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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Frenchman steals testosterone from Phuket pharmacy in his underpants
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested two French nationals Wednesday night after one shoplifted 9,000 baht worth of testosterone injections in his underwear while the other created a diversion. Patong Police were informed of the theft at the Health and Herb pharmacy on Soi Bangla at about 4:50pm and rushed to the scene. “A man and a woman came into the shop,”…
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Patong Mayor Pian guilty of vote fraud, but will run for re-election
PHUKET: Deposed Patong Mayor Pian Keesin yesterday was found guilty of electoral fraud in the September 2012 council election, but is free to run for re-election to head Phuket’s key resort town. Also found guilty for their roles in importing voters specifically to cast votes in the election were Jaroern Khwanyeun, Prasarn Noochet, Prasit Phatkor, Mana Phanchalad and Narong Cheuayuan.…
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Dry Phuket conditions cause another blaze to errupt
PHUKET: A fire broke out in a dry field along Thepkrassatri Road yesterday that required firefighters from three stations two hours to put out. The fire, which started at 12:45pm, affected about five rai of land but did not cause any damage to property or to people in the area, said a Thepkrasattri Municipality Emergency Medical Service worker. Ten firemen…
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Log caused Phuket speedboat accident
PHUKET: A log punched a hole in the hull of a speedboat that was rescued yesterday afternoon (story here), said the managing director of Andavaree, the company that owns the boat. “I was notified by our captain that the 47-foot boat, powered by three engines, struck a log near Koh Gai as it was taking 52 people to Phi Phi…
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Phuket Sport: To carb or not to carb
PHUKET: If you were to take a poll here in Phuket of the types of sports people do for fun or competition, chances are some form of endurance sport would rank number one. Our roads are constantly being utilized by cyclists or runners and our beaches have people going for long runs or swims to stay in shape. No matter…
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Concerns grow over Krabi’s proposed coal projects
PHUKET: Fossilized shells at a beach dating back 75 million years and over 10,000 rai of the country’s second-largest seagrass area in Krabi would be destroyed if the coal seaport and coal-fired power-plant project go ahead, an environmental watch agency warned on March 6. Adding to the concerns over the project, the local tourism association in Koh Lanta is worried…
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Region’s top cop praises understaffed Chalong Police
PHUKET: Despite a report that the Chalong Police force is understaffed, the region’s top cop praised officers there for their work. “Since I became Region 8 Commander in October last year, I have had no concerns about Chalong. The officers here have done a good job of maintaining the safety of both locals and tourists in the area,” said Region…
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Breaking News: Ship bursts into flames off Phuket
PHUKET: A ship carrying cargo was engulfed by flames near Koh Naka, off Phuket’s east coast this afternoon. Phuket Marine Police were notified of the incident at about 4pm by a speedboat captain. First reports are that all on board the ship were safely rescued by the passing speedboat. — Chutharat Plerin
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Travel agent east of Phuket busted for using lost debit card
PHUKET: A Koh Lanta travel agency owner managed to steal almost 130,000 baht using a debit card he found on the ground. Polish tourist Magdalena Holak told Tourist Police that she had lost her debit card while on holiday on Koh Lanta in late February. After police checked with her bank and discovered that the lost card had been used…
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Special Report: Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia
SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Human traffickers have kept hundreds of Rohingya Muslims captive in houses in northern Malaysia, beating them, depriving them of food, and demanding a ransom from their families, according to detailed accounts by the victims. The accounts given to Reuters suggest that trafficking gangs are shifting their operations into Malaysia as Thai authorities crack down on jungle camps…
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Sweden to Phuket: Epic cycling journey for island orphanage
PHUKET: A man is standing out in the cold in the snowy town of Karlskoga, his fellow citizens walk briskly past, unaware that within about a month the man will be departing their homeland on an epic cycling journey across half of the world to the shores of paradise – Phuket. Unlike many such great undertakings, which have been motivated…
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Phuket Sports: Reaching the ultimate goal [Video]
PHUKET: The ancient martial art of Muay Thai is alive and strong, especially in Phuket, where fighters from around the world make their way to train with some of the best. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV were able to get the scoop on what’s new in the island’s fighting scene during a recent visit to Tiger Muay Thai gym. Located…
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Phuket Sport: Getting back to the top
PHUKET: I first saw Alisa Kleybanova bouncing balls across the net during her morning tennis practice at Thanyapura. Not a hint of smile on her face, but 100 per cent focus, precision and power. Later, when she dips into Thanyapura’s Olympic size pool with the members of the Dutch elite swim team who are preparing in the sport complex for…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi driver nabbed for swiping wallet
PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket man early yesterday morning for swiping a wallet from a tour guide counter in Patong. Patong Police received a complaint from 47-year-old tour agent Urailuck Chaiphan that her wallet had been stolen from the M.E.G. tour counter. “We investigated CCTV footage and saw that the suspect had a tattoo on his arm and was wearing…
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Protests hold up Phuket sea gypsy DNA results
PHUKET: DNA tests that could prove the residency of sea gypsies in Rawai and help them counter land claims of private investors seeking to evict them have been delayed due to the Bangkok Shutdown. The tests are being done on bones found last year buried in the dirt floor of a sea gypsy home. If there is a match between…
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Governor Maitri Inthusut honors Phuket Gazette’s 20th anniversary
