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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Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Law catches up with alleged foreign skimmers in Phuket
PHUKET: Three alleged ATM skimmers were arrested in Chalong on Saturday night after police tracked them down using the GPS signal from a stolen iPad. Brazilians Lucidio Firmino Da Silva Junior, 24, and Juan Pablo Da Costa Varao, 21, along with 26-year-old French national Phellipe Andre Dias, were apprehended in their rental room in Chalong. The arrests followed Koh Tao…
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Laguna kicks off Talad Canal weekend market
PHUKET: Laguna Phuket kicked off the high season on Saturday with the launch of its ‘Talad Canal’ weekend market. The event was held at the resort’s Canal Shopping Village, which comprises more than 30 shops that offer a wide selection of quality goods and services, such as handicrafts, clothing and jewellery. Talad Canal market, which will be held every weekend…
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Luck of the Irish: zooming tourist survives crash with speed limit sign
PHUKET: An Irishman narrowly escaped serious injury when his car veered off the road and into a speed limit sign yesterday morning. Derek John Essen, 67, lost control of the vehicle as he descended the hill between Patong and Kamala, confirmed Lt Col Somnuek Damkham of the Kamala Police. “An eye witness saw Mr Essen driving extremely fast down the…
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Special Report: The gangs of Phuket
PHUKET: The justice system’s soft handling of criminal youth is at the core of the island’s growing drug-powered gang violence, which led to a 15-year-old bystander being gunned down during the final hours of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, explained Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Khunnadet Nanongkhai. Five suspects have already been charged for the murder of Thanakij Sawirum, 15, and…
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Phuket Vice Governor’s virgin beach dream
PHUKET: Although the fate of Phuket’s beach management system remains undecided (story here), Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat has revealed that he wants the plan to include ‘virgin beaches’. “There will be some beaches that will not have a 10 per cent zone, which means there will be nothing there – no umbrellas, no businesses, nothing. All 100 per cent natural,”…
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Phuket beach management plans delayed again
PHUKET: Local officials are still wrangling over how to manage Phuket’s beaches, forcing Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat to postpone revealing details of the new plan beyond his self-imposed November 1 deadline. V/Gov Chokdee admitted to the Phuket Gazette yesterday that the release of a concrete plan regarding the future of the island’s beaches would be delayed for at least another…
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Phuket City serial thief caught
PHUKET: A serial thief was arrested in Srisoonthorn last night after police were able to track down the motorbike he used during the crime spree. Jessadakorn Sukkrajang, 18, was apprehended at his home at about 9pm, confirmed Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of the Phuket City Police. Within just one month, Phuket City officers received five different reports of broken car…
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UNODC anti-human trafficking program launched in Phuket
PHUKET: An international e-learning program designed to train law enforcement units to tackle human trafficking was launched in Phuket yesterday. About 40 Phuket officers will be the first in all of Asia to undergo the training developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). “The program is designed to provide background information, offer techniques on how to…
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Snake sparks electrical fire in Phuket
PHUKET: A Phuket mayor blamed a small snake for a fire near the Shooting Range in Chalong today. “Locals saw the snake slide into the transformer next to the shack right before it exploded and started the fire,” said Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. “Luckily, no one was injured.” The owner of the shop, which sold decorative household items, was not…
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Phuket man killed in single-vehicle crash
PHUKET: One man died and another was injured after their pickup truck crashed into a utility pole in Thalang early this morning. The impact caused the out-of-control truck to split in two as it careened into a nearby wall. “The 33-year-old passenger, Surin Rotloisap, was thrown from the vehicle and killed after hitting another pole and then a wall,” explained…
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Truck driver slams into parked 18-wheeler and dies
PHUKET: The driver of a pickup truck died early this morning after slamming full throttle into the back of a parked 18-wheeled truck on Thepkrasattri Road. Annurak Chompoo, the 40-year-old driver of the 18-wheeler, told police that he had parked on the side of the road with his hazard lights turned on as he prepared to make a delivery to…
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Gaur killer surrenders to police
KRABI: The killer of a beloved gaur, a protected species of bovine, surrendered to police in Krabi yesterday morning. Preeda Paklaw, 41, presented himself, along with his shotgun, to the Plai Phraya Police. “Mr Preeda said that while he was hunting, he saw something in the dark that looked like a serow. He then shot twice,” said Maj Somporn Deeduang…
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Laguna Phuket Golf Club scores big
