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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It’s the end of June, and that means kids in Thailand are on a long summer holiday! If you’re looking for a fun yet educational activity for your kids to pass summer break, sending them to iCamp Thailand, the first...
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Time to make her move
By Somroutai Sapsomboon It has been almost six months since former PM Yingluck Shinawatra fled the country, just before a court verdict in a criminal case that stemmed from her government’s corruption-plagued rice-pledging scheme. She has lived in seclusion overseas for months until, shortly before the New Year, she was spotted in public in London. Just last week, Yingluck was…
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Ao Po Grand Marina gets dragged into Premchai investigations
PHOTO: aopograndmarina.com Italian-Thai Development president Premchai Karnasuta is subject to another encroachment investigation as a firm in which he is major shareholder is accused of encroaching on mangrove forests and the public sea in Phuket. Jatuporn Buruphat, director general of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said on Friday that he had instructed officials to conduct a probe against Ao…
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Machete attack in Chalong
A jealous husband has slashed his wife and step son with a machete, resulting in severe injuries for both. Chalong Police have revealed that on Friday night they received a report that there had been an attack on two people – 47 year old Yaowapa Kowai and her son, 22 year old Songpon Thongsai. Yaowapa was slashed on her head,…
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Fire in Ban Thai’s spa in PatongÂ
About noon today (February 17), Patong police receieved a report about a fire in Spanakarn, a 4-story spa business, located inside the Ban Thai Hotel. The fire started in a room named Rachawadee on the third floor of the building. A staff member, Naetdao Kongsoongnern, who was a witness to the fire, told the police that she was at the…
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Dirty water stains our beaches. And our reputation.
Comment by Tim Newton Waste water, drainage, ‘dirty water’, organic sewerage, run off… call it what you want. It’s an ongoing blight on Phuket’s best assets – it’s beautiful stretches of beaches. In the past week, alone, black, sludgy run-off has been reported at Patong, Kamala, Surin and Karon. Officials have been getting their photo-opportunities, pointing at the dirty drainage,…
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Tourist visa extension mobile service for Krabi
Krabi Immigration has launched a mobile van service for visa extensions targeting foreign tourists staying in Ao Nang. Krabi Privincial Immigration Office Superintendent, Pol Col Suparuek Pankosol, along with immigration officers, launched the mobile van and services at Ao Nang Beach yesterday (February 16). The new service will allow tourists to report their extension (other than 90 day reporting) without…
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An Xin tour bus crashes in Phang Nga killing the driver, injuring 19
A Chinese tour bus of An Xin Tour Company has crashed into an electric pole on Phetchakasem Road in Phang Nga today (February 16) killing the driver while injuring Chinese passengers. The tourists booked with CNR Travel were heading to the Ban Tha Noon Pier. At the scene of the accident on the Phang Nga – Takuatung route in Krasom…
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More drug dealers arrested at Phuket Gateway
Five busts in two weeks. Three more people have now been arrested at Thachatchai checkpoint at the Phuket Gateway with 16.6 grams of methamphetamine and 542 amphetamine pills at just after midnight (February 16). The two men and one woman include 34 year old Anuchit Buathong from Phuket, 31 year old Mana Changnam from Krabi and 29 year old Nattaya…
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Mystery woman drowns off Phang Nga beach
PHOTO: komchadluek.net A woman, over the age of 60 in a black swimsuit, drowned on a beach north of Phuket on Tuesday. When emergency responders arrived at Khuk Khak Beach in Takuapa district, Phang Nga, the woman was already deceased. A security guard at the hotel fronting beach the woman was swimming tried to apply CPR before rescuers arrived, but…
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1,000 baht for 841 Km. 400 baht for 6 Km. Let’s do the maths.
PHOTO: File photo Posting from ‘Bewildered’ in a Facebook post this morning… (Edited) “I arrived in Phuket 7am this morning after taking the overnight bus from Bangkok. It’s been a loooong time since I’ve done that, and I was impressed. I travelled on the VIP bus for just under 1,000 baht. Big seats, lots of leg room and decent drivers.…
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Fire in Phuket town destroys four houses
Another fire following a string of fires over the past week in Phuket. The fire started in a sofa shop near Komarapat Intersection in Phuket Town and has destroyed four houses causing damage valued at approximately 1 million Baht. Before noon today (February 15), Muang Phuket Police received a report about a fire on the side of Thepkasattri Road, near…
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Phi Phi’s Maya Bay to be closed this June. Or maybe not…
According to AFP, Maya Bay is going to be closed in June this year. “The once-pristine Thai bay which became a tourist magnet after the 2000 movie “The Beach” will be closed to boats for several months to prevent further damage to its coral, an official said Wednesday. Hordes of tourists flock daily to Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, February 15
‘Heavy traffic is causing pollution in BKK’ – Genius! | Thaksin and Yingluck now in HK | Witness of Australian ‘manslaughter’ in Pattaya speaks up | Changes to the collection of immigration data | UK Foreign Secretary jokes about Thailand’s sex tourism | Thailand mums are wanting smaller families | Encoached buildings on Koh Phi Phi being demolished.
