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 Harmony World Puppet Festival 2018 – Sponsorship available now
Puppeteers from around the world are expected to descend on Phuket in early November for the Phuket Harmony World Puppet Festival 2018. Launched in 2013 by the Semathai Marionette Arts for Social Foundation, the Harmony World Puppet Festival is aimed at promoting puppeteering and helping people to express themselves while preserving their culture through marionette art. The five-day festival regularly…
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Wipawee wins in Krabi – fifth win of the year
Wipawee Pratumsuwan after winning in Krabi Race favourite Wipawee Pratumsuwan racked up yet another title, clocking 1:36.34 hours to win the women’s 21km race at the Bangkok Airways Krabi Half Marathon yesterday (Sunday). The 27 year old assistant teacher, who spends most of her weekends competing, clocked eight minutes faster than runner-up Siriphat Bootjen, who crossed the finish line in…
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Two arrested with drugs bought from social media sent via parcel post
The Phuket Provincial Police led by Lt Col Pongpan Siripattaranukul have arrested two suspects this week, buying their drugs through social media. On Friday (May 3) at 8:30pm police arrested 33 year old Jennarong ‘A’ Nareewan at D Condo Kathu condominium. He was found with 50.87grams of crystal meth (ya ice), 15 of methamphatamine (ya bah) and nine bullets. He…
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National parks drawing up plans for clean, cheaper energy
An action plan to develop cheaper and environmentally friendly power supply for national parks nationwide is being drafted in a joint venture involving the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Officers from all national parks in the southern region attended a three-day workshop in Krabi arranged by the KMUTT and the…
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Phuket street art group calls for justice over Premchai black panther case
Graffiti in Thailand has so far been an instrument to denounce social injustice following the murder of the protected black panther, and Phuket is another location where this street art is being expressed. A local Phuket group has painted their thoughts on the walls in the heart of old Phuket Town. On February 4, a black panther was killed in…
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Similan National Park to close for five months
The Department of National Parks (DNP) has announced that the Similan Islands in Phang Nga will be temporary closed from May 16 for five months. Today (May 4) there are still many tourists, both Thai and foreigners especially Chinese, at the Similan Islands. Most tourists want to enjoy the beach before the island will be closed in a few weeks.…
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Six metre python released back to the Krabi forest
Officials of a local foundation in Krabi have released a 6 metre long python back into a forest this morning (Friday) after they captured it at a house in the Muang district the previous evening. The snake, which weighs about 50 kilograms, was captured from a pile of wooden planks near the duck pen of a house in Tambon Tapprik.…
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Five people in custody after bomb-making equipment and chemicals discovered
Five people have been handed over to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) this morning (Friday) linked to the discovery of 1800 bars of ‘Powergel’ in Pathum Thani last month. Powergel is routinely used as a mining explosive and comes in the form of bars. Two of the suspects are 46 year old Yutthana Chidchol, a police officer from Sakoo station in Phuket,…
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Only one Patong bar staff failed the ‘purple pee test’
Only one out of 47 bar staff tested in Patong was found with purple urine (when added to a reagent) in drugs tests conducted in a raid of the party zone last night (Thursday). Officials from Kathu District Office led by Kathu District Chief Somprach Prabsongkram along with Patong Police and medical staff from Patong Hospital were randomly selecting Patong…
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Ten illegal hotels found in Krabi
Yesterday (May 3) more than 50 officers led by the Krabi Vice governor Apinan Pueakpong, along with soldiers from the Royal Thai Army Region 4, inspected the popular Ao Nang tourism area. Officers found 10 illegal hotels. Some of illegal hotels had never sought permission to renovate the buildings or permission to conduct and host tour guide businesses. Some of them…
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Crackdown on illegal hotels
Tourist Police have announced a continuation of the crackdown on illegal hotels in Phuket. Tourist Police are also continuing to locate and get rid of tour operators’ nominees – using Thai people as a ‘front’ for foreign tour companies. The owner of a condominium project development company has been arrested after the condos were sold but the construction had never…
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AKSARA Collection appoints new Director of Hotels and Resorts
The Pattaravornee Family of Phuket are very proud to announce that Mr. Matthew C Hindmarch, who joined the company as General Manager for Kata Sea Breeze Resort and part of the development team of The SIS Kata Phuket four years ago, has been promoted to position of Director of Hotels and Resorts. In this role, Khun Matthew who has been…
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COMMENT: The fall of the Emerald Development Group
Today is Mai Sawit Ketroj’s birthday. He’ll be spending it behind bars after being questioned by police about alleged fraud involving the Emerald Development Group. In a packed media conference yesterday Tourist Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan outlined the unravelling of the prominent Phuket property development company. “The suspect admitted that he has a lack of financial resources…
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Phuket Town Gold shop thief arrested within five hours
Quick work by Phuket Town police in yesterday’s gold shop robbery case. The Phuket Town Police have arrested 35 year old Sermsin Thepwong from Khon Kaen at 6:30pm last night (Wednesday). Police seized many gold items and a gun during the arrest. He was arrested at a house on Anuphas Phuketkan Road in Phuket Town. Read yesterday’s story HERE. After…
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Emerald Condo alleged fraud case – CEO arrested
Sawit ‘Mai’ Ketroj arrives at Patong Police Station for questioning this morning The owner of a condominium project development company has been arrested after the condos were sold but the construction had never started. Police say that their current investigation estimates potential losses for buyers could exceed a billion baht. Police commanders have ordered officers to investigate after Patong Police…
