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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Video Report: Patong’s Carnival kicks off this Sunday
PHUKET: Patong’s annual carnival is set to hit the beach town’s sands on November 1 with the theme: ‘Patong Seafood Festival 2015’. The event has been marking the beginning of Phuket’s high season for 30 years now, and will take place from November 1-3. Tourists and locals are all invited to join the concerts, historical exhibits and the renowned parade,…
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Four arrested for Phuket Vegetarian Festival slaying
PHUKET: Four men from rival Phuket gangs were charged for the slaying of a 15-year-old during the closing procession of Phuket’s renowned Vegetarian Festival last week. Three of the four men turned themselves in at Phuket City Police Station on Saturday, handing over their firearms as they did so. The men were named as: Thanapon Choosawat, 18, and Chinnakrit Kertthong,…
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Tourists spot school of whale sharks off Phuket
PHUKET: Tourists and officers were delighted when they spotted a school of whale sharks off of Phuket’s coast this weekend. After receiving reports of an injured whale shark, Than Bok Khorani National Park officers took a boat out to see what assistance, if any, could be rendered. “We found a school of five swimming between Koh Hong and Koh Yao…
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Phuket governor attends funeral of police chase victims
PHUKET: Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada attended the funeral of the two suspected drug dealers who were killed in a police chase that sparked the Phuket riot earlier this month (story here). Numerous government officials and police officers joined Governor Chamroen at the ceremony for Patomwat Panarak, 22, and Teerapong Srisamut, 17. “I am deeply sorry for this loss of life. We…
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Phuket air pollution leaps to unhealthy levels
PHUKET: Air pollution in Phuket jumped to unhealthy levels today, following two days of rain watering down the haze that has settled over the island. “The 24-hour average by 5am this morning was 121 micrograms [PM10] per cubic meter, which is above safe levels,” explained Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office. Dr Pornsri suggested that people avoid outdoor…
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Man sets himself on fire at Phuket temple
PHUKET: A man who set himself on fire at a Phuket temple yesterday has refused to explain what motivated the self-mutilation. Pichet Meephon, 24, told police that he drove his motorbike from Thalang to Wat Mongkolnimit, where he purchased fuel from a nearby gas station. “Once back at Wat Mongkolnimit, Mr Pichet set himself on fire,” said Lt Col Chaliew…
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Alleged drug dealers cuffed in Phuket raids
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police arrested three suspected drug dealers in separate raids this week. Nattawut Tankongkoi, 29, was arrested with 115.86 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), a scale and drug paraphernalia in Srisoonthorn on Monday. “Mr Nattawut has already served time in prison for drug related crimes in Phuket; apparently he went back to his old ways,” said Maj…
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Phuket joins nation in honoring King Chulalongkorn the Great
PHUKET: The life and achievements of HM King Chulalongkorn were commemorated in a ceremony at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning. Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada led an assembly of officials in a ceremony for Chulalongkorn Day, known in Thai as Wan Piya Maharat. After paying respect to the statue of King Chulalongkorn the Great at Phuket Provincial Hall, Governor Chamroen, on…
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‘The Race of Legends’ on horizon
PHUKET: The 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon will be taking place on Sunday, November 22, marking the beginning of Laguna Phuket’s week long Tri-Fest. The event consists of a 1.8 kilometer swim, 55km bike ride and a 12km run. This year’s triathlon will celebrate its 22nd year, while simultaneously welcoming the return of the Challenge Laguna Phuket on Sunday, November 29.…
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Arrest warrants issued for Vegetarian Festival killers
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Court issued arrest warrants for five members of the Wan Wai gang following the killing of a 15-year-old bystander during a shootout at the closing ceremony of the Vegetarian Festival early yesterday morning. Thanakij Sawirum, 15, was shot dead behind the Lucky Complex, the abandoned building at the entrance to Saphan Hin, just after midnight (story here).…
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Rains water down Phuket air pollution
PHUKET: Morning showers helped to lower air pollution levels in Phuket, despite the 24-hour average spiking to 109 micrograms [PM10] per cubic meter by 12 noon today. “The 24-hour average by 3pm was down to 102. However, the hourly level was at just 34,” explained Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office. “The average remains high due to increased…
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Brit expat found dead in Rawai
PHUKET: British expat David Cummins, 54, was found dead in his Rawai home late last night. Mr Cummins’ body was found by 45-year-old Duangduan Ngamprim, who had been living with him in Soi Saiyuan for about a year, said Lt Wuttiwat Liang-Boonjinda of Chalong Police. “I came home at about 11:30pm and found David sitting on the floor with his…
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Government promises beach rule clarity by high season
PHUKET: With Phuket’s high season starting next month, the details of exactly how the beach “management” system on the island will be maintained and implemented remain hazy. “The beach management system is a very sensitive topic and must be handled with care. There are a great many stakeholders involved, including tourists,” Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat told the Phuket Gazette…
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Officers investigate land encroachment at prime Phuket locations
PHUKET: An investigation by Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED) officers into four plots of land will dig to the root of the issue and reveal any officials neglecting their duties or acting illegally, says NED Region 5 Deputy Commander Montri Pancharoen. A one rai plot of land currently occupied by a barbershop on Soi Bangla and a…
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Foreigner urinates at Veg Fest offering table
PHUKET: Police nabbed a foreigner found urinating behind a Phuket Vegetarian Festival offerings table in the middle of the explosive festivities near Surin Circle last night. The shirtless, inebriated man was found on his knees delivering a most unwanted offering of his own behind a table of fruits, joss sticks and drinks that were being offered up to the spirit…
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Six busted in Vegetarian Fest anti-drug campaign
