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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German tourist hit by jet-ski to leave hospital today
PHUKET: A German tourist who was hit by a French jet-skier on February 28 is expected to be discharged from hospital today. Erich Heim, 55, was swimming about 200 meters from the shore of Paradise Beach, south of Patong Beach, when Chadd Attard, 20, struck him with a jet-ski, rendering him unconscious (story here). Mr Attard was charged with reckless…
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Bundle of slow lorises seized in Phuket
PHUKET: A man was arrested on Tuesday in possession of a bundle of slow lorises and two iguanas after police were tipped off about him using them for photo opportunities with tourists on Naka Island. Phuket local Kiettisak Senkaew, 45, was arrested at his home in Pa Khlok at about 5:30pm in possession of six slow lorises and two iguanas.…
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Suspected kill-squad contractor denies charges
PHUKET: The suspect accused of hiring a group of hitmen to kill a man over a Phuket land deal gone sour last month turned himself into police on Monday, but denied the charges. Phang Nga local Anuthep Tanwera, 70, showed up at Thalang Police Station with an arrest warrant from the court in hand. The warrant charged him with hiring…
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Makha Bucha Day alcohol ban in effect until midnight
PHUKET: A nationwide ban on the sale and purchase of alcohol took effect at midnight, and will last all day, out of respect for Makha Bucha Day. “We sent a letter to night entertainment business operators to inform them of the ban, which took effect at midnight,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee told the Phuket Gazette this morning.…
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Phuket beach vendors implore PM Prayut for help
PHUKET: A group of about 150 Phuket beach vendors today took their complaints all the way to Bangkok, where they submitted a letter imploring Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to revise the current beach management system. The letter accused Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong of ignoring the requests of local beach vendors and going ahead with bans on beach chair rentals…
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Five Frenchmen arrested for ATM skimming
PHUKET: Police this week arrested five Frenchmen, one who was wanted by Interpol, for skimming ATMs in Kamala and Chalong. The men – Kevin Tahiango Theodore Okito, 29; Mel Duval Poaty, 29; Accel Jonathan Poaty Pambou, 26; Samir Maruof, 29; and Jessy Bianvenu Vincence, 33 – were presented at a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Station this morning. The…
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Superintendent investigates Phuket police corruption, extortion allegation
PHUKET: Karon Police are investigating allegations of bag men working in Kata for the Phuket City Police, extorting money from more than 100 bars and restaurants. “We are now trying to identify those who have been illegally collecting money from businesses in the name of the police,” Karon Police Superintendent Sompong Boonrat told the Phuket Gazette today. “We cannot provide…
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Phuket a top choice for inaugural Thailand yacht show
PHUKET: Phuket has been named as a top choice for the launch of a Thailand Yacht Show, to be organized by the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS). The location for the yacht show, planned for the end of this year, has been narrowed down to Phuket and Pattaya, explained Deputy Minister of Transport Akom Termpittayapisit…
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Lighthouse Market prizes announced
PHUKET: Although more than 2,000 people were on hand to enter the Lucky Draw and enjoy the bustling Lighthouse Market at the Boat Lagoon on February 21-22, only five could go home with the prizes. Following the Lucky Draw on Sunday, the Market is now happy to announce that the winners and their prizes were as follows: First Prize: Chakkapong…
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Appeal period extended in Dokset murder case
PHUKET: Both sides in the Dokset murder case have requested an extension to the appeal period, the Phuket Gazette was told yesterday. Norwegian national Stein Harvard Dokset, a long-term Phuket expat, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the brutal killing and disposing of the body of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong (story here). “Normally, after the sentencing, both sides…
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Danish tourist with drug-abuse history found dead in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a 52-year-old Danish tourist who was found dead in his Patong hotel room yesterday. “Kenny Isabella Kjaer Olesen was discovered in his room at The Oddy Hip Hotel by one of the cleaning staffers,” said Lt Col Jetsada Saengsuree of the Patong Police. “He was wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts when…
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Phuket police arrest slow loris tout in Patong
PHUKET: Police arrested a man on Saturday night for illegal possession of a slow loris, which he was letting tourists hold for paid photo opportunities in Patong. “We arrested 23-year-old Natthapol Kensing on Bangla Road at about 7pm. We confiscated the slow loris, as well as his equipment, including the camera,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police.…
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Unidentified body found outside Phuket school
PHUKET: Police are working to identify the body of a man found dead in front of Wat Tepnimitr School in Wichit yesterday morning. “The man looked to be in his 40s and was about 170 centimeters tall,” said Capt Nattaya Supannapong of the Wichit Police. “We questioned local residents about the man and were told that no one knew him,…
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Man fatally stabbed in front of Phuket massage parlor
PHUKET: Police arrested two men on Saturday night for fatally stabbing a 20-year-old man outside a Karon massage parlor last month. Officers tracked down Virat Chomket, 32, and Thongchai Sanguanroj, 23, and arrested them at Rassada Pier. The men confessed to police that they were responsible for the murder of Supakarn Petsut on February 23. “The killers were driving home…
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French jet-skier hits German swimmer in Phuket
PHUKET: A Frenchman riding a jet-ski struck a German swimmer in Phuket Saturday afternoon, rendering him unconscious. Chadd Attard, 20, hit Erich Heim, 55, about 200 meters from the shore of Paradise Beach, south of Patong Beach. A lifeguard immediately responded and was able to bring Mr Heim to shore, said Lt Col Anukul Nuket of the Patong Police. Mr…
