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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Sponsored A World Kindness Day: Spread kindness, prevent illness - Get your 10% discount
With World Kindness Day just two days away on November 13, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how empathy and care can make a real impact, not just in our relationships but in our health, too. This day is...
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Another drug courier arrested at Phuket Gateway
A 41 year old from Nakhon Si Thammarat, Yuthana Ponsud, has been arrested yesterday (March 14) at the Phuket Gateway at Thachatchai Checkpoint while carrying 1,957 amphetamine pills with a street value of 350,000 baht, to Phuket. The police at the gateway found him during a routine search of a Trang to Phuket bus. He seemed suspicious so police asked…
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Boat sinks off Maithon Island. Burmese man drowns.
A fishing boat sank after its anchor was stuck in a reef near Maithon Island three days ago (March 13), a Burmese fisherman downed in the incident. Phuket Marine Police received a report that a fishing boat ‘Chok Ubon’ sank at the north side of Maithon Island before another fishing boat came to their rescue and found a 38 year…
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Over 100 nationwide arrests of ‘dark skinned’ illegals
The Tourist Police headed by “Big Joke” Surachet Hakpal have made their strongest statement yet about their intention to clear out illegals and over-stayers. Many of their targets are referred to as “dark skinned”. The Tourist Police Bureau have produced a five minute video outlining their prior actions and future courses of action. https://www.facebook.com/1155TPB/videos/561865057514267/ The video features Surachet – the…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, March 15
Dog and cat registration may become compulsory | Premchai shows up to acknowledge charges | ONE…BIG…SNAKE | BKK Japanese restaurants reject fish from Fukushima | Mercedes invests in local electric car plant | Thanathorn’s new ‘Future’ party launched this morning.
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Phuket drugs dealer arrested
A 42 year old local woman, Wattanee ‘Nong’ Hansamut, has been arrested with 5,043 amphetamine pills and 666.40 grams of methamphetamine, which are worth about 2 million Baht on the street. Wichit Police received a report on March 11 that Wattanee, who lives in the Phuket Villa Suanluang house project, was taking and selling drugs to small retailers in Phuket.…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 14
Rabies situation ‘under control’ | Motorbike driver lucky to walk away from accident | No toilets at tsunami museum | BKK motor tollways free over Songkran | Prosecution case ready over Toyota Thai Football League match-fixing | FBI attempts to interview ‘sex-therapist’ couple who ‘know things’ | Indian man and Thai accomplice arrested over visa scam.
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Tourist facilities lacking at Khao Lak tsunami museum
By Another Ngandee Tourists are still visiting the tsunami memorial monument and museum at Khao Lak beach in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa district 13 years after the event, but there is no toilet facilities to serve them, a tourist guide has complained. The guide posted on her Facebook wall that she took 11 Japanese tourists to visit the monument, which is situated…
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Green sea turtle exhausted after laying eggs
Mu Ko Similan National Park officers rescued a mother green sea turtle who laid eggs earlier on Nui Beach but was too exhausted to walk back to the sea. The Chief of Mu Ko similan National Park, Ruamsin Manajongprasert, said that the national park officers of Miang Island received a report from a tour guide that some tourists found a…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, March 13
National ban on darts boards | Premchai denied postponement to acknowledge his bribery charges | Daring escape by pick-up in Rayong | Air pollution returns to Bangkok | Boat sinks off Krabi | Disability campaigner threatens to sue BTS and BKK Authorities | Police nab a pick-up with 1,800 kg of beef; that’s one BIG BBQ!!
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“Labels Out For Autism Campaign”. Monday, April 2.
World Autism Day, April 2, 2018, wear your “Labels Out For Autism Campaign” On Monday, April 2, 2018, join The Thaiger, KIS Phuket and NP Graphics and Photography in celebrating the individuals on World Autism Awareness Day and raising autism awareness in Phuket. Simply bare your label and wear your shirt inside out for one day, to show we all understand…
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Yacht sunk off Railay Beach
A yacht was found sunk at Railay Bay, Ao Nang, Krabi yesterday (Monday). The cause is believed to be a leak while left at anchor. No reports of anyone injured or missing. The Chief of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Worapot Lomli, received a report about the incident and ordered officers to head to the sunken yacht…
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Half-sunken garbage barge threatens Phi Phi beaches
The owner of a sinking garbage boat near Koh Phi Phi in Krabi has been told by harbour officials today (Monday) to fix it as quickly as possible amid fears it would pollute the water. The boat, Chachandee, which measures 23 x 4 metres, slipped off its anchor at a bay in front of Koh Phi Phi in Tambon Ao…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, March 12
New faces on the political scene | Rabies Epidemic Zone for Nonthaburi and Bangkok | Fire in Pattaya’s Walking Street | 27 tourists arrested on island near Ranong | Spate of drownings over weekend | Guy in hospital with amnesia, ummm, actually wanted by police… BUSTED!
