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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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Miss Grand Thailand 2018 team heads to Phuket stray dog shelter for make-over
77 beauty contestants from the Miss Grand Thailand 2018 headed to the Phuket stray dog shelter for a clean up day in Thalang yesterday (July 1). Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong welcomed the Miss Grand Thailand 2018 contingent to the shelter in the Suan Pa Bang Kanun, Thalang. Phuket’s Governor says, “Miss Grand Thailand 2018 represents individuals from 77 provinces around the…
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Motorcyclist killed in Patong Hill accident
A female motorbike driver has died after she lost control of her vehicle and collided with two cars on Patong Hill early Sunday (July 1). Kathu Police were notified of the accident on a curve on Phra Baramee Road at 4am. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Honda motorbike, whose driver was later identified as…
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Pregnant wife shoots Phang Nga police husband to death
A nine month pregnant wife has surrendered after fatally shooting her husband following an arguement in a Phang Nga house on Saturday (June 30). The Takua Pa Police were notified of the incident at the house in Takua Pa. The Region 8 Police, The Takua Pa Police and The Talad Yai Police arrived at the house to find the body…
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Chinese boy in serious condition after being pulled from a pool on Naka Island
Doctors say that a four year old Chinese boy, pulled from the private pool of a hotel on Naka Yai Island yesterday (June 30), has only 30% chance of survival. Phuket Tourist Police were notified about the incident from a Paklok Municipality rescue team at 9am. The boy had already been transferred to the Thalang Hospital. A hotel manager told…
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Phuket Surf Series kicks off in Patong today
Surfing Thailand and the Phuket Surfing Club, is association with the Tourism Authority of Thailand is organising the “Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak” that runs from today (June 30) to October 2018. This falls during the annual ‘Green’ or monsoon season in Thailand’s Southern Region, when swells out of the Bay of Bengal are most consistent for both beach…
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Navy officers assist putting out the Phuket furniture warehouse fire
No injuries have been reported as a fire engulfed a furniture warehouse today (June 30) while officers from the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command were also called in to help to put out the fire. The Wichit Police were notified of the fire at 11.30am. About 10 fire trucks and crews have been fighting the blaze at the furniture warehouse…
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Fire guts furniture warehouse in Wichit
Fire fighters, along with about 10 fire trucks, have been fighting a fire at a furniture warehouse in Wichit today (June 30). Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) stationed at Wichit Municipality were notified of the fire in a Soi at the back of a SuperCheap Store, near Kajonkiet Pattana School on Chao Fah West Road,…
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Emergency crews battle airport fire during drill
Phuket International Airport emergency crews battled fires near the main runway today (June 29). Firefighters and rescue workers were deployed on the tarmac as part of regular drills aimed at improving response times and emergency response efficiency. This is the third such drill at the airport this year. Observing officials reported that the emergency crews were timely and effective in…
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Shisha/Vaping shop raided in Kathu
A team of officers from Phuket Provincial Defense Office and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command raided ‘@ Moom Mor’ restaurant in Kathu on Wednesday night (June 27). Officers arrived at the shop where 14 tables of customers were using baraku (shisha). Officers arrested a 20 year old Thai man, Feeraskan Akbas, from Narathiwat. Officers seized 960 grams of baraku…
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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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Pakistan ambassador shares concerns over safety of Phuket tourists
Phuket Governor Norrapahat Plodthong welcomed the Pakistan Ambassador Designate in Thailand H.E. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and his delegation to the Phuket City Hall yesterday (June 27). Topics up for discussion included increasing Pakistani tourism to the island and some of the challenges facing them. The ambassador said he was concerned about Pakistani tourist safety and facilities assisting their comfort and…
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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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Dengue fever alert in Rassada
Rassada Municipality is warning residents about the high potential for Dengue Fever this wet season following a recent spike in cases and discussions with relevant health officials. Officers of Rassada Municipality say, “There are many ways to prevent dengue fever by getting rid of their breeding grounds – close water containers and clear up any areas where water has pooled.…
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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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Motorbike driver dies after collision with power pole
A man has died following an accident in Koh Kaew last night (June 25). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 10.30pm near Bansapam Mongkolwittaya School in Koh Kaew. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Honda motorbike at the base of the power pole. Police found traces of the collision on the…
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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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Thief steals heroine statue sword
A thief has stolen a sword which was part of a statue of Phuket’s Heroines in a temple in Thalang. A facebook user ‘Prasong Trairat’ posted a photo on his personal Facebook yesterday (June 24) with a message reading “The sword of the grandmothers (reference to the heroines’ name by locals) disappeared last night. The thief is not aware of…
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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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How much would you pay for a plastic amulet?
The shenanigans at the Kathu Temple, where Chinese tour buses are arriving daily in their droves to purchase ‘lucky’ and ‘magic’ amulets, continues. This time two Dutch tourists, interested to visit a temple and check out the alleged lucky amulets, were horrified by what they discovered. The two, who have asked us not to publish their names, visited the temple…
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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…
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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