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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Visas, taxes tangle up superyacht charter licence
PHUKET: There will be further delays in Thailand rolling out the highly-anticipated foreign-flagged superyacht charter licence, industry representatives were told at at Thailand Yacht Show forum on Wednesday. Though the regulations and rules with regards to the actual superyacht charter licence were hammered out on August 10, a number of related issues remain as hurdles for superyacht owners, explained Somchai…
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Transport Minister demands underpass tunnel completion within two months
PHUKET: The Transport Minister of Thailand has given the construction company in charge of the Samkong Underpass until April 10 to complete the project. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith stopped by the site yesterday to check on progress and speak with representatives of the construction company, Wiwat Construction Co Ltd. “Engineers from the Department of Highways and the Engineering Institute of…
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Phuket sea gypsies take land case to capital
PHUKET: Sea gypsies in Rawai have taken their case to the capital to plead for intervention from the country’s top brass, after being threatened with eviction from beachfront land by developer Baron World Trade Co Ltd. Representatives from the sea gypsy community handed a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan on Wednesday, but did not get an immediate…
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Hundreds of passengers skate through Krabi immigration during blackout
PHUKET: About 800 international arrivals breezed through Krabi Airport immigration on Wednesday due to a six-hour blackout that caused the computer systems to shut down. “Immigration officers had to manually take down passenger information, and later enter it in the system when it was back up and running,” confirmed Attaporn Nuangudom, director of Krabi International Airport. The loose security measures…
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Phuket melon mayhem takes hours to cleanup
PHUKET: An out-of-control pick-up truck carrying more than 50,000 baht worth of watermelons collided with a power pole in Thalang earlier this week. “There were smears of fruit everywhere on the road. It took rescue workers and police officers about an hour to clear it all up,” said Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. The truck driver, 41-year-old Veera…
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British Embassy to host seminar on sensitive handling of sexual assault victims
PHUKET: The British Embassy will be hosting a seminar on sensitively handling sexual assault victims in Phuket on February 25. “The British Embassy and Royal Thai Police are going to host the seminar, titled ‘Victim Handling Protocols when Dealing with Rape and Sexual Assault Cases’,” said Martin Carpenter, British honorary consul for Phuket. The employees of the Phuket Public Health…
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More than 5 dozen tourists saved after speedboat sinks
PHANG NGA: More than five dozen tourists were safely rescued after their overloaded speedboat sank near the Similan Islands yesterday evening, reported officials. The 50-passenger boat, owned by the Rak Talay tour company, was carrying 63 tourists at the time of the incident, said Phang Nga Marine Police Chief Jakkree Mekumphonsuit. “According to the captain, they were headed back to…
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Massive granite slab kills one, critically injures another
PHUKET: One Myanmar national was killed and another seriously injured last night after an enormous slab of granite that they were delivering fell on them. Mong Mia, 23, was part of a four-man crew unloading the slabs in a warehouse in Kathu, when they lost control of a piece they were carrying, estimated to weigh between 300 to 500 kilograms.…
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CPR brings tourist back to life
KRABI: Rescue workers revived a Chinese tourist after she was pulled unconscious from Krabi waters by friends Tuesday afternoon. “Jian Jingpia, 28, was swimming with a large group of friends at a depth of about one meter, when she lost her footing and began floundering and choking,” said Jumpen Pompakdee, head of the Koh Hong National Park. Ms Jian lost…
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Rescued three-year-old boy transferred to PICU
PHUKET: The three-year-old boy who was found after going missing for six days, has been transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Vachira Phuket Hospital, confirmed hospital staff. Nong DJ was rescued yesterday from a shallow waterway about three kilometers away from his home (video report here). “Nong DJ is now in the PICU due to a stomach…
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Krabi Police bust illegal gun ring
KRABI: Krabi Police captured one suspect and are searching for two others who were able to flee the scene of a raid on Monday in Ao Luek. Police were alerted to the location after neighbors complained of an illegal gun production ring. “We were able to capture Noppadon Surachawadee, 34. However, his younger brother, Prasit Surachawadee, 28, and their associate,…
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Prime Minister to open Thailand Yacht Show [video]
PHUKET: PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha* will officially open the inaugural Thailand Yacht Show this week, on Thursday, February 11 at the Ao Por Grand Marina. The event will run until February 14 and showcase the latest luxury yachts available for charter, as well as the latest offerings from the region’s top boating industry specialists and suppliers. “I am…
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Canadian national dies after night out in Patong
PHUKET: Police are waiting for doctors to confirm the cause of death of a Canadian man who died in his hotel room in Patong this morning. Micheal Jerry Talbot, 28, collapsed at about 5:30am after suffering from chest pain and shortness of breath, confirmed Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police. “Mr Talbot’s roommate told us that Mr Talbot went…
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Escaped toothfish-poaching vessel netted in Senegal
PHUKET: Authorities in Senegal have detained the internationally wanted toothfish-poaching vessel Kunlun, which slipped through the fingers of Phuket authorities after having been seized in March last year. Reports allege that the illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel had previously falsified its registry, claiming Indonesia as its flag state. This allowed the vessel to be detained in Senegal on formalities…
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Breaking News: Phuket rescue workers save missing 3 year old
PHUKET: A missing 3-year-old boy was found today after having disappeared from his family home on Wednesday. “The boy is very weak and cold. He was in the woods alone for days,” said Kusoldharm rescue worker Thanakorn Teechanon. “When we found him, he wasn’t even crying, as he was so weak. We are now taking him to Vachira Phuket Hospital.”…
