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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Police seize knock-off goods worth B500,000 in Patong
PHUKET: Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) seized pirated goods worth 500,000 baht at a market stall in Patong on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off, ECD and Patong police officers discovered fake brand-name products being sold at a stall in Baan Thai Market, said ECD Maj Apichat Amornpradit. “The stall was selling counterfeit glasses, shirts, bags and…
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Phuket property management firm shrugs off “military threats’
PHUKET: Unhappy foreign tenants will be filing an official letter of complaint with the Department of Special Investigations (DSI) and the Army as they battle a property management company on the island. The move follows the tenants allegedly bringing representatives of the DSI and Army onto the property to ‘resolve’ the dispute with the company. “If we were to receive…
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Last toothfish poaching vessel of ‘Bandit 6’ sunk
PHUKET: Authorities in Indonesia have sunk the last of the ‘Bandit 6’ toothfish-poaching vessels, the Viking. Sea Shepherd representatives were on the ground to film the sinking of Viking, which marked the end of over a decade of toothfish poaching in the Southern Ocean at the hands of the Bandit 6, and the conclusion of Sea Shepherd’s Operation Icefish 2015-16.…
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Double bust for Phuket bar owner
PHUKET: A Phuket bar owner was arrested twice in two days for running a nightlife venue without a permit and selling alcohol to underage customers. Officers conducted a check at Zippy Bar in Phuket Town last Wednesday, of which Anchalee Kietiyod, 30, claimed to be the owner, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee. “She was found selling alcohol…
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Sea gypsy assault case headed to Phuket prosecutor
PHUKET: Police say they will hand over the sea gypsy assault case to the Phuket public prosecutor this week. More than 30 Rawai sea gypsies were injured in a violent confrontation with private investors from Baron World Trade Co Ltd in January (story here). Six suspects allegedly involved in the attack have surrendered and been released on bail (story here).…
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Phuket police hunt hit-and-run truck driver
PHUKET: Police are hunting a truck driver who ran over two men on a motorcycle, killing one and critically injuring the other, near the underpass at the Central Festival Phuket intersection this morning. “At the scene, there were two victims lying in the road and a badly damaged motorbike nearby,” said Lt Patcharee Wongboon of the Wichit Police. “Witnesses said…
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Phuket welcomes new acting marine chief
PHUKET: The new acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office has been named as Surachai Burapanontachai. Mr Surachai was transferred from the Samut Songkhram Marine Office where he served as its chief, to fill the position left open by former Phuket Marine Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, who was transferred to Nonthaburi on February 26 (story here). “I am glad to be…
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Dengue claims life of 9-year-old Krabi girl
KRABI: A nine-year-old Krabi girl died from dengue fever in Trang on Saturday after being hospitalized for four days. The parents of Kanyanat Noochaikaew, from Lam Thap district, expressed their grief and disbelief at her funeral yesterday. “We can’t possibly express how heartbroken we are. We never thought our family would face such a fate,” said her father Thavorn Noochaikaew.…
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Registration open for Phuket Criterium 2016
PHUKET: Saddle up for the 2016 Phuket Criterium; a day of pedal-powered street racing to be held at Saphan Hin on April 23. Last year’s inaugural event was a huge success, attracting more than 300 cyclists (story here). This year, the organizers have expanded the race categories to welcome participants of all ages and abilities with categories for fixed-gear bikes,…
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Petition launched to stop wild animal exploitation in Thailand’s tourist spots
PHUKET: Phuket-based animal welfare organization the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) has launched an online petition to get the Prime Minister’s backing to put a stop to wild animals being used in the tourist trade in the region and other tourist destinations in Thailand. The campaign, ‘Stop the Killing and Exploitation of Wild Animals for Tourism’, was launched yesterday. “We…
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Taxi passengers recovering after fatal crash on Phuket bypass road
PHUKET: Three passengers travelling in a taxi that collided with a crane on the bypass road on Saturday are recovering in hospital and expected to be discharged later this week. Police are still investigating the circumstances of the collision, which resulted in the death of the taxi driver (story here). The three Chinese passengers, each of them aged 25 years…
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Phuket hit and run kills one, injures two
PHUKET: Phuket police are hunting a hit-and-run driver who killed an unidentified man and injured two people in Wichit this morning. Witnesses said a Toyota Fortuner of an unknown color was heading toward Phuket Town when it struck two motorcyclists, before crossing lanes and fatally injuring a third motorcyclist. “The collisions took place at about 7:40 this morning in front…
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Superyacht crew member killed in anchoring accident
PHUKET: A crew member on the superyacht Ocean Victory was fatally injured yesterday in a freak accident as the ship was anchoring off Koh Tachai in the Similan Islands archipelago. The Bulgarian national was reportedly caught up in a chain mechanism while the 140-meter superyacht was weighing anchor at about 2pm. The 33-year-old man sustained massive injuries to both his…
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Disrobed Phuket monk busted for gathering alms
PHUKET: Police arrested a disrobed monk for donning sacred attire and collecting alms in Phuket yesterday morning. Police were alerted to Somsak Donlakorn, 54, by local abbot Phra Kru Mettapirom. “By the time we arrived, Mr Somsak had already collected 4,200 baht,” explained Lt Preechaphat Sangnoi of the Phuket City Police. “We asked to see his monkhood registration, but he…
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Family of lost-and-found 3-year-old might lose him again [video]
PHUKET: The three-year-old who was found in the jungles of Phuket after having gone missing for six days was released from hospital on Monday. He is now in the care of the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families while a committee considers whether or not his family is capable of raising him. Jetsadakron Chaiyo, nicknamed Nong DJ, went missing from…
