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.
-
Sponsored 5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
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,...
-
Asian Beach Games welcome new sports
PHUKET: Several new sports will be added to the 4th Asian Beach Games being held in Phuket this month, making them the biggest Games ever in terms of the number of sporting events. The additional sports will include: Muay Thai, extreme sports, jet-ski sports, beach wrestling and Kurash, a form of Turkish wrestling. The Asian Beach Games is a multi-sports…
-
Slew of tourist injuries prompt Phuket cape safety boost
PHUKET: Following a slew of accidents causing injury, and sometimes death, to tourists at Phuket’s idyllic Promthep Cape, officials have decided to install fences in the area to enhance safety. After refusing to post fences on the grounds that it would alter the natural beauty of the landscape (story here), Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has confirmed that sling wire fences…
-
New Phuket Governor joins his first White Prison dawn raid
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong joined his first dawn search of Phuket Provincial Prison to re-affirm the facility’s “White Prison” status yesterday morning. The mass search, conducted by more than 100 officers from military, police, Corrections Department, Health Office and other government agencies, failed to uncover any drugs or contraband. Areas searched included personal lockers of all inmates as well…
-
Bus driver dodges charges for Patong hill killing
PHUKET: The bus driver who ran over a teen that fell from his motorbike on Patong Hill last week will face no charges, police confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. CCTV footage showed Natthapol Ritthipan, 17, falling from his bike on the wet road descending into Patong last Thursday (story here). “The bus coming up the hill from Patong, couldn’t…
-
Swingers tee up record golf cart drive from Pattaya to Phuket
PHUKET: Golfers Graham Haslam and Mark Cameron are preparing to set a world record by driving an electric golf cart from Pattaya to Phuket to raise funds for local children’s education charity Phuket Has Been Good To Us. The “standard” electric golf cart selected for the record-breaking undertaking, to begin in March next year, will include some modifications, namely solar…
-
Sneaky Russians caught lifting vodka in Phuket
PHUKET: Three Russians are sitting in Phuket Provincial Prison after a second attempt at stealing booze from a Patong convenience store this month. Evgeny Balashov, 31; Nikolay Chuvilyaev, 30; and Vadim Afanasev, 31, were caught on CCTV stealing five bottles of liquor on October 1. However, it wasn’t until they returned on October 23 and attempted to steal a bottle…
-
Live grenade found on Phuket beach
PHUKET: A live M67 hand grenade was found on Panwa Beach this morning, on the southeastern coast of Phuket. Experts from Phuket’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit promptly removed the war weapon from the sand and moved it to a secure location. “We were informed about the grenade after it was found by a villager near Soi Ruamjai at about…
-
Phang Nga triple homicide suspect arrested
PHUKET: A man turned himself in yesterday for the murder of his in-laws and estranged wife in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, on October 20. Pornchai Pitak, 28, who fled into the jungle after the shooting, claims that a foot in his face was the catalyst for the slayings (story here). “I went to their house to see my one-month-old…
-
Beach attack on American was self-defence, says Phuket teen
PHUKET: A Phuket teenager has claimed that he hit an American on the head with a piece of wood on Karon Beach on Saturday in self-defence. CCTV cameras captured images of Kitti Keeratiwattananusat, 18, in the area at the estimated time of the attack, making him a prime suspect. Police asked Kata-Karon Subdistrict Chief (Kamnan) Winai Chidchiew to talk to…
-
Baby crocodile caught in Phuket backyard
PHUKET: A Phuket resident was given a fright when he discovered a meter-long baby crocodile riling his dog in his garden last night. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to Soi Hatchananiwetate, behind the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital, at 7:30pm to deal with the troublesome reptile. “A resident there told us his dog wouldn’t stop barking. When he…
-
Italthai Industrial launches online wine sales
PHUKET: Upbeat about the potential of e-commerce, Italthai Industrial has joined hands with MCFIVA (Thailand) to create an online-shopping website for its wine products. The www.italthaicellar.com website will highlight a variety of secured online-payment methods and next-day delivery as major selling points, as well as promotional offerings for Italthai Industrial’s premium wines. The company expects total sales volume via the…
-
Thai youth crowned world sailing team racing champions
PHUKET: The Thai team claimed gold in the team racing event at the Optimist World Championship 2014 Argentina on Sunday, returning to shore to cheers from around the world. After a two-year absence from the prestigious international event, the five member team defeated Asian Games gold medalist Singapore in the team racing finals which saw 38 nations competing for the…
-
Phuket urged not to panic over terrorist watch in Southern Thailand
PHUKET: A security official has urged the public not to panic after it was announced that Phuket police were on high alert due to an international terrorist who might be trying to enter Southern Thailand. “I received an alert last night from officials who are hunting Indian national Jagtar Singh Hawara, and forwarded it to officers at my base,” Deputy…
-
Flash floods swamp Phuket’s main highway
PHUKET: Flash floods swamped a 200-meter-stretch of southbound lanes on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket this afternoon. “The flooding started at about 3pm after heavy rain in the area,” a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker told the Phuket Gazette. “Police had to make the northbound lanes available for motorists heading in both directions in order to keep traffic flowing.” The affected area…
-
Hardwood only: sex toy found lodged in sacred cave
PHUKET: Krabi officials removed a large, pink faded sex toy from a sacred cave this morning, after it was found mixed with traditional carved wooden phalluses. The offending item, discovered in Phra Nang Cave, started local tongues wagging when a photo of it residing in the cave appeared on a foreign website. “We believe it was left there by a…
