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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Six arrested in Phuket drug shakekdown
Cherng Talay Police have arrested six suspects found with kratom and marijuana yesterday (June 12). • Police arrested 34 year old Ampohn Chitchonlatan from Phuket. She was found with 15 of kratom leaves, 0.45 litres of liquid kratom, a bottle of cough syrup and a bottle of Coca Cola drink. • Police arrested 29 year old Tippawan Chueasaman from Phuket.…
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Chinese tour bus crash on Kata hill
A Chinese tour bus has collided with a pickup truck then ended up dangling precariously down the hill. 33 Chinese tourists have luckily escaped from serious injury. Karon Police were notified about the incident on Patak Road in front of the Kata power plant at 11.05pm last night (June 12). Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a white…
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Female van driver, Chinese tourists injured in Phuket van crash
Ten people were in a passenger van when it slammed into a power pole yesterday afternoon (June 12). The female van driver has sustained serious injuries. Thalang Police were notified of the accident at 3.30pm on the Thepkrasattri – Nai Yang Road north of Thalang. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a damaged Toyota van smashed into a power…
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Police hunting for a thief who stole money from a petrol dispenser
Thalang Police are hunting for a thief who broke into an automatic gasoline dispenser and stole money in Thalang early this morning (June 12). Thalang Police were notified of the incident at 4.05am in front of a house on the side of Thepkrasattri Road southbound in Thalang. The automatic gasoline dispenser machine was found in front of the house. Police…
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Monkey’s birth control starts in Phuket
The start of the monkey sterilisation process has begun in Phuket today (June 12) after all the public meetings agreed that the island’s monkeys, in the public ‘hot’ zones, needed to be sterilised in a systematic program. Read more HERE. Five islands that have been surveyed as the monkey’s new home, are not in reserved forest areas. Authorities will be…
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Veterinarians unable to save striped dolphin
The striped dolphin that was washed up on Kamala beach last week, died yesterday (June 11) while the sperm whale which was found at Coconut Island is reported to have died of ‘natural causes’. Read more HERE. Veterinarians at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit say, “The dolphin had a blood infection. We tried to help the dolphin to the…
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Two Burmese arrested over immigration and drug issues
Police have arrested two male Burmese nationals accused of being illegal aliens and found with heroin last week. A team from the Phuket Provincial Police first arrested 36 year old R-wang, a Burmese national, in the Dowroong housing estate in Wichit. R-wang was taken to Wichit Police Station where he was charged with being an illegal alien. On the same…
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Phuket Town woman arrested with drugs
In a week of ‘crackdowns’, a woman has arrested with methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine in Phuket Town. A team of Phuket City Police have arrested 33 year old Hassaya ‘Pla’ Kamjanapong at Soi Taling Chan. Police seized 19.62 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 137 methamphetamine pills. She was taken to the Phuket City Police Station where she has been charged with…
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Upgraded measures discussed over Chinese tourists safety
At a meeting was held today (June 11), hosted by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen along with his guest, the Chinese Consulate-General in Phuket, Ma Cui Hong. Maj Gen Teeraphol says, “The meeting today is aimed at finding additional measures to assure the safety of Chinese tourists, especially warning and direction signs in the Chinese language, placed…
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Three more arrested in Phuket loan shark crackdown
Phuket Provincial Deputy Commander Col Sermpan Sirikong says, “We’ve arrested one male and two female suspects in a loan shark crackdown. From May 24 until now we have arrested 18 suspects.” Read more about last month’s arrests over loan shark charges HERE. “The male suspects are 41 year old Songkran Moonthongkam from Nakhon Pathom. He was arrested at a house in…
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Dutch Ambassador shares concerns over safety of Phuket tourists
Phuket’s Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew welcomed the Ambassador-Designate in Thailand Kees Rade and Dutch Honorary Consul for Phuket, Seven Smulders, over the weekend. Vice Governor Thawornwat says after the meeting, “We have discussed about tourist safety, things like tourists who rent motorbikes without motorbike license, beach safety and emergency situation management.” “We have surveyed a number of rental motorbike companies…
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Two arrested over kratom in raids in Chalong
A team of Chalong police, with search warrants in hand, raided two houses in Chalong on Friday (June 8). Police first raided a house in Soi Palai at 5pm. Police arrested 22 year old Anuwat Khawon. Police seized 20 bundles of kratom leaves. Anuwat admitted that he came to the house to buy kratom leaves. The seller went had already…
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Burmese national arrested over murder in Rassada
A Burmese national killed another Myanmar man saying that he “was angry that his father was slapped on the face” yesterday (June 10). Phuket City Police were notified of an incident at a rented property in Rassada yesterday afternoon. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a 37 year old La, a Burmese national…
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Laguna Phuket Marathon Results – All the winners
ALL PHOTOS: Naratip Golf Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images The Laguna Phuket Marathon has been run and won for 2018. Here are the winners. Congratulations to all the participants and organisers. Here are the Top Three results for each distance… Marathon (42.195km) – Male Koji Nishizawa (JPN), 02:44:16 Supit Chantharat (THA), 02:54:52 Jaray Jearanai (THA), 02:59:37 Marathon (42.195km) – Female Sabrina Polito (ITA), 03:30:27…
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Thai, Italian and Japanese runners star at Laguna Phuket Marathon 2018
PHOTO: Naratip Golf Srisupab/SEALs Sports Images Nine thousand runners from more than 50 countries took to the start line of the 2018 Laguna Phuket Marathon on 9th and 10th June and even before the first start, records had been smashed: Largest field of runners ever (9,000); the largest number of international participants (1,300), the largest ever Marathon participation (2,000),…
