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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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Formula 1 powerboat race coming to Phuket
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) has good news for water-sport enthusiasts as Phuket plans to host a Formula 1 powerboat race in November to promote the island as an international tourist and water-sport destination. “This is a joint venture between Thailand and Singapore. The expected date of the event is November 4-6,” MOTS Phuket Office Director Santi…
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Phuket officials confirm no troubled waters for bridge players
PHUKET: Phuket police have confirmed that playing bridge in Phuket is not illegal as long as there is no gambling involved. The confirmation follows reports of police and military officers raiding a bridge club earlier this month in Pattaya, which led to the arrest of 32 foreigners, including an 84-year-old Dutch woman (story here). “I was unaware of the arrests…
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Teens steal motorbikes from police station
KRABI: Six young men were arrested on Wednesday night for stealing motorbikes from the Krabi City Police Station to chop and sell as spare parts. Four of the six were minors – 16 and 17 years old. The other two suspects were named as Sarawut Chinsri, 20, and Jakkapong Nonsri, 18. “I first noticed that a motorbike from the impound…
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“Jet-ski Champion’ transferred out of Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s long-standing champion of jet-skis on the island leaves the province today after being transferred to the landlocked Nonthaburi Province Marine Office. “I leave at 11am and will start my work there on Monday,” former Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Phuripat declined to specify exactly why he was transferred after almost six years…
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Maimed Phi Phi divers return to Russia
KRABI: Two Russian divers who were seriously injured in a speedboat accident earlier this month have safely returned home, confirmed a Krabi official. Sergei Dmitriev, 30, and Dmitry Kurynov, 48, were diving near Maya Bay on February 5 when they were hit by a speedboat, causing one diver to lose his leg and the other to suffer serious injuries (story…
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Delivery truck downs power lines, throws rider over wall
PHUKET: A fish delivery truck left a trail of destruction down a back road in Rassada yesterday morning when the high-sided vehicle snagged overhead power lines and pulled down a row of five electricity poles like dominoes. Meanwhile, the oblivious driver charged down the road towards his depot. Caught up in the entanglement and lucky to escape serious injury was…
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Phuket Vice Gov steps in to take charge of Sirinath case
PHUKET: Officials confirmed on Tuesday that initial investigations indicate that only 27 of the 715 much-disputed plots of Sirinath National Park land have been proven legal, said Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. The vice governor spoke with a committee, comprised of experts and officials, formed to investigate and resolve issues surrounding the national park’s land disputes. The committee was set…
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Phuket Heroines’ Memorial Festival March 5-19
PHUKET: This year’s Heroines’ Memorial Festival, running March 5-19, is sure to impress all in attendance with cultural and historical activities to honor war heroes Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn. “The purpose of this event is to honor the heroism of Lady Thepkrasattri and Lady Srisoonthorn, who sacrificed their blood and lives for generations to come,” said Phuket Governor Chamroen…
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Car-bomb suspect arrested after 16 years on the run
PHUKET: A man wanted in connection with a car bombing in Patong more than 16 years ago was arrested at his home in Trang yesterday. Police were acting on an arrest warrant issued in May 2003 by the Phuket Provincial Court following a car-bomb attack that seriously injured three people outside of a gold shop in 1999. Police officers from…
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Teen driver kills two teachers, injures head monk
KRABI: A 17-year-old was charged with reckless driving causing death after the car he was driving collided with a van, killing two teachers and severely injuring a head monk in Krabi yesterday afternoon. Three teachers from Kanchanapisek Wittayalai School, as well as Phra Kru Sri Thammawutti, head of Wat Phokha Chuthamas and Lord Abbot of Muang Krabi District Buddhist Monastery,…
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German cancer patient dies in Phuket fall
PHUKET: A German man died after falling from the balcony of his seventh-floor condo room in Phuket yesterday evening. “Karl Geier, 76, was reportedly living alone at the building on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road,” said Lt Col Jetsada Saengsuree of the Patong Police. “There were no signs of a struggle or robbery in his room.” Police questioned a number of…
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A Decade Ago: Visa runs and the ‘Ranong 12’
PHUKET: Phuket is changing at exponential speed. The transformation from what this little island looked like ten years ago, to the traffic-congested mayhem we now see on our roads, is dramatic to say the least. But some things never change, or at least they don’t change for long. ‘Visa runners released after four nights of fear’ reads the sub-headline on…
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Bodies of two missing canoers found in Rassada
PHUKET: Rescue workers this morning recovered the bodies of two men who had been missing since their canoe capsized near Koh Sireh on Sunday. “The body of Mat Panthip, 51, was found floating near Ruen Talay Seafood restaurant in Rassada at about 9:30am,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “About two hours later, we found the body of Laong…
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British backpacker found safe and well in Krabi
PHUKET: Police in Krabi have tracked down a 21-year-old British woman who disappeared for six days while travelling in Thailand, prompting a social media frenzy to help find her. Krabi Tourist Police confirmed that they found Ms Taylor at Krabi International Airport earlier today. Tourist police stayed with her to ensure her safety, while awaiting the arrival of a family…
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King cobra killed after raiding camp
PHUKET: A three-meter-long king cobra was killed after attempting to sneak into a workers’ camp in Paklok yesterday afternoon. Snake catchers from the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation rushed to the camp after receiving a report about the deadly reptile, but by the time they arrived on the scene, the camp’s occupants had already dealt with the snake their own way. “By…
