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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Board game gamblers swept up by Phuket Police, Navy
PHUKET: Navy personnel and Phuket City Police officers netted 37 gamblers in two separate raids last night. The officers rushed a makeshift casino in a meeting room on the second floor of the Town Inn Hotel, and discovered 27 gamblers, gambling paraphernalia and 66,660 baht in cash. “We received a tip-off about the meeting room being used as a gambling…
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Phuket Hard Rock Cafe GM arrested for gruesome ‘cold case’ murder in Australia
PHUKET: Hard Rock Cafe Phuket General Manager Gerard Caleo, 42, was arrested in Australia for his alleged role in the gruesome murder of Rita Caleo, reported the South Sydney Morning Herald today (story here). Mr Caleo was arrested by Homicide Squad detectives after landing in Sydney on a flight from Kuala Lumpur at about 6am. He has been charged with…
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Drug-crazed Phuket man kills friend, wounds girlfriend with meat cleaver
PHUKET: One man died, while a woman lay seriously injured in hospital last night following an attack by a drug-crazed man thought to be high on ya ice (crystal methamphetamine). Phuket City Police were called to a dormitory on Santisuk Soi Mai Luan Road at 6:30pm, where they found the 25-year-old suspect, Niwat Sampoosri, locked in the room attempting to…
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Mercedes-Benz, tuk-tuk crushed in Phuket landslide
PHUKET: A Mercedes-Benz, a tuk-tuk and four other vehicles were crushed in a Phuket landslide after a deluge of rain saturated a Patong construction site early this morning. “There were six vehicles parked at the site, as it is close to the owners’ homes. When the land below a retaining wall gave way, part of the wall collapsed,” said Wisit…
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We can’t save drivers from themselves: Phuket police
PHUKET: There will be no concerted effort by Phuket police to ramp up road safety despite six people – including three teenagers – being killed in road accidents in less than 24 hours last weekend. Phuket’s road nightmare began on August 8, when Red Mountain Golf Course caddy Sakon Banchongkaeo, 34, died after the motorbike on which she was riding…
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Patong Police Station goes for a swim during Phuket flash flood
PHUKET: The carpark and first floor of Patong Police Station were underwater early this morning as a heavy rainstorm blasted through Phuket. “The flash flooding started at about 5am and lasted a couple of hours,” Lt Col Suttichai Tianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “Some of our computers were damaged during the flood, as we were not…
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Phuket says goodbye to more illegal beach structures
PHUKET: A massive military sweep of some of Phuket’s most popular beaches yesterday saw almost two dozen illegal structures forcefully removed and charges pressed against the business owners. An impressive crew of about 500 military personnel and local officials arrived at the beach towns to enforce a 30-day beach clear-out deadline that expired yesterday; a mammoth mission that started in…
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Thailand’s National football team to prepare in Phuket for Asian Games
PHUKET: Thailand’s National football team will arrive in Phuket tomorrow for a two-week training camp and at least two warm-up matches, against Myanmar and Qatar, in preparation for the Asian Games in South Korea next month. Thailand’s team recently suffered an early setback when Thai Premier League leaders Buriram United refused to release their two defenders for the Asian Games.…
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Police deny rumor of order for strict enforcement of closing time for Phuket party town
PHUKET: Patong Police this afternoon denied rumors of an order demanding that they more strictly enforce the 2am closure of nightlife venues in Phuket’s premier party town. “I’m sorry, but I’ve not heard about this,” Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan told the Phuket Gazette when asked about the order. Col Chiraphat offered no further comments. However, both Patong deputy superintendents,…
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Russian tourist’s death ruled suicide by Phuket police
PHUKET: Police have concluded that a Russian tourist found dead in his Phuket hotel room died of self-inflicted wounds, after eliminating the possible involvement of a ladyboy seen in his company. Fedor Vasilev, 33, from the Sakha Republic, was found dead yesterday morning with seven stab wounds to his chest and a deep laceration running the length of his forearm…
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Get into gear at Phuket Cycling Fest 2014
PHUKET: If you’re looking for a way to enjoy the beauty of Thailand up-close and personal, then make a note in your planner to join Phuket Cycling Fest 2014, which will be held on September 6 and 7. Surrounded by some of the best natural scenery in southern Thailand, the fest aims to promote Phuket as an ideal destination for…
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ATM skimming scam cashes in for 1.4 million across bay from Phuket
PHUKET: More than 1.4 million baht was skimmed from the accounts of 43 ATM card holders across the bay from Phuket in Krabi since August 7, Krabi City Police revealed today. “After questioning victims, it appears that the skimming has mostly targeted Bank of Ayudhaya customers,” Col Wittaya Meksai of the Krabi City Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning.…
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Patong Police deny Mother’s Day shakedown on Soi Bangla
PHUKET: Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan has denied reports that his officers yesterday ordered bar owners in Patong to shut down – or face a fine of 75,000 baht. “None of my officers ordered bars to close yesterday, and they did not threaten bar owners with a fine of up to 75,000 baht if they did not close,” Col Chiraphat…
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Police search for Phuket ladyboy after Russian tourist slashed, stabbed to death
PHUKET: Patong Police have not ruled out suicide or murder after the bloody body of a Russian tourist was found stabbed and slashed in his hotel bedroom on Nanai Road this morning. The tourist*, a 33-year-old from the Sakha Republic, arrived in Phuket on July 19 with a tour group and was scheduled to return to Russia this morning. Hotel…
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Flights to whisk more than 300 stranded Phuket tourists back to Hong Kong
PHUKET: Two flights today will whisk away the 300 passengers destined for Hong Kong who were stranded at Phuket International Airport for days due to the Thai Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) decision to revoke the landing rights of City Airways. The DCA revoked the rights on August 9 after a report found that maintenance was not being properly carried…
