Phuket News
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Krabi locals link temple sinkhole to Naga appearance
KRABI: The sudden appearance of a four-meter-deep sinkhole in the grounds of a temple in Krabi has some locals claiming the hole was made by a Naga – a mythical three-headed snake-like creature. The hole in the ground appeared at Khao Phanom temple and almost swallowed up the temple’s abbot as he was sweeping the temple grounds. “I was clearing…
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Video report: Homeschooled siblings claim bronze at international competition
PHUKET: Two homeschooled youngsters from Phuket won bronze medals at the Malaysian International Young Inventors Olympiad (MIYIO) this month for their innovative automated plant-watering invention. Nattaya Sompranon, 14, and Phimphan Sompranon, 10, invented the ‘Smart Watering Controller’, which automatically waters plants when the humidity in the soil is low. The young Phuket-based inventors were among more than 280 teams competing…
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Mission Accomplished: Phuket Aussie sets world record with Row2Rio
PHUKET: After 3,400 miles and 55 days at sea, the four extraordinary rowers on the Row2Rio team set a world record after powering their way across the Atlantic. “We departed Portugal and have landed safely in Brazil to an emotional reunion with family and friends,” wrote Luke Richmond, Aussie expat and head coach at Unit 27 in Phuket, yesterday. In…
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Thousands make first crossing on foot between Krabi islands
KRABI: Thousands of members of the public turned out on Saturday to make the first crossing on foot between Lanta Noi and Lanta Yai islands, with the official opening of the recently completed Lanta Bridge in Krabi. Krabi Governor Pinit Boonlert chaired the opening ceremony of the 400-million-baht bridge. The event was titled ‘Starry Night Over Lanta Bridge’. “It was…
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Kamala co-operative helps out with annual circumcisions
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Childcare Center in Kamala performed free circumcisions on about 25 Muslim boys aged 5-9 years old yesterday. The tradition involves surgically removing the foreskins of young Islamic males and was sponsored by the Phuket Islamic Saving Co-operative, which donated 20,000 baht to the Kamala Administration Organization (OrBorTor). “The circumcisions are done in different sub-districts each year. This…
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Phuket Immigration not demanding social media account details – yet
PHUKET: Immigration forms asking foreigners to detail their regular hangouts, social media accounts, bank accounts and other personal information are not being used in Phuket, according to a source in the local provincial Immigration office. “The form is only being used in Bangkok, at least until further notice,” the local Immigration officer told Phuket Gazette on condition of anonymity today.…
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Baba Museum artwork to be removed amid outcry
PHUKET: A controversial mural painted on the wall of the Phuket Baba Museum will be removed by the artist following a public outcry. Painted on one of the city’s most historic buildings, the ‘Three-Eyed Kid’ garnered mixed public opinions since its unveiling on April 10. Through social media, residents criticized the artwork’s placement at what was formerly the Standard Chartered…
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Phuket worker camp raid turns up guns, drugs
PHUKET: Police arrested three suspects for possession of drugs and illegal firearms during a raid on a worker camp in Phuket yesterday. Two of the Thai suspects were named as Chatchana Poosangka, 29 and Nattapong Rithidet, 19. A 16-year-old minor was not named. “We had been keeping an eye on the camp as a number of teenagers were visiting it…
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Military summons Phuket sea gypsies, activists over land dispute
PHUKET: A total of twelve sea gypsies and human rights activists have been summoned by the 41st Military Circle for questioning about an on-going land dispute between Baron World Trade Company and a sea gypsy community in Rawai. An official letter, issued on April 20, was sent to Rawai sea gypsy community leader Ngeem Damrongkaset. It summoned nine sea gypsies…
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Tourists escape another Phuket bus fire
PHUKET: A group of Chinese tourists narrowly escaped serious injury after fleeing a burning tour bus in Karon yesterday. “The driver was en route from the airport to Patong via Karon at about 5:30pm. After spotting thick, black smoke emanating from the back of the bus, the driver stopped and evacuated the 24 tourists,” said Lt Col Sathid Noorit of…
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Phuket Lifeguard Club signs B22mn contract ahead of monsoon season
PHUKET: The Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC) renewed its contract last month, extending the island’s life-saving services through the southwest monsoon season, when the waters are most tempestuous. PLC President Prathaiyut Chuayuan told the Phuket Gazette that the 22-million-baht contract with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) will end in 10 months, on January 20 next year. “The budget for our…
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One tonne of dead fish found in Phuket park
PHUKET: A large number of fish and shrimp have died in a pond in Suan Luang Park in Phuket Town from either a rise in temperature or polluted water, confirmed officials. “The local community around the park has complained about the dead fish,” said Phuket City Deputy Mayor Thavorn Jirapattanasophon. “About one tonne of dead fish have been found since…
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Must stamp out illegal migrant camps, says Phuket V/Gov
PHUKET: Local officials must prevent illegal migrant camps from popping up along construction sites throughout the province, Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul said on Tuesday. “Foreign workers build their shacks in and around local communities. They live in unhygienic conditions that spread disease, and indulge in the illegal trade of vegetables, fish and drugs,” said Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. The…
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Excuse Buster: The hidden health dangers of fungi
PHUKET: “It is ironic that this humble fungus, hailed as a benefactor of mankind, may by its very success prove to be a deciding factor in the decline of the present civilization”, said Dr John I Pitt, in The Genus Penicillin, 1979. ‘Antibiotics save lives.’ But has our overuse of antibiotics for killing bacteria contributed to creating a dangerous internal…
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Another Electrician killed, while tampering with a kitchen fan
PHUKET: An electrician was electrocuted and died while installing an exhaust fan in a Kathu house this afternoon. “We received a report around midday that a man was seriously injured from an electric shock in Moo Baan Sinthong Thani,” Lt Sawanya Eiadtrong of the Thung Thong Police said. “We found him lying on the ground in the kitchen, pale-faced and…