PHUKET: Managers and staff members past and present were joined by more than 500 business leaders, readers, writers and friends of the island’s main newspaper to celebrate the 20th anniversary milestone of the Phuket Gazette at a party hosted by founder and publisher John Magee and wife Janpen Arno in Cherng Talay. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, a regular columnist for…
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Phuket teacher recovering after blood donations allow for safe surgery
PHUKET: Donors answering an urgent call for A-negative blood allowed doctors to perform a four-hour operation to repair the fractured leg of Phuket teacher Dean Jackson last night. Mr Jackson, a teacher from HeadStart International School, was injured when he fell off his motorbike and rushed to the hospital with a broken leg (story here). “We are pleased to announce…
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Breaking News: Phuket tourists rescued from sinking boat off Phi Phi
PHUKET: All 47 European and Asian tourists and five crewmen have been safely rescued from a Phuket tour boat that started taking on water in Phang Nga Bay earlier today. Capt Wichai Chairap, 40, called for help after the tour boat Andavaree 919 started to struggle amid strong waves near Koh Gai off the coast of Krabi at 11:30am. The…
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Phuket Airport taxis face undercover sting operation
PHUKET: In an effort to compel airport metered taxi drivers to turn on their meters, Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada will send policemen to pose as tourists in a sting operation. “If the undercover officers find a taxi driver who refuses to turn on his meter, we will arrest him immediately,” Vice Governor Chamroen said. The move follows a complaint the…
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Drug dealer turns in Phuket suppliers
PHUKET: Police seized more than 3.7 million baht of property after a Phuket drug dealer gave up his suppliers Tuesday night. “We first arrested Kiatipoom ‘Tak’ Rangubwong, 34, in possession of 338 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills,1.8 grams of ya ice (crystalmethamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia at his house on Thung Thong Road at about 11pm,” said Col Jaroon Bangprasert of the…
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Phuket expat volunteers strike amid Patong Police fallout
PHUKET: The ousting of Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan on Monday has prompted expat police volunteers in Phuket to go on strike. Expat police volunteers will no longer assist police or carry out their highly-praised night patrols of Patong until a clear structure is established, explained Wal Brown, long-term Phuket expat and head co-ordinator of the Royal Thai Police Region…
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Phuket Marine Police help thirsty sea gypsies
PHUKET: Koh Sireh sea gypsies received 6,000 liters of water yesterday after they told Phuket Marine Police they had a water shortage. “It is not our job to do this, but we have a good relationship with the Koh Sireh sea gypsies,” said Marine Police Inspector Chatchai Sakdee. “And if we can do something to help people, we will.” “When…
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Phuket Marine Police conduct boat safety raids
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office conducted safety inspections of speedboats, dive boats and other vessels geared toward tourism at Chalong Pier yesterday. “It is our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers,” Chatchai Sakdee of the Phuket Marine Police said. Police confirmed that the boats were not carrying more than…
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Phuket mini-crepe maker saved from sharks, gets gift of a lifetime
PHUKET: A Phuket vendor who saw his only source of livelihood – a mini-crepe cart – go up in smoke was able to avoid going to loan sharks to replace it because of help from an unlikely source, a New Zealander who has been to the province only twice. Prayoon Inpuang, 44, was preparing to sell mini-crepes in Phuket Town…
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Urgent call for blood to save Phuket teacher
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is urgently calling for donations of A-negative blood in order to save the life of Dean Jackson, a teacher who was injured in a motorcycle accident. “We received a request from Phuket International Hospital for two units of A-negative blood to save the patient’s life,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette…
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Burning rubber in dry grass leads to flaming car
PHUKET: A man trying to free his girlfriend’s new car from the sand of a Phuket beach yesterday sent it up in flames instead. “My boyfriend tried for 30 minutes to drive out of the sand, but it wasn’t working, so we kept increasing our speed. Then the engine suddenly caught fire,” said Nutcharee Madkatep, 37. “I only bought the…
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Phuket tuk-tuk blockade ousts Patong Police superintendent
PHUKET: A 200-strong tuk-tuk blockade last night ended with Phuket’s top cop agreeing to meet the drivers’ demands, which included transferring the Patong Police superintendent. The blockade formed after four tuk-tuk drivers were arrested yesterday afternoon for not allowing green plate taxi drivers to use public parking spots on Thaweewong Road, said Sakol Srisompoch, president of the Patong tuk-tuk drivers…
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Woman saved from Phuket mob after fatal motorbike collision
PHUKET: Rescue workers saved a Phuket woman from the wrath of an angry mob in Pa Khlok early yesterday evening after her car struck a local man and dragged him to his death. The accident occurred in Baan Bangla, about two kilometers east of the Heroines Monument (map here), at about 6:30pm, Lt Chatree Chuwichian of the Thalang Police told…
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Phuket restaurant owner saves the month for woman in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: A Phuket restaurant owner saved the day for a woman who left behind her entire month’s living allowance in a motorcycle basket Sunday morning. The 47-year-old Kamala restaurant owner found 6,620 baht and an identification card outside CP Fresh Mart in Cherng Talay, said Peerasit Noopayan of the Cherng Talay Police. “Pradit Samohthong came immediately to the station and…
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Soderlund to appeal conviction for Phuket murder
PHUKET: Tommy Soderlund, convicted of the 2011 stabbing murder of fellow Swede Maxim Schantz and sentenced to life in prison, will appeal the decision, his lawyer confirmed today. The life sentence was handed down this morning. On January 24, Johan Sebastian Ljung was also sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Mr Schantz (story here). He is also…
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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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