Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Vachira Phuket Hospital to conduct free cancer screening for women
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital will conduct free breast and cervical cancer check-ups every Wednesday from June 14 to August 31, 4:30-8:00pm. Vachira Phuket Hospital social security card holders, both foreign and Thai, as well as 30-baht health insurance card holders, can avail themselves of the free services. The women being tested must be between 30-60 years of age in order…
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Another dead marine creature washes up on Phuket beach
PHUKET: A dead turtle in an advanced state of decay washed up at Surin Beach yesterday, two days after a beached whale in a similar state was discovered in the same place (story here). Officers from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) came to examine the creature after receiving reports from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). They took…
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Bus driver caught with nearly 1,000 protected marine creatures
PHUKET: A bus driver was arrested in Phang Nga early this morning with nearly one thousand protected marine creatures. He was enroute to Phuket. “We received information from one of our sources that a big delivery of marine creatures would be made by bus today. We monitored the route and finally spotted the bus on Petchkasem Road in Moo 2,…
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Unidentified British man killed in Phuket crash
PHUKET: Police are trying to identify a British man who was killed in an early morning crash in Chalong today. From witnesses’ accounts, police believe the victim lost control of his bike and crashed into a wall at a bend in the road. “The accident occurred at about 2:40am in Soi Ta-Lad about 50 meters from Chao Fa East Road.…
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Million-baht-a-month lottery ring busted, three arrested
PHANG NGA: Police yesterday arrested two women and a man for allegedly running an underground lottery operation in Phuket’s neighboring province Phang Nga. The arrests were made at a staff housing unit at Banglam ‘Health Promoting Hospital’ in Takuathung District. The three suspects are Kamol Tongdeeying, 48, a palm oil farmer; Cholthida Makkhum, 35, an accountant;; and Pornthip Jankham, 31,…
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Thailand 4.0, Smart City main focus of TCEB conference in Phuket
PHUKET: The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) in cooperation with the ‘Southern Thailand MICE Cluster’ organized the ‘4th Thailand Domestic Mice Mart’ event at Duangjitt Resort & Spa in Patong yesterday. More than 200 participants attended the proceedings, which featured Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Air Asia and Bangkok Airways among the exhibitors. “This is a great opportunity for buyers…
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10kg monitor lizard found in Phuket home
PHUKET: A 10kg monitor lizard was released into a forest after it was found in a foreigner’s house in Thalang yesterday. “We received a request from the owner of the house to help catch the lizard in Baan Suan Neramit 5, Srisoonthorn sub-district. When we arrived, it was hiding somewhere in the house,” said Pongpan Juanan of Kusoldharm Foundation. “It…
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Carcass of 10-meter whale washes up at Phuket beach
PHUKET: The carcass of a 10-meter-long whale in a state of advanced decay washed ashore at Surin Beach yesterday morning. Officers are trying to identify the cause of death and find a place to bury it. “We received reports that the body of an unidentified marine animal had washed up at about 11am. We have identified it to be a…
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Phuket fishermen protest closure of community seafood restaurant
PHUKET: Local fishermen and representatives from fish processing groups yesterday morning gathered at the Damrongdharma Center to ask for help after the Phuket Fisheries Office ordered the closure of the Sarasin Seafood Restaurant in Tah Chat Chai. The group of 30, led by Ronnakorn Hongsa, president of Fish Processing Group Baan Tah Chat Chai, submitted a letter to Damrongdharma Center…
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Three top cops transferred out on alleged corruption charges
PHUKET: Three top-ranking officers of the Phuket City Police were transferred out yesterday following a raid on a large illegal ‘casino’ in Phuket Town. The officers are now under investigation for alleged corruption and malfeasance. A joint team of Army and police raided a house in Phuket Town on Saturday and arrested 63 gamblers with 2 million baht (story here).…
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Phuket City museum officials give 30-day deadline for reopening
PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality officials have confirmed that the Peranakannitat Museum launched earlier this month will be ready and open to the public within a month’s time. Last week, officials announced that the museum would temporarily remain closed until exhibitors could return all the items borrowed from Phuket residents to display during the grand opening ceremony, but could not give…
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29-year-old killed in high-speed Phuket crash
PHUKET: A motorbike rider was killed after he lost control of his bike at a bend in the road and crashed into the back of a parked car in Phuket’s Rassada sub-district early this morning. “The accident occurred on Thepkrasattri Road northbound. At the scene, we found the victim lying on the road, covered in blood. His Kawasaki motorbike was…
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Major Phuket ‘casino’ raid: 63 arrested, B2mn confiscated
PHUKET: A joint team of Army and police raided a large illegal ‘casino’ in Phuket Town and arrested 63 gamblers on Saturday night. Officials also confiscated about 2 million baht in cash, a shotgun, four pistols, 39 bullets, 22 cars, 34 motorbikes and gambling paraphernalia. The joint team included officers from Infantry Division 5 (Artillery 25) and Phuket City Police.…
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Belgians wanted for shoplifting in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting for two foreigners who allegedly stole mobile phone accessories from an electronics store in Phuket on Friday. A Facebook user named Maii-Ly Chaiviriyawong (whose real name is Nichapa-orn Chaiviriyarong and is the owner of the shop) shared pictures and CCTV footage of the incident on social media. Ms Nichapa-orn owns a shop named ‘Remax’ in Samkong.…
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Thailand’s much-debated Computer Crimes Act goes into effect
PHUKET: The newly-amended Computer Crimes Act (No. 2) B.E. 2560 (2017) was put into effect this week, after it was published in the Royal Gazette on January 24. It replaces the Computer Crimes Act B.E. 2550 (2007). One of the most talked about sections of the amended Act states that any person who sends computer data or electronic mail to…
