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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Dozens charged over illegal fireworks at Phuket Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: Phuket City Police arrested 21 people for setting off dangerous fireworks during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which drew to a close at midnight on Sunday. A further seven people were arrested for selling firecrackers without a permit. Phuket City Police chief Sermpan Sirikong said celebrants were warned before the annual festival that police would be taking a dim view…
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Phuket roadworks driving motorists to alternatives
PHUKET: The local authorities responsible for main roads across Phuket will spend hundreds of millions of baht in road upgrades to make commuting in Phuket safer and faster. The news was delivered by the chiefs of the Department of Rural Roads Phuket Office and the Phuket Highways Office at a meeting with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut at Provincial Hall this…
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Phang Nga officer charged with trafficking kicked off force, awaits trial
PHUKET: The first police officer in Thailand to be charged with human trafficking has been discharged from the Royal Thai Police force. Weerayuth Feuangfu, formerly a sergeant major with the Phang Nga police, is free on bail as he awaits his trial in early November on charges of human trafficking, helping a refugee leave a shelter and abusing his position…
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Five in hospital in Phuket Vegetarian Festival Shrine food scare
PHUKET: Five people, including a 14-year-old girl, were rushed to hospital after eating a curry dished out to over 100 participants at a Phuket Vegetarian Festival Shrine yesterday.The five affected are believed to have suffered extreme reactions to alocasia included in a curry served at the Tah Reua Shrine in Thalang, doctors told the Phuket Gazette.Alocasia is in the Araceae…
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Phuket Sports: BISP and Cruzeiro unite
PHUKET: British International School Phuket (BISP) will be announcing the launch of its new football academy at the forthcoming international seven-a-side football tournament (November 8-9, 2013), which is held annually on the school campus. The aim is to develop a center of footballing excellence in Asia under the coaching auspices of the premier Brazilian football club, Cruzeiro EC. An essential…
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Racha islander: Health center necessary to save tourists’ lives
PHUKET: Racha Yai islanders on Saturday urged Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut to build a health center on the popular day-trip isle as one way to solve the problem of tourist drownings there. The Chinese embassy has already promised money to support the construction of the center, they said. “To save tourists’ lives, we need a health center on the island.…
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Phuket officials arrest bar owner behind Rihanna fiasco
PHUKET: Local Phuket officials on Saturday night arrested the Patong bar owner who staged the lewd show at the epicenter of comments posted online by global celebrity Rihanna. The international pop star stirred an online furore last month after she posted photos on Instagram of slow loris touts on Bangla, and posted a Twitter message about a “shocking” adult show…
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Russian tourist found dead in Phuket hotel room
PHUKET: Police are investigating the cause of death of a Russian tourist whose body was discovered in his Karon hotel room on Saturday.The tourist, Yury Kiryukhin, 36, was to check out on Saturday and fly home.Staff at the Baan Karonburi Resort discovered Mr Kiryukhin’s body on the bed in his room at 8:30am, said Karon Police case investigator Capt Channarong…
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Phuket Town restaurants grilled over grease traps
PHUKET: Heavy pollution in the waterways throughout Phuket Town has prompted officials to lay down the law against all restaurants that do not install grease traps. Any restaurants that do not have grease traps installed will not have their permits to operate renewed, Phuket City Deputy Mayor Dr Kosol Tang-Uthai warned yesterday. “Part of the flooding problem in Phuket Town…
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Phuket elephant smugglers head to court, arrest of officials sought
PHUKET: Two of the men involved in the elephant-smuggling operation blown open in Phuket in August will be presented in court this Thursday. Meanwhile, officers leading the investigation will move to have arrest warrants issued for public officials involved in the trafficking ring. “Surat Termsak and Prasong Bootchaiyaphum are scheduled to appear in Bangkok North Municipal Court on October 17,”…
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Phuket aircon technician survives three-storey fall
PHUKET: A man luckily survived a fall from a multi-storey bookstore in the heart of Phuket Town yesterday evening, after landing on the company pickup truck he drove to the store. Lt Phoom Semmaworanon of the Phuket City Police arrived at the scene, a shop called The Book Shop on Yaowarat Road, with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers at 6:20pm. “Mr…
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Phuket Airport taxis face overhaul, upgrade
PHUKET: An open meeting at the Airports of Thailand (AoT) Phuket office yesterday morning has resulted in a slew of new measures to be introduced to improve the quality of service of taxis serving Phuket International Airport. The news follows weeks of controversy over current arrangements. “What has been agreed on is that each taxi operating to and from the…
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Phuket to sport armed patrol cars for night duty
PHUKET: Provincial Police are currently refitting and upgrading three patrol cars to police known crime hotspots in Phuket in order to enhance tourists’ safety at night during the high season. “Following the appointment of the new Phuket Provincial Commander, Maj Gen Ong-art Phiwruangnont [story here], we have been instructed to redouble our efforts to improve safety for tourists,” Phuket Provincial…
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ABBA tickets to go on sale today
PHUKET: Tickets for Phuket’s entertainment event of the year, the November 8 ABBA FOREVER concert at Laguna Phuket, will go on sale at 11am today. With more than 220 of them already snapped up in website pre-bookings this week, sales are expected to be brisk and buyers are advised to purchase from authorized agents only. The tickets are priced at…
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DOG DAYS: Phuket murder fugitive ‘Mick the Pom’ living openly in sunny Philippines
PHUKET: British murder fugitive Michael John Taylor, better known in Phuket as “Mick The Pom”, has been found alive and well in the Philippines, and now uses the online monikers “Mick Doggard”, or just “Mickdog” for short. Taylor, who celebrated his 50th birthday on September 20 this year, remains wanted for the murder of his girlfriend Jantra Weangta, 27, who…
