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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PEA responds to high electricity demand with new office on Phi Phi
PHUKET: The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) on Saturday opened a new office on Koh Phi Phi, a month after finishing a 600-million-baht underwater cable project that began in April 2013. Both projects were initiated in response to the high demand for electricity on the island, totaling about seven megawatts per year. The grand opening was chaired by PEA Governor Sermsakul…
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‘Inexperienced’ Chinese tourist drowns in Phuket
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist snorkeling for the first time in his life drowned at Koh Racha Yai yesterday afternoon. The victim, Hangseng Chen, 62, was on a day trip with the ‘Jaiyun Travel Group Co Ltd’. “Suthee Maliwan, the tour guide, told us that at about 11:40am, he made a stop to let the tourists snorkel off the island. He…
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First priority is to beautify Phuket, says Gov Norraphat
PHUKET: Newly-appointed Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says his first priority is to beautify Phuket. Earlier this week, the governor held his first ‘media meet’ since his arrival on the island on April 10, to lay out his plans for Phuket. On April 4, ex-Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan was transferred out after six months on the job, with Gov Norraphat –…
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Woman killed, 3-year-old niece survives Phuket hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman was killed and a three-year-old slightly injured in another hit-and-run accident in Thalang yesterday evening. The child is now confirmed to be out of danger. Lt Sunan Pethnhoo of Thalang Police received reports of the accident, which occurred near Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road, at about 5:45pm. Police arrived at the scene with rescue teams to…
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Ex-military among those arrested for criminal association in Krabi
KRABI: Krabi Provincial Police yesterday arrested 16 ex-military and other security personnel with nine rifles, 10 shotguns, bullets and an array of other paraphernalia. The arrest occurred in a palm plantation in Krabi Town that, until last year, was in possession of United Palm Oil Industry Public Company Limited (UPOIC). Chettha Kaew-In, 43, was the main suspect, while the rest…
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‘Mentally ill’ Phuket man blows half his head off
PHUKET: A Mai Khao resident believed to be suffering from a mental illness reportedly shot himself in his home this morning in what turned out to be one of the worst scenes Phuket police say they have encountered recently. Lt Col Watcharin Jirattikanwiwat of Tah Chat Chai Police received reports of the incident at about 8:45am. “The house was located…
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Unidentified foreign tourist’s body recovered from Phuket beach
PHUKET: Lifeguards and police officers have recovered the body of an unidentified foreign tourist from the water at Patong Beach. The man was reported to have disappeared this morning, Local vendors informed lifeguards of his disappearance at about 9am, saying that he simply never returned after going into the water. Lifeguards hopped onto their jet-skis to search the sea. Patong…
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Ex-convict charged with seven counts of rape in Phuket
PHUKET: Patong Police yesterday arrested a Pattani man for rape, impersonating an officer of the law, robbery and house encroachment. “Russanee Bahe, 32, has confessed to seven counts of rape,” Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. Col Somsak led a team of officers to arrest him at the ‘Best Store’ hotel in the China Town…
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Former tour company staff member wanted for deceiving Malaysian travellers
KRABI: Police are hunting for a former employee of a tour company who escaped after allegedly scamming 23 Malaysian tourists in Krabi. Yesterday, a team of officers from the Krabi Tourist Police, led by Sub Lt Suwan Tuamsri, helped temporarily accommodate a teacher and 22 university students after their tour agent disappeared upon their arrival in Krabi on Tuesday. “The…
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Video: Two arrested for dragging woman behind motorbike during botched robbery attempt
SAMUI: Two motorcyclists who dragged a woman behind their motorbike while attempting to steal her bag at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui last week were arrested early yesterday morning. The CCTV footage of the incident, which featured Kanitta Krawwer, 32, being dragged by her bag’s shoulder strap as the two men attempted to steal it from around her neck, went…
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“Illegally-planted’ coconut trees found on disputed Naka Noi land
PHUKET: Royal Forestry Department officers yesterday responded to a complaint regarding a plantation of coconut trees on public land at Naka Noi island, the ownership of which the Land Department had already revoked last year. The land dispute on the island first began in December 2015, when the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) responded to a complaint alleging the land’s…
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National park chief blows whistle on his own staff for scamming tourists
KRABI: Ao Nang Police officers revealed yesterday that the Koh Phi Phi chief of park protection asked them to arrest his own staff on Sunday for selling used island tour tickets to unsuspecting tourists. Ao Nang Police Lt Songphon Boonchai informed Phuket Gazette reporters of the development at 11am. “The Chief of the Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi…
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Special Report: Phuket hospitals facing huge losses from uninsured patients
PHUKET: There is no lack of evidence about the alarming number of tourist deaths in the ‘Land of Smiles’. According to the ‘Bureau of Prevention and Assistance in Tourist Fraud’, there was a whopping 54 per cent increase in tourist deaths in 2015 (latest data available) as compared to 2014. This figure includes tourists only. The actual number including expats…
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Little Phuket girl rewarded for returning bag full of cash and gold
PHUKET: A nine-year-old girl received a reward for returning a bag containing 130,000 baht in cash and 90 grams of gold yesterday afternoon. Piyarat Boonkek and her parents met with 55-year-old Nukhlia Sangkaew, the owner of the bag at Kamala Police Station to return it. Ms Nukhlia told Police officers that at about 2:30pm she withdrew the cash from the…
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Samui Taxi driver wins 30 million baht lottery
SAMUI: A taxi driver yesterday won 30 million baht in lottery winnings in Koh Samui. Sittichai Samthong, 40, was surrounded by friends and family to celebrate his good fortune. “I was confused at first because I did not expect to win. I have now notified Samui Police,” Mr Sittichai told the Phuket Gazette. “I will continue to drive my taxi…
