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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15 year old allegedly raped by stepfather for 5 years
Muslims for Peace Foundation rescued a 15 year old girl who alleges she was a rape victim of her 67 year old stepfather for 5 years. The Foundation as well as the staff of Krabi Children and Family Shelter brought the girl to the police on November 2 claiming that she had been raped since she was 10 years old…
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Gulf of Thailand battered – heading towards the Andaman Sea, north of Phuket
(There is an update from the TMD at the bottom of this article – the tropical depression is weakening as it moves across the landmass from Gulf of Thailand towards the Andman Sea, north of Phuket) A severe weather warning was issued for the South Eastern Region on Monday, as the Meteorological Department forecast heavy rain for the entire region,…
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Phuket’s Centre for Rights and Liberties Protection in Criminal Cases officially opens
Today (November 6), the Centre for Rights and Liberties Protection in Criminal Cases has officially opened at the Phuket Provincial Juvenile and Family Court aiming to offer proper protection and education to the people involved in criminal cases and to assist the legal process to continue under the rule of law. “This will help people understand more about the rights…
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Supreme Court says Layan beachfront is ‘public land’
PHOTO: y Travel Blog Today the Phuket Gazette visited Layan Beach following the verdict in the Thai Supreme Court that confirmed that the land, where six beach restaurants and businesses continue to operate, was public land. The land in question spans the an entire 3 kilometre frontage including stretches of Layan and Laypang beaches and covering some 178 rai of…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, November 6
Layan Beach restaurants poised for eviction following loss of Supreme Court battle | No selfies with ‘Toon’ please | 65 year old woman finds a partner after posting an ad on her gate | Hua Hun-Pattaya ferry service suspended today | Local tour boat capsizes with 16 on board.
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Fake land deeds in Krabi
UPDATE on the fake land deeds in Krabi… The Village Chief, Sucha Wansuk, said that after checking, the land deeds were indeed fake with the name of dead people and fake signatures on them. “One of the title deeds for 7 rai has the name of the owner as Malem Pankwan, who passed away at least 10 years ago,” said…
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Tourist boat capsizes off Phuket
A tour boat carrying 16 Chinese tourists and several Thais sunk off Phang Nga Bay on Sunday morning, as a mechanical issue was being repaired and large waves capsized the vessel, said Ao Phang Nga National Park chief Sarayuth Tansathien. A 29 year old Chinese tourist sustained bruises on her chest and arms while the rest of the passengers were…
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AoT airports increase traffic 6% in past 12 months
A total of just over 129 million passengers travelled through the six airports operated by the Airports of Thailand in 2017, a 7.73% increase from the previous year (September 2016 – September 2017). The six airports operated by the AoT are Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Mae Fah Luand in Chiang Rai. From September 2016 to…
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Loy Krathong attracts big crowds around Phuket and Thailand.
Around the country, provinces attracted crowds watching parades of giant floats representing government and private agencies, beauty pageant contests, and stage performances, while many sent off krathong floats onto rivers, lakes and ponds as an apologetic gesture to the Goddess of River. In Phuket all the major waterways had a big turnout with the predicted bad weather holding off. The…
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Phuket strengthens security measures at croc farms
Following the rains in Phuket which resulted in some areas being flooded, Phuket Fisheries Officers visited crocodile farms to ensure the security for locals and tourists preventing the farms’ reptiles from escaping to outside waters. There are 4 businesses with about 500 crocodiles in Muang Phuket and Thalang District and one personally owned crocodile in Thalang District. The team of…
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Phuket Smart Bus to launch start of 2018
Phuket Smart Bus, as a part of Phuket City Development (PKCD), is launching the first ten smart buses, thanks to an investment of 40 million Baht, aiming to develop Phuket public transportation. The route will be from Phuket International Airport straight to Phuket Town. “Phuket Smart Bus is one of the twelve Smart Growth projects we created for Phuket. The…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, November 3
Parts of Royal Crematorium now closed to visitors | Flights cancelled to Chiang Mai Airport | Bodyslam ‘Toon’ kicks off his 2,000 km charity run | Bad weather still being predicted | Big joint venture announced between Central and JD.com.
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Sun Sea Sand Colour! Patong Parade kicks off the 2017 Festival.
The Patong Parade kicked off the Patong Festival for 2017 under the banner ‘Sea Sun Sand’. The annual parade has never looked better with local businesses going to a lot of trouble. And the crowds certainly reacted with record turn-out of both locals and tourists (who probably had little idea the event was on). There were the usual delays as…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, November 2
Flooding around north-east should ease within 14 days | Royal Crematorium now open for tours | 30 year old Australian still in Vachira Hospital | Thailand ‘Ground Zero’ for illegal wildlife trade | New flights to Phuket from Air Asia and Viet Jet.
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Travelling to Thailand? Check your travel insurance.
