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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Navy seizes alleged IUU fishing boats in Phuket
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy seized two fishing vessels for illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing when the ships returned to Phuket after tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean. Mook Anda 018 and Mook Anda 028 arrived at the Phuket Deep Sea Port on Saturday, where Rear Admiral Kittipong Rumakom, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, was…
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A Decade Ago: Soi dog woes as medical tourism grows
PHUKET: Similar to Phuket attempting to turn back the wheels of time on its beaches – by deeming some of the island’s well-trampled sands to be ‘virgin’ – a decade ago, officials were trying to ensure that Phi Phi Don remained an idyllic paradise island, following the destruction of most of the island’s man-made structures by the tsunami’s waves. “We…
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DSI vows to back Phuket sea gypsy land claims
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) vowed to renew its efforts in backing the Rawai sea gypsies’ claim of having lived on a disputed piece of beachfront property for more than 100 years. “At the meeting with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada on February 2, we will provide all the DNA evidence collected from the archaeological dig we conducted on…
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Ladyboy burglar targeted foreigners’ homes in Phuket
PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested a 28-year-old ladyboy and his or her partner for the burglary of foreigners’ homes in Kamala and Kathu. Boonrit Anchaisiri, 28, and Teerawat Boonampol, 29, were arrested in their rental house in Srisoonthorn with more than 300,000-baht’s worth of stolen goods, said Kamala Police Superintendent Pattanachak Jakkapan. “The two confessed to targeting homes where tourists were…
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Wat Chalong Fair kicks off on February 7 [video]
PHUKET: It’s that time of year again. Phuket’s biggest annual temple fair, held at Wat Chalong, will kick off on February 7 to offer one week of local fare and entertainment. “There will be plenty of food vendors, circus rides, games and stalls set up at the fair. Everyone is more than welcome to come and enjoy themselves,” said Chaiwat…
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Foreigner among six charged for stealing Phuket national park land
PHUKET: Six people, including a foreigner, were charged by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for falsifying land documents to steal Phuket national park land. “This particular encroachment case is about 92 rai of Sirinath National Park land that was stolen using a flying SorKor 1,” explained Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, the director of the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection…
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Fishing boat slaves rescued in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket and Bangkok officials raided a dormitory in Koh Sireh yesterday to rescue 32 illegal Myanmar workers being held captive and forced to work without pay. Officials were alerted to the dormitory after a worker, named only as Nai, escaped from the fishing boat they were forced to work on and swam ashore to call relatives in Myanmar. “Mr…
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Chinese tourist remains unconscious in ICU
KRABI: Krabi Marine Police were called to aid in the rescue of a Chinese tourist who fell unconscious while swimming in Koh Hong yesterday. Cong Xu, 27, was swimming close to shore with friends when they noticed she didn’t come up from under the water, confirmed Krabi Marine Police Chief Anurak Parinyasathiragul. “Her friends pulled her to shore, but she…
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Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land
PHUKET: Representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd presented a thick set of documents on Wednesday backing their claim to the land that is currently occupied by Rawai sea gypsies in Phuket. Among the documents presented by Chatree Madsatun, a representative from Baron World Trade, were four Chanote land titles (9613, 78116, 12616, 12592); a letter of permission from the…
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Breaking News: Phuket underpass damaged, roadway cracked
PHUKET: Heavy rains last night left a section of road running alongside the troubled Samkong Underpass, as well as one of its walls, heavily damaged. “Police and rescue workers were on site last night until about 2am to help with the traffic congestion caused by the damaged road,” Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Traffic Police told the…
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Island readies for 17th annual Old Town Festival
PHUKET: The 17th annual Phuket Old Town Festival, which celebrates Phuket’s unique culture and traditions, is set to kick off on February 13. The festival will get underway on four roads in the heart of Phuket Town: Thalang Road, Thepkrasattri Road, Soi Romanee and Krabi Road. “This is the 17th year that the Old Town Festival has been organized by…
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V/Gov clears Laem Sing Beach of illegal vendors
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week removed all the beach chairs and umbrellas set up by illegal vendors on Laem Sing Beach – one of Phuket’s ‘virgin beaches’. The Vice Governor ordered the beach to be cleared after aerial photographs of furniture strewn across its sands were published by the Phuket Gazette, and went viral on social media…
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Deputy PM happy with Phuket’s progress
PHUKET: During a tour of five Andaman provinces, Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai visited Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to express his satisfaction with officials’ progress in solving local issues. Deputy PM Narong stopped by the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office) and met with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada to discuss current issues facing the island and the actions taken to resolve…
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Navy saves Norwegian couple after sailboat capsizes
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy saved a Norwegian couple after the pair’s small catamaran capsized off Koh Lanta yesterday afternoon. The sailors, named by officers as ‘Thongunnor Bue’ and ‘Caron Bue’, but believed to be Thom Bue and Carol Bue, struggled to control the boat after their tiller broke. “Unable to control the boat, a large wave hit them broadside…
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All rock climbing banned on Phi Phi
PHUKET: All rock climbers, including independent climbers, are banned from scaling the bolted rock faces on Phi Phi Don as officials look to regulate safety standards. “We have already explained to nine tour operators offering climbing tours in the Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park area that they must suspend their services until they gain the necessary…