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Phuket voted 8th among world’s top 10 islands
PHUKET: Phuket has won eighth place among the world’s top 10 islands in the latest reader survey conducted by travel review website TripAdvisor. Phuket was described by TripAdvisor as an island with “blue lagoons and salmon sunsets [that] make for a dream-like atmosphere, and indeed, a vacation here can feel a bit surreal”. It also said: “Water sports are the…
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Video report: New demolition plan brings Surin businesses to the ground
PHUKET: A number of iconic beach clubs on Phuket were crushed during the demolition of the shop houses along the Surin Beach boardwalk yesterday (story here). “We are not ruining Surin Beach; we are returning it back to the unobstructed, beautiful beach it once was,” Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat insisted, attempting to explain to a group of stunned tourists…
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Songkran crime sweep nets hundreds of suspects
PHUKET: More than 1,500 arrests related to drug, illegal firearms, gambling and other criminal activities were made in Phuket and the surrounding provinces between April 1 and 17. “In the raids, a total of 171 suspects were arrested for firearms offences. A total of 165 unregistered guns were seized along with 750 rounds of ammunition, as well as two bombs…
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Tickle your tastebuds at Saphan Hin
PHUKET: More than 100 food stalls are cooking up delectable local delicacies for the 18th annual ‘Phuket Good Taste Food Festival’ at Saphan Hin until April 26. “Food aficionados can tuck in to a fantastic range of culinary creations by the first generation of Phuket food vendors, who have been making mouth-watering dishes for more than 30 years,” said the…
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Phuket man injured in drive-by shooting
PHUKET: One man was injured in a drive-by shooting in Srisoonthorn yesterday. “Weerachart Laloy, 20, was shot twice on his left hip at about 6pm,” said Lt Suporn Muangkai of the Thalang Police. Mr Weerachart was riding pillion behind his friend Nattapong Kerdthai at the time of the attack. Mr Nattapong rushed him to the emergency room at Thalang Hospital.…
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Breaking News: Surin Beach demolition underway
PHUKET: Demolition of the last remaining buildings along Surin Beach is underway. Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat and Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization(OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran, accompanied by military personnel, were on site as a backhoe digger began pulling apart the buildings that once housed beachfront shops, bars and restaurants. “Finally, the day we have been waiting for has arrived…
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Phuket bomb squad called to Daorung Intersection
PHUKET: A bomb disposal squad was called on to deal with an abandoned suitcase at the Daorung Intersection in Wichit this afternoon. Passing motorists, fearing that the lone suitcase lying in the road might be a bomb, took snapshots, which quickly went viral on social media. “Luckily, the case was empty,” said Lt Prachpong Keawkamjan, head of the Phuket Provincial…
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‘Fire jellyfish’ invade islands in Krabi
KRABI: National Park officials yesterday erected signs warning visitors of venomous jellyfish at Koh Hong, Koh Lao Lading and Koh Pak Bia after thousands of purple-colored jellies appeared in the water off the islands in Krabi. “The signs are in English and Thai. They have been put up to warn the public about the venomous jellyfish,” said Jampen Pormpakdee, chief…
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Patong Bay water sent to Bangkok for testing
PHUKET: Officials have recently collected samples of water in Patong Bay and sent them to Bangkok to determine whether it is pollution or algae that has caused the sea water to turn brown. Akkarawat Hirunphun, an environmental specialist in the Phuket-based Regional Environmental Office, and his staff inspected the green-brown water along the Patong coast (story here) for contamination. “We…
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Swimmer succumbs after leaving ICU
PHUKET: A Thai woman in her twenties, who was pulled unconscious from the surf at Nai Harn Beach on Sunday, died while being transported home yesterday. The woman, who hospital staff refused to name, was one of six people rescued by lifeguards after they ignored red flags warning people not to swim due to dangerous rip currents (story here). Although…
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Surin beachfront operators make one last plea
PHUKET: More than 30 Surin business operators begged the Phuket Governor to postpone the looming demolition of their shops along the recently dubbed ‘Honorary Beach’. Though the well-known Catch Beach Club had already thrown in the towel with its ‘One More Time’ party held on Saturday night (story here), other business operators were hoping that the governor would step in…
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Flames ravage Phuket speedboats
PHUKET: One person was seriously injured as a blaze ravaged a number of speedboats at Chalong Pier this morning. Firefighters operating from five fire trucks spent about three hours battling the flames due to the massive amount of fuel on board, explained Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “The fire wasn’t completely out until about 6am,” Lt Col Panya said.…
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Text messages may offer clues in fatal fall of Finnish tourist
PHUKET: Police investigating the death of a 19-year-old Finnish woman, who fell from the rooftop of a Patong guesthouse last month, have so far ruled out foul play in her death. However, they are hoping that her final text messages will reveal clues about her state of mind that night. Ida Maria Bexar fell from the rooftop of the Good…
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The Songkran scoreboard
PHUKET: Three deaths marred Phuket’s attempt to keep the road-death toll at zero for the entire Songkran ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign. The province slipped past April 13, typically the most deadly day in the annual campaign, without a single death. However the next day, 41-year-old Swedish national Johnny Daniel Soederstroem died after losing control of his bike, while…
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Rip currents wreak havoc at Nai Harn, one swimmer in ICU
PHUKET: A woman is on life support after being pulled unconscious from the waves of Nai Harn yesterday afternoon. Vachira Phuket Hospital staff declined to name the woman, who is thought to be in her 20s. “She was swimming in a red-flag zone with a group of about six other people. In total, there were about 20 Thai people in…
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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