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Another unidentified foreigner dies, after collapsing on Bangla
PHUKET: Police are trying to identify a foreign male who died at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday morning. The man, estimated to be about 50 years old, was not carrying any identification when, according to witnesses, he collapsed and hit his head on the sidewalk along Patong’s famed Soi Bangla Saturday night. He was taken to Patong Hospital and later transferred…
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Another tourist dies on Phuket speedboat trip
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist was recovered unconscious from the waters off Koh Racha while on a speedboat trip today. Ju Zekai, 24, was rushed back to Phuket and transferred to Chalong Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Mr Ju was on a day trip around Koh Racha with his girlfriend and 20 other tourists. He had gone for a swim…
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Tourists flock to Phuket for Chinese New Year
PHUKET: Record numbers of Chinese tourists are flocking to Phuket this month to join Chinese New Year celebrations on the island. Phuket International Airport has been bustling for the past few days with tourists arriving on extra flights from mainland China and Malaysia, said Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan. “An extra 29 charter flights from China to Phuket were laid on…
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Phuket flyover projects garner public clearance
PHUKET: Two major flyover construction projects that were grounded by public opinion last year are clear for takeoff. Out of the 339 voting participants at the public meeting Thursday morning, 259 approved the project, a dramatic contrast to the 65% of 95 voters who shot down the plan on August 10 last year (story here). The flyovers are planned for…
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Brit found dead in Srisoonthorn villa
PHUKET: Police do not suspect foul play in the death of a British national found dead in his Srisoonthorn villa this morning. Martyn William James, 64, was discovered by his housekeeper after Mr James’ wife asked her to check on him. “Mrs James asked the housekeeper, Darunee Banrob, to check on Mr James after she tried calling him but got…
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Tourist dead, family in hospital after boat capsizes
PHUKET: An elderly Chinese woman is dead and her family recovering in hospital after the longtail boat they hired capsized in rough seas in Krabi yesterday. Boat driver Niyom Suebhet, 32, said that the longtail had started taking on water before capsizing in waves about three meters high. “We left Koh Mai Pai at about 3pm. The tourists, four adults…
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Phuket sea gypsies use black magic to fight land barons
PHUKET: Rawai Sea gypsies have turned to black magic in a last-ditch effort to fend off real estate developers in Phuket. About 200 sea gypsies took part in the ancient ‘Ah Boi‘ ceremony Saturday morning, which was attended by village chiefs from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, in an effort to garner spiritual help against Baron World Trade Co Ltd.…
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Russian involved in fatal Phuket crash
PHUKET: Police have yet to charge a Russian man who was involved in a fatal road accident on Phuket yesterday morning. “Cherkasov Mikhail, 37, waited for police to arrive after the accident. He explained that Sakol Kunnui, 20, had crossed into his lane, then fell off his bike. Mr Mikhail was unable to stop in time,” said Lt Col Rassada…
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V/Gov to strip 10 per cent zones of unruly vendors
PHUKET: Beaches with vendors that continually break beach management rules will be stripped of their 10 per cent zones and designated as virgin beaches, confirmed Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. The vice governor’s comments come fast on the heels of photographic evidence sent to the Phuket Gazette of beach chairs chained to trees at Kata Beach last week. “We will…
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Phi Phi park chief allows additional dive sites
PHUKET: After a lengthy meeting, Phi Phi officials have agreed to allow 18 dive sites to remain open following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers (story here). “After talking to all relevant parties, we have decided to allow diving to continue at many of the current sites in the park,” confirmed Sarayuth Tanthien, chief…
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Former Krabi policeman confesses to killing Phuket officer
KRABI: A former Krabi police officer surrendered himself to police yesterday afternoon after shooting a Phuket police officer to death during an early-morning drinking session in Ao Luek. According to witnesses, Sub Lt Kwanbavorn Thanasarn, 54, of the Tah Chat Chai Region 8 Police, was shot in the head and abdomen by retired Sgt Major Somsak Chumcheun while the pair…
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Diving restricted in Phi Phi following speedboat accident
PHUKET: Diving in the Phi Phi archipelago has been limited to three dive sites following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers. “We will be strictly enforcing the rule that allows diving only at Loh Samah Bay, Bida Nai and Bida Nok,” said Boonnam Chuyradom, assistant chief of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi…
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Pyromaniac attempts firebombing Krabi cop shop
KRABI: Police in Krabi had to hold back an angry woman intent on burning down the local police station yesterday after she pulled up outside the building in a car crammed with containers of gasoline and threatened to torch the place. Sanejan Jankert, 39, arrived at the station armed with two lighters and about 100 liters of gasoline in five…
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Paklok to host “Yamu Night Fishing Games’
PHUKET: The mayor of Paklok announced plans this week to hold the first Yamu Night Fishing Games at Laem Yamu harbor from March 4 through 6. The fishing tournament is part of the municipality’s annual plan to develop the area with more public facilities and tourist attractions, said Mayor Panya Sampaorat on Wednesday. “Cape Yamu has an abundance of natural…
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Video Report: Quattro Design brings fine furnishings to Phuket
PHUKET: Boat Avenue has added one more top-notch outlet with the grand opening of Quattro Design’s 900-square-meter showroom. Co-owner Praowphan Laoha-pongchana, and Design Director and Co-Founder Wichada Sritakarin, hosted the stylish event on Wednesday. Following the launch of a pop-up store at the Boat Lagoon last November, the pair decided to move ahead with establishing a full-size Quattro Design showroom…
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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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