Phuket News
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Opinion: Stop paying the power bill, Phuket
PHUKET: It’s hard to argue with the objective of the Ministry of Energy’s campaign to reduce electric power consumption on the island by 10 per cent within six months, but the Gazette hopes that more energy will be saved in the effort than calories expended. As mentioned in an announcement by Ministry of Energy Inspector Pramoul Chanpong, primary targets include…
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Heavy rain, flash flood warning issued for Phuket
PHUKET: A weather warning for heavy rains, strong winds and possible flash floods was issued by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) this morning. A prevailing strong easterly wind is expected to bring heavy rains to southern Thailand and the Andaman coast. The warning is in effect for Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun. Wind-driven waves are expected to…
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Phuket immigration 90-day check-in now online
PHUKET: An online option for 90-day immigration check-ins is now available in all provinces throughout Thailand. “We tested the system for two months [story here] before officially launching it on April 1,” Phuket Immigration Office Chief Sunchai Chokkajaykij told the Phuket Gazette. “However, it is only compatible with the Internet Explorer browser.” The same rules apply for checking in after…
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Indian tourists injured as Phuket tour bus slams into taxi
PHUKET: Three Indian tourists were injured when a tour bus slammed into a taxi and a pick-up truck south of the Heroines’ Monument on Thepkrasattri Road yesterday. The taxi, carrying an Indian family of three, and the tour bus, which had just dropped off a group of Chinese tourists at Phuket International Airport, were travelling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when…
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Officials clear restaurant from Phuket beach
PHUKET: Police have been tasked with pursuing beach encroachment charges after a team of officials cleared a restaurant’s tables and chairs from the sand at Bang Tao Beach on Tuesday morning. About 20 officers led by Thalang District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol arrived and removed 34 pieces of beach furniture following complaints of beach encroachment being filed with the Thalang District…
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Chinese tourists safe as car slams into Patong drain
PHUKET: A Chinese couple escaped serious injury yesterday when their rented car plunged into a large open drain under construction in Patong. The tourists, Po Fai Choy and his female companion Kai Yin Fox, slammed into the open drain near Phuket Simon Cabaret at about 830am. Mr Po and Ms Kai were recovered from the vehicle and taken to Patong…
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Phuket Gran Fondo draws world cyclists
PHUKET: More than 220 cyclists from around the globe joined the Thanyapura Gran Fondo road race last weekend. Cyclists completing the 120km course started in Phuket and completed a lap through Phang Nga before heading back to the finish line at Thanyapura. Riders were individually chip timed and had the right of way at all intersections. The event also included…
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Phuket career car robber flunks again
PHUKET: Police have arrested a man who has confessed to breaking into and stealing items from five cars in Phuket Town on Friday and Saturday night. Pongphol Boondetpiti, 25, was arrested at a house in Rassada yesterday. “Officers searched his house and found several items reported stolen from the robbed cars,” Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Somsak Thongklieng said this…
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Lucky sidecar escape in Phuket underpass prompts fines, safety warning
PHUKET: A garbage collector driving a motorbike with a sidecar escaped serious injury in the first road accident in Phuket’s new underpass, prompting fines, improved safety measures and a warning from island officials. At about 2pm yesterday, the motorbike driver entered the new Darasamut Underpass heading southbound toward Chalong, Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Lueduanghad explained to the Phuket Gazette…
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Fears raised over new wells fouling Phuket groundwater
PHUKET: The Governor’s Office is taking quick action to prevent a slew of new wells excavated in the Kata-Karon area from threatening the local groundwater supply. Phuket Vice Governor Suthee Thongyam led a meeting yesterday at Provincial Hall, where he heard complaints from residents throughout the entire Kata-Karon area. “Local residents use water from shallow wells for their daily necessities,…
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Video Report: Indonesian caught smuggling 5.2kg of cocaine into Phuket
PHUKET: An Indonesian man was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday in possession of 5.2 kilograms of cocaine, which he was transporting from Columbia to Khao Lak. Jemani Ikhsan, 63, had departed Bogota, Columbia, on April 18 and connected in Panama City, Panama; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Qatar; and Singapore before landing in Phuket at about 7:20pm yesterday. The cocaine, valued…
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Phuket health officials to crack open alcohol promotion laws, case by case
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has confirmed that it will not take action against restaurant and bar owners for showing images promoting alcohol – unless a specific complaint is made against the venue. The news follows a report of a restaurant owner in Bangkok being sentenced to pay 460,000 baht for breaking the Alcohol Control Act of 2014.…
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Minister battles devastating illegal fishing practices
PHUKET: New fishing regulations are to hit Phuket as Thailand looks to close legal loop holes and enforcement issues being abused by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishers. Experts estimate that the global value of economic losses from IUU fishing range between $US10 billion and $US23.5bn annually, reported US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2011. “IUU fishing poses…
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Man slashed in break-and-enter, claims fleeing teen gang attack
PHUKET: Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who was found bleeding profusely in a stranger’s home in central Phuket early this morning. Officers arrived at the home, in the Permsak Villa estate in Baan Manik, Thalang, at about 2:30am. “When we arrived, we found Channarong Unong, 25, on the ground bleeding in front of the house,” said Lt…
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Epileptic crabber drowns on the hunt in Phuket
PHUKET: An epileptic man drowned while catching mole crabs at Mai Khao Beach yesterday afternoon. Uthai Wongpen, 45, was pulled from the water by Centara Grand Hotel lifeguards on patrol in the area. “We were told by eyewitnesses that Mr Uthai was catching mole crabs in knee-deep water, when he suddenly collapsed into the sea. He was floating in the…
