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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Plans for Phuket pork factory changed to ‘refrigeration and storage facility’
The plans to construct a pork processing factory in Mai Khao have been changed to a refrigeration and storage facility after a three hour discussion yesterday (June 28). Locals in Mai Khao are protesting against the company who was planning to construct a pork processing factory in the north section of Phuket island. Locals at Baan Dan Yid and Baan Dan…
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Chinese tourist drowns at Karon beach
A Chinese tourist who ignored the red flags and warnings from lifeguards earlier, has drowned at Karon Beach today (June 28). Karon lifeguards were notified by a beach vendor that a Chinese male had been hit by a big wave in front of the Karon football field, and disappeared in the surf. Karon lifeguards rushed to the scene where red…
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Cave alert issued for Phang Nga
Phang Nga officials, in the wake of the ongoing search for the teenage Chiang Rai cave explorers, have issued a warning about the caves around the Phang Nga region, especially for the wet season. Sayan Kijmano, chief of the Phang Nga Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office is warning tour operators to closely monitor rainfall when they take tourists to visit caves…
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Man caught by Karon lifeguard stealing from tourist
A Thai man has been caught red-handed by lifeguards for stealing a foreigner’s bag containing cash, a mobile phone and wallet at Karon Beach yesterday (June 27) . The victim of the theft has only identified as a female foreign tourist who was enjoying her day on Karon beach opposite the Tourist Assistance Centre yesterday afternoon. According to the Karon…
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Phuket Police hunting for suspect who bashed school janitor to death
A school janitor has been beaten to death by a wooden stick early this morning (June 28). Police are hunting for the suspect. The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at Soi Sanamchai (near tennis courts) which is opposite the Phuket Provincial City Hall in Phuket Town at 3am. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the…
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Mother and baby dolphin found off Phuket
Two dolphins have been found on a beach at Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga. A baby dolphin was released back to the sea while the mother dolphin has been brought back to Phuket for treatment today (June 27). This morning a team of officials from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) were notified by Wittaya Kongbamrungwong from Marine Endanger…
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Officials visit ‘monkey island’. Signs placed for new monkey feeding zone on Khao Rang.
Yesterday (June 26) officials headed out to Koh Payu where 80 monkeys have been recently released to check on their welfare. On June 21, 80 monkeys, which have already been sterilised, were released at Koh Payu, off the coast of Phuket. This island covers 26 rai of land. Raed more HERE. Yesterday morning Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural…
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Floods paralyse Phuket roads, flights delayed and diverted
Many parts of Phuket were underwater last night (June 26) after a two-hour spurt of heavy rain early in the evening. A number of roads in Phuket Town, around Samkong, as well as on Thepkrasattri Road in front of the main SuperCheap, and in Thalang, were also flooded by the short but heavy deluge. Many flights were unable to land…
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Former American police officer found dead
A body of a former American policeman has been found dead at a house in Koh Kaew yesterday (June 26). Phuket City Police were notified of the situation at a house in Koh Kaew at 2.30pm. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the body of 58 year old Ronald Lee Barfield, an American national from Florida, on…
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Phuket Prison escapee surrenders in Trang
A male prisoner, who escaped from hospital custody on Monday night (June 25), has surrendered himself to the Kan Tang District Chief in Trang. The Phuket Provincial Prison Commander Somkid Kammang filed a report with the Phuket City Police on Monday (June 25). Commander Somkid says, “The male prisoner 23 year old Prawit Pitak from Trang has escaped from Vachira…
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Saudi Arabian dies after trip to Koh Naka
A Saudi Arabian citizen has died following a trip to Koh Naka yesterday (June 25). Thalang Police were notified by staff at the Thalang Hospital last night. A body of a man, identified as 56 year old Alanazi Ali Awad M from Saudi Arabia, was at Thalang Hospital when police arrived. 38 year old Sarawut Denser, a tour guide, told police…
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Phuket locals protest against pork processing factory
Locals in Mai Khao are protesting against a company who is planning to construct a pork processing factory. Locals at Baan Dan Yid and Baan Dan Yut are protesting against the private company’s plans after a notice was placed on June 8 at the area to build the processing plant. Prawat Pimanprom says, “The company has submitted a construction license with…
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Phuket Police hunt for the thief of the heroine statue sword
A thief has stolen a sword which was part of a statue of the Phuket’s Heroines which was in a temple in Thalang. Read more HERE. Khun Prasong, who was a previous Thepkrasattri Mayor, says, “Muang Gomarapat Temple is an important place for Phuket people. This is a place where the annual ‘Thalang Victory Day’ is being held every March.…
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Woman dies in Phuket Town road smash
A woman is reported dead following an accident in Phuket Town this morning (June 26). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 5.30am at an intersection in front of Phuketthaihua Asean Wittaya School on Wichit Songkram Road in Phuket Town. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a damaged motorbike, a car, a van…
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Phuket airport’s domestic terminal officially launched
Phuket airport’s domestic terminal renovation was officially launched yesterday (June 25). The opening ceremony was held at the Phuket International Airport and hosted by the Airport of Thailand (AOT) president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn. Khun Nitinai says, “The Phuket International Domestic Terminal upgrade project is now complete with new facilities and world standard security services. The airport is now available to service up to…