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Phone thief nabbed in Surin Beach convenience store
FILE PHOTO Phuket police arrested a Thai man soon after he stole a bag containing an iPhone 8 Plus from a Russian tourist at a beach on Sunday evening. 27 year old Preach Homsup from Ubon Ratchathani, was arrested at 7pm in front of a Family Mart convenience store in Tambon Choeng Thalay, Thalang district, near Surin Beach. He was…
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Tourists arrested over alleged illicit drug use in Ranong
Twenty-seven tourists have been arrested and charged with drug abuse on Koh Phayam in Ranong province (north of Phuket near the Myanmar border) after testing positive for substance abuse. Friday’s raid in the province’s Muang district was part of the authorities’ joint operation to search the island’s three night entertainment venues, Ranong Tourist Police inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Manaporn Likhitmanont told…
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UPDATE: Cause of plane crash believed to be engine problems
The plane, HS-PMS series JABIRU 450 named Butterfly 05, crashed yesterday morning (Saturday) killing the captain, Wattana Tinphang-Nga, and Flying Officer Narin Taweewat, while critically injuring two 18 and 19 year old students from Thalang Technical College. Initial investigations suggest that the plane crashed because of engine problems although aviation inspectors will have to conduct a full investigation by the…
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Re-enactment of brutal street murder
Wichit Police brought the 46 year old ex-husband murderer (he has confessed to the crime), Winit Kumkrong, to the crime scene for a re-enactment this morning (March 9). He said that his ex-wife tried to drive over him with the car which, he says, was the motivation that led to the murder. Read the original story HERE. “After checking the…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 9
Freak storm cells caught on video | Changes for renters and landlords | Russian tourist run over and killed in Pattaya | Raid on Chiang Mai house selling dodgy health supplements | Rabies situation – under control but under watch.
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Houses destroyed at Baan Bang Tao School
Two teachers’ houses in the Baan Bang Tao School were on fire last night at about 8pm. The houses are completely destroyed after a furious blaze. No injuries or casualties have been reported. The houses were located behind the school. They were 2 storey buildings made of mixed timber and concrete and built 40 years ago. Firefighters took about 40…
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Ex-husband kills woman on the street
The ex-husband of a head maid stabbed her in the the street almost 10 times in the middle of a crowd in southern Phuket Town. Police found the dead body of 47 year old Lamai Chokkuea, the head maid of a cleaning company, in her uniform with many cuts from a knife, including 4-5 wounds on her neck, 1 on…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, March 8
Freak storm hits Nakhon Pratom uprooting power poles | 7 Russians arrested in a Phuket kidnapping incident | Re-enactment of Premchai’s alleged bribery conversation | Chinese tourist assaulted in Krabi | New tourism plan for Thailand’s west coast including a high speed train.
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7 French people arrested over kidnapping of a French woman
Chalong Police and Kamala Police have arrested 7 French men and women, including 25 year old Idriss Sulliman, 25 year old Yann Kimulina, 21 year old Brahim Saifdine, 23 year old Mouhcin Wizkrane, 32 year old Yacine Maatoug, 21 year old Lydia Kouang Nlend and 19 year old Sahra Zerari, for kidnapping and physically abusing a 21 year old French…
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‘MURDER AMONG THE MATEYS’ – Murder Mystery Dinner Night
After a voyage filled with pillaging and plundering, The Jaded Jewel – a pirate ship captained by Redbeard, an old but dangerous pirate – is docked in a cove near Port Royal. As the pirates head into town to celebrate their homecoming and spend their gold and goods, a night of turmoil and trouble is sure to transpire. As the…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 7
Outgoing tourism will rise to 10 million this year | Rabies precautions in BKK | Thai Cabinet waters down the fines for illegal foreign workers | Premchai’s wife will be charged for owning elephant tusks | Bank of Thailand has laid down the foundations for banking agents | Aussie firefighter helping out in Lampang | Krabi residents support closing down…
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Drugs and weapon crackdown in Krabi
Two drug dealers have been arrested with 1,200 amphetamine pills and 80 grams of methamphetamine alongside a carbine (rifle), a sub machine gun and a pistol. The 2 dealers include 26 year old Suwannarat Thongchit and 22 year old Boonrit Thongluan, and were arrested at a house in Nanua Sub-District Police went to arrest them at the house and found…
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Drugs, weapon and preserved animal carcasses found in Rawai
Phuket police and a team of local authorities have arrested 27 year old Anchalee Pantumat, from Nakhon Sawan province, with a list of illegal items including 113 grams of marijuana, a carbine (rifle) with eleven .30 bullets along with jungle cat fur and a sambar deer skull. At her house in Rawai, Police also found marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia, 2…
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Krabi residents, “Close Maya Bay”
An initial survey by a leading marine scientist found that most residents supported the closure of the popular Maya Bay in Krabi after more than 80% of coral reefs in the area were damaged. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the Fishery Faculty at Kasetsart University, said his team was compiling results from an opinion survey of more than 300 local…
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UPDATE: Police in Phuket say the man was shot over money owed on a motorbike
PHOTO: Sanook A black Pajero with several people inside had arrived at a rented property in the Rangsiri estate in Muang district, Phuket. A man got out and asked for “Sin”. 30 year old Sinchai was shot then fled inside the house. Original story HERE. The shooter followed holding a 11mm gun and shot him twice more in the chest.…
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Robbery fail – thief ended up stabbed to death
Early this morning (March 6), a 33 year old local man, Attapong Treesuk, was robbed while waiting for his girlfriend, by a man identified as 28 year old Wirat Sakkaew, who was carrying a knife and a gun to threaten him and steal his mobile phone. During the robbery, they fought and both were injured by the knife before the…
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‘Freak storms’ on the way – Thai Meteorological Department
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a warning of freak storms in regions of the country until Friday, with the possibility of hail storms in some parts of the northern and northeastern regions. They say the ‘freak storms’ would be attributable to strong high pressure from China which is moving southward to cover the Northeast and the South China Sea…
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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