Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Central apologises for damage to the new overpass walkway
PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket The management of the Central shopping centre has apologised to Phuketians following a storm that battered part of the new building yesterday (September 16). Sunday afternoon wind and rain storms caused damage on some of the fixings to the new overpass structure. No one was injured. “We apologise to every costumer that was faced with…
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780kg of kratom seized at Phuket Checkpoint in separate incidents
Three people have been arrested with a total of 780 kilograms of kratom. That’s a LOT of kratom leaves! Three suspects have been arrested in two separate cases with 780 kilograms of kratom seized at the Phuket Checkpoint during the weekend. On Saturday (September 15), a team of officers at the Phuket checkpoint arrested 38 year old Wichan Kraikaew from…
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Bus driver charged with reckless driving in Patong bus incident
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation A tour bus driver has been charged with reckless driving after steering his tour bus, carrying 23 Vietnamese tourists, through the roadside barriers on the side of the road yesterday (September 16). You’ll never guess what the excuse was… (roll the drums)… Brake failure. Kathu Police were notified of the incident just after the hairpin turn, heading…
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Over 20 sea turtles dying off Phuket and Phang-Nga in two months
One of Thailand’s best known marine biologists is alerting us about the carnage for Phuket’s turtle population over the past two months. More than 20 sea turtles have landed on beaches in Phuket and Phang-nga, most of them dying with the rest being seriously injured and little chance of survival in the past two months. Thorn Thamrongnavaswasdi, Vice Dean of…
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Trash Hero Phuket in World Beach Cleanup Day
Trash Hero Phuket held their weekly beach cleanup on this year’s World Beach Cleanup Day. Trash Heroes started at 9am at the north end of Karon beach with a group of 220 volunteers. Many individuals and also local resorts in association with the PHA (Phuket Hotels Association), like Le Meridien and Centara Grand Resort, got their staff involved. Lots of…
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Maya Bay – closed for one extra month
FILE PHOTO It won’t open to tourists now until November 1. A one-month extension to the four month closure of Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi is to better allow the full recovery of coral reefs, mangrove areas and the general ecosystem, as well as to protect tourists from strong winds and high waves during the period. The Hat Noppharat…
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa supports International Coastal Clean Up Day
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa supported the Annual International Coastal Clean Up 2018 on the #suituptocleanup campaign to cut down the amount of plastic and garbage entering the ocean for oceans worldwide. This global action began in 1986 by Ocean Conservancy Organisation to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the world’s ocean conservancy. The clean up happened on Mai…
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129 Phuket monkeys caught for sterilisation
PHOTOS: Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area 129 southern long-tailed macaques have been captured (September 13) at Khao To Sae in Rassada for sterlisation. The start of the monkey sterilisation process began on June 12 after public meetings agreed that the island’s monkeys, in the public ‘hot’ zones, needed to be sterilised and re-homed in a systematic program. Stage One to capture,…
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Injured sea snake found on Patong Beach
PHOTOS: Nattakorn Ruengroj facebook / Kapook An injured sea snake has been found on Patong Beach. A Facebook user, Nattakorn Ruengroj, yesterday (September 13) posted pictures of the sea snake on his personal Facebook page stating that ‘this injured snake was found on Patong Beach’ Local fishermen say sea snakes are usually found in open seas and swimming on the water…
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Surf for Soi Dog at SurfHouse Phuket
Surf House Phuket Kata Beach is teaming up with Phuket charity Soi Dog Foundation for a pawsome day of surfing, with proceeds from their surfing sales being donated to help the suffering dogs and cats of the island and wider Thailand. Founded in 2003, Soi Dog Foundation cares for the stray dog and cats of Phuket and beyond, through its programs…
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No conclusion yet over Phuket hospital issue – police commander
Executives of Vachira Phuket Hospital have still not resolved a situation that got our control outside their emergency rooms this week. Several videos of the incident went viral on social media showing a man being prevented access to the hospital to be with a relative in the emergency area. A report was filed with police concerning the man’s behaviour whilst the…
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Four live, one dead sea turtle, washed up on Phuket Beach
PHOTOS: Bang Yat / Newshawk Phuket Four live sea turtles and one dead were washed up on Nai Yang Beach this morning (September 13). All of them were stuck in fishing nets. Sririnat National Park officers were notified this morning about the four lives turtles that were found on Nai Yang Beach. The five turtles were stuck in the one…
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Two weather systems cooking up a storm, heading our way
It’s the wettest month of the year and we’re about to get plenty of moisture over the next five days, according to the Meteorological Department. “For most of Thailand, the wettest months are usually August-October. However, the Gulf Coast of the southern peninsula (e.g. Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan) is affected by the south-west monsoon which can lead to heavy…
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Warning for boats going to sea in Phuket
The Phuket Marine Office has made an official announcement for boats to be “careful when going to sea until September 18, due to Typhoon Mangkhut. The announcement was issued yesterday (September 12) stating that “the Typhoon Mangkhut in the Pacific Ocean is likely to move through The Philippines and Taiwan during the period from September 14-15.” “It will then move…
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Stage Two in ‘Project Monkey’ being rolled out in Phuket
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office Stage One to capture, sterilize and release some of the excess monkey population around Phuket has been a great success. Time now for Stage Two. Cages have been placed at the two main hills overlooking Phuket Town – Khao To Sae and Khao Rang – yesterday (September 12) to catch some more Phuket monkeys for…