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PEA says electricity cables not to blame for overhead disgrace
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong met with officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) yesterday to discuss possible solutions to the messy overhead cables in Patong. The plan to bury the mess in Patong began two years ago, with a 230-million-baht project to cover the three kilometer stretch of Thaweewong Road (story here). After receiving a horde of complaints about the…
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New P-REA president highlights plans for developing Phuket
PHUKET: Boon Yongsakul, Phuket-born businessman and Deputy Managing Director of Boat Development Company, was chosen as the new president of the Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA) in a ceremony held at the Phuket Boat Lagoon earlier this month. Mr Boon will hold this position for two years. “It is a great honor to be chosen as the president of the…
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Heavy downpours damage property in Phuket
PHUKET: Heavy rain and strong winds caused a large tree to fall over and damage houses in Chalong this week, causing about 100,000 baht worth of damage. “The incident occurred at Soi Bangre, Moo 1 at about 2pm on Wednesday. A fallen tree, about 70cm in diameter, wrecked the wall of a guesthouse and damaged another house and a car…
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Phuket fishing boat rescues sunken Burmese vessel
PHUKET: A Phuket-bound fishing boat rescued 15 crew members of a sunken Burmese vessel yesterday afternoon. The boat was carrying cargo from Penang, Malaysia to Myeik, Burma. The crew left on May 18 and were due to arrive on Saturday, but their boat was wrecked after experiencing stormy weather and strong waves near Racha Noi Island. “The Burmese boat, Aung…
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Patong transport operators protest reduction in taxi stands
PHUKET: Patong public transport operators will continue to utilize 84 taxi stands for now until the Phuket Governor and Army 4 commander announce their final decision about the number of stands on the island. The public transport management committee had announced on May 18 that Patong was to see a 75 per cent reduction in taxi stands (from 84 to…
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Phuket tourists injured, driver’s arm severed in another high-speed crash
PHUKET: A taxi driver’s arm was severed in a high-speed crash early this morning after he lost control of his vehicle in a curve, crashed into an electric pole and fell into a five-meter-deep ditch at roadside. “We received reports of an accident near Phuket International Airport at about 7am. At the scene, we found a heavily damaged black Toyota…
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Citizens call for action to fix dangerous road
PHUKET: Officials responded to complaints about a “dangerous and uneven” road after social media users posted pictures of Sakdidej Road in Wichit, urging authorities to take immediate action to fix it. The pictures were shared on a Facebook page titled Siang Prachachon Khon Phuket (‘The Voice of Phuket Citizens’). Frequent users of the road told the Phuket Gazette that it…
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21-year-old biker killed in Phuket pick-up collision
PHUKET: A 21-year-old biker was killed after he crashed into a pick-up truck in Wichit yesterday afternoon. Maj Narong Muangduang of Wichit Police provided details of the accident that took place in Moo 3, Kwang Road. “We found the body of Chalermchat Podok, 21, covered in blood and lying on the road. We also found a severely damaged big bike…
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Alleged murderers injured in car crash after shooting teen
PHUKET: Five suspects were injured in a car crash in Krabi last night after fleeing a murder scene in which a teenager was killed and another injured. “We first received reports of the shooting at about 6:30pm in Pru Din Na. We found the body of a 16 year-old teen identified only as ‘Jak’ on the ground with two bullet…
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Illegal cock-fighting, gambling ring busted, 15 arrested
PHUKET: Fifteen people were arrested while 15 others are on the run after Thalang Police raided a cock-fighting ring in Moo Baan Para yesterday afternoon. Lt Col Prasarn Toworn of Thalang Police led a team of officers to inspect the area after receiving complaints from locals about illegal cock-fighting and gambling there. “The suspects included both Thais and Burmese. They…
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Fake passport suspects recaptured after escaping police custody
PHUKET: Officers from Phuket Provincial Police, Saku Police and Patong Police joined forces to capture two Indian men who escaped police custody after being arrested for using fake passports. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teerapol Thipjaroen held a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Station to provide details of the case yesterday afternoon. “The two suspects are Raj Kumar, 36, and…
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Three arrested for extortion, impersonating police officers in Phuket
PHUKET: Three men were arrested for impersonating police officers and trying to extort money from two teenagers in Phuket yesterday. The arrests were made by a joint task force of Region 8 and Cherng Talay Police officers at a PTT gas station in Cherng Talay. The suspects, Thongchai Katthong, 30; Ittipol Kranara, 32; and Pathompong Rattanasuvan, 51; had Civil Defense…
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Phuket gov’s social media imposter sparks security concerns
PHUKET: Cyber security and Facebook seem to be the hot topics this week as Phuket police hunt for a Facebook user who made a fake profile with a name closely resembling the Phuket Governor’s and used his picture to impersonate him. The suspect also asked several high-ranking Phuket officials to transfer money to his account. The Facebook account was set…
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7-Eleven robber caught at rented room in Phuket
PHUKET: A robber was arrested at his rented room in Thalang yesterday evening, 14 hours after he held up two cashiers at a 7-Eleven near the Heroines’ Monument and stole all the cash from the store’s register. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police provided details of the incident which occurred early yesterday morning. “Baragis Yamdibu, 24, and Ronpirun Chujai, 32,…
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Ten arrested, B20mn of merchandise confiscated in Phuket raid
PHUKET: Ten vendors were arrested and 20 million baht worth of counterfeit merchandise was confiscated in Patong Thursday night. Maj Suriyan Petchchuay of Patong Police provided details of the raid to Phuket Gazette reporters. “Following complaints by the Department of Intellectual Property in Bangkok, officials from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and Patong Police inspected shops on Thaweewong Road.…
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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