – 20 near the area.” The announcement…
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Tourist Police service centres being set up on Phuket beaches
PHOTO: TravelScams.org The Phuket Tourist Police are poised to improve marine and coastal safety by setting up service centres on Phuket beaches, starting initially with Kamala and Karon Beach. The Tourist Police Division 3 Chief Major General Unggoon Klaiklueang says, “We have been planning on the project to set up the tourist service centres at Phuket’s busiest beaches.” “The centres…
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Woman sues Bangkok Phuket Hospital for 19 million baht
A Phuket woman has filed a lawsuit with the Civil Court against Bangkok Hospital Phuket for 19 million baht in compensation after an alleged error during an operation has left her bed-ridden. Nonglak Srisaeng assigned Chalermpong Klubdee, an official of the Foundation for Consumers, and Sakolrat Ritsamitchai, a lawyer, to file the lawsuit on her behalf. The lawsuit was filed…
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Tourist Police arrest Thais collecting beach entrance fees in Phuket
The acting Immigration Bureau Chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn has arrested two Thais who were collecting Phuket beach entrance fees yesterday. Maj-Gen Surachate says, “We have arrested the pair who were collecting entrance fees for people to visit Freedom Beach. They were collecting the fees from Thais and foreigners. Police have taken over a year to investigate and take legal action against these two…
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Australian yacht owner escapes fire off Patong
A fire has destroyed a luxury yacht moored off Patong Beach last night. The Australian yacht owner called for help before escaping from the fire engulfing the vessel. Patong Police were notified that the yacht, which had been moored off Patong Beach, caught fire around 9.20pm. Firefighters arrived near the Coral Beach Bridge which is 500 metres south of the…
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Blacklisted Swede arrested in Phuket
PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau A Swedish man, who had been blacklisted, has now been arrested in Phuket yesterday over a previous drug case and illegal entry into the country. The Immigration Bureau has reported that officers received a tip-off that the illegal foreigner was staying at a condo in Kathu. The Phuket Immigration Officers and the Phuket Tourist Police arrived at…
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56 gamblers arrested in Kathu gambling den raid
Soldiers raided a gambling den in Kathu last night. More than 56 gamblers were arrested. 50 soldiers and Kathu Police raided the house which was allegedly being used as a gambling den near Tessaban 2 Baan Kathu School in the Kathu district. Officers found that gamblers were playing a card game for money. 17 male and 39 female gamblers have…
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Boats being banned in Phoenix salvage zone
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when navigating around the area where the Phoenix salvage operations are underway of Koh Her, south-west of Phuket. “The Phoenix salvage operations are underway until at least November 15 south off Koh Hei at 7º42’14.6″ North, 98º23’06.9″ East.” The announcement states that, for the best chances of boat recovery and safety,…
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Singapore barge and crane arrive for the rising of Phoenix
Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Tawipat says that the barge which has been making its way from Singapore with a 1,200 tons crane this week, has arrived at ready to help with the recovery of ‘Phoenix’. The Governor is expecting that, if the weather holds, the boat will be brought to the surface before Thursday. Equipment in four containers was also being…
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Police trying to identify a body found hanging at Saphan Hin
Police are trying to identify the body of a man who has been found suspended from a tree near Saphan Hin in Phuket Town this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived at 5am to find the body of a man age around 35-40 years and 160-170 centimetres tall, found hanging from a tree in Saphan Hin. Nearby they found an…
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Burmese man stabbed friend to death in Phuket Town
A Burmese man has stabbed another Myanmar national to death in Phuket Town last night. The Phuket City Police were notified about the incident at a room in Soi Ton Poe in Phuket Town. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the suspect, 56 year old Aung Htoo, a Burmese national, waiting for police. A 13 centimetre knife was also…
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More ‘wind and waves’ – Phoenix still at the bottom of the Andaman Sea
The Phoenix, the boat that sank on July 5 off Phuket’s south west coast, causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists, remains 45 metres underwater as the new salvage team have little more success than the original salvage team who threw in the towel a week ago. A Marine Police diver on site, Pol Lt Passakorn Sirichuchote, is quoted in…
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20 year old sea turtle found in the mangroves near Saphan Hin
A headless green sea turtle, aged more 20 years, has been found dead under a rock at the mangrove forest area behind the Phuket incinerator near Saphan Hin. Officials at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) were notified from locals last night that the sea turtle was found dead amongst the mangroves at the back of Phuket incinerator. Kusoldharm rescue…
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Man arrested with 52,000 methamphetamine pills and 785 grams of crystal meth
Police have arrested a Phuket man with 52,000 methamphetamine pills and 784.82 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Details were passed on to the media at the Phuket Provincial Police Station yesterday. A team of Border Patrol Police and the Phuket Provincial Police have arrested Danai ‘Tin’ Lakban at a house in Soi Yod Sanae in Chalong where police seized the drugs.…
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Hanoi ‘must end eating of dogs before Formula 1’ – Soi Dog Foundation
The Soi Dog Foundation, one of the leading organisations battling the dog meat trade in Asia, has called again for a concerted effort in Vietnam to end the eating of dogs and cats. The renewed call comes after the announcement that Liberty Media, owners of the glamorous Formula One (F1) sport have agreed to a “multi-year” deal to stage Grand…
