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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Fire ravages Phuket workers’ camp
PHUKET: Flames ripped through a workers’ camp in Chalong this morning, completely destroying half of the houses and leaving the other half badly burned. Firefighters and trucks from three municipalities – Chalong, Rawai and Wichit – were called to the scene at about 10am, a firefighter told the Phuket Gazette. “It took us about 30 minutes to subdue the flames.…
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Phuket Police rule out foul play in death of American
PHUKET: Police today ruled out the possibility of criminal activity in the death of a 57-year-old American tourist whose body was found in his room at a Patong guesthouse on Monday. The body of New Jersey man John Randolph Grieg was discovered partially clothed and lying face down on the floor near his bed by PL House staff at about…
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Relief on its way for Saiyuan blackout
PHUKET: A utility pole that was damaged several days ago after being hit by a car gave up the ghost today, causing a blackout in Phuket areas south of Mangosteen Resort & Spa in Rawai. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority Operations Chief Yongyuth Podbutr told the Phuket Gazette today. “The blackout…
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Adam Kable inspires Thai, Southeast Asian swim coaches
PHUKET: Adam Kable, High Performance Squad Coach from the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Center (SOPAC) Swim Club, was the keynote speaker at the recent 2014 Swimming Sport Science South East Asia Conference in Bangkok from April 26-27, an event attended by more than 100 swim coaches from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The conference was held to highlight the Australian…
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Ozone treatment proposed for some of Phuket’s stinking wastewater
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa is pushing to install ozone generators throughout Rassada as a long term solution to wastewater problems in the area. The vice governor yesterday afternoon inspected the new ozone generator used to treat water at Soi Paniang to determine whether the same machine could be used in Rassada. “This machine was developed at Kasetsart University…
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Speed key in successful Central Festival Phuket fire drill
PHUKET: Emergency services and about 700 Central Festival Phuket staffers took part in the department store’s annual fire drill on Friday morning. Presided over by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen, the drill succeeded in evacuating the mall in under 10 minutes. Local fire crews also took part in the safety drill, as well as medics from the nearby…
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Phuket man packing heat, drugs crashes after staring down police vehicle
PHUKET: A man in the illegal possession of two guns and drugs was so distracted by a police vehicle last night that he crashed his motorbike into a car in Thalang. Police rushed over to the badly injured Chainarong Singsombat, 27, to whisk him away to hospital, but hesitated when they discovered that he was packing heat. “We found a…
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Inquiry initiated into death of Phuket mother and newborn
PHUKET: Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital began an inquiry today into the death of a woman during childbirth on May 2 and that of her newborn son just two days later. The investigation follows a protest on Saturday led by the distraught husband and father Numporn Intawong and 50 of his family members and friends. Mr Numporn, a 42-year-old Patong…
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Nationwide Visakha Bucha alcohol ban begins at midnight
PHUKET: Bars, restaurants and other retailers throughout Phuket must refrain from selling alcohol from midnight tonight to sunrise Wednesday morning as a nationwide ban comes into effect for the Buddhist holy day Visakha Bucha on Tuesday. “Visakha Bucha Day is one of the four annual religious days on which the sale of alcohol is banned,” Maj Sutthichai Thianpho of the…
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Phuket sailor Scott Duncanson wins his fourth Coronation Cup at Top of the Gulf Regatta
PHUKET: Local yachtsman Scott Duncanson has brought home his fourth prestigious Coronation Cup after securing victory in the Platu national championship finals at the Top of the Gulf Regatta in Jomtien last week. Duncanson, already a three-time winner in 2002, 2008 and 2010, and representing the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, was joined by fellow Phuket yachtsmen Alfie Rowson and Anthony…
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Monsoon rains end Phuket’s worst drought in 30 years
PHUKET: Phuket’s worst drought in the last 30 years appears to be at an end, after heavy showers soaked parts of the island over the weekend and more are forecast for the coming days. “The rainy season has officially begun; these rains are part of the southwest monsoon,” Suntad Panbanpeaw, director of the Meteorological Department’s Phuket office, told the Phuket…
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Resort guru Michael Ayling joins Royal Phuket Marina
PHUKET: Michael Ayling, former Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, today began his new role as Managing Director/General Manager at Royal Phuket Marina (RPM). “The goal is to make RPM a destination, not just a marina, and Michael has vast experience in this field,” RPM Chairman Gulu Lalvani told the Phuket Gazette this morning. Mr Lalvani also revealed plans…
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Australian expat dies from heart failure in Phuket bathroom
PHUKET: Australian expat Ronald Douglas Litherland, 67, from Brisbane, Australia, was found dead at his rented home in Cherng Talay yesterday afternoon. “Doctors have confirmed the cause of death as heart failure,” said Maj Kitthiphum Thinthalang of the Thalang Police. “There were no signs of a struggle on his body, except for a small wound above his right eye.” Mr…
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Energy Ministry asks Phuket to save power ‘just in case’
PHUKET: Energy Ministry officials announced yesterday they will launch a campaign calling on all Phuket residents to minimize the electricity each household uses as a precaution against power outages during a month-long upgrade to a major gas field supply line in the Gulf of Thailand. Residents will be asked to reduce their power consumption between 6 and 10pm each night…
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Ousted Deputy PM Pracha denies Phuket stroke rumors
PHUKET: Former Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok has shot down rumors that he had a stroke after Phuket locals saw him rushed into the emergency room of Bangkok Hospital Phuket last night. Gen Pracha was taken to the hospital at about 7:30pm after he passed out on his yacht near Naka Island, off the east coast of Phuket. “I had…
