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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Mayor denounces reports that legal Phuket beach club structures face demolition
PHUKET: In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette, Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-ann Samran this afternoon denied English-language reports in Phuket that buildings on the east side of the beachfront path at Surin Beach would be demolished. The news comes amid a flurry of reports about the demolition of beach club structures encroaching on the sand at the beach as…
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Power-mongering turns ugly as rift divides Phuket taxi drivers
PHUKET: Amid news of taxi ranks being torn down at Phuket west-coast beaches over the past week, the taxi co-operative at Central Festival Phuket shopping mall has split into opposing factions and its president has appealed for help to close the rift. The co-operative was to serve as a model for taxi management in Phuket and was part of a…
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Brazil delivering great quotes to go with great goals
PHUKET: A World Cup that has delivered fantastic goals in the first round of group games has also produced gems away from the pitch with players and coaches coming up with memorable quotes. Croatia coach Niko Kovac got the tournament off to a fiery start by blasting the Japanese referee after their defeat by Brazil in the opening match. After…
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Pinkeye outbreak leads to cancellation of Phuket FC vs Phang Nga FC warm up match
PHUKET: In a statement posted on the Phuket FC official Facebook page, the club confirmed that tomorrow’s match against Phang Nga FC will not take place. The reason? A pinkeye outbreak. “Due to at least five of Phuket FC players suffering from pinkeye – a condition that can easily spread to other players – the warm up game between Phuket…
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Sunken pillar at Chalong Marina poses threat to boats
PHUKET: Officials have posted a line of small red and white flags to mark a large metal pillar that lies submerged near Chalong Pier and is a possible danger to passing boats. The pillar, called a stanchion, had been attached to a pontoon and was part of the Chalong Marina still under construction. “The pillar broke during last weekend’s storm,”…
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Rooney hits back at media following England criticism
PHUKET: Wayne Rooney has criticized sections of the media who questioned his form and speculated that the England forward had been relegated to training with the reserves at their base in Brazil. The Manchester United striker came in for criticism following a muted performance in their opening 2-1 defeat by Italy in Group D on Saturday, with the Daily Mirror…
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Phuket radio stations remain off-air as “collateral damage’
PHUKET: Popular English-language radio stations in Phuket remained off-air today, 27 days since the military seized power and silenced the airwaves with a ban on all private community radio broadcasts. The ban continues despite the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announcing on Saturday that Voice TV, which is owned by fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra (story here), may…
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Relief fund set up to assist residents after storm lashes Phuket
PHUKET: The Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) will use cash from a 4-million-baht emergency-relief fund to help residents who suffered property damage from the storm that hit Phuket over the weekend. “We set this up after the recent strong winds damaged local homes,” Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-ann Samran told the Phuket Gazette today. A total of 10 families suffered…
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Interpol discusses Asean counter-terrorism in Phuket
PHUKET: More than 50 high-ranking police officers from eight Southeast Asian nations met in Patong this morning to discuss strategies to counter chemical and explosive terrorist attacks. Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 division, welcomed the delegates, which included representatives from the Asean member states of Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Laos…
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Thai parks chief turns to junta to reclaim Phuket national park
PHUKET: Thailand’s national parks chief has appealed to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to take over investigations into encroachment of Sirinath National Park to expedite the return of 360 illegally seized plots of park land. “This process has taken far too long already. We want the NCPO to take over so we can finally return the land…
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Early-bird deadline for Raceweek entries extended (video)
PHUKET: Due to a flurry of late bookings, the organizers of the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek have extended the early-bird discount deadline to allow more crews to take advantage of the reduced price. Raceweek organizers are predicting a large and competitive field this year, with many local, regional and some chartered entries from afar having already registered, booked their…
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Gambling den raided; police announce zero tolerance for World Cup betting
PHUKET: Police are keeping a close eye out for gambling during the World Cup, and yesterday nabbed one suspect and five computers in a raid in Patong. “We were notified by an undercover officer of an illegal online gambling den in a retail shop on Soi Paradise,” Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Passport overload prompts British embassy to issue extensions
PHUKET: The British embassy in Bangkok today was to begin accepting applications for passport extensions for up to one year in order to help stave off the flood of applications received by Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) in the UK. A British Government notice issued on Friday cited Home Secretary Theresa May as announcing the news as part of “a…
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Phuket Police hunt suspected bike thief, arson
PHUKET: Police are investigating the possible theft and arson of a motorbike that was found engulfed in flames in the middle of a street in Bang Tao early this morning. Local villager Sompong Samerpop, 35, notified Cherng Talay Police of the blazing motorbike on Soi Bang Tao 4 at about 1:30am. Police officers promptly called the Cherng Talay Fire Department,…
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Phuket power down starts tonight
PHUKET: The reduction of power usage throughout Southern Thailand provinces, including Phuket, is urged between 6:30pm and 10:30pm from today until July 10. “We would like everyone to conserve power during peak usage hours,” said Phuket Energy Chief Wiroj Damkong. However, the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts…
