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.
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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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Two mysterious objects found in Mai Khao
Thachatchai Police received a report about an items that looked like ancient cannons at an old house in the Mai Khao area. The house, which belongs to a local man Dam Jitchamnan, was being demolished for renovation and the objects were found among the debris as workers were clearing it away. The police found that the rusty items were about…
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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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Phi Phi National Park to punish illegal beach vendors
The Phi Phi National Park Office is set to punish businesses that put their signs and kayaks on the beaches. Following complaints about signs and kayaks on the Loh Dalum Beach of Koh Phi Phi, the Chief of Had Nopparat Thara Mu Ko Phi Phi, Worapot Lomlim, said that the National Park officers will strictly enforce the law. “However, there…
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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,…
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Phuket’s 233 Year Anniversary launched
The official opening ceremony for Phuket’s 233 year anniversary celebration was launched last night (April 25), chaired by the Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, the President of Phuket Red Cross and the Vice Governors along with local authorities. The opening ceremony brought together a number dignitaries and business people from the local community, tourist industry, foundations, local clubs and associations. The…
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10 million Baht crackdown on drugs. Meanwhile the drugs get cheaper.
Police Region 8 held a press conference in Krabi, following weeks of big drug busts, to reveal another recent drug crackdown which has netted 85,170 amphetamine pills worth around 10 million Baht on the streets. A couple arrested in the most recent case includes 24 year old Thepnarin Naksawad and 21 year old Kamonthip Kongmee, who were living in Plai…
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Governor visits Pakbang Canal after wastewater released into Patong bay
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, visited Pakbang Canal and set a meeting with Patong Mayor, Chalermluck Kebsup, about the wastewater solution for the canal after rubbish and waste had been left without dredging for 2 years. The water released into Patong beach after this week’s rains, from the canal, is foul and stinks. The Governor said after the survey at the…
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Phuket luxury villa sales surging
Phuket appears to be on an upward swing in the property market following a few years languishing with slower sales. According to a recent report from CBRE Thailand, around 155 resort villas were sold in Phuket during 2017. CBRE, which opened an office on the island back in 2004, says the results last year represent a growth of 21 percent…
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UPDATE: Fire at Hollywood Studio Store clothes shop in Phuket Town
Forensic police believe that the fire at the Hollywood Studio Store started from an electric short circuit in the ceiling of the shop. The fire at the clothes shop on the ground floor of Paradise Multiplex, Ocean Shopping Mall, that destroyed much of the shop’s contents on the night of April 23 resulting in at least 2 million Baht damages,…
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Soi Dog opening on Saturdays
Following the success of our recent trial, Soi Dog Foundation has extended visitor times at one of Phuket’s most popular attractions, ‘’The Gill Dalley Sanctuary” in Mai Khao to Saturday mornings providing the opportunity to visitors, who are unable to go during the week, to meet and mingle with the small dogs, cats and kittens. From April 28 onward, visitors…
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77 baby turtles hatched at Ko Similan
77 Baby green sea turtles hatched at Mo Ko Similan National Park yesterday and about half have been released to the sea already after 55 days of hatching. The hatching rate is 71.29%, which is 77 eggs out of 108 eggs. This was the same eggs found on Miang Island on March 1. By the time the national park officers…
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Patong man arrested with methamphetamine
Border patrol police and narcotics control police arrested a local man, 36 year old Suriya Kijkla, with 88.94 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 4 methamphetamine pills along with a Thai Pradit pistol. He was arrested near Patong after they arrested another man, Arun Soison, with some methamphetamine. Arun told the police that he bought the drug from Suriya, who lives…
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Beach vendors raided on Koh Racha
Umbrellas and other beach vendors’ products have been seized during a beach management enforcement at Patok Bay on Koh Racha Yai, south of Phuket. There were 6 vendors who were charged for breaking the law by renting umbrellas and mats while also selling other items on the beach area. Umbrellas, mats, floating devices, snorkeling masks, surf boards, waterproof phone bags…
