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 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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THAIGER TODAY January 31
Frenchman and Thai accomplice re-enact murder | Viet Jet back-pedal over PR stunt | Thai PM admits falling popularity | British expat needs triple by-pass – no health insurance | Krabi province investigates marine ambulance | AMLO clamps down on Bitcoin.
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Van crashes near Khao Lak
A van transporting Chinese tourists crashed on the way from Phuket International Airport to Khao Lak this morning (January 31), resulting in 13 injuries, 9 of them considered serious. The van was driving in foggy weather while a motorcycle cut ahead of it causing van driver to swerve. The 52 year old driver, Suchart Aduman, who received minor injuries, explained…
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A 152 year chance to see a rare triple treat – Lunar Eclipse
Stargazers and astro-photographers will gather at locations along Phuket’s east coast between 6pm and 12pm to catch sight of the very rare triple display of a blue moon, a super moon and a total lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse, a blue moon and a supermoon will occur simultaneously, in a coincidence that last happened almost 152 years ago in 1866.…
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Krabi authorities consider purchase of marine ambulance
A meeting to discuss marine safety was held at Nong Talay Sub District Administration OrBorTor yesterday (January 30), where the idea was floated to purchase a medical boat (marine ambulance) by the President of Krabi Tourism Association, Wattana Rerngsamut, to increase safety and emergency transportation in case of accidents at sea. The meeting was chaired by the President of Nong…
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Russian man dies after walk along Krabi beach
A 61 year old Russian tourist, Shikokenko Alexander, fainted while walking along the beach at Hong Island in Krabi, was being taken to hospital but died on the way (January 28). At 1pm, the Chief of Bokkoranee National Park received a report that the Russian man was walking with his wife along the beach when he collapsed onto the sand.…
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Krabi power plant public hearing went smoothly. Protesters boycot event.
More than 2,500 people attended the public hearing about Krabi’s proposed new coal power plant yesterday (January 28) with 1,150 police and army officers guarding the meeting and watching out for any potential protest activity. The 1,150 officers were guarding the area of the public hearing stage at Klong Kanan Sub District Administration Organisation office (OrBorTor), both in uniforms and…
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4 metre long python found in goat farm
Last night (January 28), the owner of Kiang Tawan goat farm in Krabi, 56 year old Kiang Yaithong, along with his friends, tried to capture a 4 metre and 15 kilogram python that sneaked inside his farm and ate a cat and a few chickens. They tied it up and dragged it out from the goat cage then left it…
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Huge python found in 70 year old’s house
A big python, actually a HUGE python, was found in front of a 70 year old Somneug Pattanawong’s Phuket home today. He heard his dog barking loudly so opened the door to check what the fuss was all about. The python, which is at least 50 kilograms and 6 metres long (that’s about 20 feet) was basking in the sunshine…
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Waste water flowing freely onto Krabi’s beaches
Krabi Vice Governor, Pol Capt Apinan Puakpong, with a team of military officers, Krabi Office of Natural Resources and Environment and Krabi Provincial Public Health Office, inspected hotels, resorts and restaurants along Tub Kaeg Beach and found that there are five 5-star hotels as well as one restaurant that have their waste water pipe releasing directly into the sea. The…
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Coal plant protesters hold seminar in Krabi
The Network Protecting Andaman from Coal arranged a seminar to pass on knowledge about the effects from the coal power plant this week. The seminar was headed under the topic ‘Krabi, Andaman – World Tourism Attraction or Charcoal Pollution Source’. The seminar was attended by approximately 500 people, including locals and business owners. “We always disagreed about the Krabi thermal…
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FIFA World Cup lands in Phuket
The FIFA World Cup has already arrived in Phuket for an exhibition. The exhibition is arranged under the auspices of the ‘FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour 2018 by Coca-Cola’ which takes place today (January 27) at Central Festival Phuket. Phuket fans will be meeting with the legend of FIFA Christian Karembeu, former player of French National Team in the World…
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Dugong found dead on a beach in Rassada
Kusoldham Phuket Foundation and Muang Phuket Police received a report from locals at noon today (January 26) about the dead body of a dugong washed up ashore on Somkiet Beach in Baan Laem Nga, Rassada sub-district. The 1.2-meter-long dugong started to smell already and there were traces of cuts from sharp items on the head, skin and stomach with its…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 26
Latest announcements about Smart Visa | Re-enactment of Israeli mob hit in Samui | 3 road deaths on Patak Road, Karon in 24 hours | Police raid illegal hostels in Koh Pha Ngan | Monster drug haul in BKK | Bans on catching and eating seahorses AND official bans on smoking on some Thai beaches starts next week.