PHUKET: Six people were arrested on Tuesday as part of an island-wide anti-drug and crime campaign during the Vegetarian Festival. Three Thais and three Russians were apprehended in Patong after officers received separate tip-offs from police sources. Russians Evan Klepinskovski, 29; Nikola Klesko, 30; and Maxim Fedorenko, 27, were each arrested for possession of more than four grams of marijuana,…
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Teen slain during Vegetarian Festival celebrations
PHUKET: A teen was gunned down and three bystanders injured by stray bullets during the explosive final festivities of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival early this morning. Thanakij Sawirum, 15, was shot dead behind the Lucky Complex, the abandoned building at the entrance to Saphan Hin, just after midnight, said Maj Pornthip Chumsri of the Phuket City Police. The three boys…
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Navy hunt for refugee returns empty handed
PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy humanitarian mission into the Andaman in search of refugees returned to Phuket yesterday without having made contact. Led by the head of the Royal Thai Navy’s public relations department, Captain Benjamaporn Wongnakornsawang, the HTMS Angthong set out on the half-day search with food, water, medical supplies and translators to assist any refugees passing through Thai…
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Dolphins not connected to Taiji, says Phuket GM
PHUKET: The Nemo Dolphinarium dolphins, which recently arrived at the controversial facility on Phuket, were not poached from the wild and have no connection to the annual dolphin slaughter at Japan’s Taiji Cove, Dolphins Bay Phuket General Manager Supreecha Suthamanondh told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Our five dolphins are among 19 dolphins that were born and raised in an aquarium…
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Busted: fleeing thief crashes bike
PHUKET: Patong Police arrested a snatch thief after he crashed his motorbike in the party town Monday night. Boonlert Sitsuwan, 26, was seen by police leaving the area where a woman was shouting for help. “The victim yelled for help after Mr Boonlert snatched her necklace. Police on patrol saw Mr Boonlert fleeing, radioed in the crime and followed him,”…
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Indonesian haze returns to Phuket
PHUKET: The Indonesian haze that reached harmful levels earlier this month began to creep back over the island yesterday afternoon. However, air pollution remains at a safe level. “The 24-hour average for Phuket was only 40 micrograms [PM10] per cubic meter by 6am this morning, which is not a health concern,” confirmed Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental…
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A Decade Ago: Mom Tri dreams of developing new International Baccalaureate school
PHUKET: Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul, probably better known on the island simply as ‘Mom Tri’, scored page one a decade ago with his dream of developing a new International Baccalaureate (IB) school for the island. With a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard – the real Harvard – Mom Tri was an early visionary leader, recognizing Phuket’s potential and was…
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Religious leaders to advise in Phuket beach management
PHUKET: The island’s religious leaders will be joining one of four committees tasked with ensuring the successful implementation, upkeep and management of Phuket’s 10 per cent beach zone policy. The four-pronged approach will include a consultant board, a management board, local government representatives and a public relations team. “Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has ordered me to set up the beach management…
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Phuket Riot: Drug tests come back negative
PHUKET: Post-mortem urine tests on the suspected drug dealers whose deaths caused the Thalang police station riot have come back negative. “As has already been mentioned, doctors have confirmed that the deaths of the two men were caused by the collision during the police chase. There were no signs of additional violence,” said Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat, who was…
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Phuket red-light runner killed, son injured
PHUKET: A Koh Yao man was killed and his 4-year-old son injured after they ran a red light in Phuket Town yesterday. Rakchart Koondee, 36, and his son Chinnapat Koondee, who was riding passenger in front of him, were turning right onto Korjan Bridge in Phuket Town when they failed to stop at the traffic light, explained Maj Sakon Krainara…
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Phuket prepares for “Bike for Dad’ [video]
PHUKET: Qualified cyclists will soon be chosen to participate in the first-ever ‘Bike for Dad’ event in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday. A total of 100 Phuket cyclists will have the chance to ride to Bangkok, along with cyclists representing other provinces in the Kingdom to pay tribute to HM The King. It is not yet known…
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B6k baht not enough to keep Phuket rubber tapper alive
PHUKET: Police are hunting a group of men who killed a Myanmar rubber tapper who was only able to give them 6,000 baht cash – not enough for them to spare his life. When officers arrived at the scene last night, they found the body of 34-year-old Kyaw Soe. Also at the scene was Mr Kyaw’s wife, named by police…
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Gov calls for peace as second riot rumors swirl
PHUKET: The Phuket governor this weekend squared off against rumors that another riot will strike the island due to suspicions over the fairness of the investigation into the deaths of two suspected drug dealers earlier this month. “As the Phuket Governor who has taken responsibility for the riot, I plead with you, the people of Phuket, especially those who are…
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Video Report: Millions watch Krabi man rescue stuck-in-the-mud Norwegians
KRABI: A man’s act of kindness went viral on Friday after he rescued a Norwegian photographer and his partner from the mud along the banks of the Krabi River. Chat Ubonjinda, 44, spotted the tourists stuck knee-deep in the mud, unable to free themselves. Arild Hagen had originally waded into the muck for a photograph and had become stuck. Yanxiang…
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Five dolphins arrive in Phuket for new tourist attraction
PHUKET: Five dolphins and two seals for the highly-contested Nemo Dophinarium have already arrived in Phuket, confirmed Pitsanu Na-Anan, chief of the Phuket Fisheries Office. “The company has 60 days from issuance of the import permits to inform us that the animals are settled into the new facility and are ready for a final check,” Mr Pitsanu told the Phuket…
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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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