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Six buildings demolished for encroaching national park land on Phi Phi
A hundred officers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, police, military and Office of Forestry demolished houses and shops located next to the national park booth. The team expect the full demolition to take 3 days. “It started in 2014 when the officers discovered the land encroachment. The man who claims to own the land, Aran Rothakan,…
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Valentine’s marriage registration at Phuket District Office Â
The Phuket District Office welcomed couples that came to register their marriage during the ‘day of love’. The Vice Governor Sanit Srivihok chaired the opening ceremony and was the witness for the registration of this year’s marrying couples. The first couple of this year was the Wichit sub-district chief, Chusak Ayupong, and his wife. “We expect at least 100 couples…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, February 14
Another Chinese tour bus crash on the notorious Patong Hill | Pollution levels starting to fall in BKK | UN Refugee Chief speaks out about repatriation of Rohingya | Thai Education Minister apologises to Prawit | British government questions Thailand over prison conditions | Three white tiger cubs get their first public outing | And where do all the Valentine’s…
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Fourth drug courier arrested at Phuket Gateway
A 24 year old from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Jakrit Paipong, was arrested yesterday (February 13) at the Phuket Gateway Thachatchai checkpoint while carrying drugs to be distributed in Phuket. The van driving from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Phuket was stopped for a search and a military officer found Jakrit acting ‘suspiciously’. The officer looked into his bag and found 167…
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Six drug dealers arrested in major Krabi sting
Krabi police, along with Police Region 8 officers, have arrested six drug dealers from one of the biggest networks in the south and seized their assets, worth approximately 26.5 million Baht. The drug dealers arrested include 40 year old Kriangsak Rangsiyangkul from Bangkok, Nan Saung Kham from Myanmar, 34 year old Pornsawan Dindaeng, 22 year old Pitchsinee Patimin, 26 year…
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Another Chinese tour bus crash on notorious Patong Hill
A Chinese tour bus has collided with a car and a motorcycle then ended up slamming into the barrier walls at the bottom of the hill, on the final turn before reaching the temple at the bottom. Just before midnight last night (February 13), Patong Police received an accident report, the cause allegedly to brake failure, resulting in 5 injured.…
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Krabi Abbot calls for justice over allegations
Phra Taweelert Raktaweesin, the Deputy Abbot of Wat Klong Son in Krabi, is calling for justice after being accused of having a sexual relationship with women – an accusation he is denying. Nong Talay patrol police, together with local media, inspected the famous temple of the district today (February 13) after receiving reports from locals that the monk has had…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, February 13
American hands himself into police over Pattaya ‘manslaughter’ | Phuket market bans smoking | UK’s Foreign Secretary visits Thailand | Road death statistics continue to rise | Coal plant protestors go on hunger strike | Greenpeace says stop BKK smog at the source.
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Waterfall encroachment opposite disputed Ao Sane villa construction
Officials from the Forest Protection Operations Centre visited Ao Sane yesterday (February 12). Cheewapap Cheewatham, Head of the centre’s Payak Prai Forest Crime Suppression Taskforce, led his team to inspect the encroached waterfall opposite the Ao Sane luxury property construction that was ordered to be suspended last year. On hand were the Deputy Director General of Department of Forestry, Internal…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, February 12
‘Kra Canal’ project “not a priority” | Officals jump into action over black sludge washing into Ao Nang and Patong beaches | Student intern uncover 6.9 million baht alleged embezzlement | Student protests ‘must be handled carefully’ | Boris Johnson visits Myanmar | Cloud seeding being used to help settle last week’s BKK smog.
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Patong & Krabi wastewater ‘being tackled’
Local administration officials in Phuket and Krabi provinces are assuring people that they are trying to tackle the pollution problems in the sea at Ao Nang beach of Krabi and the sea at Tri Trang beach in Patong. Broken waste water treatment facilities are being blamed for the flow of untreated effluent from households and tourism-related establishments into the sea…
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Drug courier arrested at Phuket Gateway checkpoint
Last night (February 9), Thachatchai police, stationed at Phuket Gateway arrested 20 year old Prasorn Kaewpradit, from Songkhla province, with 781 amphetamine pills and 28.4 grams of methamphetamine. Prasorn was traveling to Phuket on a Hat Yai – Phuket bus and the bus was stopped by checkpoint officers. During the search, he was acting suspiciously so the officers asked him…
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Five people from Soi Paradise arrested for taking drugs
On Thursday night (February 8), Patong police headed to the entertainment avenues in Soi Paradise and found five staff and customers using illicit drugs. The team of Patong Police along with Region 8 Investigative Police, Tourist Police, Royal Thai Army and Royal Thai Navy Area 3 Officers inspected four bars, including My Way, Mo2, Zagclub and Boat Bar in Soi…
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Chalong ‘Carpark’ to finish April next year
Phuket Highway Office Chief, Somwang Lohanut, has updated the progress of Chalong Circle underpass, saying that the construction is expected to be finished around April next year – at least 14 months of more pain for southern local drivers. The office has already installed signs at the construction site suggesting detours via Kata, Karon, Chalong and Phuket Town to avoid…
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‘Srithai Network’ Ponzi scheme victims lost 6 million Baht
Phuket members of a Ponzi scheme named Srithai Network gathered at the Phuket Reporter Club at the Provincial Hall yesterday (February 9) calling for help after claiming they’d lost 6 million Baht. A member of the group, Adithorn Raksamran, says that the head of the chain, Witchuda Yuwapan, in Phuket, invited him and his friends to join the scheme in…
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Land protest in Krabi over 7,712 rai of land
A group of more than 100 Krabi farmers gathered at the Krabi Provincial Hall to protest against alleged corrupt land officers and privately-owned palm garden that they claim encroaches 7,712 rai of forest land. The protest yesterday (February 8) was led by Yokin Khamwong who handed a letter to Krabi’s Governor calling for an investigation on the concession land of…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, February 9
Thai tourists fined for selfies sitting on coral | Social media has its say about Premchai | The cause of Central Thailand’s serious pollution | 20 prison guards sacked | Thai artifacts being called home from overseas museums | 7-11 sausage with aluminum sprinkles.
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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