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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Thai police suspect Russian and Thai firms in money laundering
Police in Phuket yesterday and today carried out a series of eight raids prompted by suspicions of a Russian man’s involvement in money laundering and the establishment of fraudulent companies by certain Thais. These sham firms were purportedly set up to aid foreigners in obtaining visas and work permits, as revealed by Police Major General Montree Theskhan, the commander of…
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Two more Russians arrested for illegal tour guiding in Phuket
Phuket’s popular tourist spots, Laem Phromthep and Big Buddha viewpoint in Karon, were the scenes of two more arrests involving Russian nationals working unlawfully as tour guides. The Phuket Tourist Police disclosed the arrests yesterday. A 37 year old man, Iurii Blazhko, was apprehended at the Laem Phromthep parking area. He was observed leading a group of tourists from a…
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Stranded melon-headed whale rescued on Phuket Beach (video)
Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday was the scene of a thrilling rescue operation as lifeguards hastened to save a melon-headed whale, a protected marine species in Thailand, that had been cast ashore. The event drew the attention of numerous tourists, who flocked around the site, cheering on the lifeguards during their daring rescue mission. The marine mammal, also known less…
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Dive tour boat Sea World 1 catches fire in Phuket
A fire broke out yesterday on a well-known dive tour boat, Sea World 1, at Thap Lamu in Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga, north of Phuket, causing substantial damage. The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (3AC) was alerted to the blaze at 6.30pm yesterday. Despite the main headquarters of the 3AC being located in Cape Panwa, Phuket, they operate…
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Supersmash: SuperCheap truck delivers chaos in Phuket
A SuperCheap delivery truck yesterday caused havoc in the car park of the Eua-Athorn Housing Authority estate in Srisoonthorn, Moo 1 when it smashed into two parked pickup trucks. The police are still in the process of contacting the pickup trucks’ owners. The incident was reported to Police Lieutenant Kraisorn Bunprasop of the Thalang Police Station around 4.10pm, yesterday, April…
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Russian arrested in Phuket for illegally working as tour guide
Phuket Tourist Police recently apprehended a 42 year old Russian national for unlawfully working as a tour guide at Pak Phra Beach, located adjacent to the Chong Pak Phra Channel, the body of water separating Phuket from mainland Thailand. This arrest is part of the ongoing police crackdown on foreigners operating illegally within the country. The officers arrived at the…
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Knife-wielding Portuguese lady refuses to pay taxi in Phuket (video)
A Portuguese woman refused to pay a taxi fare and threatened the female driver with a knife at a hotel in the Rawai neighbourhood of Phuket on April 1. The female taxi driver, 35 year old Ladda Saengthong, shared a video of the incident on several social media platforms to warn other taxi drivers in the area. In the video, the foreign…
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Thai man, not foreigner, fined for driving sedan on Kamala Beach
A motorist who flouted the rules by driving a black sedan on Kamala Beach in Phuket yesterday was a Thai man, not a foreigner, contrary to initial assumptions. He received a fine of 1,000 baht for his action. A local in Phuket posted a video of a black Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan on Kamala Beach on Facebook yesterday, April 1,…
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Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand
A drink driving incident yesterday led to the arrest of an Italian national in Phuket, Thailand. The man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be 95mg/dL, which is significantly above the legal limit. This 50 year old Italian man was apprehended by Patong Police around 4am in the vicinity of Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach.…
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Car crash near Phuket’s Heroines Monument leads to injuries
Thepkrasattri Road near the Heroines Monument in Phuket was the scene of a severe car crash that left a 34 year old Thai man seriously injured. The accident occurred in the early hours of today, April 1, after Decha Phothisrisung lost control of his vehicle, slamming into a palm tree on the central reservation before his pickup overturned. The distressing…
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Krill-iant phenomenon: Millions wash ashore a Phuket beach
Mai Khao Beach in Phuket experienced a peculiar occurrence as millions of krill washed ashore over the weekend. The event sparked worry among local villagers, particularly due to the unusual purple colour of the krill, as opposed to their typical pinkish-red hue. Winai Sae-ew, the Village Headman of Moo 4, Mai Khao, inspected the beach yesterday afternoon. During his investigation,…
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Russian couple’s dine and dash attempt exposed in Phuket restaurant
A shameless cheating Russian couple insisted they had settled their bill at a Phuket restaurant after being accused of attempting to dine and dash. They later falsely incriminated a Thai waitress of theft but their deception was exposed by CCTV footage, forcing them to apologise and settle the bill. The restaurant shared security footage of the incident on a Facebook…
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Phuket rescue team kept busy with surge in reptile sightings
Rescue workers at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation branch in Wichit Municipality (DDPM-Wichit), Phuket, have been kept busy with a surge in reptile sightings. Even before the onset of the rainy season, the task of managing the movement of these creatures has become a daily routine. Yesterday, a massive python and a baby monitor lizard were captured in…
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Phuket karaoke owner arrested for operating underage prostitution
Authorities in Phuket conducted a sting operation at a local karaoke establishment after uncovering evidence of minors being exploited for prostitution. A 13 year old was found among those being offered for sexual services. The operation, spearheaded by high-ranking police officials, led to the arrest of the 39 year old owner, who confessed to knowingly profiting from the illicit trade.…
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Russian tourist arrested for violent conduct in Phuket hotel
A Russian man was apprehended at a hotel in Karon, Phuket, for causing a public disturbance and engaging in violent behaviour. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, prompted Karon Police to issue a stern warning to all foreigners against unruly, alcohol-fuelled conduct. The alert came in response to a Tuesday night altercation that resulted in a police officer resorting…
