Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Couple caught having sex in sea at Patong Beach in Phuket
A video and pictures showing a horny foreign couple having sex in the sea at Patong Beach in Phuket quickly went viral, sparking criticism and hilarious comments across Thai social media platforms. The Phuket Times shared footage and images of the incident yesterday, April 16. The couple’s identities and nationalities have not yet been confirmed. Thai netizens pointed out that…
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Phuket’s seven days safety campaign shows zero fatalities
Phuket’s Seven Days safety campaign for Songkran 2024 continues to make its impact as the island remains free of any road fatalities since the commencement of the initiative on April 11. Over the past four days, 39 incidents have been recorded by officials, resulting in the same number of people being hospitalised due to injuries. The report compiled by the…
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Four arrested in Phuket with over 12,000 meth pills seized
Four individuals have been apprehended by Thalang Police in Phuket on charges related to drugs, with over 12,000 methamphetamine pills, locally known as Yaba, confiscated in the process. The arrests were carried out across three distinct operations yesterday. Among those apprehended was Duean Jarachit, a 42 year old resident of Moo 1, Mai Khao. She was taken into custody on…
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Inside the numbers: the potential of a Phuket property bubble
One of the most common questions I am asked these days is about a potential Phuket real estate bubble. While it’s a popular buzz term, so many who ask the question don’t understand what a bubble is. The most notable real estate bubble in recent history was the subprime housing crisis in the United States in 2007. In other sectors,…
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Bangla Road comes alive as Songkran festival kicks off in Phuket
Songkran celebrations kicked off with a bang on Bangla Road, Phuket yesterday and are expected to reach their peak today. Throngs of people, both locals and international tourists, assembled on Thaweewong Road and Soi Bangla, drawn in by the popular water-splashing events. Soi Bangla, famous for its energetic nightlife, became a bustling centre of daytime merriment as individuals from diverse…
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Phuket house fire leaves residents reeling: Investigation heats up
A destructive house fire yesterday ravaged a residence in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, leaving devastation in its wake. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. An electrical short circuit is believed to have ignited a fire that caused extensive damage to a house in Srisoonthorn last night around 9.30pm. Firefighters from Srisoonthorn Fire Station rushed to the scene, located in…
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Youth stabbed in violent confrontation at Phuket’s Saphan Hin
A violent confrontation at Saphan Hin in Phuket resulted in a youth being stabbed in the early hours of this morning. The conflict arose between two factions early this morning near the Phuket Extreme Sports Stadium. Phuket City Police were notified and arrived at the scene at 4.13am, today, April 11. The aftermath of the conflict was apparent. A damaged Honda Wave…
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American man arrested for smashing Thai man’s car in Phuket
Police arrested an American man, who appeared to be drunk, after he smashed the window of a Thai man’s car in Phuket in the early hours of this morning. The 33 year old Thai victim, Tharathit Na Pattalung, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station at around 5.30am today, April 11. He told police that a foreign man damaged his…
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Thai doctor offered bribe to drop lawsuit in Swiss scandal
The Thai doctor who was a victim in the Swiss scandal case in Phuket revealed that an unidentified person offered her and her family a bribe in exchange for withdrawing the lawsuit against the Swiss man. The female doctor, 26 year old Tarndao Chandam, took to social media and accused the 45 year old Swiss man, Urs Fehr, of physically…
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s opulent family holiday in Phuket
Ever wondered how Hollywood’s elite enjoy their family vacations? Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie show us how it’s done with their opulent getaway in Thailand. The power couple, along with their brood of six, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne are basking in luxury at the Amanpuri beach resort in Phuket, where they’re shelling out a jaw-dropping £18,000 (approximately…
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Phuket RBC’s urgent call for blood donations ahead of Songkran
Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) issued an urgent call for blood donors of all types to help increase the blood supply during the Songkran holidays. To incentivise donors, the centre is offering free Give Blood Save Life T-shirts to those who donate blood at their Phuket Town offices between April 9-11, from 8.30am to 7.30pm, or between April 12-16,…
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Chilling in Phuket: Airport assures cool comfort amid AC tune-up
Phuket International Airport officials have given passengers assurances that despite two of the four main air-conditioning units undergoing maintenance, temperatures will remain comfortable within the terminals. This maintenance is being carried out in anticipation of an increase in passenger traffic over the Songkran holidays. The maintenance announcement was made by Airports of Thailand at Phuket Airport (AoT Phuket) on Saturday,…
