Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...
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Breaking News: Phuket parasailor falls from Patong sky
PHUKET: A crowd is growing on Patong Beach after a Phuket parasailing operator lost his grip on the parachute ropes and tumbled from the sky. “The man landed on the sand and broke his arm, but at this point that is all I know,” DDPM-Patong officer Sampawat Wannasangkam told the Phuket Gazette as he rushed to the scene. — Saran…
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Phuket poor receive food donations ahead of Hungry Ghost Festival
PHUKET: More than 1,500 of Phuket’s poorest showed up at the Kusoldharm Foundation’s headquarters yesterday to receive food and clothing donations as part of the annual Te Krajard merit-making ceremony. “This year, we handed out scholarships to needy students from local schools and 2,600 five-kilogram bags of rice. We also distributed clothes and packages of dry foodstuff to about 1,500…
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Full Metal Dojo returns with second MMA show in Patong
PHUKET: It was on June 7 at Patong’s Seduction Nightclub that MMA entered Phuket for the first time (story here). The Full Metal Dojo MMA event featured a litany of warriors from around the globe. The event saw fighters from Thailand, Cambodia, Finland, the United States, France, and other countries enter the caged-dojo for the first time in Phuket. And…
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Man feared drowned near iconic Phuket cape, found safe, drunk
PHUKET: Fears that a second man within a week had slipped to his death from the rocks at Phuket’s iconic Promthep Cape were dispelled late last night after the man was found alive – and drunk – nearly three hours later. Teerawat Prasomsub, 25, was reported missing by his family, visiting Phuket from Ranong. “The family said that they went…
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Well bore rig takes a tumble on Patak Road
PHUKET: Police have played down a “minor” accident that left a rig for boring wells strewn across Patak Road near Chalong Circle yesterday morning. “No people will be charged,” said a Karon Traffic Policeman, who asked not to be named. “No people were injured and no property other than the vehicle involved was damaged, so we will not be investigating…
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Beachgoer baffled by black substance on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Phuket officials are attempting to establish the origins of a black substance found on Karon Beach by a horrified beachgoer last week. The investigation follows pictures sent to the Phuket Gazette by a beachgoer who stepped on an unknown black substance while walking on the popular beach. The beachgoer expressed concern about the possible pollutant and asked for answers…
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Mountain bikers eye US$1mn in ‘toughest race on earth’
PHUKET: Mountain bikers tempted by the US$1 million (about 3.2mn baht) in prize money up for grabs in a new South African endurance race are given a warning before they sign up: “This could change your life, or end it”. Teams of two will have to come up with a US$10,000 entrance fee to race on December 3 in The…
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The Cove to screen in Phuket
PHUKET: The award-winning documentary The Cove will be screened twice at Central Festival Phuket next week to raise awareness of how dolphins are caught at the Taiji Cove in Japan and sold for use in dolphinaria around the world. Central to the documentary, however, is how many of the dolphins are butchered and the meat sold to supermarkets. Confirmation of…
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Body of musician, swept from Phuket rocks, found washed ashore
PHUKET: The body of Somchai Yungtala, 30, who was swept from the rocks near Phuket’s Promthep Cape on Tuesday afternoon, was found washed ashore this morning. Relatives assisting rescue workers in the search for Mr Somchai found his body at Ya Nui Beach at about 5am. Mr Somchai was visiting Phuket from Koh Yao Yai with his girlfriend when he…
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Phuket teachers told not to worry about work permit crackdown – yet
PHUKET: Immigration officials have urged teachers in Phuket not to panic “right now” about visa and work permit crackdowns after Facebook rumors caused a stir in the online teacher community. “Please do not worry right now. We have yet to receive an order from the Phuket Immigration Chief to crack down on school teachers,” Immigration Inspector Tianchai Chompoo confirmed to…
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Malaysian Formula E race postponed at PM’s request
THE MALAYSIAN round of the new electric Formula E series has been postponed because the country’s Prime Minister is unable to attend on the date originally scheduled, organizers said. The race in Putrajaya was due to be held on October 18 as the second round of the championship but will now take place on November 22. “The decision, which has…
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Video Report: Evaluating the profits and costs of Thailand’s rampant seahorse trade
SPECIAL REPORT Though not usually a fish specifically targeted by the fishing industry, an estimated 5.8 million seahorses are exported each year from Thailand, playing a large role in making the country the world leader in seahorse exports. With seahorse catch numbers dwindling and the charismatic creatures being added to CITES, the eyes of the world turn to Thailand. The…
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Military moves to “iron fist, velvet glove’ for clearing Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Officials bolstered by military support have softened their approach in clearing all businesses from Phuket’s beaches, but remain firm that all offending structures will be torn down. The message was made clear yesterday by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who led officials and military personnel to inspect several venues whose operators were ordered to vacate public beach land. First…
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Video Report: Asians dominate in ITF Pro Circuit
PHUKET: With the rise of Asian ATP and WTA players like Kei Nishikori of Japan and Li Na of China in the tennis world, this year’s participation has increased by numbers and there’s a strong progression of tennis in Asian countries. The two ITF women’s tournaments held at Thanyapura have proven this without a doubt. The Single and Double winners…
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Police struggle to contain street attacks by Phuket teenagers
PHUKET: Police have ramped up street patrols and checkpoints, but say there is little more they can do to combat a spate of knifepoint robberies in Rawai within the past month. “They are targeting Thais and foreigners – anybody they think looks weak and would be an easy target,” said Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn. In the most recent robbery,…
