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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The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Missing Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night.Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm yesterday afternoon.“My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of her illness,”…
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Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s Disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night. Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm that afternoon. “My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of…
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Thailand downs Hong Kong in Phuket Davis Cup
PHUKET: The Thai Davis Cup team triumphed against Hong Kong 4-1 in the regional (Asia/Oceania) matchup at Thanyapura Phuket yesterday. After an uncertain start (story here) which saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark defeated in the opening match against Hong Kong’s Phillip King, the home team rallied to win the following four matches over the weekend to triumph with an impressive margin.…
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New ports to be developed for popular island gateways north of Phuket
PHUKET: The Marine Department on Friday announced plans to develop two major seaports at Phang Nga jump-off points to the popular Similan and Surin islands. “Our aim is to promote sustainable tourism for Phang Nga’s Andaman islands. We also want to promote it as another diving location,” said Marine Office 5 Director Wichai Khamkong. The news follows two public hearings…
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Phuket baby born with rare condition out of ICU, finally home
PHUKET: A Phuket baby who survived surgery after being born with her intestines protruding from her abdomen was discharged from the hospital this weekend. Ornpreeya “Ang-Sing” Saisrikosol was born earlier this month with a rare condition called gastroschisis, and immediately underwent emergency surgery (story here), explained Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Jessada Chungpaibulpatana. Ang-Sing’s parents, at first devastated by their daughter’s…
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Phuket Police pounce on booze ban violator
PHUKET: Police discovered one shop in Phuket Town illegally selling alcohol during the celebration of Makha Bucha Day. The bust yesterday was made by Phuket City Police, who arrested two other vendors for trading after hours, said Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong. “We apprehended three local shop owners: one in Phuket Town near Surin Circle at 11pm and two…
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Déjà vu for Phuket Passport Office
PHUKET: The Phuket Passport Office had a false start this week as it re-opened its doors for service on Monday, just to close them again on Friday. Protesting has forced the second closure of the Passport Division in Bangkok, the first of which closed the Phuket office for nearly a month (story here). The headquarters in the capital terminated its…
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Thailand tied with Hong Kong after first Davis Cup matches
PHUKET: Thailand and Hong Kong are now tied, one win each, following the opening matches of the Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania region group 2) at Thanyapura yesterday. The first match of the day saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark (ranked number 1,258 in the world for singles) lose three straight sets to Hong Kong’s Phillip King (2-6, 6-7, 3-6). However, Thailand’s players redeemed…
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Mixed holiday keeps Phuket temples and shop owners busy
PHUKET: Reverence for Makha Bucha Day outshined Valentine’s Day in Phuket, but flower shop owners benefited from the lovers’ day rush. Local temples and flower shops had a busy day as Phuket residents flocked to make merit for Makha Bucha Day and ordered flowers for their loved ones. Wat Wichit Sangkaram on Narisorn Road saw a high volume of visitors…
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Volcanic ash forces Australia-Phuket flight cancellations
PHUKET: Ash fall from a volcano that erupted late last night on the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java has forced an Australian airline to cancel flights to Phuket, Denpasar, Christmas Island and Cocos Island today.“We are sorry for the inconvenience. However, the safety of our customers is our highest priority,” Virgin Australia airline said in a statement on their…
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Patong Bay’s brown water is safe, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: Despite its brown color and stench, Patong Bay is clean and safe, Suppakorn Meekaew, Patong Municipality’s Sanitation Department Chief, told the Phuket Gazette on Tuesday. “People swimming and enjoying the beach should not panic about the color of the water. They can swim as usual – it will not affect their health,” Mr Suppakorn said. “The brown color doesn’t…
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Four Saturday night Phuket booze bans in sight as elections loom
PHUKET: Phuket will see four Saturday night alcohol bans in coming months, as polls open for senator and MP selection in March and April. The four dates selected for voting, March 23 and 30 for the senator election and April 20 and 27 for the MP election, fall on Sundays. In accordance with the law, alcohol bans will begin at…
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Norwegian man in ICU saved by Phuket blood donors
PHUKET: The life of a critically ill Norwegian man was saved when O-negative blood donors stepped up last week to provide the three units of blood he desperately needed. “He received the blood he required and is stable now,” Corporate Social Responsibility Project Manager for Bangkok Hospital Phuket Pareeya Jullaphong told the Phuket Gazette on Tuesday. Five days earlier, the…
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Phuket Governor continues stampede of visits to support agricultural strategy
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut’s charge into the province’s agricultural tourism sector led him to an elephant ranch Wednesday morning. “The inspection of this elephant ranch is a continuation of our inspection of a pineapple garden (story here), goat farm (video story here) and vegetable farm. We are visiting them to raise awareness of Phuket’s potential for agricultural tourism,” Gov…
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Nothing as sweet as incentives for Phuket pineapples
PHUKET Governor Maitri Inthusut has underlined his commitment to developing the island’s pineapple industry, having confirmed a budget of 1.1 million baht to train local farmers and expand the available growing area in Thalang. On January 31, Governor Maitri led officers on an inspection tour to harvest and sample pineapples from the plantation of Wichai Saetun at Baan Bang Roang…
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Dozens of fish saved from entangled net at top Phuket dive destination