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Man seriously injured in Phuket after argument over dog
An argument over a dog in Phuket escalated into a violent confrontation, resulting in one man being seriously injured by a makeshift machete. The incident took place at the CSAL workers’ camp in Tha Sai, Moo 1, Srisoonthorn, on a Friday night. Police captain Thitiwat Asasingh, with the Thalang Police, was informed of the incident at approximately 8.30pm. Teams of…
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Explicit surfboard sex video off Karon beach sparks heated debate
A widely shared video of two foreigners engaging in sexual activity on a surfboard off Karon Beach in Phuket has sparked intense debate online. The footage, which was shared on the Facebook page of Hot Jung Phuket, has already received over 13,000 reactions and almost 2,000 comments since it was posted yesterday evening. The video elicited a variety of responses…
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Phuket reservoirs assure sufficient water supply until annual rains
Phuket’s main reservoirs, namely Bang Wad Reservoir, Bang Neow Dum Reservoir, and Klong Kata Reservoir, currently hold sufficient water supplies to service residents and tourist accommodations until the anticipated annual rains arrive next month, according to Phuket officials. This assurance comes from the head of the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM-Phuket), Sophon Thongsai, following his inspection of…
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Phuket police raid underground gambling den, 32 arrested
A clandestine gambling establishment in Talat Yai, Phuket, was stormed by the police in the wee hours of yesterday, resulting in the apprehension of 32 individuals. The raid, orchestrated by Police Colonel Prathueng Phonmana, superintendent of Mueang Police Station, unfolded just after 12.30am at a three-storey building on Chanacharoen Road. The police encountered an open-door venue, leading them to two…
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Myanmar Airways: New routes to Bangkok, Chiangmai and Phuket
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) announced upcoming budget flights from Yangon to Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. MAI has unveiled exciting routes and wallet-friendly fares, ensuring seamless travel experiences for globetrotters. Operating 56 flights weekly from Yangon to Bangkok, along with bi-weekly flights to Phuket and thrice-weekly to the new Yangon-Chiang Mai route, adventure-seekers can now explore exotic destinations without breaking…
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German wielding knives and axe sparks panic in Phuket
In a quiet corner of Phuket, chaos erupted as a German national brandished knives and an axe, leaving neighbours and authorities in fear for their lives. The drama unfolded in Soi Naya, Village No. 1, Rawai Subdistrict, Chalong District, where residents were left trembling in their homes. Police officers from Chalong Police Station rushed to the scene yesterday, April 5,…
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Phuket addresses waste issue with new incinerator construction
Phuket City Municipality convened its inaugural public gathering last week to discuss the construction of a new incinerator at the Saphan Hin solid waste disposal facility. The proposed scheme involves EA Waste Management Phuket Co Ltd, a private company, developing and managing the new facility. Covering nearly 15 rai (24,000 square metres), the new site is expected to hold a…
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Phuket reveals Songkran festival plans featuring music festival
Phuket officials yesterday revealed their plans for the upcoming Songkran festival celebrations, with two major events scheduled to take place in Cherng Talay and Rawai. The Alive Beach On Cloud Songkran Music Festival is set to be held at the Blue Tree complex in Cherng Talay from April 13 to 15. On April 13, a merit-making ceremony and water festival…
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Phuket’s Tourist Case court division resumes after four-year break
After a four-year hiatus, the special Tourist Case division of the Phuket Provincial Court has resumed operations. The announcement was made by Kriangsak Rodphanchu, who currently holds the position of Chief Judge at the Wiang Sa Provincial Court in Surat Thani, in addition to serving as the Acting Chief Judge of the Phuket Provincial Court. Initially opened on September 24,…
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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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Smokin’ scuffle: Foreigner’s taxi tantrum goes viral in Phuket
A video of a foreign man attacking a Thai taxi driver on a road in the Thalang district of Phuket this morning went viral on Thai social media. The physical assault was reportedly sparked after the driver asked the foreigner to stop smoking in the cab. The Facebook page, Newshawk Phuket, shared a video of the incident at about 9.40am…
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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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Foreigner condemned for driving car on Kamala Beach in Phuket
Phuket residents and Thai netizens condemned a foreigner for ignoring warnings from lifeguards and vendors and driving a sedan on Kamala Beach. A Thai man shared the video of a black sedan, a Toyota Camry Hybrid, on Kamala Beach on Facebook yesterday, April 1. “Foreign tourists cause trouble every day! A foreign tourist, of unidentified nationality, driving a sedan on Kamala…
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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.…
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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