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Mother, sister join Navy search for missing American tourist
PHUKET: The mother and sister of missing American tourist Joshua Devine today joined a search by air for their lost loved one, who disappeared from a dive boat off Phuket on April 11 (story here). Mr Devine’s mother, Marie Gallant Major, and his sister Jennifer Bakowski boarded a Royal Thai Navy helicopter after being briefed on the search efforts at…
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Phuket Police bust major dealer, seize more than B7m of drugs
PHUKET: A major Phuket drug dealer was arrested with more than 7 million baht of drugs in Phuket Town on Friday night after police were tipped off by one of her sellers. Thammarat ‘Ken’ Matte provided police with the nickname and clues to the location of his supplier after he was arrested with 400mg of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) earlier…
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Phuket teen gun-maker shoots self in leg
PHUKET: An 18-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the leg while assembling a homemade gun at his house in Mai Khao on Saturday evening. Anuphong Phuangjan was taken to Thalang Hospital for treatment after police were notified of the incident by his neighbors. “He was assembling a handgun made from parts of a BB gun when he accidentally shot himself…
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Energy officials target Phuket’s power hungry
PHUKET: The Ministry of Energy will launch a campaign that aims to reduce Phuket’s power consumption by 10 per cent within six months. The campaign will target hotels, shopping malls and condo projects – and government offices, explained Pramoul Chanpong, an inspector with the Ministry of Energy. “Phuket is one of the top three power users in all of Southern…
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F1: The Bahrain challenge – tyres, team rivals and turns
PHUKET: Shanghai provided the exact result I forecasted: Lewis Hamilton followed by Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel, with Kimi Raikkonen well in contention. In fact, the safety car may have stopped any further attrition by the Iceman. It was nice to see Kimi back in form. I speculated before Shanghai about how close Williams could get to Ferrari. The answer…
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Deputy PM calls for Phuket light rail to serve the beaches
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday told the governors of five Andaman provinces that he would like to see the Phuket light-rail project serve popular beaches on the island. “In my opinion, having the light rail expanded to serve the beaches would be a good idea,” Deputy PM MR Pridiyathorn said. “A lot of people visit the beaches,…
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Phuket security boost for royal visit
PHUKET: Security will be ramped up across the island during a royal visit by HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana to Phuket next week. Princess Chulabhorn will arrive at Tessaban 2 Baan Kathu School at 1:40pm on April 26 as one of the final stops during her tour of Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation centers in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket, from…
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Phuket man overrun with debt found hanged
PHUKET: Police are treating the death of a 60-year-old man found hanged at a housing estate in northern Phuket this morning as a suicide. Aphisit Nomrit, 13, found the body of his father, Mr Sommai, inside a wastewater-treatment room at the Karn Keha public housing estate in Thalang at about 9:30am. Mr Sommai lived and worked as a security guard…
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Phuket officials prepare to call off search for missing US diver
PHUKET: Officials leading the search for missing US diver Joshua Michael Devine are preparing to call off their efforts if they fail to find any clues by end of day, Sunday. Mr Devine went missing from the Chontara 1, a Similans-bound liveaboard, on April 11. He was travelling with his wife, Ms Thadsana, and 22 other divers (story here). Officers…
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No charges over boat collision off Phuket
PHUKET: Police will not press any charges over the incident in which a dive boat and a sailboat collided heavily north of Koh Mai Thon, east of Phuket, last Saturday. On returning to Phuket last Saturday afternoon, the captain and crew on board the sailboat Starship alleged that the dive boat North Star struck their vessel and fled after throwing…
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Ronins shot down by Air Force Central
PHUKET: The island’s Phuket FC is looking to rebuild their confidence after their 2-0 loss away to Air Force Central (AFC) FC on April 8. AFC supporters had to wait until only the 19th minute to roar with delight as the Bangkok squad’s Nigerian midfielder Julius Obioh slotted the ball into the net after receiving a superb cross from fellow…
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Phuket readies for Gran Fondo road race
PHUKET: About 150 riders will take to the streets of Phuket this Sunday for the Thanyapura Gran Fondo, a 120km bicycle road race to be headed by Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke. “Among the cyclists travelling to Phuket to join the major event are the women’s bike team W2 from Bangkok and lots of Phuket cyclists as…
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Phuket lifeguards back on beaches “within a week’
PHUKET: Lifeguards are expected to be back on duty at Phuket’s beaches within the coming week, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) has announced. The news follows Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong yesterday signing his approval for the PPAO to expedite the process of hiring lifeguards by directly negotiating with the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC). “I signed my approval as soon…
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Phuket top cop labels bomb threat via Line a “rumor’
PHUKET: The island’s top cop has brushed aside a Phuket car bomb threat circulating on social media sites as only an unsubstantiated rumor. Nonetheless, the governor has asked that police boost security measures throughout the island. The increased security measures follows a message being passed through the Line application and social media sites that urges readers to be weary of…
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D-Day for Surin Beach businesses swiftly approaches
PHUKET: The deadline for 39 Surin Beach businesses, including several iconic beach clubs, to appeal eviction notices handed down by the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) is swiftly approaching, confirmed Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran. “The deadline to appeal to the Administrative Court is Saturday. We will be going to Surin Beach on Monday to find out whether…
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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