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Phuket now has a world class shopping hub
by Tim Newton The population of Thailand is around 70 million people. I think most of them were at the opening night of the new Central Floresta on September 10. As far as openings go this must have put a smile on the Central owners and management involved in bringing this new shopping experience to fruition – it was a…
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Officers and locals join in Phuket Provincial Hall fire drill
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office Phuket today (September 12) held a fire drill evacuation at the Phuket Provincial City Hall. The drill was led by the Phuket Vice Governor Sanith Sriwihok, government officers and local residents. Vice Governor Snith says, “the fire evacuation drill is aimed at preparing for any emergency fire situations for officers, staff and local residents. We should…
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3 metre king cobra caught in Thalang
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation/ Newshawk Phuket A three metre king cobra has been caught by rescue worker in Thalang. Kusoldharm rescue workers stationed at Mueang Mai in Thalang were notified by local residents that the king cobra was found opposite the PTT gas station on Thepkasattri Road. Rescue workers arrived near a rubber plantation to find the three metre king cobra. It…
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Female arrested for theft, including lottery tickets and tablets
Police have arrested a female who has stolen money, lottery tickets, a gold necklace and electronic tablets over the past few months. A team of the Phuket City Police arrested the 20 year old Lattiyakorn Sangdam from Songkhla at a housing estate in Wichit. Police seized an iPad, 2 gold necklaces worth around 8,000 baht, 2 Samsung tablets, and 350…
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Minivan driver seriously injured in Patong hill accident – VIDEO
A minivan driver has been seriously injured after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel whilst traversing Patong hill early this morning. (September 11). Patong Police were notified of the incident at 4.45am alerting them to the crash on Phra Baramee Road near the Patong City sign. Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived to find a minivan that had careered through…
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Phase 3 funds for Phuket’s underground cable project requested
300 million baht has been requested for a new underground cable project ‘Phase 3’ along Thepkrasattri Road from the Rajabaht Intersection to Saphan Hin which is part of the longer-term project to convert Phuket Town into a ‘living museum’. The Phuket Provincial Public Works Town and Country Planning are requesting the funding for the next phase to move unsightly overhead cabling…
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All four bodies of missing Phang Nga fishermen found
All four bodies of the missing Phang Nga fishermen have been recovered. Sadly they have all perished. The search continued off the coast of Phang Nga for the four for a week since their boat overturned last Tuesday (September 4). Read more about the original reports of their missing boat HERE. A body was found floating off Phang Nga on Friday…
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Phuket underwear thief caught on CCTV – VIDEO
PHOTOS AND VIDEO from Newshawk Phuket CCTV footage shows a man stealing underwear from washing machines. A facebook username ‘Jassika Brownie’ yesterday (September 9) posted a video clip with a message reading ‘be careful when you take your clothes to wash in a coin washing machine. All women’s underwear has disappeared. This happened in Laem Hin.’ CCTV footage shows that…
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The new Central Floresta is open
10.40am Monday, September 10, 2018. The new, highly-anticipated (by locals) Central Foresta opens it doors for the first time. Opposite the ‘old’ Central Festival, located at the Darasamuth Intersection, the new Central Floresta creates a ‘central’ shopping destination for the island to match anything in Thailand. The new Central Floresta combines the highest-end luxury brands with Peranakan-themed food halls, floating…
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Body found floating off Phang Nga
A body was found floating off Phang Nga on Friday (September 7) and is currently being checked for identification. Meanwhile, the search continues off the coast of Phang Nga for four fishermen after their boat overturned last Tuesday (September 4). Raead more about the fateful boat-trip HERE. On Friday (September 7) a body was found by local fishermen one mile offshore. Officers…
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Begpacking – ‘How to’ guide for aspiring travelling beggars
PHOTO: backslackers.com “Aren’t you technically homeless? Why shouldn’t YOU cash in too. Why shouldn’t other people pay for you to travel? Begpacking (or beg packing) is a way for backpackers like you to earn money while you travel by begging for money or busking around the world.” Thailand has its fair share of ‘beg packers’ each year – young travellers who…
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Phoenix to be raised soon – VIDEO
PHOTO AND VIDEO: The Phuket Marine Office The Phoenix is ready to be raised as soon as the weather conditions are good enough. Officials say the equipment is all ready. It’s already been more than a month since the Phoenix salvage operation began. So far the wreck remains resting on the bottom of the Andaman Sea, 45 metres underwater. Read more about…
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Phuket has Golden future for its sister city
by Chongchit Buchanan Australia’s Gold Coast city and Phuket will sign a letter of intent to establish themselves as sister cities tomorrow (September 10). The intent of the agreement is to explore a stronger relationship between the two municipalities and create international business opportunities. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate will travel to Phuket to sign the agreement with his Phuket…
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Dams will cope with this weekend’s weather – Irrigation Department
The water regulation authorities say they’re ready for heavy rains forecast this weekend and the situation is under control. The National Water Resources Office and Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has confirmed that the authorities and the irrigation system were ready to receive large amounts of precipitation during the extraordinary wet period, which is affecting almost every part of the country.…
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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