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Phuket turtles take on Hungry Ghosts as festival gets underway
PHUKET: Phuket Town launched into the annual Por Tor Festival today with a parade through the city streets followed by merit-making ceremonies and other activities in the heart of the island. Phuket is honoring its Chinese cultural roots by celebrating the festival, more widely known as the Hungry Ghost festival, during which a variety of cultural displays and activities will…
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Farah returns for European championships after scare
PHUKET: Double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah returns to action at this week’s European athletics championships where the high jump showdown between world champion Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine and Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia should also dominate. Farah is expected to run in Wednesday’s 10,000 metres and the 5,000 metres on Sunday having missed Glasgow’s recent Commonwealth Games with…
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HM The Queen’s Birthday, Mother’s Day celebrations kick off in Phuket
PHUKET: Mother’s Day kicked off in Phuket this morning with an early morning celebration in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 82nd birthday at Sirikit Park on Thalang Road, Phuket Town. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led the island’s top officials in offering alms to 83 monks. The governor, vice governors, Phuket’s top cop Commander Krajang Suwannarat and a host of other…
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Bangkok lawyer drowns on holiday in Phuket
PHUKET: A Bangkok lawyer on holiday in Phuket died yesterday after being struck by a large wave and dragged out to sea at Nai Thon Beach. Teechalat Kapaeng, 46, originally from Chon Buri, and Natthachanok Inamnuaysri, 42, from Bangkok, waded into the sea at about 6:30pm to rinse sand off their bodies after lying on the beach. “We didn’t realize…
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British siblings “overwhelmed’ by Phuket reunion
PHUKET: Ben and Emily Willgrass have broken their silence to express gratitude to all Thai people for their kindness and generosity after an emotionally overwhelming reunion with their Phuket tsunami saviors last month. Nearly 10 years later and thanks to a successful call for help via Facebook (story here), the Willgrass siblings were able to track down Yupin Sengmuang and…
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Phuket ready to celebrate HM Queen Sirikit’s birthday, Mother’s Day
PHUKET: A host of special ceremonies will be held throughout Phuket tomorrow to honor and celebrate HM Queen Sirikit’s 82nd birthday, as well as to celebrate Mother’s Day. All government offices will be closed, and activities on the island will be followed by a candlelight ceremony at about 7pm. A selection of the events to be held in Phuket are…
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Happy Birthday Your Majesty
PHUKET: Today, August 12, Thais throughout the country and the world celebrate the birthday of their beloved Queen and Mother of the Nation – Her Majesty Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara, who turns 82 this year. The day is also celebrated in the Kingdom as National Mother’s Day. Born in Bangkok in 1932, Queen Sirikit is the eldest daughter and the third…
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Radwanska eases past Venus Williams to win Rogers Cup
PHUKET: Agnieszka Radwanska tamed Venus Williams 6-4 6-2 to win the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Sunday, the third seeded Pole setting herself up as a player to watch at the U.S. Open. The first win of the season for Radwanska, it provided a timely jolt of confidence going into Flushing Meadows and the year’s final grand slam with 11…
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McIlroy wins PGA Championship, claims fourth major
PHUKET: Pre-tournament favourite Rory McIlroy recovered from a stumbling start to overcome a series of challengers and clinch his fourth major title by a shot at the PGA Championship on Sunday. A stroke in front of the chasing pack overnight, the Northern Irish world number one lost the lead but regained control after the turn, signing off with a three-under-par…
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Fire at Chinese shrine in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Four fire trucks were called to the Mae Ya Nang Shrine on Krabi Road in Phuket Town this morning after fire broke out in a storeroom stocked with firecrackers and prayer papers. Phuket City Police reported no injuries from the blaze. “Firefighters took about 30 minutes to control fire, which broke out at about 8:20am,” said Capt Weerachart Seera…
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Five to face charges for illegally claiming Phuket national park land
PHUKET: Deputy Director-General of the Land Department Thammasak Chana has publicly vowed to pursue legal action over five cases of attempting to use SorKor 1 land documents to claim 445 rai of land in Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. In all five cases, the claimants applied for their SorKor 1 documents to be upgraded to full Chanote land titles, Mr Thammasak…
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Marine office to battle Phuket tar balls on beaches
PHUKET: Officials are set to re-launch a campaign to control used oil being dumped from boats off Phuket’s shore after balls of black tar appeared on the island’s beaches late last month (story here). “I have seen the photos of the substance myself, and can confirm that they are balls of tar,” Phuket Marine Office chief Phuriphat Theerakulpisut told the…
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Phuket’s road nightmare gets worse: Italian man dies in crash
PHUKET: The death of an Italian man in a Ducati motorbike accident in Karon before dawn today has brought the number of road fatalities in Phuket to six dead in less than 24 hours. The man, whose name is being withheld, lost control of his motorbike on a curve in the hills to north of Karon at about 5:30am. “He…
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Myanmar fishing boat slaves freed north of Phuket, return home
PHUKET: Eighteen Myanmar victims of a human-trafficking group, including four children, have returned home, after being rescued by Thai authorities. Several of the now-freed slaves were sold to fishing boats off Kawthaung, the township across the water from Ranong, which for more than a decade has been a popular “visa run” destination for foreigners in Phuket. Saw Win Tin, 55,…
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Teenagers among five dead in horror day on Phuket’s roads
PHUKET: Three Phuket teenagers are dead and two more are in hospital after a high-speed crash in Thung Thong just before midnight last night. The accident was the culmination of road fatalities that saw five dead in less than 24 hours on Phuket’s notorious roads. Police and rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation were called to the scene, on Phra…
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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