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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Phuket Buddhists hold prayer vigils for 100-day mourning period
PHUKET: Hundreds of Phuketians stepped out early this morning to take part in a merit-making ceremony with 89 Buddhist monks at Phuket Provincial Hall, to mark the 7th day of mourning since the passing away of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13. Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan led provincial officials and the public in making alms offerings to the…
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Libyan tourist shoots firearms instructor at shooting range
PHUKET: A local firearms instructor was shot by his student during a training session at the Kathu Shooting Range located on Patong Hill at noon on Wednesday. The 34-year-old Chaisit Chusawad received a bullet wound on his right leg, caused by a 9mm handgun. “The shooter, named Emad Jamal Khalifa Hamed hailing from Tripoli, Libya, came in with his wife…
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Mother of slain German gets help from Thai tourism industry
KOH SAMUI: More than two years after the murder of Düsseldorf man Volker Schwartges, his alleged killers are finally set to appear in court, after official letters of complaint from Germany have put pressure on Thailand’s government. The 46-year-old Mr Schwartges was attacked by at least four young Samui locals at about 6am on August 20, 2014. Mr Schwartges was…
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89 monks to make merit for departed king
PHUKET: An early morning Buddhist merit-making ceremony led by 89 monks in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has been scheduled to take place at Phuket Provincial Hall tomorrow morning. “The ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:30am. All are invited to join. There will be an alms collection for the monks for which people can contribute fresh and…
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Man hits wife, gets stabbed
PHUKET: Kathu Police found the body of a man stabbed to death in a sand lot on Saturday afternoon. Nares Komkam, 42, was a truck driver at Phuket Sirintorn Co Ltd who had reportedly argued with his wife that morning. “We found the body on the ground, wearing a black shirt and jeans,” said Kathu Police Capt Nipon Bumroongtin. “He…
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Man covers country on foot to honor late King
KRABI: A man from Phitsanulok Province passed through Krabi yesterday after setting out from his home province on foot six months ago, determined to walk the length and breadth of the country, passing through all 76 provinces, in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol. Chuthipong Saetan, 24, began his walk from the province in northern Central Thailand with the aim…
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Krabi man murdered in M16 shooting
KRABI: Police are hunting for unknown suspects who murdered a man and injured his wife in a drive-by shooting on Phet Kasem Road in Krabi this morning. The suspects pulled up next to the driver’s side of a pick-up truck driven by 50-year-old Thana Pisan. He and his wife, Sirikul Sirikunyawattana, 46, were travelling back from a Krabi Town fresh…
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Phuket Muslims mourn the loss of His Majesty
PHUKET: The Sheikhul Islam Office of Thailand released guidelines on Friday detailing how the Buddhist nation’s Muslims should pay their respects following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The office’s letter comes as the nation of 67 million mourns the passing of the world’s longest reigning monarch (story here). “Since we are Muslims, we cannot dress in black…
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100kg of Krathom seized in Koh Samui
KOH SAMUI: A man was arrested with 100 kilograms of Krathom in Koh Samui on Sunday. “At about 9am we were manning the checkpoint at the Seatran Ferry pier as usual,” said Samui police chief Paitoon Krajajang, “when we found a modified pick-up truck that had an oversized spare tyre and was riding low to the ground. It was suspicious,…
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Phuket foundation passes out free ribbons
PHUKET: The Kusoldharm Foundation is providing free black ribbons to the public, in honor of the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13. Volunteers with the non-profit organization told the Phuket Gazette today that they’ve made over 1,000 ribbons for mourners, which they are handing out to passers by near the Heroine’s Monument on Thepkrassatri Road. “We wish…
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Another gambling ring busted in Phuket
PHUKET: Twenty two suspected gamblers were arrested in Wichit during a joint police and military raid on Saturday. The raid followed a similar bust in Wichit last week, during which police apprehended 16 suspected gamblers and confiscated more than 130,000 baht in cash as well as gambling paraphernalia (story here). Approximately 30 Wichit Police and Army 41st Military Circle personnel…
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Two more investigated for alleged royal defamation
PHUKET: A man in Mai Khao and a woman on Koh Samui were arrested yesterday after allegedly posting negative comments about royalty on social media. The arrests were catalyzed by mob demonstrations against the alleged commenters. Yesterday morning, a man identified on his Facebook profile as Payak Rai Haeng Nakhon Kor-En allegedly posted negative comments regarding Thailand’s late Monarch. Tah…
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Crowds gather to witness enormous hauls of fish
PHUKET: Local fishermen at Patong showed off their enormous hauls of fish this morning, photos of which went viral on social media. A number of locals gathered at the beach to take a look at the occurrence, which was earlier thought to be unnatural by some. “Local fishermen make their way to this part of the Andaman Sea to catch…
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Phuket man charged with lese majeste early this morning
PHUKET: A man was charged with lese majeste early this morning after several hundred angry people gathered in front of his shop in Samkong to protest against his negative social media posts regarding His Majesty the King on Thursday. By 8pm last night, about 20 people had gathered in front of Suthee Arammetapong’s soymilk shop looking for him. As users…
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Somber Phuketians pay respects to departed King at Provincial Hall
PHUKET: Hundreds of grief-stricken Phuketians in somber attire have been queuing quietly at Phuket Provincial Hall today to take part in a ceremonial anointing of a portrait of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej as well as signing a book of remembrance. During the period of mourning over the coming days and weeks, following yesterday’s announcement of HM King Bhumibol’s passing…
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No jail time for driver who killed German in road accident