A cautionary tale… 30 year old Australian Stacey Liddle is still holed up at Vachira Hospital after a traumatic road accident in Chalong caused a lot of damage to her leg which doctors are now trying to save. Whilst she had travel insurance her insurance didn’t cover this accident due to fine print in the contract. Speaking to news.com.au from…
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Bike crash kills a Chinese tourist instantly
At about 2 am this morning (November 1), Phuket police got a report of a bike crash on Chaofa East Road, just before the Dowroong Wittaya School intersection, where an Asian woman died instantly. At the scene, police found the damaged motorbike on the street with the rider, 31 year old Zhang Qimei, a tourist from China who appears to…
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Phuket ready to host Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand
Having hosted triathlons for more than 20 years, Phuket is in an enviable position as the leading triathlon destination in South East Asia and the island is set to bolster its sports tourism credentials further when it hosts the 2017 Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand, Sunrise Sprint and Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand on 25 and 26 November, 2017. “IRONMAN is a global…
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AirAsia introduces Phuket-Khon Kaen route
Esan here we come AirAsia is strengthening its Phuket base with a new route from Phuket to Khon Kaen, designed to stimulate local regional tourism. Mr. Arun Lilapantisitti, AirAsia’s Station Head for Phuket, said that Phuket is one of AirAsia’s main airport hubs as it offers a variety of routes both domestic and international and has continued to grow steadily.…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, November 1
Patong Parade tonight | Yingluck won’t get asylum status in the UK | HRH Princess Sirindhorn to visit Phuket | 210,000 fake sunglasses confiscated | Tropical depression still approaching Phuket.
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Clothes thieves caught on shop CCTV – Expo
A clothes shop in Expo named ‘Perdsakad’ had clothes stolen by two women pretending to be customers. The CCTV camera at the store clearly recorded their identity. The footage shows that two women entered the shop. One of them was talking to the staff while the other walked to the corner of the shop and grabbed 4 pieces of clothe…
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Phuket prepares for heavy rains, expected later this week
Following the weather forecasts predicting downpours and strong waves from today (October 31) until the end of the week (November 3), Phuket Governor Plodthong chaired a meeting today involving all departments to get ready for possible flooding, especially in the areas prone to regular flooding when there’s heavy rain. Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Chief, Prapan Khanprasaeng, assured the…
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Phuket prepares for the visit of HRH Princess Sirindhorn
FILE PHOTO: HRH Princess Sirindhorn HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn is scheduled to pay a visit to Phuket on November 12 and 13 to Chair the 11th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). Phuket authorities met today at a meeting chaired by Governor Noraphat Plodthong to prepare a respectful welcome the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The meeting discussed…
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Stab-and-run assailant arrested at the Thachatchai check point
Early today (October 31), just after midnight, police received a report of a man from Nonthaburi province, Ananchai ‘Good’ Yim-On, who was stabbed to death in front of his rented house in Kathu by Tunya ‘Toom’ Jinda, from Trang province, after a brief fight. Ananchai was stabbed in three places around his body and was sent to Patong Hopital but…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 31
New King, new coins | Thai PM issues ‘thanks’ to flood victims | Qatar Airways introduces new direct flights to Pattaya | The world’s most ‘stressed’ cities | Phuket drugged-up bus driver to lose license.
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Two cars and two motorbikes – Accident on Thepkasatri Road
This morning’s car and motorbike accident on Thepkasatri Road, southbound, just after 7.30am out the front of Boat Lagoon. Black car comes flying out of Soi, on opposite side of the road, hitting two cars and two motorbikes. Thanks to Rod for sending us the video. Please be VERY careful out on Phuket’s roads. To our best knowledge, only one…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 30
Royal Relics delivered to their final resting place | Body found in Chalong hills | Criminal case against Yingluck is over | Road Toll during Royal Cremation very low | Design gaff at Phuket International Airport.
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Concrete truck falls 30 metres off cliff
The concrete truck was driven by 31 year old Suriya Pattasri fell off a 30 metre cliff yesterday (October 29), after he was unable to change the gear and the truck slipped backwards to the cliff near the deep-sea port in Wichit. Luckily, the driver jumped clear of the truck before it fell although he received some minor injuries in…
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12 months of mourning finishes tonight (Sunday)
After a year and two weeks, Thailand completes it’s 12 months of official mourning following the passing of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13, 2016. A year of black mourning clothes, displays, artworks, ceremonies, events and grief – allowing the Thai people time to contemplate the passing of the ’father of modern Thailand’ as well as ‘what comes…
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Drugged-up driver trying to harm Rawai tourists
Late yesterday afternoon (October 27), a bus driver from a tour company, 35 year old Suthon Klasamuth, went ‘crazy’ after allegedly taking methamphetamine and tried to harm tourists and others gathered around the windmill viewpoint in Rawai overlooking Nai Harn Beach and the Andaman Sea. After being contacted, Rawai Municipality officers did their best to try and calm him down.…
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Storm forming over South China Sea and heading our way
The forecast path for the tropical storm A new storm is forming in the South China Sea and expected to move westwards across the Gulf of Thailand and hit the southern sections of Thailand next week. The storm warning came from the Thai Meteorological Department yesterday. The storm is forming as a result of a low pressure in the South…
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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