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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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Promises of some rain from the Meteorological Department but it’s looking fine so far for the final day of the working week. Main story this morning is the Army handing down its findings into an investigation into the death of Phakhapong Tanyakan. The full story on the website but it leads our briefs for this morning… Tanyakan family says they…
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It’s time for “Upcycling the Oceans”
On January 27 and 28 2018, the PHA and TAT, in association with resources giant PTT and environmental design studio Ecoalf, will launch a new campaign aimed at collecting ocean waste and transforming it into stylish clothing and accessories. Taking place at Patong Beach, the associations will work together with the local community to collect waste and litter from the…
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4th Supersports 10 Mile International Run set for March 24 & 25, 2018
For the fourth consecutive year, Thailand’s leading sports retailer, Supersports, is organising the country’s only mile-distance race, the Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket Presented by Thanyapura on March 24 and 25, 2018 at Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort. Organisers expect 4,000 people to take part. The Supersports 10 Mile International Run 2018 Phuket attracts runners from around Thailand…
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Thursday. Star Wars day. Well, it’s the premiere of the latest in the Star Wars franchise and there will be a few queues at Central and Jungceylon today. There’s also a war between our embattled Deputy PM and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and social media with more photos and more watches appearing. Let’s go to all the main stories from…
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Are the 10% beach zones becoming 20% zones?
Despite appearances that the 10% beach zones seem to be magically growing into the remaining 90% of Patong Beach, Patong Mayor, Chalermluck Kebsup has assured the Phuket Gazette that the rule remains the same and the operators are still following the rules for the placement of sun lounges and umbrellas. “The 10% zoning remains the same and there are signs…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 13
Underground cabling works start April 2018 | Schools remain closed in Songkhla | Hells Angel Aussie and his Thai wife in custody | Couple trying to smuggle 98 million baht over Thai-Laos border | Missing Ukranian swimmer found – alive and well. Brought to you by The Thaiger 102.75 FM.
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Phuket Brand, Phuket Best Festival 2017 – Starts December 29
FILE PHOTO ‘Phuket Brand, Phuket Best Festival’ starts on December 29 for 11 days until January 8, 2018. It will feature famous food brands and entertainment at Saphan Hin Park. The City of Gastronomy will offer local street food for tourists while also providing food from luxury restaurants and hotels to locals at the same place, reflecting the diverse range…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
PHOTO: That’s a LOT of cash to take over the border. Mum & Dad have a currency exchange business. Really?! Welcome to Wednesday. Here’s our daily 3 minute news read to bring you up to date with some of the major local news stories…. Taking a bit of cash over the border. 89 million baht! Customs officials have discovered more than…
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Chalong villagers being expelled from land
Villagers from Satonpoh Community in Chalong gathered at the Provincial Hall today (December 12) to file a letter to the Governor, calling for help for re-location after getting expelled from privately owned land. Somjin Chuchuay, the representative of the community, explained that the land was initially a tin mine. According to Phuket Provincial Industry Office, the land belongs to the…
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The can of worms makes its way to Damrongtham Centre
Sarantip Chaeton, who earlier found worms in a can of fish, has visited the Damrongtham Centre at the Provincial Hall today (December 12) asking for some answers from the manufacturer. Read the original story HERE. She told staff at the Damrongtham Centre that the Office of Consumer Protection Board in Phuket informed her that there would be a staff from…
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Amphetamine crackdown in Krabi worth 10 million baht
This morning (December 12), Krabi police arrested 28 year old Jirasak Wongsa-Ad and 22 year old Apinan Matboonnoi at a house in Ao Luek district with 48,000 amphetamine pills. The 48,000 amphetamine pills were found wrapped in white plastic buckets and buried near a banana tree in the backyard of the house. Police also seized other items at the house,…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 12
Thailand hits the World Number One spot for road deaths | Change.org calls for Prawit to ‘step down’ | The world’s tallest pagoda burns down | Toon, down with a cold, is back on track today | EU resumes political relations with Thailand | ‘Butt boys’ back home in San Diego.
