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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Dubai Petanque returns to Phuket to make amends for last year
PHUKET: Dubai Petanque returns to Thailand to take on teams from Phuket and France in a two-day round-robin tournament starting on November 1. Phuket Petanque Club last November shook Dubai Petanque with a 48-20 win, and there is no doubt that Dubai will be looking for revenge. The three-way contest will be a modification of last year’s Grand Slam Tournament,…
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Video Report: Speedboat-crash victims’ bodies to be taken home
PHUKET: The bodies of two South Korean nationals recovered from the wreckage of a speedboat that sank in Phang Nga Bay on Sunday will be flown back to Korea early tomorrow morning. Search and rescue divers recovered the bodies of Ko Min Woo, 31, and An Sun Yong, 28, on Tuesday (stories here and here). Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong was…
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Phuket’s top brass declare beaches ready for high season
PHUKET: The island’s beaches are ready for the incoming high season, top-ranking Phuket-based officials announced yesterday. “We are confident that we have nice, beautiful beaches to which we can welcome tourists from all over the world,” said Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command. However, Vice Admiral Sayan noted that the beach battle has not yet…
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Phuket motorist run over, killed on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A man was run over by a large truck* after he fell off his motorbike on Patong Hill this afternoon. “We received a report that a man was killed instantly after being hit by a large truck. This is all the information we have at the moment,” a Patong police officer confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “Police and rescue…
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Phuket Art Dinner: Dine on all-star chefs’ culinary interpretations of modern art
PHUKET: Ever wondered what Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa or any piece of modern art might taste like – or at least a gastronomic interpretation? Take your chances this Saturday at 7pm by joining the Think Design Art Dinner at Nikki Beach Club, where six of Thailand’s top chefs will be collaborating to create…
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Phuket vampires prepare: Blood center to hold Halloween-themed blood drive
PHUKET: The Phuket Red Cross has invited all healthy island residents to help replenish much-needed blood stocks by making donations at its Halloween-themed blood drive. The event, called “Nee Pee Ma Hai Luad” or “Run away from ghosts. Let’s donate blood”, will take place at the Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) on October 31 from 8:30am to 4:30pm. “Our blood…
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Australian tourist mauled by Phuket tiger
PHUKET: An Australian tourist was mauled by a tiger at Phuket’s Tiger Kingdom yesterday afternoon, Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. The tiger attacked Paul Goudie, 49, after he climbed into the cage with the animal at about 1pm to have his photograph taken. Mr Goudie was taken to Phuket International Hospital for treatment. He…
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Video Report: Phuket welder allegedly sparks furniture shop inferno
PHUKET: A welder’s sparks that allegedly fell onto highly-flammable material left a furniture shop in Phuket Town gutted yesterday afternoon. The flames were contained and put out within 30 minutes. However, a rice warehouse next to the furniture store incurred some damage, confirmed Pornthip Chumsri of the Phuket City Police. “I had hired a repairman to replace the old roof.…
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Russian drowns while snorkelling off Phi Phi island, east of Phuket
PHUKET: A Russian tourist drowned while snorkelling off the tourist island of Phi Phi, east of Phuket, yesterday. “Evgenii Kuznetcov, 54, was taken to Phi Phi Hospital, but sadly he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Krabi City Police Deputy Superintendent Noppadol Mukda told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Kuznetcov and his wife had joined a Phuket speedboat tour to visit Koh…
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Phuket divers discover body of second Korean tourist killed in speedboat crash
PHUKET: Search and rescue divers today are recovering a second body from the wreckage of the speedboat that sank in Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket, after crashing into a fishing trawler Sunday afternoon. The body was identified by Phuket Marine Police as Korean national Ko Min Woo, 31. About an hour earlier, divers found and began to recover the…
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Breaking News: Divers recover body of Korean tourist from sunken speedboat
PHUKET: Search and rescue divers pulled the body of one of the two missing Korean tourists from the wreckage of the speedboat that now lies at the bottom of Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket, confirmed Lt Col Chatchai Sakdee of the Phuket Marine Police. Marine Police named the Korean woman as An Sun Yong, 28. One Korean tourist is…
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Phuket Governor makes clean beaches priority
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Chansomwong got on the clean-Phuket bandwagon, as he led locals, students and officials onto Patong Beach for “Beach Cleaning Day” on Sunday. “This activity is organized to strengthen the love and unity of the people within the community; help them develop a love for their hometown; help them keep it clean; and preserve our natural resources and…
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Angry mob prevents suspected hired assassin from reenacting Phuket stabbing
PHUKET: An angry mob of villagers yesterday prevented police from carrying out a full reenactment of the stabbing murder of a woman by a suspected hired assassin in Phuket earlier this year. “Chatchai Torkeaw, 25, was apprehended on Saturday after he successfully evaded arrest for almost six months,” Thalang Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri told the Phuket Gazette. He was arrested…
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Phuket missing teen turns up safe in Udon Thani
PHUKET: Kanyarat “Nong Chor” Kananthai, who was last seen selling her gold necklace in Phuket on Sunday, has turned up safe and sound in Udon Thani. “At about 3pm yesterday, one of my relatives in Udon Thani called me to say that Nong Chor had arrived at her place. I am so relieved that she is okay,” said Ms Kanyarat’s…
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‘The Jungle Book’ puppet production swings into Phuket
PHUKET: In the next installment of quality island entertainment, Events International and the Phuket Gazette are proud to present the Jungle Book Puppet Theater. Suitable for children of all ages, the sparkling new puppet theater adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book will swing into British International School Phuket (BISP), HeadStart International School and Kajonkietsuksa International School next month. This…