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Phuket police investigate the alleged sexual assault of a European female in Nai Harn
A female European tourist was found crying and distressed as she was running out from a Soi near Naiharn Beach early this morning. The woman was asking for help from shop owners and passers-by. She claimed that a Thai man had tried to have sex with her. Police are now awaiting the results of a medical examination as they continue…
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Canadian tourist in hospital after falling from an elephant ride
Chalong Police have headed to the scene of an incident at an elephant camp near Nark Kerd Hill in Chalong at 2.15pm yesterday. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a 38 year old female Canadian tourist who has sustained left leg injuries and was taken to the Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Wirawit Pakprom, the elephant’s mahout, told police that the…
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Couple arrested with drugs and a grenade
Thalang Police have raided a house where they have arrested two suspects with drugs and a hand grenade. Thalang Police Chief Col Teerawat Liamsuwan says, “on Wednesday night we raided a rented house in Thalang. The two suspects arrested are a 24 year old man Thitikorn Wipawachart and 24 year old woman Somruethai Srisawang, both are from Phuket. ” “Police seized…
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Cable TV company raided and taken off air in Phuket
National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) officials, together with the Phuket City Police and soldiers, today raided a cable TV company in Phuket Town over illegal operating services. At 10am officers raided KPP Enterprise on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town after it was found that the company had been illegally operating the cable services. The license was revoked on…
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New ‘Phoenix’ salvage team starts operations
PHOTO: Previous attempts of the salvage operations last August A new salvage team has started work to bring the ‘Phoenix’ back to the surface with a one thousand tonne crane from Singapore. Boat salvage operations started again yesterday morning with a specialist crane that had arrived from Singapore. The salvage is expected to be completed in five days according to…
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Man escapes after killing ex-girlfriend in Mai Khao
PHOTOS: Tha Chatchai Police Police are now hunting for a man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in Mai Khao yesterday before escaping. Police believe the violent act was over jealousy. The two had been together for three months. Tha Chatchai Police were notified of the incident at Soi 1 in front of Tha Chatchai Temple in Maikhao at 4.30pm…
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Second-hand car shop raided, owner arrested in Chalong
Soldiers and police have raided a second hand car shop in Chalong. The shop owner has now been arrested and charged. Police arrested Manat Promprung from Phuket yesterday. He was arrested at ‘Manit Jaroenyon second hand car shop’ in Chalong. Officers seized two registered handguns, 80 bullets, four cars and two motorbikes. The arrest followed officials receiving complaints from victims…
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Rawai Mayor confirms lifeguards patrolling Nai Harn Beach everyday
Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has confirmed that Nai Harn Beach has lifeguards to keep an eye on beachgoers every day. The Mayor claims that some news agencies have stated that four famous Phuket beaches, including Nai Harn Beach, don’t have lifeguards. “This news has damaged Phuket tourism a lot. All 12 beaches have lifeguards every day.” Mayor Aroon says, “We…
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Meliá Hotels International signs up Meliá Phuket Karon
Meliá Hotels International, a leading Spanish hotel company, has announced the signing of Meliá Phuket Karon, the second property in Thailand, followed by Meliá Phuket Mai Khao. Meliá Phuket Karon will be the group’s sixth property in Thailand, continuing their dedication in providing exceptional hospitality with a Spanish touch, to the island’s thriving accommodation market. Scheduled to open in 2021,…
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Legal action taken against yacht helmsman and Thai crew
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket Legal action has been taken against a Scottish helmsman and a Thai yacht charter ‘caretaker’ in Saturday’s luxury yacht fire. The Phuket PR Office reports that the the fire started by ‘natural causes’ after the 51 foot yacht was hit by lightning just after 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Police have already taken legal action against the helmsman…
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Phoenix salvage team walks away from contract – police to take over
A private sector company has walked away from the contract to salvage the ‘Phoenix’ and bring it back to the surface after numerous failed attempts and two months of excuses why they were unable to resurface the vessel. The company continually complained about weather and strong currents despite many calm days during their fruitless two months of operations. They have…
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Chinese tourists escape serious injury in Karon minivan incident
PHOTOS: Nok Rai Rang / Newshawk Phuket Four Chinese tourists and a minivan driver have escaped serious injury in an accident in Karon this morning. The Karon Police were notified of the incident at a curve on Patak Road in front of Hilton Hotel entrance in Karon around 2.30am. The Karon Police reported that the minivan driver, 25 year old…
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Boats warned to avoid the area of the burnt out yacht
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when going near the area where the ‘Emmjay’ yacht was destroyed after burins to its waterline on Saturday. The announcement states that, due to the ‘Emmjay’ yacht catching fire on Saturday afternoon while traveling between Koh Ngam and Koh Payu in Paklok, and later sinking, boats should be very careful…
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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