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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Djokovic, Federer favoured for grand slam sequel
PHUKET: Top seed Novak Djokovic and number two Roger Federer are favoured to wage another title showdown in the last grand slam of 2014, although some emerging young guns have other ideas for the U.S. Open starting on Monday. Djokovic and Federer’s path to a championship clash could be less troubled than usual with the absence of last year’s winner…
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Phelps impresses in first international comeback race
PHUKET: Michael Phelps made an ominous return to international competition on Friday, qualifying for the final of the 100 metres freestyle at the Pan Pacific championships at Australia’s Gold Coast. Taking on the world’s best sprinters in an event he rarely competed in even at his peak, Phelps won his heat and touched the wall in 48.45 seconds. His time…
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Navy leads raid on Koh Raet residents
PHUKET: Officials yesterday warned residents on Koh Raet, off the east coast of Phuket, that their buildings will be torn down in 30 days if documentation authorizing construction cannot be produced. The alleged land owner, Pithirat Phitipak, told Commander Pornprom Sakultem of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and other officials that she bought the seven-rai site in 2008.…
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Police hunt teenagers behind Phuket knife attack
PHUKET: Police are searching for a gang of Phuket teenagers who reportedly attacked a security guard at Villa Market in Cherng Talay last night, leaving the guard with a four-inch gash in his head. The security guard, Methee Yaemmen, 26, told police that he had no idea who the suspects were or why they would attack him. “I went to…
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Phuket Airport’s 5.7 billion expansion to be delayed until mid-2016
PHUKET: Completion of Phuket International Airport’s 5.7-billion-baht expansion has been set back a year, the airport’s Director Prathuang Sornkham revealed today. “Originally, completion of the project was scheduled for mid-2015, but a number of difficulties faced by contractors – including heavy monsoon rains – has caused the project to be pushed back to the middle of 2016,” said Mr Prathuang.…
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Sustainable marine tourism tops Phuket forum for island leaders
PHUKET: Leading figures from a host of international tourism destinations dotted around the world placed sustainable marine tourism at the top of the agenda for the 18th Inter-Island Tourism Policy Forum (ITOP) at the Laguna Phuket resort complex today. Present at the meeting were representative members from Phuket, Hainan, Jeju, Okinawa, Bali, Cebu, Penang and Sri Lanka. “The topic of…
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Phuket Town pub owner arrested for B500mn ‘foreign-inheritance’ scam
PHUKET: An owner of the well-known H2O Pub and Restaurant in Phuket Town has been arrested for fraud in Phang Nga after cheating nearly 300 people from across Central Thailand out of more than 500 million baht. Phang Nga City Police arrested Wilawan Na Takuathung, 39, on Tuesday, said Phang Nga City Police Commander Chalit Kaewyarat. “Mrs Wilawan is no…
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Scott returns to make amends at Australian Open
PHUKET: Adam Scott has confirmed he will return to Sydney for the Australian Open in November with the intent of making amends for his final-hole disappointment last year. Scott’s return is a major coup for organizers after world number one Rory McIlroy committed to returning to defend his title at The Australian Golf Club from November 27-30. McIlroy snatched the…
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Homeless man found dead in Phuket Town market
PHUKET: A homeless man from Nakhon Sri Thammarat was found dead early this morning lying on top of an empty market stall in Phuket Town. Police and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were notified at 7:15am about the body located at the Norrahuch intersection market near the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization Hospital. “We found the body of Tienchai Kornsut, 42, lying…
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Phuket, Penang set date for becoming sister cities
PHUKET: George Town in Penang, Malaysia, and Phuket Town are set to become sister cities on September 18, as was confirmed at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall this week. The Royal Thai Consul-General to Penang, Srirat Vathesatogkit, met with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut on Tuesday to discuss the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize the relationship…
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Phelps confident of getting back to his best
PHUKET: Michael Phelps’ comeback to competitive swimming has been anything but smooth sailing. A series of rare defeats have illuminated the enormous challenge he faces getting back to the top. For a man who re-wrote the Olympic record books, those losses could have been enough to persuade him to pack up his goggles and quit for good, but if anything,…
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B32mn set aside for Phase 3 of Phuket Town’s cable clean-up
PHUKET: A budget of 32 million baht has been set aside for Phase 3 of the project to hide unsightly cables underground in picturesque Old Phuket Town. This stage of the project is expected to focus on Yaowarat, Rassada, Phang Nga, and Montri roads. “Right now we are moving into the third phase. Phuket City Municipality will work closely with…
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NACC launches new anti-corruption campaign in Phuket schools
PHUKET: Officials launched a new anti-corruption campaign on Monday aimed at raising awareness among Phuket students about the negative effects of corruption. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Phuket office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with 15 well-known schools in Phuket, including Phuket Wittayalai, Satree Phuket and Phuket Technical College. “We are sending [NACC] representatives to the schools twice a…
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Kidnapper on the run arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Patong Police on Monday arrested a man wanted for a kidnapping in 2008 and his role in a murder in 2006. Somkiet Rawungwong, 27, was taken into custody by officers while he was standing next to the Patong beachfront road near the Absolute Sea Pearl Resort & Spa. “Both crimes took place in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The girl he…
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Missing Phuket girl “Nong Guy’, 13, found alive and well
PHUKET: Sirinut “Nong Guy” Chaowalert, the 13-year-old girl reported missing by her parents on Saturday, has been found alive and well. The alarm was raised earlier today when Nong Guy’s father, Somsak Luesarntiwilai, made a public appeal for anyone who had seen his daughter to contact him urgently (story here). “Friends of Nong Guy called to tell us that she…