-
American attacked, found lying on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Police are working on solving the mystery surrounding an American who was attacked and left bleeding on a Phuket beach on Saturday morning. Joggers on Karon Beach found Jonathan Mark Lemley, 28, unconscious on the sand with head injuries. “Mr Lemley was dressed in sportswear,” Phuket Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit told the Phuket Gazette. “He was taken to…
-
Frenchmen, Nigerian snared in Phuket B1mn cocaine, marijuana busts
PHUKET: Police netted three foreign and three Thai drug suspects, and seized more than 1 million baht of cocaine and marijuana in two separate busts in Phuket over the weekend. Officers made the first arrests on Saturday when they were called to a residence in Sabai Village in Kathu after neighbors reported sounds of a fight. “At 1:40am, police arrived…
-
Ancient relics discovered in Krabi thought to be over 3,000 years old
PHUKET: More than 200 ancient artifacts were discovered by chance, scattered on the floor of a cave in Krabi province, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, on Saturday. Found by a local man in Kuan Wei Dang Cave in Khlong Thom district, south of Krabi Town, the pieces included ancient ceramics, axeheads and stone tools, thought to be more than…
-
Makeup artist found dead in bed
PHUKET: A man was found dead at his rented apartment with dried blood around his mouth on Friday morning, but police said there were no signs of a struggle. “Thinnakorn Hormsai, 35, from Sakon Nakhon, was found dead lying in bed at his apartment on Narison Road in Phuket Town with blood stains around his mouth,” said Lt Col Kritsana…
-
No signs of Ebola in dead Briton in Phuket
PHUKET: Laboratory tests on the body of British national Martin Clark, 68, who was found dead in his Phuket condo last Thursday after returning from Nigeria, showed no signs of the deadly Ebola disease. Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training on Viral Zoonoses, said yesterday that separate tissue tests by German and Chinese…
-
Special Report: Phi Phi cries for help
SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Officials are pleading for help in tackling the array of environmental disasters that plague the tourist-popular Phi Phi archipelago – especially its largest island, Phi Phi Don. Considering the more than 1,000 visitors that arrive on the island daily – a number that does not include the uncounted number of tourists who arrive directly on the beaches…
-
Phuket Gazette web power scales new heights
PHUKET: Phuket’s most popular English-language Facebook page and the Gazette Online, the island’s top-ranked website (source: Google Analytics), have both landed record amounts of viewers this week with the story: Australian tourist mauled by Phuket tiger. The story, published on Wednesday, October 22, had more than 100,000 hits on the Gazette Online and reached more than 1.2 million readers on…
-
Phuket medical experts work to rule out Ebola in death of Brit
PHUKET: A Disease Prevention team from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) is working to rule out Ebola as the cause of death for a British expat recently returned from Nigeria. Martin John Roberts Clark, 68, returned to Phuket on October 7. He was found dead in his condo on Thursday afternoon. “Our team was there yesterday to collect…
-
Phuket speedboat crash victim to undergo spinal cord surgery
PHUKET: A Tunisian national will undergo surgery in Phuket for severe injuries sustained to his spinal cord during the horrific speedboat crash that killed two Korean tourists last weekend (story here). Ali Bouzgarrou, 67, who had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital, was moved to Bangkok Hospital Phuket yesterday for the surgery.…
-
Triple Tribute: Beyonce, Michael Jackson and Rihanna clones coming to Phuket
PHUKET: Triple Tribute, direct from London, will arrive on the fair shores of Phuket to pay homage to the infectious music of Beyonce, Michael Jackson and Rihanna at Laguna on November 15. Triple Tribute is a musical bonanza of powerful vocals, explosive dance routines and stunning costumes, which will accompany the artists’ top hits, anthems and ballads. “Sasha Fierce” named…
-
Frenchman, 70, fights off armed robbers in Phuket
PHUKET: A 70-year-old French national fought off a pair of teens attempting to rob his female companion at knife-point in Phuket last night. David Estermann and his friend, Aurelie Allain-Lebreton, were driving along Soi Suksan 2, a poorly lit road in Rawai, when they were forced to a stop by the two teens. “They stopped their bike in front of…
-
Phuket honors HM King Chulalongkorn
PHUKET: The life and achievements of HM King Chulalongkorn were commemorated in a ceremony at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday. Govenor Nisit Jansomwong led an assembly of officials in adorning the “Chulalongkorn the Great” monument with flowers. After the ceremony and speeches, Governor Nisit presented five 10,000-baht prizes to students who won an “Abolition of Slavery in Thailand” drawing competition, which…
-
Myanmar nationals robbed of 30k cash in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting a pair of armed robbers who stole 30,000 baht from two Myanmar nationals in Phuket on Wednesday afternoon. Ye Su Or, 21, and Priew, 17, were walking into a SuperCheap when two men drove up on a motorbike and demanded the money at knife-point. “The couple had a lot of cash so that they could buy…
-
Officials hope tourists dig Phuket tin-mining festival
PHUKET: Phuket residents and tourists have been invited to join a three-day festival in Srisoonthorn to celebrate Loy Krathong and honor the island’s tin-mining history. The event will be held at the Bang Maruan Lagoon, which is located next to the site of the old Bang Maruan Mine in the center of the island, from November 4 to 6. “Locals…
-
Future of Phuket’s jet-ski operators to be decided next week: officials
PHUKET: Jet-ski operators will meet with the Phuket Marine Office on Monday to discuss their fates, following a decision last week that has allowed them to temporarily park their craft on Kamala Beach (story here). “We have assigned the Phuket Marine Office to take responsibility of the issue concerning jet-ski management, as the operators must seek permission from the office…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.