PHUKET: After a comprehensive 18-month upgrade, Laguna Phuket Golf Club bagged three prestigious awards at the Asian Golf Awards 2015 ceremony held at Orchid Country Club in Singapore. The Asian Golf Awards are devoted to recognizing and honoring the best facilities in the Asia Pacific Golf industry. Besides being named the Best Renovated Course of the Year, Laguna Phuket Golf…
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New top cop to focus on crime prevention
PHUKET: Phuket’s new top cop has vowed to focus his attention on crime prevention instead of crime suppression. Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen will be taking the reins as the island’s top policeman on Friday when Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit is transferred to Ratchaburi. The transfer is part of a nationwide reshuffle of top provincial-level officers that…
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Sea turtle caught with mouthful
KRABI: A local fisherman caught quite a surprise yesterday when he found a sea turtle with a half swallowed fish. Madyah Thamsuan, 63, was fishing near his home in Khlong Thom District when he noticed a turtle with a fish tail hanging out of its mouth. “The turtle appeared to be very weak and was unable to either swallow or…
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100-baht taxi rides during Patong Carnival
PHUKET: Anyone coming or going from Phuket’s primary party town during the Patong Carnival will now be able to enjoy taxi rides, confirmed Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab. From November 1-3, GrabTaxi and GrabCar will be charging only 100 baht for a ride to or from Patong. “This is a great offer by the company to support the festival and to…
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Phuket Riot: 66 arrest warrants issued
PHUKET: A total of 66 arrest warrants have been issued for those involved in the Thalang Police Station riot, Deputy National Police Chief Chalermkiat Srivorakan confirmed today. “Investigators are still working on the case. However, 66 warrants have been issued for either illegal gathering in public, arson, damaging property or creating a blockade,” Gen Chalermkiat explained. More than 20 police…
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Phuket policeman killed in big bike crash
PHUKET: A Karon Police officer was killed after he lost control of his Honda big bike in Rawai early this morning. Police believe that Lance Corporal Nattachai Huahin was unfamiliar with the area and hit a curb at high speed just after midnight. “At the scene, we found the body of LCpl Nattachai with a broken neck and severe head…
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Good samaritan chases Phuket gold thief
PHUKET: A Phuket local pursued a snatch thief attempting to flee the scene of the crime for three kilometers before the thief crashed his motorbike today. Supachai Mattanang, 20, witnessed the the man rip a gold necklace, worth about 20,000 baht, off the neck of a Myanmar national near the Down Town Market before fleeing the scene on his motorbike.…
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Busted: teens threaten Phuket driver with handgun
PHUKET: Police today arrested two road-raging teens caught on tape waving an illegal firearm at a fellow driver on the bypass road in Phuket. The video posted on Facebook yesterday shows a car quickly overtaking the two teens. However, once the car is past, the teens take off after it on their motorbike with the passenger threatening the car driver…
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![Minivan camera catches epic Phuket truck crash [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_20151027112936847_BelctDYijiIGWzAwjuvKJhXsmehvZBktzoXJrpVU_jpeg.jpeg)
Minivan camera catches epic Phuket truck crash [video]
PHUKET: A tourist heading to Phuket International Airport and his van driver narrowly escaped death after an out-of-control truck piled with construction materials flipped on Kata Hill and skidded to a stop within a meter of them yesterday afternoon. The two people in the crashed truck were minorly injured and taken to Patong Hospital. “The 51-year-old driver, Apichart Toreewong, told…
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Fifth suspect in Phuket Vegetarian Festival killing surrenders
PHUKET: A fifth man wanted for the gang slaying of a 15-year-old during the closing procession of the Vegetarian Festival surrendered to police yesterday (story here). One more suspect remains at large. A-non Wandee, 27, also known as ‘Non Kolai’, preseneted himself to police, but insisted that he was innocent. Mr A-non was charged with gang murder and attempted murder,…
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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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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 booze ban confusion comes with officers’ discretion
PHUKET: As is routine upon introduction of poorly formulated new rules and regulations in Thailand, confusion reigned again yesterday when a new law dictating an alcohol ban around educational institutions came into effect. “My initial understanding was that the law would name only universities and technical colleges as ‘educational institutions’. This would be better, as many big businesses, such as…
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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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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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Special Report: Andaman trash takes toll on local marine life
PHUKET: Enormous amounts of trash and discarded fishing nets continue to wreak havoc on the regions marine life with 2 dolphins and 1 turtle being rescued this month alone, despite raised awareness on the issue, said Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the endangered species unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). “Compared to last year, the number of reported animals…
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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