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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Phuket increases security following Bangkok bombing
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong this morning urged Phuket residents and tourists not to panic about the devastating bombing of a tourist destination in Bangkok that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 100 last night. “We have boosted security throughout the island. There is no need to be afraid,” Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette. “We are increasing…
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Video Report: “Bike for Mom’ sets Guinness World Record
PHUKET: People on Phuket, and throughout Thailand, smashed the Guinness World Record for most cyclists riding at the same time yesterday with the ‘Bike for Mom’ event honoring HM Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday. The event set the record with 146,000 ‘eligible’ cyclists riding at the same time, which more than doubled the previous record set by Taiwan. The recorded-breaking event…
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Men rescue cobra from fishing net
PHUKET: Ruam Jai Foundation rescue workers carefully untangled a two-meter-long cobra from a discarded fishing net in Chalong this morning. “A Myanmar worker found the cobra ensnared in the net near the bathroom of the worker camp on Soi Palai,” said Sayan Thammapan, Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation team leader. “He was on the way to the bathroom when he stumbled…
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Woman drowns at Patong Beach
PHUKET: A Myanmar national drowned at Patong Beach after locals were unable to stop her from running into the water last night. Thi Da, 38, had allegedly told her employer that she was in debt and was contemplating jumping into the sea, Maj Pathapee Srichai of the Patong Police told the Gazette. “People in the area saw Ms Thi Da…
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Lifeguards rescue Russian from deadly seas
PHUKET: A 24-year-old Russian tourist was rescued from a no-swimming zone at Surin Beach by lifeguards on Saturday evening. “We had some swim zones set up for tourist to enjoy. However, other areas, such as the one the Russian was in, were marked off with red flags,” Surin Beach Chief Lifeguard Viroon Chuasaman told the Phuket Gazette today. “There was…
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Hungry Ghost Festival to begin
PHUKET: Phuket’s traditional Chinese Por Tor, also known as the annual Hungry Ghost Festival, is set to start on August 26. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors visit their relatives for 15 days during the ninth month of the Chinese calendar. Believers will prepare food for the spirits in order to express their gratitude for their ancestors, said…
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Swiss national dies at Nai Harn Beach
PHUKET: A 71-year-old Swiss national died while swimming at Nai Harn Beach yesterday morning. Ernst Krummenacher had gone out for a swim before lifeguards had arrived at the beach, explained Maj Patiwat Yodkwan of the Chalong Police. “Mrs Krummenacher said that her husband started calling for help shortly after entering the water. She and friends hurried to help him and…
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Turkish tourist busted with 99 fake bank cards
PHUKET: Krabi Police arrested a Turkish tourist and a Thai woman for the possession of 99 fake ATM cards in Krabi Town yesterday. Teke Onur Mustarfa, 36, and Kanitha Saramee, 45, have both denied the charges of making and using fake bank cards. “We received a tip-off from Siam Commercial Bank about suspicious withdrawals,” Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee…
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Missing Korean found dead at sea
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police recovered the body of a Korean tourist yesterday afternoon. The tourist went missing in the heavy surf off Kata Noi Beach, which had been marked a no-swim zone by red flags, on Wednesday (story here). “We received a report at about 3pm from a dive boat saying that they had found a body floating near Koh…
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Four injured in Patong Hill bus crash
PHUKET: Four people were injured after a tour bus crashed into a taxi on Patong Hill at about 9am today. “The bus was exiting Patong and had almost crested the hill, when it suddenly started rolling backward,” said Sen Sgt Maj Amnuay Niewthong of the Patong Police. “It crossed into the opposite lane, hit a taxi and finally came to…
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Beach Police start patrols today
PHUKET: Island officers hit the beaches on two wheels today as the Phuket Provincial Police deployed the ‘Phuket Beach Police’ this morning. “Beach Police officers are just regular officers assigned to beach patrol. They will have the power to make arrests while on duty,” confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit. “The idea is to boost tourists’ and locals’ confidence…
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Patong officer transferred over police brutality allegation
PHUKET: The police officer charged for allegedly beating a Patong bouncer in June has been transferred to Surat Thani while the investigation is underway, Patong Police Superintendent Chaiwat Auikam told the Phuket Gazette. The investigation follows more than 100 Patong nightlife employees protesting on the street on June 10, after Hollywood Discotheque security guard Kamolchai Singhakerd was allegedly beaten by…
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Special Report: Understanding Phuket corruption
PHUKET: Though the recently deceased Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising will no longer be called to task for alleged corruption in the development of the PPAO Hospital, the case will continue, confirms Preechanun Pumlek, Chief of the Phuket office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). To see the much respected and loved elected official removed from office…
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Phuket Marine Police offer boat-taxi service
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Police were in the boat-taxi business for three days as they helped Nai Yang residents get from their homes to work this week. “The floods were very bad in the area, so we started taking residents from their homes to dry land so they could go to work, and then back to their homes in the…
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Local swimmers make splash at FINA
PHUKET: Future Olympians, who are on a year-long FINA swimming scholarship at Thanyapura while they prepare for the Rio Olympics, stormed to victory in the pool in Kazan, Russia breaking a total of eight national records from four different countries. “The debut of the ‘FINA Road to Rio’ group has been such a success so far, with five swimmers from…
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Fresh funds to put Chalong Dam construction back online