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Phuket shooting range safety under review after Estonian death
PHUKET: Safety regulations at shooting ranges in Phuket are to be tightened following two deaths at ranges in the province in the past two years. In March last year, a 21-year-old British man killed himself at Thalang Shooting Range (story here). This week, 38-year-old Estonian Andres Podra turned a gun on himself at Patong Hill Shooting Range and died from…
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Police urged not to rule out foul play in death of Phuket man
PHUKET: The family of a man, whose body was found under a Phuket City Municipality water tower this morning, is urging police not to rule out foul play. The body of Sompong Vijit, 30, was discovered by a municipality staffer who was walking by the area. “Yesterday evening, Mr Sompong went out to collect cans and bottles for recycling. When…
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Four busted smoking heroin in Phuket
PHUKET: Four men were arrested for smoking heroin in Phuket yesterday evening. The men were found in a bamboo shack in Thalang with 40.2 grams of heroin and drug paraphernalia, confirmed Capt Suchart Luecha of the Thalang Police. The men were named as the Somchai Chuanchit, 51; Wissarut Dujpayak, 28; Jaturong Nakasarn, 25; and the property owner Sanong Ngankaeng, 46.…
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Sir Nick Faldo formally opens new BISP Golf Center
PHUKET: British golf legend Sir Nick Faldo – six-time Major Winner and Laguna Golf Ambassador – was invited as the guest of honor to officiate yesterday’s grand opening of the new British International School Phuket (BISP) Golf Center. Dozens of members of the BISP community attended the ceremony at the center, located adjacent to the top football pitch behind BISP’s…
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Phuket honorary consuls request better coordination with airport
PHUKET: Phuket honorary consuls on Wednesday pushed for better access and resources for providing support to foreigners during emergency situations at Phuket International Airport. “We have requested a contact point, as well as a contact person, who will – in case of an emergency – allow us to quickly get all the necessary information and provide whatever services we can,”…
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Phuket road-safety campaign continues after initial success
PHUKET: A road-safety campaign encouraging Phuket motorcyclists to wear helmets has been hailed a success in Kathu, where less riders are being arrested for not wearing protective head gear. The progress has prompted officials to extend the campaign at least until the Songkran break in April. The ‘One District, One Road, with 100 Per Cent Helmets’ campaign was launched on…
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B4bn Phuket land seizure not to impact Big Buddha
PHUKET: Despite photographs of Phuket’s Big Buddha appearing along side news stories about the seizure of land valued at 4 billion baht in the same area, the iconic statue will be unaffected by the Anti-Money Laundering Office’s (AMLO’s) investigation. The AMLO transaction board resolved to seize a 45-rai plot and a 19-rai plot of land along Freedom Beach and in…
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Phuket east coast to airport speedboat taxi proposed
PHUKET: The honorary consul to Phuket from Norway proposed on Wednesday that a speedboat taxi service be put in place along the island’s east coast, connecting Phuket International Airport with Chalong. “There are very few options for locals and tourists to get from the airport to Chalong that are both convenient and affordable,” said Pornphan Sittichaivijit, the Royal Norwegian Honorary…
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Phuket athletes bag top spots at Philippines Ironman
PHUKET: Phuket native Jaray Jearanai – Thailand’s top triathlete – and his fellow team members at Z-Coaching Phuket made quite the impression at the Subic Bay Ironman 70.3 held in the Philippines last weekend. The Phuket-based triathlon academy bagged several victories and top spots at the competition. Mr Jaray put in one of his best performances yet to go sub…
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Phuket police told to keep close watch on mass SIM purchases
PHUKET: Phuket police say they were unaware of mass SIM purchases before the arrest of a suspect in Phuket on Saturday, but are keeping an eye on such activities following orders from the national police chief. National Police Commissioner General Chakthip Chaijinda has been in touch with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to discuss security concerns, Region 8…
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Beiber to race into Phuket on Formula 1 Powerboat’s dollar
PHUKET: Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Adele are slated to headline concerts at Phuket’s first Formula 1 Powerboat race in November, said event organizer Lucky Triple T. The artists are expected to grace the Phuket stage for one evening each of the three-night event. Despite his love for fast, expensive vehicles, Mr Bieber is not expected to race. The UIM F1H2O…
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Self-proclaimed prophet’s wrath descends on Phuket lottery shop
PHUKET: A man who claimed to be a prophet of the ‘God of the Sun’ was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday after turning violent at a lottery shop in Phuket Town. Suktiporn Onsuwan, 45, claimed that the God of the Sun had divulged to him the winning lottery numbers on the auspicious day of the solar eclipse (story here).…
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Phuket beach officials plan to charge for trash management
PHUKET: Exasperated officials at Mai Khao Beach are urging the public to help maintain cleanliness in the area, barring which, they say they would be forced to implement a visitors’ fee to contribute toward trash management. “We are chalking out a plan to collect a fee from the public and use that money to hire staff to collect trash,” Sarawut…
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Notes found on dead Estonian at Phuket shooting range
PHUKET: Police have found two hand-written notes on the body of an Estonian national who allegedly shot himself in the head at the Patong Hill Shooting Range yesterday. Andres Podra, 38, reportedly rented a .45 handgun at the range and fired seven shots at a target before turning the gun on himself and discharging the eighth round into his head…
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Phuket’s Row2Rio adventurer nearly obliterated by cargo ship
PHUKET: The Row2Rio challenge was almost cut short earlier this week when the boat’s auto tiller went on the fritz as a 180-meter cargo ship barrelled toward the four-person crew rowing across the Atlantic. “Our AIS alarm (close proximity to other vessels) went off and in the distance the ship’s spotlight came on. They were sweeping the water looking for…
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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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