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.
-
Sponsored This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
-
17 year old couple shot in Thalang
PHOTOS: Kusoltham Phuket Foundation At 11.30pm last night (December 22), Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rescue team reported a shooting in Baan Pa Krong Cheep, Thalang. At the scene the team found an injured 17 year old boyfriend and girlfriend who were both shot in their neck. The man, Rohmat Tumwong, was conscious and sent to Vachira Hospital while his girlfriend, Panilada…
-
Ceremony to commence the removal of the Royal Crematorium replica in Saphan Hin
A worship ritual was held yesterday (December 22) to start the removal the replica of the Royal Crematorium of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama 9 in Saphan Hin. The ritual was chaired by Phuket’s Vice Governor Thavornwat Kongkaew, alongside a number of local authorities and local people. The ritual was conducted in front of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej…
-
SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Two sleeps before Christmas and the weekend has brought a bit of Christmas cloud. Possible showers today and an 80% chance of rain forecast for Christmas Eve. Watches are back in the news, a decision to reject wiretapping, moving Rama IX’s Royal Crematorium and the ongoing search for wayward Abbot Phra Dhammachayo. Here we go with today’s briefs… ‘No’ to wiretapping…
-
THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 22
Prayut pushes ahead with high-speed train project | Bangkok police start a 100% helmet campaign | Laypang Beach 70% cleared | Thai tour guides protest against illegal guides, again | Pattaya tiger zoo under fire for ‘poking’ video | Less than 200 Km to go for Toon | Missing Koh Lanta boat found.
-
Two illegal tour guides picked up but blitz is on for illegal Chinese guides
Two illegal Thai tour guides have been arrested following a protest lasting two days from other local Thai tour guides crying foul over illegal Chinese guides taking their jobs. Yesterday (December 21) at 5 pm police visited the popular tourist spot following the local tour guide protest at Promthep Cape. Phuket’s Governor ordered a team to conduct a random check…
-
Strong winds in Krabi sweep a speed boat off its mooring
A speedboat belonging to a Swedish man, that was tied up in the bay at Koh Lanta, went missing after strong north easterly winds on Wednesday night. The 9 metre speedboat named ‘Baghera’ was reported missing. A team of Marine Security Unit of Royal Thai Navy, Koh Lanta Noi, headed out on Thursday morning in search for the missing vessel.…
-
70% of the illegal businesses on Laypang beach cleared. A few remain.
Cherngtalay’s OrBorTor President, Ma-Ann Samran, visited Laypang Beach yesterday (December 21) with about 30 military officers and local police to follow up on the progress of the demolition of encroached restaurants on Laypang Beach. The team found that 70% of the restaurants have already been removed. After the Supreme Court passed down its judgement on November 1 that the 178…
-
FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Friday. Only three more sleeps until Christmas. But we’ll be posting the latest news from around Phuket and Thailand right through the ‘silly season’. We urge you to take extra care on the roads in the traditional ‘seven dangerous days’. If you do head out to celebrate, catch a taxi or get someone sober to take you home. We want…
-
Krabi supporters of the coal power plant voice their support
More than 400 Krabi residents gathered in front of Klong Nua District Office to support the coal power plant today (December 21). The group of villagers, led by Baan Pakasai Moo 3 Village Chief, Kijja Thongthtip, says the group under the name ‘Representative of Krabi people network’, filed a letter to the district officials to pass to PM Prayut Chan-Ocha…
-
Amazing Thailand Countdown 2017 @ Phuket
Phuket is ready for an Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 @ Phuket on December 30-31, expecting to generate at least 200 million Baht. Last night (December 20), at Blue Elephant, Deputy Governor of Domestic Marketing, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Noppadon Pakprot, alongside Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong and the President of Phuket Old Town Community, Don Limnantapisit, held a press conference announcing…
-
THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
We welcome Thursday and are enjoying the continuing good weather but know there’s a bit of possible rain on the way with a weakening tropical depression. From the TMD… “During 22-24 December, it is forecast as a tropical depression moving near Malaysia and the lower South of Thailand.” Let’s check today’s main news stories… Protesters threaten to go to BKK…
-
Impounded fishing boats destroyed in blaze
A fire broke out early on Wednesday, damaging six of seven impounded Vietnamese fishing trawlers and sinking the seventh. The fishing trawlers were moored two kilometres offshore at Songkhla. Witnesses say the blaze started at about 2am but there were no fire-rescue boats available to go to the spot. As the fire engulfed the trawlers, the ropes that bound them…
-
How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?
It’s a question asked by an article nearly a year ago. Tim Newton ponders if much has changed in the last 12 months…. “In the worst of the incidents, 25 people died on Monday in Chonburi province after a pick-up truck and a minivan collided and burst into flames. In all, 426 people died on Thailand’s road between Dec 29…
-
THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 20
Prayut backs his deputy over watch scandal | Air Asia uniforms ‘too revealing’ | Help comes to Krabi 9 year old | Baan Yamu monkeys to be shifted | National police chief vows to track down bus burners | Tanyakan family file official police complaint | Diphtheria hits young refugees in camps in Bangladesh.