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TUESDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Welcome to your Tuesday in Phuket. Another excellent day on the way with only a 10% chance of rain later on. The forecast says ‘Mostly sunny’. Back to work and school following your day off (if you were lucky enough to have a long weekend). Here’s today’s main headlines… Change.org calls for General Prawit to step down An online campaign…
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New Phuket bus schedule App
The Phuket Land Transport Office is launching a new application called “Bus Beam” connecting people with public transportations, gathering all the schedules for bus services around Phuket. There are 6 bus operators who have joined the application so far. The Deputy Director General of Land Transport Department, Cherdchai Sanansrisakorn along with Phuket’s Vice Governor, Prakob Wongmaneerung, chaired the opening ceremony…
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Worms found in famous local canned fish tin
Phuket woman Sarantip Chaeton found worms in a tin of canned fish. Her post on social media has become viral with more than 124,544 shares. She revealed on December 9 that she bought the canned fish on December 8. Her sister bought three cans which all mention an expiry date of October 16, 2020, with the manufacturing date being October…
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Surprise proposal at Phukethon
The mini-marathon runner at yesterday’s Phukethon, Pakornkij Kanchanaroj, made a surprise proposal to his girlfriend, Nannapat Saepua, after finishing the run together. The groom has revealed that the couple are from Nakhon Si Thammarat. He is a power plant engineer and his future wife is a social work officer and they have been together for 9 years. The two families…
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Skull of the anonymous corpse found in Thalang drain, found.
Following the case early yesterday where a man’s body was found without its head in Thalang (story HERE), police have discovered his skull in a watercourse in Baan Lipon, Thalang (December 10) after a three hour search. After finding the body, police conducted a survey by walking along the watercourse at 9 am Sunday from the scene backwards to Lan…
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MONDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
PHOTO: Kata Rocks winds up their 2017 Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous. Enjoy your public holiday today, if you’re lucky enough to have it off. It’s Constitution Day. A beautiful sunny day ahead with just a few clouds. Should be the same for the next three days too. Here’s today’s main news stories…. “I borrowed the watch from a friend” Deputy…
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Headless corpse found in a Thalang drain
Thalang police received a report about a dead body found in a drain on Thepkasattri Road in Thalang heading towards Phuket Town last night (December 9). At the scene, police found a large crowd crowded around a drain with a strong smell coming from it. After opening it up, police found a decayed male body without his head. The man…
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SUNDAY MORNING BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sunday, Sunday. The Phukethon has been run and won, the Phuket King’s Cup wraps today and the Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous has their big closing party tonight for the mega-yachts visiting the island. Even though districts around Phuket are suffering severe flooding, including just north in Phang Nga, Phuket is waking up to a fine day ahead with only a…
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International Anti-Corruption Day. Zero tolerance with corruption in Phuket.
Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong chaired the opening of the International Anti-Corruption Day event at Phuket Rajabhat University today (December 9) under the concept ‘Zero Tolerance with Corruption’. The Governor said during the opening that the United Nation has set December 9 of every year to be the International Anti-Corruption Day to raise world’s awareness about the major impact from corruption.…
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Blade Runner. Cool tech gives Cola new legs.
After a first set of prosthetics, Cola now has new ‘bouncy’ blades to run on. Cola the two-legged dog has scored an Asian first – he’s the first dog in the world to be fitted with blades of the kind used by Paralympic sprinters. And he took to his new legs like a champion, racing up and down the beach…
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DAY FOUR – Phuket King’s Cup. Wind softens but competition heats up.
It’s been a week of consistently excellent winds (and gusts which peaked at 25 knots at times), but lighter conditions appeared for Day Four. This had the potential to alter standings heading into today, as well as tomorrow’s final race. Today also marked the conclusion of a great week of racing across all of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Dinghy…
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Road closures for the Phukethon Marathon on Sunday
The upcoming Phukethon 2017, with the Marathon being run on December 10, will force some roads to be closed down for the duration of the running event. Drivers are invited to plan ahead to avoid the runners on this date. More than 10,000 runners are coming to Phuket this weekend for the Phukethon event. The marathon is scheduled to start…
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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