PHUKET: The driver of a car that killed a German man and severely injured his Thai partner in Kata last year will walk away without serving any jail time. The dramatic court case over the death of Andreas Walter and the severe injury of his Thai partner Patcharin Lammai ended on October 6 at Phuket Provincial Court. Jakarin Rodpradit, the…
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Phuket entertainment venues shut for weekend
PHUKET: As the Kingdom mourns the loss of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Phuket’s governor today requested that the touristic island’s entertainment venues close over the weekend. “I would like to ask all entertainment venues not to put on performances at least for the next three days,” Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan said. “It’s not an order and we won’t be enforcing it,…
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Falling rubber prices force market shift
KRABI: The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) announced on Wednesday that the Kingdom will target Indian and Middle-Eastern markets in an effort to bolster Thailand’s share of the rubber commodities market. Titus Suksaard, the governor of RAOT, laid out plans at the Global Rubber Conference in Krabi, which was attended by rubber producers, traders and experts from Thailand and 25…
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Bangla falls silent to mourn the passing of His Majesty
PHUKET: Entertainment venues in Phuket fell silent last night as a sign of mourning for the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at 3:52 pm yesterday. Bars and nightclub owners in Bangla, Patong turned off their music and instead lit up candles at their venues to pay tribute to His Majesty. A similar show of grief could be seen…
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Phuket Governor urges officials, public to abide by PM’s declaration
PHUKET: As Thailand enters a period of mourning following yesterday’s announcement from the Bureau of the Royal Household that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at 3:52pm, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan expressed his deepest condolences and ordered officials to strictly abide by a declaration issued by the Prime Minister’s office. In a televised announcement yesterday evening, Prime Minister Gen…
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Phuket police commemorate Royal Thai Police National Day
PHUKET: Phuket Police officers marked ‘Royal Thai Police National Day’ today. Hundreds of Phuket police officers joined the event, which is part of nationwide celebrations to honor the force. The ceremony was held at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters in Phuket Town. The celebrations started with a Buddhist blessing before the official ceremony, led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol…
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Teens arrested for bypass stabbings, robberies
PHUKET: Four motorists were stabbed within 20 minutes of each other during a drunken robbery spree by two 17-year-olds in the early hours of yesterday morning. The two suspects used a motorbike to rob and stab victims in Phuket Town. Another robbery, without a reported stabbing, in Thalang is also being attributed to the suspects. The first victim, 21-year-old Suraya…
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Drunk American attacks vehicles on Thepkrasattri
PHUKET: An intoxicated American man was arrested for throwing bottles at vehicles and running in and out of traffic on the northbound Thepkrasattri Road in the early hours of yesterday morning. Tah Chat Chai Police charged thirty-eight year-old Stephen Leonard with drunk and disorderly conduct and damaging property . He was fined 200 baht. Mr Leonard allegedly smashed the window…
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Checkpoint nets nearly 100kg of marijuana
PHUKET: Tah Chat Chai police officers seized nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana at Phuket’s northern checkpoint on Tuesday. Col Prawit Suttiruengarun told the Phuket Gazette that the police arrested a Trang man after ordering the vehicle to stop for a routine search. The man, who police have identified as 37-year-old Annop Dueramare, reportedly attempted to drive away after the officers…
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Drive-by road rage shooting suspect arrested
PHUKET: Sakoo Police yesterday arrested a Thai man who critically injured another man in a road rage-fueled drive-by shooting on Thursday. The 23-year-old suspect, Pawarut Thepabutra, told police that he left his house about 5am on the morning of the incident with his girlfriend to join a Vegetarian Festival parade at Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town but then went…
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New team pledges allegiance to Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Phuket’s three new vice governors officially assumed their duties yesterday morning. The Interior Ministry announced the appointments of Sanit Sriwihok, Theera Anantasereewittaya and Siwaporn Chuasawat last week (story here). The V/Govs officially reported to Phuket Governor Dr Chokchai Dejamornthan, who arrived on September 30 to take up his post here on October 1, at Provincial Hall. The new team…
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16 arrested in gambling ring bust
PHUKET: Police apprehended 16 suspected gamblers and confiscated more than 130,000 baht in cash and gambling paraphernalia during a raid of an illegal gambling ring in Wichit yesterday. City Defense Deputy Jiradet Burarak and other officials led the raid on a house in Soi Thepanusorn at about 6pm after locals complaining about the level of noise emanating from the residence.…
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Van driver murdered in Kathu
PHUKET: Police are hunting for a Thai man suspected of shooting dead a van driver in Kathu on Saturday. Chamnong Kaewprot, 41, was admitted to Phuket International Hospital by his wife, with shotgun wounds to his back. He was later transferred to Mission Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Capt Sawanya Eiattrong of Kathu Police arrived at the scene of…
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Frenchman found dead in Patong hotel room
PHUKET: The naked body of a Frenchman was found in a hotel room in Patong on Saturday. The body of Sylvain Bernard Renia, 27, was discovered by housekeeping staff at The Nest Resort on Nanai Road. “His body was found in the toilet. He was naked and his face and body were resting against the wall,” said Capt Sininat Cherdchutrakulthong…
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Diving instructor charged with reckless driving
PHUKET: Police filed charges against a diving instructor after his reckless driving was caught on camera yesterday. A viral video on Facebook titled ‘Please help. Am I in the wrong?’ shows the driver of a Honda Accord attempting to turn right from the left-hand turning lane at the intersection of Chao Fa West and Thep Anusorn Road in Wichit, near…
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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