-
Pick-up truck loses control killing Khon Kaen driver
Kathu police received a report at 1.35am this morning (December 20) about a car crash in Phra Phuket Kaew Road. The officers and Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rushed to the scene and found a bronze pick-up truck wrapped around a lamp post in the middle of the road, near the coconut plantation curve heading east towards the Samkong Underpass intersection. Inside,…
-
Help pours in to assist the 9 year old boy from Krabi
After the news regarding 9 year old Poramet Duangchan was reported yesterday (Poramet was hit by a car, suffered head trauma, and now has to live in a cage as his father, who works full-time, finds it difficult to control him and stop him from running away), Krabi Office of Social Development and Human Security, along with Krabi officials and…
-
WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
More sunshine with a few clouds, more cool evenings and more fresh north-easterly winds. It’s the middle of the week in Phuket. There’s been a great reaction to our story about the young 9 year old Krabi boy who’s been having to spend much of his days in a cage. More about that in today’s daily briefs… Suspects being questioned…
-
Phuket Governor follows up on flood solutions for Route 402
File photo During today’s morning meeting (December 19) at Provincial Hall, the Governor, along with relevant Phuket authorities, discussed updates on the ongoing flooding issues that hit Route 402, and urged everyone to put it on the top of the agenda for Phuket. The designated areas are located in Srisunthorn sub-district, in Thalang, and include the front of Home Pro…
-
Krabi kid fenced at home after tragic accident
A Krabi man, Chamnan Duangchan, the father 9 year old Poramet Duangchan, is crying out for help after his son was hit by a car and become so worried that he feels he has to keep his son in a cage while working away from home. The 9 year old Poramet was hit by a car 5 years ago while…
-
Hi-lo gambling crackdown in Koh Kaew
Police have arrested ten gamblers at a construction camp today (December 19) in Koh Kaew, east of Phuket Town. The six men and four women were found with several pieces of gambling paraphernalia – such as 12 dice, a scoreboard, one set of Hi-Lo gamble equipment, 18,000 baht in cash and some other valuables. The ten gamblers have been sent…
-
TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A perfect sunny day ahead for your Tuesday with moderate to fresh north-easterly winds up to 25 kph. The fresh winds are expected to continue during the week with an approaching storm arriving this weekend. In the meantime, let’s check out the stories making headlines today… ‘Business conflicts’ might be behind bus attack in Yala The Fourth Army regional commander…
-
Chalong Circle construction update
Chao Fah West road, approaching the underpass construction works at the Chalong Circle, heading south towards Rawai, is being reduced to one lane. People travelling north from Rawai to the middle of the island are advised to use Chaofa East Road instead to help reduce congestion on Chao Fah West (outside Home Pro/Villa Market). Chao Fah West, approaching the Chalong…
-
Pretty in pink – the OrBorJor expands the Potong bus services
‘Potong’, the traditional open pink ‘busses’ of Phuket operated by the OrBorJor, will now be available every day from 6 am to 7 pm featuring four new routes. be ‘Potong’, the traditional non-air conditioning busses of Phuket that can be always seen in pink operated by the OrBorJor, will now available every day from 6 am to 7 pm featuring…
-
THAIGER TODAY Monday, December 18
New local football club emerges | Militants torch a bus in Yala | Crackdown on Khao Lak fakes | Brutal injury from a Muay Thai fight in Patong | 1000 ride for local sea turtles | Trang school students suspended following student extortion | Toon in Tak, 400 Km to go.
-
Khao Lak crackdown – more than 300 counterfeit items seized
The Economic Crime Police together with the Department of Intellectual Property Officials have arrested counterfeit retailers in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, yesterday (December 17) after the retailers had been in business for 10 years. Officials from more than 20 government departments are also alleged to be involved in bribery. At the scene, an alien worker who was offering products to…
-
MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in a 3 minute read
Welcome to the start of the final week before Christmas. A mainly fine day with a bumper sunset on the way this evening. We have news & weather updates, all day, seven days a week, on The Thaiger 102.75 FM. Let’s head to today’s main news stories… Militants set fire to a bus in Yala Militants armed with rifles have…
-
Cyclists gather to release 80 sea turtles
1000 cyclists rode around the southern part of Phuket yesterday (Sunday, December 17) to raise awareness about the island’s sea turtle population and release 80 young turtles at Cape Panwa. Rawai Municipality, along with the Andaman Rotary Club and Royal Thai Navy Area 3, hosted the “Cycling for Sea Turtle Preservation”. Former Phuket member of parliament, Rewat Areerob, hosted the…
-
SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sunday, Sunday. Rain, sunshine, clouds. Will the weather please make up its mind! The forecast is for some early rain clearing as the day goes. Mostly cloudy and a top of 30. Let’s check today’s main local headlines… Trang school gangs extorting students The director of a well-known private school in the southern province of Trang has admitted some students…
-
Phuket Marine Office reminds operators about safety for festive season
The Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiy, said that there will be a large number of tourists, both local and foreigners, travelling by boat around Phuket’s waters over the high season, creating a higher volume of marine traffic. “Some days, the water levels are high, making the water current flow swiftly with differences in the tides and can possibly cause…
-
THAIGER TODAY Friday, December 15
Parents of dead Army cadet say they’ll sue the Army | Two Thai athletes stripped of their SEA gold medals | New points system for traffic infringements being started next year | Myanmar Reuters journalists arrested | Toon stepping up the pace.
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.