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Ukraine consul frets over tourist safety in Phuket
PHUKET: Ukrainian Honorary Consul to Thailand Alexander Zub yesterday formally expressed his concern about the increasing number of road accidents in Phuket, and to discuss the safety of Ukrainian tourists who visit the island. “Ukrainian tourists in Phuket tend to rent motorbikes or cars rather than opting [sic] for public transport, which could increase the risk of them being involved…
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Phuket lands B20bn slice of Mall Group B80bn shopping center mega projects
PHUKET: The Mall Group is set to invest 20 billion baht in the development of a 150 rai mega-project in Phuket’s Kathu district as part of an 80bn baht venture to open six world-class shopping centers in expectation of Thailand’s market flooding when the gates of the Asian Economic Community (AEC) open next year. “The BluPearl project [in Phuket] will…
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Russian denied entry at Phuket International Airport over “visa’ crackdown
PHUKET: A Russian national was denied entry into Thailand by Phuket International Airport Immigration officers on April 21 and detained until she could be deported the next morning. Officers denied entry to Mariia Sgibneva, 26, more than a week before the May 3 crackdown on the “three-visa-and-out rule” aimed at stymieing international crime. “They stopped me at immigration, and ask…
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Phuket PDRC supporters head to Bangkok
PHUKET: More than 1,000 Phuket supporters of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) have left the island to join fellow protesters in Bangkok. The news follows a call by PDRC Secretary-General Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday, urging people from around the country to join the rallies in the capital. “Phuket supporters left yesterday,” protest coordinator Amnuay Kumban told the Phuket Gazette…
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High-wire monkey causes Phuket blackout
PHUKET: Rescue workers were called last night to save a bean-picking monkey that had escaped from the home of its owner and become stuck at the top of a power pole. “When we arrived, the owners were trying to undo the rope tied to the monkey’s neck, because it had become tangled on the pole,” said a Kusoldharm Foundation Rescue…
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Video Report: “Smart Province’ project will bring free WiFi to Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket is slated to have free WiFi throughout the island as part of it becoming Thailand’s next “Smart Province”. “Access to free WiFi is one of the many benefits of the technology we are using to connect the nation,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) Surachai Srisarcam. “Through our ‘Smart Country’ project, local…
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Phuket lifeguards put lives first, agree to PPAO conditions
PHUKET: Lifeguards are set to return to Phuket beaches on May 21 as the lifeguard club gave up its demands for an increased budget at a meeting with the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) this morning. “The conditions they offered us today were the same: 22 million baht to pay for our expenses and an increased salary for 88 guards,”…
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Aussie lifeguards help bring man back to life
PHUKET: After 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and six injections of adrenaline, Mike Reynolds’ heart started to beat again. His 18-year-old daughter, Kristi, rushed into the emergency room as the two holidaying Australian lifeguards that had saved him from a drowning-induced heart attack while on a trip to Phi Phi Island waited outside. Also standing outside the room was…
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V/Gov Chamroen pushes for funds for Karon wastewater
PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada vowed yesterday to push for funds to expand Karon’s water treatment facilities as soon as possible. The vice governor spoke as he inspected the recent efforts of Karon municipality to prevent untreated wastewater in the Nong Han canal from spilling over onto the town’s popular tourist beach as it has already three times this year,…
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Video Report: 2nd Phuket International Tae Kwon Do Championship 2014
PHUKET: The 2nd annual Phuket International Tae Kwon Do Championship saw 689 fighters from 43 teams face off against each other at the indoor sports stadium in Saphin Hin last Saturday. The all-day event was organized by the Tae Kwon Do Dragon Club Gym and supported by Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and the Sports Authority of Thailand. The event, attracting…
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Phuket Open cancelled
PHUKET: The promoters of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Open in Phuket have decided to cancel the event scheduled for October 15 to 19 quoting continued political unrest in Thailand as the reason for their decision. With the safety and security of players and officials of paramount importance, the FIVB have accepted the promoter’s decision to cancel the event. The next…
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Snatchers snitch on sex drug seller
PHUKET: Using a tip-off from recently arrested bag-snatchers, police raided a Phuket pharmacy on Tuesday evening, seizing more than 10,000 pills of drugs being sold illicitly. Among the pills were sex aids, antidepressants, steroids and the notorious “date rape” drug Rohypnol. “Four bag-snatchers told us they planned to buy Zolam at a pharmacy in Patong,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent…
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Fast and Furious: Patong joy ride in boss’ car ends in crash
PHUKET: A drunk driver injured a Phuket motorcyclist early yesterday morning during a high-speed joy ride in his boss’ Toyota Fortuner; the ride ended abruptly when he slammed the SUV into a utility pole. “At about 6:40am we were notified that a driver in a Toyota Fortuner had knocked a man off his motorcycle and crashed into a power pole…
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Chinese Consulate lands on Phuket shores
PHUKET: The Chinese Consulate is searching for a Phuket locale from which they can serve the ever-increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting the island – a number that is expected to hit two million this year. Wang Huijian, vice consul of the Chinese Consulate in Haad Yai, will head up the new Phuket Consulate. Ms Wang met with Governor Maitri…
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Phi Phi cargo boats engulfed in flames
PHUKET: Police are investigating the cause of a fire which gutted two Phi Phi cargo boats anchored off Krabi early yesterday morning. Fire fighters responded to reports that Unity 2 and Unity 3 were ablaze near the Ko Huang Fishing Pier in Saithai Sub-district at about 5am. “The boats were too far from shore for firefighters to try to save…
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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