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Four month old foetus found in Chalong canal
Chalong Police were notified about the body of a foetus found in a canal in Soi Kuwattana, Chalong at about midday today (May 2). Chalong Police, along with the Forensic Police and rescue workers, went to the scene to investigate. At the scene they found the foetus of an undetermined gender. The body was covered with a white cloth and…
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Planned projects for Karon wastewater treatment
Karon Municipality is planning to construct a sediment trap system or wasteland to prevent black and wastewater flowing into the sea. Today (May 2), officials were inspecting the area. No more black water was found. The Bangla Canal which is about 800 metres long has water flowing into it from the Karon community. Tourists were enjoying the beach as normal.…
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Residents complain about pet crematorium in Paklok
Paklok residents have complained that they are facing problems from smoke from a private pet cremation business. The operator has responded to the complaints at the Damrongdhama Centre saying that they have a legal construction license to conduct the cremation services. Residents are opposing the business after the first three months of operation. The new pet cremation business was established…
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Untreated wastewater flowing into Karon Beach
News has gone viral in social media stating that “Phuket’s Governor must check this”! The Karon Municipality is investigating the black water caused by heavy rain from the local canal that needs to be urgently dredged. Phuket’s Governor also ordered an urgent solution. Yesterday (May 1) a video clip of black water flowing into Karon beach went viral on social…
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WARNING: Shocking accident between motorcyclist and pick-up
WARNING: Graphic photos Gruesome pictures of an accident in Phuket show the aftermath of a collision between a female motorcyclist and the rear of a pick-up truck. The woman was impaled on the back bumper suffering severe injuries to her left leg and losing a lot of blood. Rescue organisations used cutting equipment to get her free then she was…
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The Good Shepherd Phuket Learning Centre requires urgent funding
The fate of the Good Shepherd Learning Centre Phuket is a matter of concern. The Centre has an urgent need to obtain sustainable funds to continue operations as its initial period of regular, committed funding will cease in May 2018. At The Good Shepherd Learning Centre they provide basic education i.e. science, mathematics and language skills in Thai, Burmese and…
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Phuket’s Nepalese community commemorate the Buddha’s birthday
Buddha’s Birthday celebrations vary from place to place according to the different schools of the faith that have developed over the years, but regardless, the birthday of Lord Buddha remains one of the largest Buddhist festivals wherever and whenever it’s celebrated. In Nepal, Myanmar and India the Buddha’s birthday is being celebrated today. In Thailand, South Korea and Hong Kong,…
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A Chinese-speaking man dies in bike crash near the Klong Kata Dam
Chalong Police received a report about a motorcycle crash last night (April 28) on the road behind Klong Kata Dam that killed a man whom the police are yet to positively identify. Ruamjai Rescue Foundation and Chalong Police believe that the 35-45 year old man might be a Chinese language tour guide as they found information in his mobile phone…
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A man killed by a boar in Kathu
A 48 year old man Somsak Pengsata was attacked by a boar after kicking it. After the attack, he bled to death. According to witnesses who are fellow workers there in Kathu area, there were 4 boars, each of them has a pair of 2 inch long tusks living in the same sty. The workers were sitting in front of…
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Bike crashes into a van killing one
A 35 year old man from Chiang Mai, Warat Liewrungrot, has crashed his motorcycle into a van, killing him instantly. He was driving without a helmet. The accident happened in front of Soi Suksan 1 in Rawai heading towards the Chalong Circle. Witnesses told Chalong Police that Warat was riding his motorcycle at high speed from Rawai Pier towards Chalong…
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27 Cobras found in a Krabi rubber plantation
The owner of a rubber plantation in Lumtub District in Krabi, 45 year old Prapai Yaithong, revealed today (April 28) that he found a den* of cobra on his land. While a worker was using a tractor to level the land surface and to remove a pile of wood in the rubber plantation, the worker saw that the blades from…
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Samkong & Darasamut underpasses closing
The underpasses at Samkong (Tesco Lotus) and Darasamut School (Central Festival intersection) are to be closed temporarily. The Phuket Provincial Highway Office has announced the temporary closure of both underpasses to remove the mud and rubbish from the pits and give the two tunnels a scheduled maintenance and general cleaning from April 30 – May 2 from 8 pm –…
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Environment Minister presented with 5 demands to protect the Andaman coast
The Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Karnjanarat has appointed volunteer marine rangers for six coastal Andaman provinces today (Friday). The provinces are: Trang, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Satun, and Ranong. He officially handed marine ranger badges to the volunteers as he met with the Network for Participation-based Management of Marine Resources, which comprises communities from the Andaman provinces.…
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“Cars not parked in normal parking spaces”, Phuket Airport
Phuket International Airport have commented on last weekend’s incident where two cars were scratched with a key or sharp object at the same spot in Phuket airport’s 5th floor parking. One of the owners also had a note warning that it was a VIP parking and that the spot wasn’t a normal parking area, left on his screen. The CCTV…
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Kayak and tour ad signs on Koh Phi Phi being moved off the beaches
The Krabi Tourism Association President, Wattana Rerngsamut, has commented following complaints from tourists in Krabi about the large amount of tour companies’ advertising signs and kayaks on the beaches of Koh Phi Phi. “Some beaches in Krabi have become like a crowded market. People who are making their own businesses there do not see the importance of management for all,…
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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