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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Migrant worker registration deadline pushed forward, again
PHUKET: The deadline for illegal migrant workers to register in Phuket has been extended until the end of August, officials confirmed yesterday. According to the original schedule, the registration was to have finished by the end of July (story here). Launched in April, the registration campaign is part of a nationwide push to legalize unregistered migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and…
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Chinese tourist run over, killed, in front of wife and kids
PHUKET: A father of two on holiday with his family was run over by a car and killed in front of his wife and children while crossing Thepkassattri Road during a stop-off to shop at 7-Eleven late last night. The 54-year-old man, identified as Shengbin Lu, was part of a group of Chinese tourists on their way to Phuket Airport…
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Cash reward offered to find missing Phuket man
PHUKET: The daughter of an 80-year-old man who allegedly disappeared from a hotel in Patong in the early hours of August 3 has appealed for help locating her father. Kanjana Danaisuthikul and her husband Praditsakan Danaisuthikul filed a missing person report with Patong Police the same day but after not hearing anything for almost a week, the couple yesterday went…
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Phuketians say ‘yes’ to Thailand’s draft charter
PHUKET: More than half of Phuket’s eligible voters turned out to cast their ballots yesterday over the draft constitution referendum, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada told the Phuket Gazette today. Almost 90 per cent of the 150,326 voters in the province voted to accept the proposed draft constitution. Provincial Election Commission officials said they had hoped for an 80 per cent…
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Police arrest bag-snatching brothers, recover stolen items
PHUKET: Phuket City Police on Saturday night captured robbers who stole a bag from a Slovakian tourist at Phuket Downtown Fresh Market on Friday. Riding a motorbike, the robbers snatched a bag from Domonkoso Vaniko, 28, after pulling up beside her. It was initially believed that the suspects threatened their victim with a small hammer. However, it was revealed following…
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Nocturnal fly tippers trash Krabi mangrove
KRABI: Officials are taking on a fly tipping complaint that has been riding the social media airwaves for about a week. In the online post, locals and tourists complained about a mangrove forest at Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, publicly asking for help from officers in charge of the area. The trash was located in front…
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Youths wreak havoc, destroy property at juvenile center
PHUKET: A group of 35 juvenile delinquents, including at least one charged for involvement in the Thalang riot last October, wreaked havoc at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center (JOPC) at Saphan Hin yesterday afternoon. Phuket City Police was called in to control the situation by JOPC Director Rawee Kuhapimook. “The group grabbed hold of fire extinguishers and sprayed…
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Alcohol banned for referendum election
PHUKET: The Phuket Election Commission (PEC) confirmed today that the sale of alcohol is prohibited throughout Thailand August 6-7, as the country goes to the polls to vote on the National Referendum. “The alcohol ban is from 6pm on August 6, ahead of voting the next day, until midnight on the 7th. It is applicable to all retail shops, restaurants,…
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Gun-toting teens threaten bikers in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: Two men filed a complaint against two unidentified teenagers who allegedly threatened them with a gun in Cherng Talay last night. Satja Kongrat, 20, and Ekkachai Chaidam, 19, were both riding on a bike on Srisoonthorn Road, heading to Bangtao from Baan Pa Sak, when the incident took place. “Mr Satja and Mr Ekkachai said they arrived at Cherng…
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Police apprehend suspect behind Phuket Town crime spree
PHUKET: Phuket City police revealed this morning that they have captured the man responsible for a recent spate of robberies in and near Phuket Town. “The suspect, named Jakkarin Seesong, 27, was arrested and his motorbike confiscated at Karn Keha (Baan Porn) in Thalang on Tuesday,” said Lt Col Naruebadin Pangleesen of the Phuket City Police. Mr Jakkarin reportedly could…
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V/Adm wants to limit number of tourists visiting islands
PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy Vice Admiral criticized local officials’ management of tourism in the Andaman at a meeting held on Wednesday. Royal Thai Navy Third Area Commander Sayan Prasongsamrej was particularly critical of the Phuket Marine Office, saying that officials there needed to do a better job of documenting international vessels anchoring or docking in Thai waters. “A major…
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Muslim cleric shot, takes on attackers
PHUKET: A Muslim cleric was injured in a drive-by shooting in Koh Kaew last night, after which he attempted to chase down his attackers, seriously injuring both. Weerachat Kahapana, 49, an Imam at Bang Pae mosque, received one bullet wound in his rib-cage, while his 3-year-old son, who was in the car with him, escaped unscathed. The perpetrators were seriously…
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Tour guide apologizes for attempted rape
PHUKET: A tour guide has confessed that he attempted to rape a receptionist in Cherng Talay early this morning, police confirmed. Captain Sakkarin Pankhan of Cherng Talay Police said officers responded to a call from the Imperial Ocean Palms apartment complex about 4am. “When we arrived, the victim was with office staff and security guards in a shocked condition,” said…
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First Thai Muslims depart for Hajj via Phuket airport
PHUKET: One hundred fifty-eight Thais left Phuket International Airport on Tuesday to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, as this year’s Hajj begins. This was the first flight of Thai nationals leaving for the Hajj this year. Seventy-nine of the passengers were from Pattani Province, and the other half from Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Muslims are required to make the pilgrimage to…
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BOT to issue HM Queen commemorative bank notes
PHUKET: Twenty million commemorative 500-baht banknotes celebrating her Majesty the Queen’s 84th birthday on August 12 will be issued by The Bank of Thailand, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The new banknote will depict a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in traditional Thai royal dress. HM the Queen’s birthday marks the seventh cycle of the Chinese Zodiac, with each cycle…
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Tourists rescued from sinking longtail, drowning