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Two arrested in Phuket drug crackdown
The Phuket City Police have arrested two suspects found with kratom on Saturday (June 25). Police arrested 51 year old Watcharin ‘Gor’ Saeiw at a house in Phuket Town. He was found with many small bags of kratom weighing about 3 kilograms. Watcharin was taken to the Phuket City Police Station where he has been charged with illegal possession of Category 5…
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Man found dead in Thalang bathroom
A Thai man has been found dead inside the bathroom of his house in Thalang yesterday (June 24). The Thalang Police were notified of the incident at a house at the Prompan Housing estate in Paklok yesterday afternoon. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a 27 year old man lying on the floor.…
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Phuket Surf Series 2018
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket office, in collaboration with Surfing Thailand and the Phuket Surfing Club, is hosting the Phuket Surf Series 2018 from June to October this year. A media briefing was held yesterday at SurfHouse Phuket in Patong in spectacular sunshine. Just across the road, at Patong Beach, the monsoon surf was surging into the west coast…
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Phuket: Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair 2018
The event is being held on June 22-24 from 10am to 9pm at the Central Festival Home Work’s side under the concept Green and Innovation. The event was officially opened on June 22 by Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew and Deputy Director of the Phuket Office of Tourism Authority of Thailand Montri Manator. They say the Fair aims to support and…
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Phuket: Two arrested in Rawai over illegal football gambling
Two Thai men have been arrested in Rawai after they were found to be illegally gambling on World Cup football matches. Yesterday afternoon a team of officials from the Chalong Police arrested 55 year old Gosri ‘Boon’ Rueangrit and 30 year old Sriwawut Rueangrit at a house in Rawai. Police seized four books of loan lists from Gosri, a bank…
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Soi Dog – Going, going green!
To celebrate the World Environment Day on June 5, 2018, the Soi Dog Foundation implemented a series of actions to reduce its carbon footprint as well as improve its Corporate Social Responsibility and ‘best practice.’ While the core mission of the Foundation remains the same, Soi Dog now goes one step further by measuring the impact of its work within…
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Saleng driver escapes side-car gas bottle fire
A saleng (motorbike side car) has caught fire after a cooking gas leak today (June 22) in Kathu. Officers at the Kathu Municipality were notified about the incident on Phra Phuket Kaew Road near the Bang Chak Gas Station around 11am. Kathu Police and fire fighters arrived at the scene to find a Honda and its side car (saleng) on fire.…
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Two motorbike taxi drivers arrested in public transport drug crackdown
A team of officials led by the Provincial Police Region 8 Police have conducted drug and alcohol tests in a campaign at the new Phuket Bus terminal in Rassada yesterday (June 21). The campaign ran from 3-5pm. Sarawut Pakdee, a law enforcement officer of the Provincial Police Region 8 says, “Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong is very concerned about public transport safety…
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Nine arrested in Phuket drunk-driving campaign
Nine people have been arrested during random checks last night (June 21)around Phuket Town. A team from the Phuket City Police set up a checkpoint from 8.30pm to 11.30pm on Pa Lean Road in Phuket Town to enforce traffic rules and conduct random alcohol breath tests. 88 drivers had alcohol breath tests. Nine of them were found over the alcohol…
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Cheap plastic chairs being used on Krabi-Phi Phi ferry
There is no doubt a lot of infrastructure is at critical ‘overload’ stage where tourist attractions are struggling to cope with the sheer number of tourists and visitors coming to the region. This applies to the transport infrastructure getting people here and there as well. While there has been an announcement about new ferry services linking the golden tourist triangle…
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Motorbike driver dies exiting Bang Khu underpass
A 43 year old Thai man died in a motorbike accident when he was driving out of the Bang Khu Underpass in Koh Kaew yesterday (June 21). Police were notified of the accident at Bang Khu Underpass on Thepkrasattri Road at 3.40pm. They arrived at the scene with rescue workers to find a man who was later identified as 43…
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Fake goods seized at a Patong warehouse
Yesterday afternoon (June 21) police raided a warehouse at SB Plaza market in Patong and seized counterfeit goods valued at many hundred thousand Baht. A team of officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), together with a search warrant, raided the warehouse. Police found counterfeit goods including fake brand name bags and clothes. Officers arrested a man named ‘Bobby…
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One Chinese drowns, two others rescued at Koh Racha
Yesterday (June 21) strong waves battered three Chinese swimmers who went swimming, unattended, at Patok Beach on Koh Racha. Two of them were rescued while the third drowned. The body of a Chinese man was identified by the Phuket Tourist Police as 30 year old Su Wang when his body was brought back to Chalong pier. No signs of struggle…
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Persistent Python vs Dog
https://www.facebook.com/kim.white.98/videos/10216374574019569/
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Sansiri launches THE BASE Central – Phuket
Sansiri launched another one of their ‘BASE’ branded condos with the launch of ‘THE BASE Central Phuket’. Quoting from their media release, “The design is influenced by an enchanting lifestyle where the native people and Chinese from across the seas come together to create the Peranakan culture under the new concept ‘MARK MY BASE’.” Poomisak Julamaneechot, Vice Managing Director of…
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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