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Serial Phuket burglary suspect to surrender
PHUKET: A suspect wanted for a series of burglaries that led to the arrest of his girlfriend on Monday will surrender to police, confirmed a family member. Mac Kotter, 27, is behind a number of thefts in Phuket, alleged 23-year-old Soraya Chantasri after she was arrested. Police apprehended Ms Soraya after she fell from her third-floor balcony and through the…
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Blood surge saves German in Phuket, more donations needed
PHUKET: Though news of the desperately needed A-negative blood to save the life of a German man produced eight units, more is still needed. Bernd Langer, 51, was involved in a single vehicle motorcycle crash in Rawai at about 5am on Sunday. “Witnesses said that Mr Langer fell over while driving his motorcycle,” explained Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijan of the Chalong…
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Heroin dealer arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested a confessed drug dealer yesterday for selling heroin to Phuket teenagers and others in the Thalang area. “Nikom Damrongrit, 40, was arrested with 81.39 grams of heroin and other drug paraphernalia at his house in Paklok,” said Lt Col Kritsana Jannit of the Thalang Police said. “We searched his house after a tip-off led us to find…
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Surin demolition pushed to next month
PHUKET: The expected demolition of buildings on Surin Beach has been pushed back to next month, announced Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. “The problem we are facing is with the documentation process,” Vice Governor Chokdee said. “We have to ensure that we are following all legal processes and are being very careful when demolishing government buildings.” V/Gov Chokdee noted that…
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Unidentified foreigner killed after allegedly jumping in front of tour bus
PHUKET: Police are working to identify a foreigner who was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a tour bus in Patong early this morning. Bus driver Somkhit Wongpan, 33, told officers that he was on his way to Patong after picking up about 20 Chinese tourists from the airport, confirmed Maj Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police. “Mr Somkhit…
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Phuket airport on high alert for MERS
PHUKET: Health officials at Phuket International Airport have ramped up efforts to identify any Phuket travellers who could be infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (Mers-CoV). The news follows Thailand’s second confirmed case of the virus on Saturday (story here). Officials have been checking to ensure that airport screening is being strictly enforced. “All staff members at the airport…
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Tension builds at Phuket sea gypsy village
PHUKET: Tension mounted again at the Rawai sea gypsy village as the local community prevented alleged landowners from blocking access to the area yesterday. “Representatives of Baron World Trade Co, which claims it owns the land, attempted to blockade the area with the help of about 40 officers from the Army, Provincial Office and Chalong Police, said Rawai Mayor Aroon…
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Two fires burn hot in Phuket
PHUKET: Firefighters from five firetrucks spent 30 minutes battling the flames from a house fire in Phuket Town, which was only one of two fires that erupted yesterday. “The 60-year-old homeowner, Sookjai Teerapittayanon, was running errands in the neighborhood when the fire started in her kitchen,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee. “Fortunately, nobody was in the house…
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Bar patron batters police officer for closing pub
PHUKET: An allegedly drunk man attacked a Phuket police officer after learning that the bar where he was drinking was being forced to close for the night. “Lt Col Wanchana Assompoch of the Phuket City Police was attacked while he was on patrol, closing down venues that had continued to operate past legal hours early Sunday morning,” said Lt Col…
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Another marine tragedy hits Phuket: one killed, one injured
PHUKET: One man was killed and another injured after the boat they were crewing from Phuket to Phi Phi Island burst into flames and sunk this afternoon. “The boat, which was transferring supplies to the Phi Phi Village Hotel, was near Koh Dok Mai when it caught fire,” explained Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “We received an SOS from…
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Thailand Yacht Show attracts elite
PHUKET: The inaugural edition of the Thailand Yacht Show, to be held February 8-14 at the Ao Po Grand Marina, continues to attract the elite of the superyacht industry. Burgess Yachts, one of the world’s largest and most internationally renowned brokerage and charter companies, is using the event to showcase an exciting and diverse range of yachts. The distinctive 73…
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Illegal fishing vessel owner arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: A man was arrested this weekend for his role in two Phuket-based boats illegally fishing in international waters. “We were contacted by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) about 37-year-old Thanongsak Raksawong being in charge of two of the six Thai-flagged boats currently under investigation for illegal fishing,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. Officers arrested Mr Thanongsak at…
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A Decade Ago: TAT battles direct flights to key markets
PHUKET: More direct flights from key tourist source markets to Phuket were put forward as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office scrambled out of a ‘lion’s den’ of hoteliers and property industry figures a decade ago. “It seems to me, from what I have heard here, that there are tourists who want to come, but there are no…
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Sober driver slams into Phuket Police Station
PHUKET: An entirely sober woman survived slamming her car into the outer gates of the Phuket Provincial Police Station Sunday morning. Sriwan Saelong, 30, was only slightly injured during the accident. “Ms Sriwan told us that she had just overtaken a black car at about 2:30am as she was driving down Yaowarat Road. The car she passed then turned right…
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Unidentified body found on boat off Nai Harn
PHUKET: Police this morning discovered the severely decomposed body of an unidentified male on a boat off of Nai Harn. Officers were alerted to the Australian-flagged boat after a man complained of a bad smell emanating from a vessel that had been anchored in the same spot for nearly a week, confirmed Maj Thada Sodarak of the Chalong Police. “We…
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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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