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.
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Another week to verify exactly what the ‘object’ is at Nai Yang
The suspected torpedo remains in the sea of Naiyang Beach. It will take a week to verify its type but the object is safe, according to a specialist in the area of wartime ordinance. Yesterday afternoon (October 6), a team from the Royal Thai Navy Area 3, Phang Nga base, visited the spot again when it was low tide. The…
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6 share-bikes found dumped in Bangyai canal
6 Ofo bicycles from the share-bike project launched in Phuket Town in September, have been found dumped in a canal. Some of them have also been stolen by the renters in the first few days as well. The sharing bike project had been launched on September 20 and announced free rides for a month from October 1. Apart from the…
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150 temporary lifeguards being trained
The Phuket OrBorJor (Phuket Provincial Organisation) is setting up a training course for 150 new lifeguards in readiness to step in if no one bids in the new auction. A meeting at the OrBorJor office today (October 6) chaired by Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew, along with many local authorities, discussed about more possible solutions for Phuket lifeguard duties. There have…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, October 6
Election delayed until 2019 | Laypang won’t be released to the wild | Kasikorn Bank has revised it’s predictions for Thai economy | Big drug haul in Phuket Town | Janitor gets special surprise from students.
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Teachers and parents protesting at a Krabi school
A protest gathering of 300 students, parents and teachers of Baan Klong Jone School in Krabi took place yesterday (October 5) with the aim to expel the school director, Pairot Khaosang, who allegedly has been failing his administration during the past 4 years. The protest was led by the president of the school board, Alongkorn Yaprang, calling for the replacement…
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Drugs, guns and bullets – 2 men arrested
Today (October 5), Phuket police announced the arrest of 2 men with 10,760 amphetamine pills, 1 kilogram of meth amphetamine and guns and bullets valued at 1.4 million Baht. The arrest follows a 7-kilogram amphetamine crackdown that happened 2 months ago. The police tracked down the other drug dealers involved in the network by investigating the people arrested. Police discovered…
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Laypang won’t be released back to the wild
The DNA results for Laypang, Phuket’s celebrity crocodile, has been revealed it is a mix between saltwater and freshwater crocodile which was possibly born through a human breeder, not naturally. Phuket’s Governor says that the Fisheries Department will be responsible for the next step in the Laypang saga. The authorities are now checking for possible locations where the crocodile comes…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, October 5
It’s a bomb, an old bomb | Joint statement from White House mentions new Thai elections | Civil aviation ‘report card’ verdict soon | Swarms of pink fire jellyfish at Koh Gai | Tesco Lotus closing 1,900 stores on October 26.
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More than 10,000 fire jellyfish found near Gai Island, Krabi
During a survey by officers of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park today (October 4), the team found a massive group of pink fire jellyfish floating on the water surface. “We found a lot of fire jellyfish near Gai Island and we have warned all tour boats to be careful of them and avoid diving in the area…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 4
Suspicious ‘torpedo’ shaped object at Nai Yang Beach | Roadworks on Kaw Sim Bee Road | Final two days to pay respects at Grand Palace | Retiring teachers being offered short-term contracts | Rohingya suspicious of Myanmar Government offers | PM Prayut and US President Trump talk trade and elections.
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Hundreds of monkeys in Krabi waiting for food on the street
About a hundred macaques living in a mangrove near Baan Talane Pier in Krabi are flocking to nearby streets to get food from pedestrians packing the drive-way with a groups of monkeys and frequently blocking the road altogether. “I travel to Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga through this pier regularly and I can see the number of monkeys growing all…
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How long does it take to repair a road?
Specifically, how long does it take to repair Kaw Sim Bee Road (the road up Rang Hill from Phuket Town, on the south side)? Two weeks ago we reported the cracks in the road, some up to 50 metres long. Road authorities have closed the road for ‘landslide protection’ which we’re going to read as reinforcing the cliff at the…
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Phuket struggles to find new lifeguards
There are still no lifeguards applying for the job, according to the OrBorJor. Following a meeting at the provincial hall today (October 3) OrBorJor Phuket representative, Satien Kaewpraprab, says that no one has applied for the lifeguard positions after an announcement of hiring for individual contracts. He explained that the main reasons are that some of them do not have…
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Phuket gets ready for the Late King’s local cremation ceremonies
During the meeting at Provincial Hall today (October 3), Phuket authorities have updated the progress for the Late King’s cremation ceremony in Phuket. The Phuket Provincial Offices of Public Works and Town & Country Planning officer, Tawee Homhuan, said that the royal funeral pyrotechnic model on the main stage of Sapan Hin Park is about 90% completed and 99% is…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, October 3
‘Trade talk’ between Prayut and Donald at White House | Police have issued a Blue Notice to Interpol over Yingluck’s disappearance | Thailand looking to revise it’s GDP predictions | Khon Kaen bus driver caught using his phone whilst driving.