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Phuket parents plead for information on missing 13-year-old daughter
PHUKET: The worried parents of 13-year-old Sirinut “Nong Guy” Chaowalert are urging anyone who has seen their daughter to call them immediately. Nong Guy was last seen at the family home in the Prompan housing estate near the SuperCheap complex on Thepkrasattri Road in Rassada on Saturday. “She was at home with her 15-year-old sister while I was at work…
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Helmetless motorcyclist dead after hitting pick-up truck
PHUKET: A motorcyclist was killed after colliding with the back of pick-up truck in rush-hour traffic on Thepkrasattri Road yesterday afternoon. “I was on the way home after having picked up my child. We were about to make a u-turn when I heard something slam into the back of the truck,” said Hathairat Songyot, 39. Ms Hathairat called police, who…
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Russia rejects FIFA plea to cut World Cup venues
PHUKT: Russia has rejected a FIFA recommendation to cut the number of host cities for the 2018 World Cup from 11 to nine and stadiums from 12 to 10, according to Russia sports minister Vitaly Mutko. “The plan that we will have 12 stadiums in 11 cities, which will host matches at the World Cup is not changing,” Mutko told…
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Atletico’s Garcia earns Super Cup draw at Real Madrid
PHUKET: Atletico Madrid’s Raul Garcia netted a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Tuesday after substitute James Rodriguez had opened the scoring with 10 minutes left. Colombian Rodriguez, who came on for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo at halftime, thought he had won the game when he slotted the…
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Phuket national park land encroachment hearing reveals two claims for same plot
PHUKET: A total of 47 people today explained to the Navy how they came to possess plots of land deemed to be inside Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. Present at the meeting to hear the explanations was Commander Pornprom Sakultem of the Third Naval Area Command. One attendee, Tawee Ngerndee, told Cmd Pornprom that he “used to own” just over 10…
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Officials confident 700 rai of Phuket park land to be returned
PHUKET: More than 700 rai of public land inside Sirinath National Park could be returned to the public by September 16 if a dozen land documents under investigation by the Land Department are found to have been illegally issued. “I am quite confident that most of the [12] documents [under investigation] were illegally issued. We are just waiting for officers…
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Phuket’s first underpass opens as construction continues
PHUKET: The 600-million-baht underpass located beside the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall is now open to northbound vehicles, Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luedwonghad confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. The underpass was opened on Saturday from 10am to noon and then opened to traffic again today after it was determined that the road surface for northbound traffic at ground…
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Phuket official assures Patong kingpin not above the law
PHUKET: Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong has vowed that the sandbags in front of the Patong Bay Garden Resort will be removed from the beach, or resort owner and Patong kingpin Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, son of former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, will have to answer to the military. Mr Sayan, accompanied by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, Patong Mayor Chalermluck…
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Ancient human remains unearthed in Krabi, WWII shipwreck found off Chumphon
PHUKET: Ancient human bones have been unearthed along with clay pots believed to be up to 5,000 years old in Khao Na Wang Mi in Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket. Following the discovery of the bones in a cliff area in Thap Prik, north of Krabi Town, the Phuket-based 15th Archaeology Office director Riam Phumpongphaet said the office…
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Scores of alleged Phuket mafia taxi drivers shuffle into court
PHUKET: The first 70 of 108 Phuket taxi drivers facing charges for alleged involvement in the taxi mafia appeared in court for their preliminary hearing today. Those unable to fit in the court room were told that they would be seen by the court in early-September. The defendants, some of whom denied the charges, were arrested during a historic, island-wide…
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Phuket weather forecast prompts flood, landslide, tour boat warnings
PHUKET: Blue skies over Phuket this afternoon herald a welcome reprieve to the deluges that doused the island over the weekend and throughout today. By 1pm this afternoon, humidity had reached 98 per cent and more than 47mm of rainfall had been dumped on Phuket Town and the surrounding areas (see report in Thai here). The rainfall is set to…
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Phuket man stabs relative over a bottle of whiskey
PHUKET: A 19-year-old man wanted for stabbing a relative late last night over 500 baht to buy a bottle of whiskey is expected to surrender to police tomorrow, the Phuket Gazette was told today. When Thalang Police arrived at the house near the Heroines’ Monument about 30 minutes past midnight, the stabbing suspect had fled the scene. His relative, however,…
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Officers inspect Phuket waterfall area for encroachment
PHUKET: An investigation squad yesterday inspected developed areas allegedly encroaching on the protected forest area surrounding the Wang Kee Aon Waterfall in the hills of Patong, one of the places HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej visited on a trip to Phuket in 1959. The team, composing Royal Forest Department (RFD) officers and Navy personnel, were following up on complaints from Patong…
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Phuket lottery winners to spend B26mn prize on children’s education
PHUKET: A Phuket couple who won 26 million baht from the national lottery this weekend have set their children’s education as their top priority in spending the windfall prize. Sutin Nuanjan, 46, and his wife, Puangkaew 39, discovered on Saturday that they had won millions of baht. “On Wednesday [August 13], we went to the market in Rawai and asked…
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Phuket’s Club Med giving green to Kata
PHUKET: The five rai of Phuket public land returned to the Kata-Karon community when Club Med was given a new lease on life on August 11 will be developed into a public park. “Representatives of the public and Club Med decided that the best way to use the land will be to develop a green space where everyone can exercise…
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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