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Phuket project launched to tackle Thailand’s missing shark mystery
PHUKET: One of the largest projects ever designed to document the worrisome trend of declining shark sightings in Thailand was announced today in Phuket. In the wake of professional diver testimonials showing a 95 per cent decrease in shark sightings at Thailand’s renowned dive destination the Similans, the founders UK NGO Shark Guardian have moved forward with the Thailand E-Shark…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival sends hotel occupancy soaring
PHUKET: Occupancy at beach and Phuket Town hotels during the Vegetarian Festival is at 85 per cent or higher, said Governor Maitri Inthusut. As he took part in festivities at the Tha Rua shrine yesterday, the governor noted that hotels along parade routes in Phuket Town were fully booked. Even hotels not on the parade routes – those at island…
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Fewer Phuket Vegetarian Festival mediums in hospital, so far
PHUKET: Six ma song (spirit mediums) have been admitted to hospital for wounds incurred during this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival, and three people have been admitted for injuries sustained from firecrackers.Most of the ma song taken to hospital had injuries to their tongue or cheek, explained Kajornsak Kaewjaras, chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO).“We took them all…
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Phuket teens arrested for dangerous use of firecrackers
PHUKET: Phuket City Police say they have arrested at least 13 teenagers for endangering people by throwing firecrackers into the dense crowds lining the streets for the Vegetarian Festival, now in the sixth day of this annual nine-day event. “I assigned three undercover police teams to patrol Phuket Town, focusing specifically on where we had received complaints about teens using…
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Tourist Police officer stripped of badge over double-homicide shooting
PHUKET: A Phuket Tourist Police officer has been kicked off the force as the prosecutor moves forward in charging him over a double-homicide in a drug-den shootout in March. Pinchai Piyadilok, 34 at the time of the shooting, lost a leg as a result of wounds sustained in the gun battle that left Saran Chaithum, 26, and Chalermpol Tripuk, 26,…
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Officials set sights on Patong water gate
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) will spend over 19 million baht on a water gate to help alleviate flooding in Patong.The news came at a meeting on Tuesday between PPAO President Paiboon Upatising and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut to discuss strategies to prevent flooding in Phuket.The areas of top concern discussed in the meeting were Patong, Sri Soonthorn…
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Armed man robs 7-Eleven, last seen heading for Wat Chalong
PHUKET: An armed robber made off with 1,000 baht from a Chalong 7-Eleven convenience store early Tuesday morning. The robber fled on a motorbike and is now the subject of a Chalong Police search. The thief entered the 7-Eleven at the entrance to Soi Mae Aum Phan, a few meters in front of the popular Phuket expat shopping mall HomePro…
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Construction worker shocked by high-voltage line
PHUKET: A Myanmar national welding on top of the police box at the Kalim junction in Patong at about 6pm yesterday was shocked by a jolt from a high-voltage line, but not fatally injured.When the back of Aung Naing’s welding rod touched a tree that was in contact with the high voltage line, he received an electric shock that sent…
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Phuket prepares for Eid al-Adha celebration
PHUKET: Preparations are underway for one and all to join the “Festival of the Sacrifice” activities to be held at the Muslim Wittaya Phuket School in Koh Kaew on October 15. The auspicious date of October 15 has been designated as the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha, according to esteemed elders, Islamic scholars and astrologers of the Central Islamic Council…
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Officials complete Kamala flash-flood cleanup, but warn of more flooding
PHUKET: Officials at Kamala Beach have completed their mop-up operation after the town was struck by a flash flood on Sunday, but have warned residents that more flooding may be on the way.“More than 20 homes were flooded by mud and water, but now the situation is back to normal,” said Krittkraisee Khieowan, Chief Administrative Officer at the Kamala Tambon…
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Meth arrests lead to prison drug lord
PHUKET: The trend for local drug dealers to source their product from a kingpin operating out of a maximum-security prison was evident again this week as Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers in Phuket arrested two suspects found in possession of 2,336 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) in raids north of Phuket Town on Monday. Undercover police learned of a dealer…
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Phuket Governor stages “3K Police’ tour
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday conducted an inspection tour of police stations at three key tourism beach areas – Patong, Kamala and Karon – as part of his campaign to promote Phuket as a safe holiday destination.Joining the governor on his tour was Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol.Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan, who formally heads Kathu Police Station, reported…
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Hit-and-run bus-driver turns himself in
PHUKET: The driver whose bus struck a Myanmar national crossing Thepkrasattri Road, killing her instantly last Thursday, turned himself in to the police a few hours after the accident. “Hours after the event, (story here) the bus driver, Natthanapong Jithang, 33, surrendered at Thalang Police Station,” Kittipoom Tinthalang of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette today. Mr Natthanapong told…
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Rain fails to dampen Phuket Vegetarian Festival spirit
PHUKET: The Phuket Vegetarian Festival street processions continued yesterday under a steady drizzle and leaden skies, but the inclement weather barely dampened the enthusiastic spirit of both participants and observers. The procession by devotees from Samkong Shrine wound its way through Phuket Town in the morning rain, with some 2,000 spectators lining the route to watch ma song (spirit mediums)…
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As AoT and Airport bus company trade barbs, tourists take taxis
PHUKET: As Airports of Thailand (AoT) and the Airport Express bus company trade blame for the lack of passengers on the Airport-to-Patong bus, tourists continue to find it difficult to locate the bus stop. The most common complaint voiced by visitors is the lack of information both at Phuket International Airport and on line. “It took me 20 minutes to…
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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