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Man arrested in Phuket for fatal stabbing
Phuket police apprehended a man for the fatal stabbing of a server at a renowned Phuket city pub, citing self-defence and denying any intention to flee. The suspect was found with the weapon used in the attack. Phuket police tracked down and arrested a man linked to the death of a server from a well-known pub in the heart of…
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Phuket City initiates public consultation for new waste incinerator
Phuket City Municipality, in its quest to deal with the growing issue of solid waste, has initiated the first public consultation on its plan to build a brand new incinerator at the Saphan Hin waste disposal site. The meeting was led by Deputy Mayor Orapailin Trakulpriphon and took place at the meeting room of the Phuket Provincial Waste Disposal Center…
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Phuket teenager triggers trouble with museum shooting
The Phuket authorities apprehended a 17 year old boy yesterday after he allegedly shot a 16-year-old boy near the Phuket Mining Museum. The incident was reported to the police around 1.35am, when the young victim was targeted whilst riding his motorcycle. An unidentified man in a white pickup truck approached him and fired a shot, hitting the teenager in his…
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Chalong police bust major drug operation in Rawai, Phuket
A swift operation by Chalong police in the sea gypsy village of Rawai, Phuket, led to the apprehension of three individuals and the confiscation of a significant quantity of drugs. The stash included over 1,700 methamphetamine tablets, colloquially known as Yaba, and more than 600 grams of crystal meth, or ya ice. The central figure in this Tuesday night raid…
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Foreign woman criticised for urinating on Bangla Road, Phuket
A viral video circulating on Thai social media captured a foreign woman, evidently intoxicated, urinating on the footpath of Bangla Road in Phuket on March 26. This incident prompted criticism from netizens directed at both the foreign woman and the Thai government. A Thai man shared a video of the foreign woman on Facebook yesterday, March 27. The 56-second video…
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Shooting and Molotov cocktails attack rocks Phuket Town
Phuket City police are currently investigating a violent incident on the outskirts of Phuket Town which resulted in a young man being shot in the foot, with accompanying reports of Molotov cocktails being hurled. The authorities were alerted to the event by the staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital, who reported a patient admitted with a bullet wound in his left…
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Russian graffiti vandals busted in Patong
The two Russian men on a graffiti rampage after a booze-fuelled escapade in Patong, Phuket, have been arrested. Police Major General Saranyu Chamnarnrat, Deputy Chief of the Provincial Police Region 8, revealed the arrest of the Russian vandals today. Identified as 23 year old Evgenii Egorov and 22 year old Oleg Shirshov, the spray-painting mischievous pair were nabbed from a dormitory…
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Lights out! Thalang Town braces for blackout blitz
The populous Thalang Town region in Phuket is set to experience a significant power outage on the upcoming Saturday. The announcement was made by the Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang), citing necessary repairs and maintenance to the high-voltage system in the area as the reason for the disruption. From 9am to 5pm, electricity will be suspended, affecting a…
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US ambassador Godec to address town hall meeting in Phuket
The US Ambassador to Thailand is set to visit Phuket next week for a town hall meeting. The event will address issues concerning consular services and other matters impacting US citizens residing on the island. The town hall with US Ambassador Robert F. Godec gathering is scheduled to take place at The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa on Thursday, April 4.…
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Surfs up as Patong Beach launches safety sandbox for tourists
Phuket’s esteemed Patong Beach hosted a riveting safety demonstration for the Minister of Health, yesterday. The demonstration, which included surf life-saving techniques and appropriate medical responses to common injuries, was part of the grand launch of the Phuket Island Safety Sandbox scheme. This initiative is designed to reaffirm the island’s commitment to safety, thus reassuring tourists of a secure vacation…
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Russian man dies in Phuket motorbike crash
A fatal motorbike crash claimed the life of a 25 year old Russian man in Phuket’s Baan Don, Tambon Thepkrasattri last night. The unfortunate event, which took place yesterday, March 24, ended when the man’s vehicle collided with the wall of a house. Upon receiving the information about the accident around 10pm, Police Lieutenant Colonel Niwat Thimket of the Thalang…
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Foreigners condemned for spray-painting Phuket footpath (video)
Thai netizens condemned two foreign men for spray-painting graffiti on a footpath and several spots in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. The Facebook page, โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต (meaning so brutal, Phuket province), shared the 13-minute video of the two foreign vandals on March 23. “This completely dares the power of Patong police officers. Foreigners are not afraid of Thai laws. They…
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Tragic motorbike collision in Phuket leaves three dead, one injured
A devastating motorbike collision on Wiset Road, Rawai, in Phuket, resulted in the death of two foreign men and a Thai woman earlier today. An 18 year old Thai woman, another victim of the incident, was left injured and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. The tragic accident, which occurred at approximately 2.48am, was captured on CCTV footage. The…
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Chinese national’s lost gold Cartier bracelet found in Phuket
A valuable gold Cartier bracelet, worth approximately 750,000 baht, was reported missing by a Chinese national on Thalang Road in Phuket late on Thursday evening. The Chinese man, 45 year old Wang Lei, expressed his gratitude to the local police force for their quick action in locating and returning his lost property. Wang approached the Phuket City Police shortly after…
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Phuket gears up for alcohol-free Songkran at Limelight mall
The bustling town of Phuket is gearing up to host its annual Songkran celebration at the Limelight shopping mall, with officials confirming this year’s event will once again be alcohol-free. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat formally announced the official plans during a recent press conference. Scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 13, between 4pm to 10pm, the celebration will unfold…
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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