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British siblings come face-to-face with Phuket tsunami savior
PHUKET: A Phuket reunion nearly 10 years in the making came to fruition last night as Ben and Emily Willgrass surprised their tsunami savior Yupin Sengmuang on the doorstep of her Tri Trang shop. The British siblings put out a call via Facebook for help in finding Ms Yupin, as the two were planning to come to the Phuket on…
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Army tells White Box fat cats to drop weight
PHUKET: The owners of the White Box restaurant on the Kalim beachfront, north of Patong, have been given seven days to remove more than half of the restaurant – or have the army take it down for them. The order was delivered this morning by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who led officials and military personnel to inspect the venue…
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Waves drag musician from iconic Phuket cape, search efforts postponed
PHUKET: High waves forced rescue workers to abandon their search for a musician who was swept from the rocks near Promthep Cape this afternoon. Somchai Yung-Talay, 30, was visiting Phuket from Koh Yao Yai with his girlfriend when he was struck by a large wave and dragged out to sea while fishing. “Witnesses saw the man in the sea trying…
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Police bag Bangkok-Phuket dealer with B400k of drugs
PHUKET: Police arrested a man on Sunday for smuggling 400,000 baht worth of drugs from Bangkok into Phuket. Amnart Rossukhon, 28, was arrested at his rental room in Rassada at about 11:30pm on Sunday, explained Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arayapan Pukbuakao. Officers searched Mr Amnart’s bedroom and found 100.8 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and 2,000 ya bah…
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Phuket City Police stunned by officer’s suicide
PHUKET: The Phuket City Police this morning are reeling after the death of one of their well-liked officers by suicide. Sen Sgt Maj Sapeewat Kongchim was found in the car park of the police accommodation units behind the Provincial Police headquarters on Yaowarat Road, in Phuket Town, at 7:30am. He had a single gunshot wound to the head. The weapon…
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About 90% of Phuket protected forest stolen, says RFD
PHUKET: The Royal Forest Department (RFD) is untangling the land title documents that account for 90 per cent of what is supposed to be Bang Khanun protected forest, said RFD Director-General Theerapat Prayurasiddhi on Saturday. The RFD has joined the battle on Phuket against land encroachment, which has seen swaths of public beaches, national parks, protected forests and protected mangroves…
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Forest Department targets Phuket luxury resort for allegedly illegal land documents
PHUKET: Officials from the Royal Forest Department (RFD) are investigating the legality of nine land title deeds for a Phuket luxury resort allegedly being built in a protected forest. “We inspected a luxury resort on Kamala Hill that is being built on 10 rai of land that is possibly protected forest,” RFD Director-General Theerapat Prayurasiddhi said during his inspect of…
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Nibali’s journey from Sicily ends in yellow in Paris
PHUKET: Thirteen years ago, Vincenzo Nibali packed his bags and left his home in Sicily to start the journey that led him to a triumphant ride on the Champs Ely sees on Sunday as Tour de France champion. The 29-year-old Italian, as soft-spoken in life as aggressive as he is on the bike, joined Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault,…
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Loan shark gang arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Officers arrested a Phuket loan shark and his four henchmen in a raid on Saturday afternoon. Armed with a search warrant, officers entered a house in Suanluang Chaofa housing project in Soi Sermsab to arrest the 34-year-old alleged gang leader Sakkarin Saleh for running a loan shark operation. Four other men were also arrested: Abdulloh Jeleh, 29; Muhammad Soming,…
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Belgian family escapes Phuket surf disaster – all safe
PHUKET: Surin Beach’s fatality-free four-year* record almost came to a tragic end when four tourists, including a 3-year-old boy, were caught in a flash rip current yesterday. “A family of three from Belgium, including their three-year-old son, along with a fourth victim, could have all lost their lives yesterday in a space of a few minutes,” a Surin Beach lifeguard…
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Weekly Phuket beach cleanups important, says Army
PHUKET: The tourism industry would benefit from locals cleaning up Phuket’s beaches every week, said an Army officer after yesterday’s 3,000-person-strong cleanup. “Officials should hold beach cleaning events at least once a week. If locals continued to clean the beach, it would improve the island’s image,” said Somchai Ponatong of the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle. About 2,700 Phuket…
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Phuket Police on alert for fake B1,000 banknotes
PHUKET: Senior police officers have warned people to beware fake 1,000-baht banknotes in circulation in Trang province, south of Phuket, as the counterfeit notes may make their way onto the island. The warning follows Raksina Chittawech, a tea shop owner in Trang Town, reporting being handed a fake1,000-baht banknote just before she closed shop last week (story here,in Thai). Ms…
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Ramadan draws to a close throughout Phuket
PHUKET: The sighting of the new moon last night heralded the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with Eid-al Fitr to be celebrated today. “The traditional sighting of the moon was carried out by representatives at mosques throughout Phuket, ” said Piyadet Chuachalard, Secretary of the Phuket Islamic Committee. “As the moon was sighted, we are celebrating Eid-al…
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Gold the best remedy for England’s suffering Trott
PHUKET: England’s double Olympic champion Laura Trott, who has been suffering with a kidney infection, claimed gold in a dramatic women’s 25km points race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. “I can’t believe it. I felt so bad at times and I’m so glad. I’m not even 100 per cent, I’ve not eaten properly for the last two days and…
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Phuket investors urged to verify land plots near national park
PHUKET: The chief of Phuket’s Sirinath National Park, Kitiphat Taraphiban, is urging prospective investors and private landowners to verify whether or not plots they have bought – or are thinking of buying – are deemed to be within the park. The checks can be made at the park’s land verification center, which was established at the order of Nipon Chotibal,…
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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