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One dead, 17 injured in another Patong Hill bus crash
PHUKET: A Phuket bus driver was killed and 17 tourists injured when the bus crashed into an electricity pole while descending Patong Hill last night. Bus driver Jeerasak Kimbuathong, 40, was pinned in the driver’s seat by the the pole, which fell on the vehicle. “It took rescue workers nearly an hour to pry him out, but he could not…
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Prime Minister keeps controversial comedian off stage
PHUKET: The show of controversial comedian and hate-speech convict Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, scheduled to take place last month at Illuzion night club in Phuket, was cancelled after the venue pulled the plug less than 24 hours ahead of the Frenchman taking the stage. Since then, Mr M’bala M’bala has struggled to find his footing in Asia. “One of the owners…
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Bangkok Airways flight postponed due to “bomb’ scare
PHUKET: Panic ensued on a Bangkok Airways flight when cabin crew feared a bomb threat after overhearing a conversation between a group of passengers yesterday afternoon. Staff on Bangkok Airways flight PG 924 from Bangkok to Phuket reported that prior to take-off, four passengers on the flight were overheard talking about ‘explosions’ with each other, said Sirote Duangratana, the general…
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One dead, two missing after Phuket canoe flips
PHUKET: One man is dead and two are still missing after the canoe they were taking to a yacht anchored near Koh Sireh in Phuket capsized last night. Rescue workers were able to recover Visut Prasert, 58, and Santhaya Kasikun, 9, from the water, shortly after the canoe flipped at about 10pm. Mr Visut was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital…
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Phuket orangutan discovered caged in jungle
PHUKET: Khao Phra Thaeo Non Hunting Zone officers discovered a missing 13-year-old orangutan Saturday evening after she disappeared from the Phuket Zoo ahead of a police raid on Friday. “Milo was found in a healthy condition,” Edwin Weik, the founder and director of Wildlife Friends of Thailand (WFFT), told the Phuket Gazette. “I do not believe that she went missing…
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Rescue workers unable to revive swimmer at Bang Tao
PHUKET: A Chinese national died Saturday afternoon after swimming with his family at Bang Tao Beach. Miu Zhioin, 63, was pulled unconscious from the water after losing his footing and going under the waves, confirmed Capt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. “Layan rescue workers’ attempts to revive Mr Miu were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Thalang…
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Phuket beach vendor arrested for encroachment
PHUKET: A Phuket vendor caught encroaching on public land at Bang Tao Beach was arrested Saturday afternoon. “Jakkrit Dechana, 28, was arrested with three wooden tables and 10 chairs,” said Col Bancha Panpradap, an officer with the Region 5 Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED). Mr Jakkrit told police he was only in charge of taking care of…
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Kusoldharm Foundation worker killed in three-vehicle crash
PHUKET: A Kusoldharm Foundation worker was killed yesterday afternoon after he crashed his bike and was dragged underneath a bus in Phuket Town. Police found Sakpayom ‘Ajarn Jack’ Tarapong, 36, lying in the road near the rear wheel of a bus and a parked vehicle, confirmed Maj Somchai Nooboon of the Phuket City Police. “According to the bus driver, Nukul…
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CSD raids home of former Rassada mayor’s wife
About a hundred officers led by the Crime Suppression Division this morning surrounded the house of former Rassada Mayor Suratin Lian-udom’s wife, as the Central Investigation Bureau continues raids throughout the island. Several suspects were apprehended after declining to be searched and resisting arrest. Mr Suratin was not at home at the time and was not the apparent target of…
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Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video]
PHUKET: Karon Beach is preparing its sands for the Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket powered by PTT on March 23 through March 27. The international amateur beach volley tournament will feature three classes: two X two men, two X two women and four X four mixed. After preliminary pooled games, the men’s two X two event will be divided into…
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Phuket orangutan “disappears’ ahead of police raid
PHUKET: A 13-year-old orangutan that conservationists were fighting to free from Phuket Zoo has gone missing, confirmed Wildlife Friends of Thailand (WFFT). “Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NRECD) of the Royal Thai Police and Department of National Parks (DNP) agreed to investigate the case of Milo, agreeing to raid the zoo this morning,” Edwin Weik, the founder and director…
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US Embassy to hold consular outreach in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Millennium Resort Patong on February 26. Consular staff will be available from 8am to noon to provide the following services: • Passport renewal applications (US$110.00 or 4,070 baht for adults, and US$105.00 or 3,885 baht for children). • Passport applications for lost or stolen…
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Rawai sea gypsies turn down government offer
PHUKET: The Rawai sea gypsies have turned down the provincial government’s offer to purchase 19 rai of disputed land (story here), insisting that the land deeds must be revoked entirely. Reasons for the most recent refusal in the prolonged land dispute between landowners and the sea gypsies were that the sea gypsies believe the land deeds were unlawfully acquired so…
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HeadStart International inaugurates new Phuket campus
PHUKET: HeadStart International School last week held an opening ceremony for its new campus, located at Soi Na Sua near Central Festival Phuket. “Our new campus is situated on 15 rai of beautiful landscape and is very easy to access from major locations in Phuket,” said School Director Jazon Edouard. Some of the facilities at the new campus include large,…
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CIB nabs illegal jet-ski operators in Phuket
PHUKET: A total of 28 jet-ski operators were arrested during a Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raid on Phuket yesterday. Despite numerous accidents and a legacy of scamming tourists, jet-ski operators have continued to work under an umbrella of lax enforcement of jet-ski rules and regulations. “We arrested the jet-ski operators for renting their vehicles to tourists without provincial permission,” said…
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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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