PHUKET: A 180-million-baht budget has been allocated to restart the stalled-out Chalong Dam project, which was originally slated for completion in 2013, revealed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong in an exclusive interview earlier this week. “The project stopped due to budget issues, as it ended up costing significantly more than was planned,” Governor Nisit said. “With the newly allocated budget, the…
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Corruption charges dropped against recently deceased PPAO President
PHUKET: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is dropping its case against Paiboon Upatising, the recently deceased President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO). However, the investigation into alleged PPAO corruption will move forward. “The complaint was brought to us by the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand [OAG]. However, I have to decline to explain what specifically the…
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Saddle up to “Bike for Mom’
PHUKET: People throughout Thailand, including Phuket, will mark the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd Birthday with a mass bicycling event entitled ‘Bike for Mom 2015’ on Sunday (August 16). The event is being held in response to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s wish to express his gratitude and loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen on…
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AoT yet to set Phuket launch date for APPS
PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AoT) has yet to confirm the exact Phuket launch date for the Advance Passenger Processing System (APPS), which will see all international passengers paying an additional 35 baht for background checks. “Initially, the APPS was expected to be launched in December. However, AoT was informed that airlines had already sold many tickets in advance for that…
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Search continues for missing Korean tourist
PHUKET: Rescue workers have resumed their search for a Korean tourist who went missing in the heavy surf off Kata Noi yesterday evening. “Seo Seungin, 45, was swimming in a red-flag area with his girlfriend when he went missing,” said Supachai Janphet, chief of Karon Municipality Tourist Rescue Center. “The area is watched by hotel lifeguards, but they didn’t see…
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What’s the short-term fix for Phuket public transport?
PHUKET: A number of projects have been put in motion to improve the public transport sector following the cleanup of the taxi mafia by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last year. There are many long-term projects that have been on the table for years, such as the light-rail system. However, there have also been several new initiatives,…
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Phuket Poll: Short-term impact on public transport
PHUKET: A number of projects have been put in motion to improve the public transport sector following the cleanup of the taxi mafia by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last year. There are many long-term projects that have been on the table for years, such as the light-rail system. However, there have also been a several new…
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HM the Queen’s birthday celebrations underway
PHUKET: Celebrations of the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday, which is also National Mother’s Day, began early this morning. At 7:10am, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong led the island’s top officials in offering alms to 84 monks at Sanam Chai (Chai Field) near Provincial Hall. Those attending the special occasion dressed in blue in honor of HM…
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Heavy rains increase damage to closed road
PHUKET: A road in Koh Kaew has been closed for safety reasons due to its poor quality of construction and the island’s recent heavy rains. Soi Koh Kaew 33, a main route from Thepkrasattri Road past the Phuket Gazette offices to the British International School, is now closed to all traffic after local officials deemed it too dangerous to use.…
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Another heavy weather warning issued for Phuket
PHUKET: The Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a new flash flood, landslide and heavy weather warning for an additional four days, DDPM Phuket Office Chief Santhawat Riwleung confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. “We are anticipating heavy rains, which could lead to further flash floods and landslides from today to August 14,” Mr Santhawat said. “Please…
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Pink Panther laid to rest in Phuket
PHUKET: Thousands of people turned out to mourn the death of former Phuket senator and suspended Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising as he was laid to rest at a Catholic graveyard in Phuket Town yesterday. Adviser to the Minister of Interior Siwa Sangmanee attended the funeral as the guest of honor and headed the ceremony of putting…
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Virgin Australia’s withdrawal won’t hurt Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket tourism and arrival numbers will not be affected by Virgin Australia cancelling flights to Phuket and Bali from Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth, Director of Phuket International Airport Monrudee Gettuphan confirmed today. Virgin Australia will replace services with its budget offshoot Tigerair in a bid to stem bleeding from its international operations, where losses widened to AUS$69 million for…
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TAT pushes Phuket greens for “green season’
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is doing its best to get domestic tourists and expats living in Thailand onto Phuket’s greens during the region’s ‘green season’ with the Phuket Golf Festival. From now until the end of September, the TAT is backing a special promotional price for six golf courses in Phuket, as well as special flight rates…
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BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy spend summer in Brazil
PHUKET: This summer, eight boys from the BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy, based at British International School Phuket (BISP), trained at the home of Brazilian champions Cruzeiro EC to learn about the facilities, watch training sessions and meet the players. Cruzeiro International Development Coordinator Adriano Queiroz explained that the Phuket-based student-athletes were invited to spend a month in Brazil where they…
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Phuket’s future Olympian smashes swimming national record
PHUKET: A Nepalese swimmer has smashed a national record at the FINA World Championships just three months after she was forced to sleep in a car and not train for a month, due to the devastating earthquake in Nepal. Sofia Gadegaard Shah, 17, who has already secured a wildcard to the 2016 Olympics, was a symbol of resilience on August…
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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