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Rare dugong carcass washes up on Phang Nga beach
By Anothai Ngandee The carcass of a large dugong, estimated to have been 15-20 years old at the time of its death, has been swept onto Koh Khor Khao Beach in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa today (Sunday). Phang Nga province last year reported 10 live dugongs in its seas. A fertile zone of the dugong’s favourite food, seagrass, is located…
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Municipalities clear Phuket’s beaches of monsoon trash
Trash has been found on almost every beach along the west coast with the onset of this year’s monsoon. On Kata and Karon beaches a huge municipal beach clean has taken place over the past two days. More than 200 tonnes of trash were collected on just these two beaches alone. A team of Karon Municipal staff members cleared up…
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Multihull Solutions Regatta returns to Chalong Bay this July
Entries for the 2018 Multihull Solutions Regatta are already flowing according to the Phuket Yacht Club Commodore, Scott Duncanson. “This is the ninth running of the event and on the back of a surge in multihull popularity globally, has grown to become Asia’s largest multihull-only Regatta”. Held from July 12-15 in Chalong Bay on Phuket’s protected east coast, this regatta has…
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Traffic diversions – Laguna Phuket Marathon 2018
PHOTOS: Laguna Phuket Marathon The 2018 Laguna Phuket Marathon is set to take place on June 9 and 10 at Laguna Phuket and will welcome a record number of runners – in excess of 8,000 from more than 50 countries. A number of roads used for the course will therefore be closed at certain times during the race (see below),…
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80 % of hotels, hostels and guesthouses found illegal on Phi Phi Island
It’s been a rough week for the island’s small to medium hostel and guesthouse operators with officials claiming that an astonishing 80% of them are illegal and don’t comply with regulations. This week Krabi official found more than 30 hotels, hostels and guesthouses have been adapting shop-houses and unsuitable buildings into guesthouses and back-packer accommodations. They also claim that guests…
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Phang Nga Brand trade fair being held at Jungceylon
A ‘Best of Phang Nga’ fair is being held from June 7 -11 at Jungceylon Phuket with more than 35 stalls. The opening ceremony held at Jungcelon Department Store yesterday (June 7) hosted by Phang Nga’s Vice Governor Chansak Tawin and the Phang Nga Provincial Industry Office Chief Duangtida Janpum. Ms Duangtida says, “More 50 projects are taking part to promote their…
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Krabi officials continue crackdown on illegal hotels and tour operators on Koh Phi Phi
The crackdowns continue on Koh Phi Phi as Krabi officials focus on the popular tourist magnet island. Yesterday (June 7) further inspections on Koh Phi Phi Don uncovered plenty more illegal hotels as well as illegal diving operations. One hotel, still under construction, was found on land with more than a 35 degrees slope this week. The hotel owner was invited…
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Officials keeping an eye on illegal World Cup football gambling
Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says, “The Ministry of Interior has reminded us that the World Cup football will be held from June 14 to July 15. Obviously it’s already a very big event in the media. More children, youth and adults will be coerced to take part in illegal football gambling.” “Offenders under the Gambling Act shall be liable to…
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2 million baht of counterfeit and prohibited imported goods destroyed
About 4,000 counterfeit items, valued at around 2 million baht, including prohibited imported goods were torched at the incinerator in Phuket Town today (June 7). The destruction of the fake goods was held this afternoon and led by Phuket Customs Office Chief Kanjana Suwachino. Ms Kanjana says, “This is the final step in cases involving counterfeit and imported prohibited products that have been…
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New ferry services proposed to connect Andaman ports
PHOTO: Pattaya Mail (The Pattaya/Hua Hin ferry that started last year. Similar to the new services being proposed for the Andaman region.) It’s being called the “Andaman Ring” – new proposed routes connecting Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi with a modern fleet of new ferries which authorities say will cut journey times and help cater for the expanding tourism in the…
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Darasamuth underpass closed today for maintenance
The Phuket PR Office says the Darasamuth Underpass (adjacent to Central Festival) is closed from 9am to 3pm today (Thursday, June 7) while workers repair light bulbs. This announcement from the Phuket Highways Chief Somwang Lohanut. Mr Somwang says, “both the northbound and southbound lanes through the underpass will be temporary closed. Workers will be carrying out repairs and replacing…
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Striped dolphin washed up on Kamala beach
A weak striped dolphin has been washed up on Kamala beach this morning. Rescue workers were notified that the dolphin was found on Kamala Beach near a public park early this morning (June 7). Rescue workers immediately informed officials at the Phuket Marine Endangered Species Unit. Kamala rescue worker Kriengsak Boonlang says, “Locals, tourists and rescue workers were helping to…
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Kamala flash flood “worst in 20 years”
The heavy rainfall this week (mostly Tuesday morning between 6-8am) caused severe flash flooding which Kamala locals say is the worst they’ve seen in 20 years. Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says, “The rainfall on June 5 reached 147 millilitres, we think even more in Kamala. After the inspection, locals in Kamala all say that they have never seen flooding like this…
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Laotian woman arrested with drugs
Police have arrested a Laotian woman with methamphetamine pills and crystal methamphetamine. Yesterday (June 5) a team from the Thalang Police arrested the 38 year old woman Pu Saenudom at a house in Paklok. Police seized 263 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 11 methamphetamine pills. Pu failed to present her passport to police. Pu was taken to the Thalang Police Station…
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Billion baht expansion of the Phuket deep sea port
The one billion baht First Phase expansion at Phuket’s deep sea port will be done within 18 months. Yesterday (June 5) a meeting was held at the Cape Panwa Hotel led by the manager of Phuket Deep Sea Port Company Limited, Wanlop Pongluengtham. Mr Wanlop says, “The company has received a 30 years concession starting from May 1 this year…
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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