PHUKET: Four Chinese tourists aboard a sinking longtail boat were rescued from Phang Nga Bay yesterday evening. The director of Krabi Chao Fah Rescue Center, Nithipat Monkulpradit, told the Phuket Gazette today that he received a distress report following the incident and immediately took action. “At about 3:20pm, a longtail boat named Nateesup was on its way from Koh Ngai…
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Jungceylon mall reopens after crumbling columns repaired
PHUKET: Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong was yesterday given permission to reopen a section of the complex that had been closed to make repairs to crumbling columns discovered in June. The reopening came after the mall received approval from Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada following a final inspection by engineers yesterday. The shopping mall’s Port Zone was initially closed off after…
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Livestock office shuts down illegal slaughterhouse in Kathu
PHUKET: A slaughterhouse operating illegally in a residential area of Kathu was shut down by the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office (PPLO) yesterday. Livestock officers carried out an inspection of the premises, in Moo 7 near Vichit Songkram Road, following complaints made the day before by residents in the neighborhood. “We found 19 pigs crowded in a small space and in…
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Bad weather causes Phuket flight delays
PHUKET: Bad weather prevented several flights from taking off and landing at Phuket International Airport this morning, causing delays of up to five hours for some passengers. Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan said a total of 19 flights from the following airlines were affected: Beijing Capital Airlines; Shanghai Airlines; Juney Ao Airlines; Spring Airlines; Asia Atlantic; China Southern Airlines and Bangkok…
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Contractors demand fairness from Employment Office
PHUKET: A crowd of more than a hundred local employers of migrant workers gathered this morning at Phuket Provincial Hall to protest difficulties registering workers under their employ. A representative of the group, Wirachai Saddom, handed a letter of complaint to Phuket Vice Governor Kajornkiet Rakpanitmanee at 11am, demanding fair treatment of migrant workers and their employers while they are…
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Quarantine for baby elephant found on Bangtao Beach
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Livestock Office (PPLO) has quarantined a baby elephant found on Bangtao Beach after her owner was charged yesterday for moving the animal to Phuket without a proper permit. Livestock officers moved the six-year-old pachyderm named ‘Nang Chok’ after tourists and locals expressed concern for the animal’s well being. “Boonchu Rattanadilok Na Phuket, the owner of Nang…
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Soi dog walks again
PHUKET: A puppy that had its two front legs hacked off earlier in May has been fitted with new prosthetic legs, the Phuket-based charity Soi Dog Foundation announced on Sunday. Theprachen Srisoda, 36, reportedly hacked off the puppy’s front legs with a sword because it had chewed one of his shoes left outside his house. Public outcry and a 96,000-signatories…
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Resort under investigation for alleged laundering
PHUKET: A four-star hotel in Koh Yao Yai has had it’s assets frozen, after officers from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) began investigating whether the resort is being used to launder money and evade taxes for the embattled Tranlee Travel Co Ltd. During a joint task force raid on Saturday, AMLO officers said they were inspecting Blue Bay Resort’s land…
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Car bursts into flames in Phuket Town
PHUKET: The owner of a 20-year old Opal Corsa Swing was forced abandon his vehicle in Phuket Town yesterday afternoon when it suddenly burst into flames outside the Expo Market on Soi Dilok Uthit near Chana-Charoen Road. Two fire engines took about 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze, reported the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office. A representative of…
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Thief defecates on victims’ doorstep
PHUKET: A thief in Chalong defecated on one of her victims’ doorsteps early yesterday morning. The perpetrator reportedly broke into four homes, primarily occupied by foreigners, at the Nga Chang villa complex in Rawai. Police reported that the crapper focused on stealing cash, although she clearly had access to other valuables. Jake Newton, 19, an Australian Muay Thai fighter training…
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Three hurt as boat bursts into flames, sinks off Phang-nga
PHUKET: Seven crew members of a fishing vessel were saved in a dramatic rescue off Phang Nga yesterday afternoon when their boat burst into flames and sank after refueling at sea. Three crew members were injured in the fire, one of them suffering severe burns to at least 20 per cent of his body, mostly to his back and arms.…
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Kuwaiti father dies during swim at Patong Beach
PHUKET: A Kuwaiti man on holiday with his Thai wife and their child died while swimming at Patong Beach yesterday afternoon. Abudullam Haalmusawi, 71, was found floating face-down by other swimmers off Patong’s Loma Park. He was taken to Patong Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police confirm. Mr Haalmusawi’s distraught wife, Kamla Rungrueng, aged approximately 40 years old, said…
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Gov pushes BKK to finalize light rail project
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada is fed up. After years of talking and planning a province-wide light rail project, Governor Chamroen is ready for officials to put up or shut up. The governor has called on the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) in Bangkok to sort things out in his office next week or dismiss the…
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Severe weather warning issued for southern provinces
PHUKET: Heavy rains and high seas are expected across southern and central Thailand, the Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has announced. DDPM officials have issued weather warnings for the weekend and into next week for Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Petchaburi, Prachuap, Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Suratt Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Chonburi, Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat and Ranong provinces. DDPM officials…
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Rumors of ‘Thai boycott’ raise eyebrows
PHUKET: After months of stories about Chinese tourists and their loud and ‘inappropriate’ behavior while visiting Thailand this year, rumors on social media suggest that they might be looking to remove the Kingdom from their list of countries for holidays. Reports in the Phuket Gazette‘s mass circulation Thai-language newspaper partner Komchadluek suggest that Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangul has…
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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