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Preparing to close down Maya Bay
The General Director of the Department of National Parks (DNP) visited Maya Bay yesterday, which is expected to close down for 4 months from the start of June. Thanya Neti Thammakul, along with his team, visited Koh Phi Phi Ley and Maya Bay yesterday (April 23) to follow up the readiness before closing down the island’s iconic tourist attraction for…
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Phuket Town clothes shop blaze – 2 million baht in damages
A clothes shop ‘Hollywood Studio Store’ located in the ground floor of the Paradise Multiplex, Ocean Shopping Mall in Phuket Town, was on fire last night (April 23) and destroyed about 2 million baht worth of valuables. The team of Phuket authorities including Phuket’s Mayor, Somjai Suwansuppana, rushed to the scene with fire trucks The fire was inside of the…
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Krabi drug dealer killed after shooting police
A 38 year old drug dealer in Krabi, Suriya Tokong, was killed by police after he tried to shoot them with a shotgun during the arrest. The shooting occurred in a rubber plantation in Nong Talay Sub-District. Suriya was shot 3 times in his chest and one time on his left arm. He was carrying a 9mm pistol and nearby…
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Chiang Mai teenager arrested after robbing Burmese woman in Phuket
A Chiang Mai 18 year old has been arrested after robbing and attacking a Burmese woman in Phuket. Wichit Police arrested 18 year old Saranyoo, from Chiang Mai, with a gold necklace, a gold bracelet and 1,000 Baht in cash after he robbed and physically attacked a Myanmar woman. The victim, San Thidar New, who is a house keeper of…
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Krabi village declared rabies control zone
After a dog has tested positive to the deadly rabies virus, a district livestock development office in Krabi province today (Monday) designated the village a rabies control zone. Narong Boonphan, chief livestock development officer of Lamthap district, said the Moo 3 village in Tambon Thung Sai Thong announced the designation after a dog tested positive on April 19. Narong also…
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Body found 500 metres offshore from Saphan Hin, Phuket
A man’s body was found today floating in the sea behind the canals near Wat Sansuk near Saphan Hin. At this stage police are unsure who the person is or what was the cause of his death. There was no ID found on the man when he was discovered. Local villagers spotted the body earlier and alerted police. Foundation volunteers…
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Krabi drug suspect killed in police shootout
FILE PHOTO A drug suspect has been shot dead late last night (Saturday) in a shootout with police in Krabi province. Police identified the suspect as 38 year old Suriya Thokong who had walked out of jail just two years ago after serving a jail term related to drug charges. An ongoing investigation suggested that Suriya may have returned to…
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Government donates money to the family of Chinese road accident victim
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong together with the Vice Governor, Sanit Srivihok, have passed on a grant of 50,000 Baht to the father of the Chinese man, Li Jing, who died as a result of injuries from a road accident on the Kamala – Patong route on April 14. He was one of two people dying in Phuket from road related…
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Two cars scratched for parking at ‘VIP’ parking at Phuket airport
A Facebook user named Jingabell Thunramon posted pictures of two cars with a long scratch, one of them had a handwritten note saying ‘Thank you for parking right at P1 VIP’. The Facebook user described that the first car belongs to her friend who parked on the 5th floor of the parking building. The car was scratched on the day…
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Did ‘The Beach’ vandalise the beach at Maya Bay?
A judgment is expected to be handed down in July after the Civil Court’s environmental division has finished hearing evidence from the Thai plaintiff and the US defendant over the controversial filming of Hollywood movie The Beach. The film starred Leonardo DiCaprio and was partly filmed at Krabi’s Maya Bay in 1998. (Phuket’s On On Hotel was used as the…
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4 Men arrested with more than 1,400 amphetamine pills in Kathu
As part of the Phuket police crackdown on drugs on the island, Kathu police have arrested 4 drug dealers with more than 1,400 methamphetamine pills. The first man arrested was 34 year old Isara Plaikaew with 4 amphetamine pills. He was arrested in Soi Petch Lohlien on April 17. The following men were arrested in the same house in Soi…
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Krabi wedding parade carries 2 million baht dowry
A parade of 6 trucks and trailers to celebrate the wedding of a local couple in Lamtab District, Krabi, drew a lot of attention from people in the area. The groom is 32 year old Tharapong Srisuk, who is a former sub-district chief and the bride is 27 year old Pitchaya Boonmuang. The trailers decorated with flowers carried the groom,…
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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