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B116mn expansion planned for Phuket deep sea port
PHUKET: The transport and marine departments last week announced plans for a 116-million-baht expansion at Phuket deep sea port in Vichit. Deputy Minister of Transport Pichit Akrathit and Marine Department Director-General Sorasak Sansombat held a conference to reveal details of the planned project. “The current port is about 360 meters wide and unable to handle big cargo ships and passenger…
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Foreigners, local arrested in Krabi credit card scam
KRABI: Police in Krabi arrested five suspects and are looking for two more involved in alleged credit card fraud to purchase a hotel this weekend. “Last Wednesday, staff of a Bangkok Bank branch in Ao Nang notified us that three men and two women were attempting to purchase the 700 million baht Krabi Heritage Hotel on a 300mn baht contract…
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Traditional Songkran festivities held in Chalong, Phuket Town
PHUKET: Unlike Songkran celebrations in tourist-heavy areas, Chalong and Phuket Town underwent an alcohol cleanse to host a more traditional commemoration of the holiday up until yesterday. Chalong Mayor Samran Jindapon with the general public made offerings of food to monks at Soi Ta-iad at about 7am. Since it was also official ‘Old age Day’ on Thursday, members of the…
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Phuket tour bus crashes in Patong
PHUKET: A tour bus full of Chinese nationals crashed into several cars on Patong Hill road last night, creating a massive traffic jam due to additional Songkran visitors. Lt Col Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police received reports of the incident at about 7pm. “We arrived to see a ‘Somsak Transport Company’ bus with a broken front windscreen and several…
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Two arrested with more than 250,000 baht worth of krathom
PHUKET: Police arrested two Burmese workers with about 200 kilograms of krathom in Patong yesterday. Col Chaiwat Auikam of Patong Police handled the case. “We same a man, who we later learned was called ‘Piew’, acting suspicious in front of SuperCheap Patong. He tried to escape when we approached him. He was clean, but upon inspecting his motorbike we found…
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Songkran festivities hit Patong, police warn against sexual harassment
PHUKET: Patong is now heaving with tourists as the much anticipated Songkran festivities kicked off prematurely this morning. Despite warnings by officials to restrict water-throwing activities to tomorrow, April 13, Phuket locals and tourists jumped the gun and began celebrating the holiday today. Lt Col Seksan Komsakorn of Patong Police notified Phuket Gazette reporters that three main checkpoints for the…
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New Phuket Governor meets with officials, orders “organized’ disbursements
PHUKET: New Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong met with local officials at Provincial Hall for the first time this morning. He was welcomed onto the island this Monday (story here), and ordered authorities to work smart and ‘manage’ expenditures related to local government projects. “I am ready to help Phuket move forward and become stronger. I also intend to continue development…
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University students killed in horrific Phuket crash
PHUKET: Two university students were killed in a horrifying crash when a garbage truck ran over them in Chalong on Monday. Lt Chanat Hongsittichaikul of Chalong Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene at about 6pm. “Prince of Songkla University (PSU) studenta Passatorn Chaicharoensun, 20, from Hat Yai, and Panicha Mingkanitkul, 19, from Trang, were heading toward town on…
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Businesses hiring 1,700 students for school break
PHUKET: More than 1,700 students can spend their school break earning a wage and gaining experience in a program arranged by the government’s Employment Department. Waranon Pitiwan, the department’s director-general, said 243 businesses have offered to temporarily take on 1,760 students aged 15 and up, in jobs such as customer service, cashiers and sales assistants. They include Ek-Chai Distribution Systems…
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Officials say Phuket ready to deal with Songkran influx
PHUKET: The island’s officials are preparing to manage the influx of visitors, both local and foreign, who swarm into Phuket during Songkran, which is being celebrated nationwide this week. Phuket International Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan has confirmed that an in-line screening system was recently added to the airport, which will help ease passenger congestion, make processing times faster and highlighting…
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New Phuket governor arrives on the island
PHUKET: Newly-appointed Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong arrived in Phuket this morning, a week after ex-Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan’s transfer was announced by the National Council for Peace and Order (story here). Governor Norraphat visited Wat Phra Thong, or the ‘Temple of the Golden Buddha’, and paid his respects at the Heroines’ Monument before arriving at Provincial Hall. “My first priority is…
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Phuket gold thief arrested in Songkhla
PHUKET: A Chiang Mai woman who stole items from two gold shops last month in Phuket was arrested this Saturday in Songkhla. The woman had reportedly entered gold shops in Wichit and Talad Nue and was seen stealing items on CCTV footage before escaping (story here). Region 8 Police led by Lt Col Prawit Engchuan of Ao Nang Police were…
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One arrested, one on the run in B1.2mn Phuket drug bust
PHUKET: Police seized more than 300g of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), a bomb and car from a rented room in Patong today. One suspect was arrested while another is on the run. The bust was conducted at Phra Metta Road and the haul was valued at 1.2 million baht. “We received complaints from locals that a woman named Urai Haha,…
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British expat believed to have died of electrocution in Phuket
PHUKET: Officials have been instructed to examine a power pole that may have electrocuted and caused the death of a British expat at his house yesterday afternoon. “We received reports of the incident in Rawai and went there to investigate further. At the scene, we found the unconscious body of Paul Wilkinson, 55,” said Lt Col Kanan Somrak of Chalong…
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Woman escapes injury after vehicle catches fire in Phuket
PHUKET: A Phang Nga woman escaped injury after her car caught fire in Phuket yesterday afternoon. Thalang Police officers received a report of a burning vehicle at the Mud Dok Khao-Nai Yang junction. “Weeraya Thitiwanna, 34, had just driven from Phang Nga to Phuket when her car started smoking and caught fire,” said Capt Chatree Chuwichian of Thalang Police. “She…
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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