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French expat killed in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A French expat was killed in a motorbike accident on Kamala Soi 8 on Saturday night. Maximilien Grau, 35, crashed into a utility pole at high speed and was not wearing a helmet at the time, said Lt Col Navin Petchan of the Kamala Police. “We believe that he lost control on the bend in the road and swerved…
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Australian expat killed in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: An Australian expat in Phuket died in a motorbike crash early Thursday morning. The body of Adam Tepper, 34, was found in Sai Yuan Junction on Wiset Road below a destroyed traffic sign. The motorbike Mr Tepper was riding was about 30 meters away. “Mr Tepper was not wearing a helmet and struck his head on the sign –…
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Brakeless tour bus driver safely stops on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A tour bus driver’s cool head prevented a runaway bus on Patong Hill from becoming the latest serious accident in a seemingly endless string of crashes, some fatal, on this notorious road. When police arrived at the scene, the Amphol Seatiew tour bus had come to a stop after scrapping against a utility pole outside of Wat Suwankiriwong, at…
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Illegal alien caught in Phuket gambling raid
PHUKET: An illegal alien was snared when police busted a local gambling event in Patong last night. Police were tipped off by locals about a small group of people who were gathered to gamble at a rental room on Phra Metta Road. The three Thai nationals arrested in the bust were named as Nimit Thambanyo, 45; Thanaknut Narasukulpiphan, 35; and…
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Phuket charity drive for world record attempt crosses B1mn mark
PHUKET: Graham Haslam and Mark Cameron have already raised more than 1 million baht for a local charity without having driven their electric golf cart a single meter in a Guinness World Record attempt. Dubbed “The Longest Drive” the duo plan to drive the golf cart from Pattaya to Phuket, about 1,400km, as the raise funds for the Phuket Has…
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Phi Phi “aquarium in the wild’ ordered to close
PHUKET: The “aquarium in the wild” boat anchored inside Phi Phi national park was ordered to close on Wednesday. The large fish hold of Lok Tai Taley (World Under the Water) had been converted to allow fish to swim freely into it and guests to walk among them. “We ordered them to stop the ‘fish pool’ service, which the owner…
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Phuket gifted B3.5bn boost over Chinese New Year
PHUKET: The Chinese New Year holidays brought a much-welcomed boost of 3.5 billion baht to the local economy this year, the chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office has announced. The island attracted more tourists who also spent more than those who came last year, Anoma Wongyai, director of TAT Phuket, told the Phuket Gazette. “Phuket had…
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The Return: 91.5FM Island Radio issued licence
PHUKET: The island’s best-known English-language radio station, Phuket Island Radio 91.5FM, is preparing to return to air following completion of re-licensing formalities required after the military coup saw the closure of thousands of stations throughout the country. Although the station’s new license was approved in September last year, it’s actual issuance did not occur until earlier this week. “This has…
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Kathu Bike Club doubles up on rides
PHUKET: About 100 people have joined the Kathu Bike Club, following its launch in November last year, inspiring the group to double-up on the number of rides the club holds each week. The project was organized to promote healthy living and exercising in the community, and is backed by the Kathu Municpality, which allocated funds for 40 bicycles. “The rides…
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Phuket Air Show & Fly’n to go ‘extreme circus’ tomorrow
PHUKET: The Phuket Aviation Club will host its first ‘Air Show & Fly’n’ event from 8am until sunset at Phuket Airpark in Pa Khlok tomorrow. Entry to the event is free of charge and the show will feature a wide variety of aviation activities and competitions. “For anyone who joins us tomorrow, a fun-filled day is guaranteed,” Show Director Pat…
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Video Report: NCPO hotline chief investigator ditches Phuket call to prayer complaint
PHUKET: The chief investigator from the Prime Minister’s Office today confirmed that the national complaint center will not be taking any further action against a mosque at Cape Panwa for allegedly disturbing its neighbors by playing their daily calls to prayer too loudly. Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong last Thursday was forced to disband a mob of more than 100 local…
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Teen nabbed for selling illegally imported power tools in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police arrested a teenager yesterday for illegally importing and attempting to sell power tools worth more than 50,000 baht. Sarawut Boonlai, from Nakhon Phanom, was arrested in possession of 65 different power tools – including planers, grinders, circular saws, and orbital sanders – after police received a tip-off that he had been selling the tools on the sidewalk of…
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Tour de France cyclist Baden Cooke to join Thanyapura Gran Fondo
PHUKET: Tour de France green jersey winner and former Australian national team “hard man” Baden Cooke will be joining the inaugural Thanyapura Gran Fondo bicycle road race on April 19. Cooke, who retired in 2013, is a veteran of six Tour de France campaigns and competed in the 2004 Olympics. At the 2003 Tour de France, he won the sprinters…
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Mystery briefcase causes bomb scare in Phuket
PHUKET: A frightened supermarket worker urgently called police after discovering an unattended briefcase on a table in front of the store, only meters from Cherng Talay Police Station, last night. “The member of staff from Big One supermarket on Srisoonthorn Road called 191 at about 8pm because they suspected that the briefcase might contain a bomb,” said Lt Chanasin Prateepnathalang…
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Unidentified body found under bridge in northern Phuket
PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify the body of a possible murder victim found under a bridge in northern Phuket this morning. Officers from the Tah Chat Chai Police arrived at the scene, under a bridge on the road leading to the now closed Imperial Adamas Beach Resort in Nai Yang, at about 10am. “We believe that the man, who…
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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