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More rain on the way – north, north-east and south
Phuket is facing more thunderstorms and rain until at least the weekend. Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodtong, said yesterday (October 2) that according to the Thai Meteorological Department, Phuket is one of those provinces facing downpours from October 2-5 saying locals should follow up the weather forecast closely. People in Phuket, especially those who live on the lowland areas, should be…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, October 2
Coming from Bang Wad in Kathu today… A 23 year old Chinese tourist, Shi Yieing, drowned over the weekend | US President and the Thai PM meet today in Washington for talks | More pink fire jellyfish found off Koh Hong | Sunday’s Run 2Gether in Phuket Town a high success.
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Koh Racha gets a clean-up, on the beaches and underwater
Volunteer divers tackled the rubbish around Koh Racha over the weekend. They collected 2,291 pieces of trash with a total weight of 506 kilograms. Here’s a list of the rubbish they collected… 2,007 pieces of trash from beach activities 811 plastic bottles 150 glass bottles 51 drinking cans 265 bottle lids/corks 60 forks/spoons 5 toys 290 plastic glass 171 clothes…
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Missing Chinese tourist found drowned at Kata Beach
The body of a Chinese tourist, 23 year old Shi Yieing, who disappeared on September 30, has been found washed up ashore last night at Kata Beach. On September 30, her friend, Zhang Lei, reported to Karon police that at about 3pm, that he and four others, including Shi, went swimming at Karon beach before she went missing in the…
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Phew, that’s the first day done – new lifeguard regime
Today (October 1), Phuket’s Governor visited the Marine Safety Centres in Patong and Karon to cheer up the temporary beach lifeguard teams whilst two tourists were saved from the waters off Nai Harn Beach thanks to volunteers this afternoon. Following the end of the Phuket Lifeguard Company contract yesterday, Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong visited the two locations which had gathered…
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Phuket officials get behind the ‘Run 2Gether’ in Phuket Town
Early this morning (October 1), Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, hosted the “Run 2Gether Phuket Town” event, the first ever running event that gathered 1,000 runners and disabled people to join the activity together. The Governor also joined the run, leading the way for participants in the event which started in front of Limelight Avenue mall. “I’m very glad that many…
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Business as usual – Phuket’s beaches under lifeguard patrol
The Phuket Governor held a meeting yesterday (Saturday) bringing together all the beach lifeguard resources to prepare for the end of the lifeguard company contract which finished at 6.30 pm last night. Several local officials from the areas across Phuket joined the meeting to finalise preparations to send beach guards to each beach on the island today. There are 4…
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More fire jellyfish found off Krabi
More of the fire jellyfish have been found at the beach at Koh Hong between Krabi and Koh Yao Noi. The Chief of Than Bok Khorani National Park, Jampen Pompakdee, and his team collected the poisonous (nasty stings but unlikely to be fatal) fire jellyfish floating along the coast of the Hong Island beach. “The number of fire jellyfish found…
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Chinese tour bus catches fire – no injuries
We’re used to seeing smoke come out of the back of the hundreds of tour buses moving around Phuket’s roads, but not like this. 22 Chinese tourists and their 50 year old bus driver, Khunchai Pinyo, had a scare yesterday. “I was driving the bus with 22 Chinese tourists coming back from Thalang to a birds nest shop in Koh…
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Ao Sane luxury villa being investigated by the DSI
The 12 metre high beach villa project on the cliff at Ao Sane has been proven to be illegal according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The owners were instructed to demolish the upper structure to meet the legal height of 6 metres back in August. In the meantime DSI (Department of Special Investigations) officials have been on…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, September 29
Phuket OrBorJor says it will continue the existing contract until a new contract is negotiated for Phuket’s Lifeguards | Custard Pie led police to the ATM bomber | May Bay to be closed next year | Two men arrested over rape of a woman in Ubon Ratchathani. Plus all the fun of the Cake & Coffee day at Kajonkiat International…
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Ao Sane and Nakkerd Mountain under DSI investigation for encroachment
The DSI deputy director-general, Pol Lt Col Prawut Wongsinil, along with his DSI team, Forestry officers and local authorities, visited two alleged encroached land plots including at Ao Sane Beach (Baan Laem Krating) near Nai Harn beach and Nakkerd Mountain in Karon. The first spot visited was Nakkerd Mountain following complaints about an illegal land deed covering 20 rai of…
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Maya Bay being closed for three months next year
Park officials say they’re going to close Phi Phi island’s famous Maya Bay from June for three months next year. Officials of the Koh Phi Phi National park authority held crisis talks yesterday where they were told that the bay has been ravaged by too much tourism. So it’s going to be shut to allow the beach side of Maya Bay, as well…
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Tourist Police getting ready for high-season
Today (September 28), the tourist police rehearsed aerial transportation of injured people to improve their readiness for the forthcoming high season. The rehearsal took place on the football field of Baan Sapam Mongkol Wittaya School, demonstrating the transportation of injured patients by helicopter. “We got a great cooperation for this rehearsal. The safety of tourists in Phuket is our priority…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 28
PM says Yingluck is in Dubai | Polish man suspected of blowing up an ATM ‘planning more attacks’ | Crisis meeting in Pattaya to sort out Taxi/Uber turf wars | UN Aid agencies visiting Rhakine State today
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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