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House on fire in Phuket Town
Late afternoon yesterday (January 25), Muang Phuket police received a call about a fire at a house in Soi Prayoon, Yaowarat Road. Three fire trucks were called to the scene, a two-story building located 100 metres away from the main road. Firefighters managed to douse the fire in about half an hour. According to the house owner, there was only…
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Motorcyclist dies whilst over-taking on the left in Karon
After an early double fatality on Patak Road, Karon, where two people on motorbikes collided (one Filipino, one from Myanmar), a rescue team member, 27 year old Sahasanai Nakan, crashed after overtaking a bus resulting in his death yesterday (January 24). The cyclist was riding on Patak Road in Karon without a helmet and overtook a bus, but fell and…
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Filipino and Burmese killed in Karon crash
A Fillipino man, 35 year old Arthur Mina, and a Burmese woman have died following a crash earlier this morning (January 25) on Patak Road, Karon. Police say that his motorcycle collided with another motorcycle driven by a woman (whose name hasn’t been announced by police). The accident occurred on a curve. The two drivers were allegedly driving at high…
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3,466 new guns distributed to police in Phuket
The Police Region 8 Commander, Pol Lt Gen Sorasak Yenprem, hosted a ceremony to distribute a total of 3,466 guns today (January 23) following the approval from the cabinet for a budget of 990 million Baht to purchase 55,150 new 9 mm semi-automatic guns, magazines, bullets, sockets and belts, as well as handcuffs. “The weapons are distributed to the operational…
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Thailand Yacht Show – attracting Superyachts to the region
PHOTO: Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder, Thailand Yacht Show At a Press Conference in Bangkok last week Prakob Wongmaneerung, Vice Governor of Phuket, Nithee Seeprae, Executive Director of Product Promotion Department of TAT and Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder of the Thailand Yacht Show, along with numerous officials and key business leaders, gathered to re-confirm their commitment to promoting Thailand…
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Krabi palm oil plant given warnings after releasing waste water
A privately owned palm oil mill in Krabi is being told to close its doors by the Krabi Office of Industry after releasing waste water into a natural canal twice in a month. On January 22, Benyathip Tanti-Ariyasap, and her team from the Krabi Office of Industry, visited the palm oil mill belonging to the Lap Pakdee Palm Company Limited,…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 22
Israeli hit squad kills one in Koh Samui | ‘Taxi OK’ App and reforms launched this Thursday | Spot checks at Chalong Pier reveal shortcomings on some boats | Couple arrested at Don Mueang after alleged murder in Pichit | Total of four arrested over Phuket Airport baggage thefts.
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Driver runs away after flipping Mercedes at Samkong
What do you do when you flip your Mercedes E350 at 2am in the morning at the Samkong Underpass? You run away it seems. The driver flipped the car heading southbound into the Samkong Underpass. Some other drivers on the road at the time witnessed the crash and tried to use their own car extinguishers to control the blaze. By…
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Ukrainian driver loses control of his car – two killed in Cherngtalay crash
A car driven by a Ukrainian man, Artem Chidoko, was travelling, allegedly at high speed, from Cherngtalay towards Phuket International Airport when he lost control while taking a curve on the road. He crashed into a van driving on the other side of the road in the opposite direction about 2pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday). He was driving with two passengers,…
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UPDATE: One more airport worker arrested for stealing passengers’ valuables
After three Phuket airport staff were arrested for stealing passengers’ valuables on Saturday, police extended their investigation and arrested another staff member, 28 year old Kwanchai Butchai, from Sisaket province. The three men that were arrested earlier include 30 year old Manote Nakpojit and 29 year old Nirut Saksri who admitted the thefts, while another one, 23 year old Chakrit…
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12 infringements during random safety check at Chalong Pier
The Tourist Police, Marine Police and Phuket Marine Office headed to Chalong Pier yesterday (January 20) to conduct random inspections and found 12 boat operators in error over various safety issues. Two people held expired licenses, another one didn’t bring his license onboard and another 6 operators were not running boats in accordance with the conditions specified in their license.…
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Baggage handlers arrested over thefts at Phuket airport
Police arrested two worker at the Phuket International Airport and their alleged accomplice over the theft of passengers’ belongings, said Sakhu Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Jirasak Siamsak on Sunday. 29 year old Nirut Saksri and 30 year old Manock Nakphojit, plus alleged accomplice 23 year old Chakrit Chanprasert, were arrested and some 100 stolen items recovered, including computer notebooks,…
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“Limit visits to marine national parks to six million”
A leading marine biologist has proposed to the government to limit visitors to marine national parks to 6 million a year to lessen impact on its ecological environment. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean at the Fisheries Faculty of Kasetsart University, made his proposal at the meeting of the Marine and Coastal Resources Policy Management Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen…
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Buggy crash at Ao Po Pier
A buggy with passengers crashed into Ao Po Long-tail Boat Club yesterday (January 19) resulting into 10 people being injured. All the injured are Chinese tourists who have already been sent to Thalang Hospital. The driver, 39 year old Pongthep Lawan, said that after he picked up his passengers from the boat returning from Naka Yai Island, the buggy stopped…
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Machete road rage in Phuket
The video of a pickup driver pulling out a machete to threaten another driver after being ‘tooted’ has gone viral. The man has since been arrested. He is being investigated by Muang Phuket police, along with the evidence, his 77cm-long machete. The 2 minute video shows the bronze pick-up truck that was driving in the middle lane cutting in front…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 19
Chinese swimmer drowns off Karon Beach | Police raid of BKK pub over late 4am closing time | Prawit promises free airing of World Cup games in Thailand | Workers get a new minimum wage | Enormous drug/assets haul from 59 locations. Plus the weekend’s forecast.
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.