PHUKET: Divers saved dozens of reef fish trapped in an enormous fishing net draped over one of Phuket’s most popular dive sites: marine conservation area, Shark Point. “We had just spent five or six minutes watching a leopard shark swimming around us, and then, as we came around the corner, we saw a blanket of net covering a large amount…
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Davis Cup Phuket tennis drawings held
PHUKET: The drawing for the first round of match pairs in the Davis Cup BNP Paribas Group II, Zone Asia/Oceania (Thailand vs Hong Kong) was held this morning at Phuket’s Thanyapura. Tennis superstars train at Tanyapura. Video: PGTV Starting tomorrow, players from Thailand and Hong Kong will cross rackets on Thanyapura’s world-class tennis courts in three days of intense competition.…
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Flying Carpet freak accident unavoidable, says chief
PHUKET: The freak accident that sank a liveaboard dive boat to a depth of 75 meters just outside the popular dive destination of Similan National Park was unavoidable, said the Regional Marine Office chief this week.MV The Flying Carpet based out of Ranong and operated by Aladdin Dive Safari had its propeller partially ripped out between Koh Bon and Koh…
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Phuket booze ban keeps Cupid’s arrows flying straight
PHUKET: A nationwide ban on the sale and purchase of alcohol will be in effect this Valentine’s Day in celebration of Makha Bucha Day, one of the four annual religious holidays in Thailand. “By law, alcohol sales and purchases are banned throughout the country in order to respect the holy day,” Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police Peerayuth Karajedee told…
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Phuket Civil Defense Volunteers feted at 60th Anniversary
PHUKET: A celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Civil Defense Volunteers was hosted by Governor Maitri Inthusut on Monday. Civil defence volunteers help law-enforcement officers fulfill a wide range of duties, such as manning checkpoints, monitoring election stations, administering urine drug tests and providing security for government buildings. At the ceremony, which took place at the…
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Runaway driver leaves visa runners stranded, swipes more than B37,000
A ROUTINE visa run to Penang late last month hit a speed bump at the Malaysian border when visa runners returned to the van from the immigration checkpoint to find their driver had absconded.It had been business as usual for the passengers until they reached the border checkpoint in Sadao on January 20. “This time was the same as always.…
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Phuket hosts meeting on safe handling of radioactive materials
PHUKET: Representatives of 15 countries are meeting in Phuket this week to discuss the safe management of used radioactive materials and the potential threats they present if mishandled. The United States, a producer and exporter of radioactive substances, sponsored the conference to discuss the handling of materials after they have been used by industry and hospitals, the Office of ‘Atoms…
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Electrical short started fire on Phuket’s MV Blue Star, says chief
PHUKET: The fire that caused the liveaboard dive boat MV Blue Star to sink in Myanmar waters was started by an electrical short circuit in the engine room, confirmed Ranong Marine Office Deputy Chief Pramuan Thessana this morning. “The dive boat left from Thap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak on January 29,” Mr Pramuan said. “It took the tourists on…
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Phuket Marine Office offers B10,000 reward for pictures of oil-dumpers
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office is offering a 10,000 baht reward for photographs of people dumping oil into the sea.It is illegal to release oil into the sea, said Phuket Marine Office chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut.“But we can only arrest suspects if we have enough proof or catch them in action. In the past, we have been too late, and the…
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Phuket rubber tapper fatally felled by tree branch
PHUKET: A Phuket rubber farmer was struck and killed by a falling tree branch while tapping his trees early yesterday morning in Thalang.Jaroon Tankongkoy, 67, left for the rubber plantation at 3am, said his wife, Pranom Tankongkoy.“I was waiting to have lunch with him, but he didn’t come back. At 3pm, I went out to look for him,” Mrs Pranom…
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New fees and regulations established for Phuket pier
PHUKET: The new regulations to access Chalong Pier, a popular Phuket jump-off point for surrounding islands, will take effect on February 15. Local boat handlers on Saturday demanded unrestricted access to boats moored along the pier (story here). Government officers did not bow to the demands, but rather offered a compromise of a new fee-system for motorbikes, sidecars and boats.…
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All safe after Phuket dive boat sinks off Myanmar
PHUKET: Everyone has been safely rescued from a Phuket dive boat that sank in Myanmar waters, said the Managing Director of Chalong Sea Sports, Pekka Torri. However, the cause of the fire that erupted aboard the MV Blue Star and led to its sinking has yet to be confirmed. Mr Pekka declined to reveal any details about the incident, other…
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Argument leads to fatal fight outside Phuket karaoke bar
PHUKET: A violent argument in a Phuket karaoke bar on Saturday ended in the death of a fisherman.The unidentified man was drinking with friends at Nong Man Karaoke bar on Sri Sena Road when they began arguing with four fisherman at a nearby table, witnesses told police.“They started fighting outside the karaoke bar,” said Capt Udom Petcharat of the Phuket…
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Mueang Thalang win inaugural Phuket Youth Cup
PHUKET: The inaugural Phuket Youth Cup concluded last Sunday with two exciting matches at Surakul Stadium.In the grand finale, it was Mueang Thalang School prevailing 3-1 over the OrBorJor Talad Neua team to win the grand trophy and 20,000-baht prize money. The runners up would have to be content with their slightly smaller trophy and 10,000 baht purse. Two of…
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One at large after drug dealers open fire on Krabi Police
PHUKET: One suspect is still at large after a gunfight broke out between Krabi Police and two drug dealers on Saturday.“Their car approached the Khao Phanom-Nua Khlong Road checkpoint at high speed just after midnight. We ordered them to stop, but instead of slowing down, they sped up and started shooting at officers,” Sen Sgt Maj Krit Kaewsrion said.“Police returned…
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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