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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Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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French man jumps to his death from Patong hotel
PHUKET: A French man jumped to his death from the 16th floor of a hotel in Patong around 6:30 this morning. A horrified electrician working on the same floor of the hotel spotted the man as he prepared to jump and unsuccessfully tried to talk him out of it. Police confirmed that the 47-year-old man was a French national and…
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Two Russians killed in horrific midnight crash
PHUKET: Two Russians died today after the car they were travelling in crashed into an electric pole on the bypass road just after midnight. “The victims were trapped inside the car, which was seriously damaged and stuck to the pole. Rescue workers had to cut the car to pry it loose and release the victims, both of whom were already…
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Resort employees file complaint after notice to “stop working’
PHUKET: A group of 63 employees of the Aspasia Phuket resort in Karon registered a complaint with the Dhamrongdhama Center at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday, after the hotel’s management company ‘The Breakers Resort & Development Co Ltd’ issued a verbal notice to them to stop working on Tuesday. Representatives of the management company said that the resort was unable…
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Ten baht minimum wage increase to be proposed for Phuket
PHUKET: A proposal to raise the minimum wage in Phuket by 10 baht a day is to be presented to the Cabinet by the Central Wage Committee of the Ministry of Labor. During a committee meeting held yesterday, an overall increase of 5-10 baht was proposed for 69 of the country’s 76 provinces, whereas the remaining provinces, including Nakhon Sri…
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Trade Department to investigate Patong restaurants overcharging Chinese tourists
PHUKET: The governor of Phuket has promised to crack down on restaurants in Patong allegedly overcharging Chinese tourists. Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan vowed to have the Department of Internal Trade investigate restaurants in the tourist hotspot at a meeting with the Vice Consul General and Head of The Phuket Consular Office, Wang Huijuan, in Songkhla yesterday. “Ms Wang brought up…
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Mosque donation box thief still at large
PHUKET: Police are searching for a thief who broke into a mosque’s donation box in Koh Kaew and stole about 10,000 baht on Tuesday night. Capt Udom Petcharat of Phuket City Police arrived at the scene after he received the complaint at about 8:30am yesterday. “People were gathered around a broken donation box – a tyre iron lay nearby,” said…
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Free black dyeing service offered to mourners
PHUKET: The Phuket Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education (NFE) is providing a free clothes-dyeing service to turn colored garments black so they can be used as mourning attire following the passing of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Using tubs of dye heated over charcoal burners, NFE staff began offering the free service yesterday from 9am to 3pm daily, for 30…
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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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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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Patong mayor, locals pray for King
PHUKET: The Baan Morn community of Patong, along with the mayor and several monks, prayed to bless His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and mourn his passing in a ceremony held Monday evening. Patong Police Superintendent Chaiwat Auikam also joined the mourners. “Our King visited Pisit Koranee Road in Patong several times in the past; his first visit was on March…
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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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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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Aussie, 32, dies of heart attack in Phuket
PHUKET: An Australian man died at Patong Hospital about 9am today, shortly after he was admitted there unconscious following a heart attack. The 32-year old man was checked in at a resort in Patong since October 13, and scheduled to check out on October 23. He was staying there with a 37-year-old Canadian woman. “According to woman, the man told…
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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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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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Tourist guidelines issued for mourning period
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has released new guidelines for tourists coming to visit the Kingdom after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. A period of national mourning was announced last week, following the death of the world’s longest reigning monarch. The TAT, while still encouraging travel to the country, is cautioning tourists that this mourning…
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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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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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Officials to strictly monitor social media activities
PHUKET: Social media users and their activities are under strict scrutiny by authorities following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej yesterday, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan announced today. “We have set up a special team comprising police officers, military personnel and IT staff to keep a close watch on social media,” said Governor Chokchai. “We are on the lookout…
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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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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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Nation weeps over His Majesty’s departure
PHUKET: His Majesty the King has passed away this afternoon, the Royal Household Bureau has now confirmed. The bureau said that His Majesty died at 3:52pm, at the age of 89. His Majesty had been hospitalized for years.
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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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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…
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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