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Schumacher comes out of coma
PHUKET: Formula One ex-champion Michael Schumacher, who sustained severe head injuries in a ski accident in late 2013, is no longer in a coma and has left the French hospital where he was being treated since the accident, his spokeswoman said on Monday. “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble (hospital) to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not…
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Russian tourist dies after overshooting curve on wet Rawai road
PHUKET: A Russian tourist was thrown from his vehicle and died last night after overshooting a curve and crashing into a wall on Wiset Road. Chalong Police were called to the scene at about 11:30pm. “When we arrived, we found a badly damaged Toyota Fortuner lying on its side in the middle of the road. On the side of the…
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Heavy weather continues: Two Phuket drivers escape injury as wind levels trees
PHUKET: A motorist narrowly escaped injury last night when a falling tree toppled power poles onto the road, tearing off the driver’s rearview mirror, but leaving the rest of the car undamaged. Worawut Trisook, 32, was driving along the Baan Sakoo-Nai Yang Road at about 8:30pm when a rubber tree fell, striking power lines and pulling down five utility poles.…
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Mother denies rumors that pregnant daughter raped by twins committed suicide
PHUKET: The mother of the pregnant woman who was raped by twins earlier this year has stepped forward to dispute rumors that her daughter had committed suicide. The mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter’s identity, pleaded for people to stop spreading the rumors, which she learned of through Facebook, the online chat application Line and word of…
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Disaster averted at Phuket gas station as toddler rescued from locked BMW
PHUKET: Rescue workers safely averted a potential disaster early yesterday morning when they recovered a two-year-old boy from a locked BMW that was still running while parked at a Phuket gas station. Manus Chailiem, the boy’s grandfather, alerted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers to the danger at 6:30am. Mr Manus, his daughter and Nong Phi, age 2, were en route to…
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Police raid gambling den near Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Police arrested 10 suspects for gambling after an impromptu raid on an abandoned house south of Phuket International Airport on Saturday afternoon. The raid, in Sakoo, took place at about 4pm after patrol officers noticed a large number of cars parked in front of the home, said Tah Chat Chai Police Deputy Superintendent Teerawat Liamsuwan. “Officers also saw several…
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Pick-up avoiding motorcyclist flips onto rocky Kalim shore
PHUKET: A pick-up truck avoiding a motorcyclist on the Kalim-Kamala Road last night flipped over onto the Kalim shore. The driver suffered only minor injuries. Preecha Hachaiboon, 37, was headed from Patong to Kalim at about 11pm on a road slick with rain and spray from large waves when a motorcyclist allegedly cut in front of him. Mr Hachaiboon swerved…
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Tourists told to avoid speedboat trips as weather warning issued
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department has warned tourist against joining speedboat day trips, as a small boat warning is now in effect in Phuket due to big waves and high winds. “Wave heights are at 2-4 meters, and we will have wind speeds of up to 45k/h,” said Santhad Panbanpeaw, director of the Thai Meteorological Department’s Phuket Office. “All small…
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Patong Police sweep party town for illegal weapons
PHUKET: Only one gun was discovered during a sweep for illegal firearms in Phuket’s premier party town early this morning. The five-team sweep composed of Patong Police officers and Civil Volunteers raided five targets after securing search warrants from the Phuket Provincial Court, Lt Col Suttichai Chairat of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “We received orders to…
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Messi strike lights up Maracana as Argentina sink Bosnia
PHUKET: Lionel Messi finally made his mark on the World Cup and lit up the Maracana with his first goal in the finals for eight years as Argentina were forced to battle for a 2-1 win over debutantes Bosnia in their opening Group F match on Sunday. Messi, four-times world player of the year and Argentina’s best footballer since Diego…
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Rumors fried: Phuket KFC certified halal
PHUKET: A furor among local Muslims over whether the fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) serves halal food, which Islamic law permits to be eaten, has been resolved – yes it does. Rumors were circulating on Facebook and Thai forums that KFC’s food was not halal because the chain does not display a “halal approved” sign on its shops, Komol…
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One still missing after wave on Phuket’s deadliest beach sweeps six into deep water
PHUKET: Two foreigners and four others were caught by a single wave and dragged away from shore at Phuket’s deadliest beach this afternoon. Lifeguards were able to immediately save five of them. One is still missing. “Apisit Songkert, 13, went missing at about 5:50pm,” said Uten Singson, chief lifeguard Kata-Karon Beach. Mr Apisit, a Karon local, was at the beach…
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Crazed World Cup fans in Phuket: “Get it here!’
PHUKET: The FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3am tomorrow with the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, marking the 19th edition of the renowned tournament that has simply become known as the World Cup. An estimated 3.2 billion people around the world – roughly half the global population – are projected to watch the world’s finest players compete for…
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Red flags up on Phuket’s deadliest beach
PHUKET: Lifeguards on Phuket’s deadliest beach have put out red flags to warn of strong surf. The warnings have been set up on Kata Beach and Karon Beach. Eight people drowned at Karon Beach between October 2012 and September 2013, making it the deadliest beach in Phuket (story here). “There have been strong, high waves lately. I would like to…
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Body of newborn found in Phuket rubber plantation
PHUKET: Police are hunting for the mother of a newborn baby found dead in a Phuket rubber plantation this afternoon. Patong Police were notified of the body at about 12:30pm today by a resident who had gone to the Baan Kaen Lek plantation on Phetchakut Road to pick mushrooms. “The man told officers that he smelled something bad, followed the…
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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