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Three Phuket tourists tumble, mayor aims to increase safety at Promthep Cape
PHUKET: Officials are considering more options to boost safety at Phuket’s iconic Promthep Cape after three tourists – two Chinese and one Thai – slipped from the rocks this weekend. However, building a protective fence remains off the table. “During the [southwest] monsoon season, there is a lot of rain and the waves are high. These conditions make it easy…
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Video Report: Patong’s first mayor cremated, honored by Royal Household Bureau
PHUKET: Patong’s first mayor, Pian Keesin, was cremated at Wat Laem Singh in Phuket on Saturday. Mr Pian died from a heart-valve disease in his home at the Rock Garden housing estate on October 7 at the age of 70. A fai prachataan provided by the Royal Household Bureau was used to ignite the cremation pyre in recognition of Mr…
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Video Report: Search continues for missing tourists after devastating Phuket speedboat crash
PHUKET: The search continues for two tourists who went missing after their speedboat crashed into a fishing trawler about 11 kilometers from Koh Yao Noi, east of Phuket, at about 5:30pm yesterday. The Navy renewed its search for the male and female Korean, who rescuers were unable to recover after the crash, by boat and helicopter at 8am today. However,…
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Registration remains open for the Challenge Laguna Phuket
PHUKET: Registration is still open for the 2014 half-distance Challenge Laguna Phuket in Thailand – and the opportunity still exists to compete in this unique destination event that has captured the hearts of triathletes all over the world. The race, set for November 30, will be the second Challenge Family series race to be staged on this paradise tropical island,…
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Teen goes missing after selling gold in Phuket
PHUKET: A relative of a 16-year-old girl has made a public plea for help in finding the teen, who went missing yesterday. Kanyarat “Nong Chor” Kananthai was last seen at 11am in Kathu selling her gold necklace for 4,300 baht to a shop near her house. “Nong Chor came from Udon Thai province with our grandmother about two months ago…
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Jet-skis allowed on Kamala Beach, confirms Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Jet-ski operators are allowed to park their craft on Kamala Beach until the end of the month, confirmed Governor Nisit Jansomwong to the Phuket Gazette today. Watchara Koysakul, head of the Kamala Jet-Ski Club, said that it was a similar situation to the one in Patong, where jet-ski operators were allowed to return to work in August as long…
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Another one bites the dust: illegal building removed from Phuket beach
PHUKET: One illegal building was removed from Phuket’s Nai Yang Beach by officials yesterday. Daeng Lawlang, the owner of the illegal building, was ordered to remove it by October 16. Though Mr Daeng has a Sor Kor 1 land title for about two rai of beachfront property, the building and some smaller structures were constructed beyond his property boundaries. “The…
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![Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video] | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAzMjYgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video]
PHUKET: Revered as Asia’s most prestigious sports yachting trophy and attracting crews and boats from every corner of the globe, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns to the unpredictable seas of the Andaman, bringing with it split-second racing action, camaraderie and a series of legendary party events. The 28th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Under Royal Patronage, the region’s largest regatta,…
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Phuket police raid rounds up pirated goods
PHUKET: About 1,500 fake brand-name items were seized from three shops in Patong on Thursday. “The retail value of the counterfeit goods is about 1 million baht,” said Kitti Sapaothong, deputy commander of the Economic Crime Division of the Royal Thai Police. The majority of the items seized were polo shirts. However, bags, purses, luggage, watches and other items were…
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Six elephants “unsmuggled’ from Phuket
PHUKET: Six illegally-imported elephants were rushed out of Noparat Elephant Camp and off Phuket late last night. The pachyderm push-out came ahead of a Phuket Livestock Office raid this morning. “We confirmed that the elephants were removed from the island and taken to Krabi province. The owner has secured a permit allowing them to stay there,” Phuket Livestock Chief Weerasit…
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Annual Patong carnival to hit sands of Phuket
PHUKET: Patong’s annual carnival, this year themed “Blissful Beach @ Patong”, is set to hit the beach town’s sands on November 1, ahead of Phuket’s tourism high season. The event, now in its 29th year, will take place from November 1-3, and aims to attract locals and tourists alike with concerts, a mini-marathon, a photography contest (story here) and a…
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Man and wife charged with rape, await court date in jail
PHUKET: A man charged with raping a 14-year-old undocumented Myanmar migrant worker, and his wife who helped him carry out the crime, remain incarcerated pending a court date. “We are still preparing evidence against both suspects – including fingerprint testing,” Lt Palita Kangsing of the Khuk Khak Police told the Phuket Gazette today. Lt Palita said Mr Ko-Nai and his…
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Unattended candles set Phuket house on fire
PHUKET: A Phuket homeowner issued a warning about leaving candles unattended after his house was set on fire today by candles left burning for a personal Chinese shrine. No one was injured in the blaze. However, an estimated 100,000 baht of damage was done, Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “My wife, children and…
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Prisoner kingpin implicated in Phuket drug-network raids
PHUKET: The kingpin of a major drug ring operating out of a Thai prison was identified after a series of raids in Phuket, police said yesterday. The raids, which began on Sunday, saw more than 2 kilograms of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) seized. “The major dealers arrested implicated a female inmate, who we will name only as ‘Ms B’ until…
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Russian man who disappeared into sea found drowned in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Russian man who walked into the sea and disappeared on Wednesday night after an argument with his girlfriend was discovered this morning. “We were alerted by a local that a body was found floating between Freedom Beach and Paradise Beach at about 9am,” Sampawat Wannasangkam of the Patong Municipality Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation…
![Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/4_2014101814730816_rzBBMLSKzvcJJTiYtMunklVasEkFLFflUFEalQaV_jpeg.jpeg)
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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