Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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V/Gov orders Laem Sing Beach cleanup
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week has ordered the removal of all furniture on Laem Sing Beach. The Vice Governor imposed the order after aerial photographs showing furniture strewn on the sands went viral on social media earlier this month (story here). “As soon as I received the report, I gave vendors five days to take all of…
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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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Dozens injured in violent clash at Phuket sea gypsy village
PHUKET: More than 30 people were injured in a violent confrontation between private investors and sea gypsies in Phuket today. “At least 100 men came to our village and attacked us. They put up rock blockades to keep us from accessing our village and an area where we perform traditional ceremonies,” alleged Nirund Yangpan, 40, a Rawai sea gypsy representative.…
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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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MOTS director lays out strict guidelines for tour operators
PHUKET: Hundreds of tour operators gathered earlier this month to listen in on the government’s plans for Phuket’s tourism industry for the upcoming year. Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office revealed his plans, which include the completion of several projects already in the works (story here). “We talked to the tour operators about…
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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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Desperate plea for blood made to save German in Phuket
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital is making a desperate call for A-negative blood to save a German man who was involved in a motorcycle accident this morning. “We gave him the only two units we had in our stock, but we need more, as he will probably need to undergo three more surgeries,” Ampai Saengwichitr, medical technologist of Vachira Phuket Hospital…
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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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University students to perform Chinese opera at Central Festival today
PHUKET: Central Festival Phuket started off Chinese New Year celebrations in style on Sunday with a sensational ensemble of martial arts, dragon dance, folk music and Chinese opera from an all-Chinese cast of professional artisans and performers. Celebrations will continue today with a Chinese opera and other performances from Wenzhou Medical University students. Organized by the Confucius Institute at Phuket…
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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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New Zealand national dies in single vehicle crash
PHUKET: A New Zealand national was killed in a single vehicle crash in Chalong early this morning. The woman*, whose name is being withheld until the embassy is informed of the death, was found at a curve on Soi Ta Eid. Her Zoomer-X motorbike was found severely damaged nearby. “While at the scene, the woman’s friends came and told us…
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Kiwi dies in early morning tryst
PHUKET: A 68-year-old New Zealand man died early this morning, at the home of a bar owner in Patong. Police confirmed that the man had gone home with the bar owner, whom he met on Soi Paradise at about 1:30am. “The bar owner and the man were having intercourse for about 15 minutes when the foreigner fell unconscious,” said Lt…
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Phuket International Airport looks to ban paging boards
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport is considering banning private paging boards at the arrival hall, confirmed Somsak Pakdeerak, deputy president of the Phuket International Airport Administration Department. An announcement was posted on the facility’s Facebook page, AOT [Airpots of Thailand] Phuket International Airport, announcing that the new policy banning private agents using the boards to pick up passengers would come into…
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Phuket Food Festival underway in City of Gastronomy
PHUKET: The Eighth Annual Phuket Local Food Festival started at Saphan Hin on Wednesday night, with delicious local delicacies being served up by Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada. “This is a great fair that all tourists should know about, as it shows how beautifully unique Phuket is,” Governor Chamoren said. “Additionally, we have just been named as a UNESCO City of…
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Principled park official saves the day for Iranian tourist
KRABI: An Iranian man was reunited with his lost wallet containing nearly 100,000 baht worth of cash on Wednesday after an honest national park officer reported finding it. Wuthichai Prathumthong, chief of a forest protection unit at Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, found a pair of trousers Tuesday containing the wallet on Maya Bay. “The…
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No wastewater contamination at Kata Noi, says PMBC [video]
PHUKET: The first test results of seawater off Kata Noi showed no contamination by wastewater at the popular Phuket beach. Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) officers took water samples yesterday evening following a 43-second drone video going viral on Facebook. The video showed heavy discoloration of the water lapping against the beach. The title of the video is: ‘Kata Noi…
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One map, one more problem: PM Prayut told survey cut out 1,200 rai
PHUKET: Officials in Bangkok are fuming after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was told that the ‘One Map’ project, aimed at seeing state agencies using a map set at the same scale, sliced off about 50 billion baht’s worth of national park and forestry land in Phuket for the benefit of private investors. In the past, the use of maps…
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Jet-skis’ truck-trailer chaos gets “okay’ for Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Nothing can be done about the morning and evening chaos caused by jet-ski rental operators driving their trucks and trailers right onto Phuket’s beaches, explained an embattled Phuripat Theerakulpisut, acting director of the Marine Office Region 5. “I will talk to them about being a bit more organized when they drop off and pick up their jet-skis. However, tourists…
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Team Thanyapura takes top honors at Tour of Takola
PHUKET: Team Thanyapura took top honors in the Tour of Takola in Takuapa on Sunday. Local cyclists competed in the challenging 70 kilometer course, which featured a rolling terrain and two climbs, totaling a distance of 9.3km with an average grade of six per cent. Daniel Amby, of Team Thanyapura, took the top spot on the podium finishing 25 seconds…
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Phuket officials suspend licence for companies hiring illegal guides
PHUKET: Officers arrested six illegal tour guides in Phuket on Wednesday and suspended the business licences for the companies that hired them. “Working along with military personnel and police, we stopped buses and passengers at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint in an effort to crack down on illegal tour guides on the island,” said Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry…
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All tourist boarding boats must carry ID, says Gov
PHUKET: Tourists will be required to show a form of government identification to CCTV cameras before boarding boats at any piers on the island, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed to the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Having passengers show their identification will help us check on tourists’ safety,” Governor Chamroen explained. “If anyone goes missing or is involved in accident, we will…
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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