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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DSI turns to Facebook to catch illegal foreigners in Phuket
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is considering launching a Facebook page so that people can report foreigners working illegally in Thailand by uploading photos directly onto the Internet.The news came after DSI Deputy Director-general Yanapol Yungyuen heard a slew of complaints from Phuket business owners at a meeting in Cherng Talay yesterday.“I will open an official email address…
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Phuket Police nab serial snatch thief after hot pursuit
PHUKET: Thalang and Phuket City Police have arrested a bag snatcher who reportedly committed 20 snatch thefts within two weeks, and three yesterday in the hours before his arrest. “We arrested Boonserm Chaluaysri, 22, yesterday after we received a report from Phuket City Police of a bag snatch in Rassada in the morning,” Thalang Police case investigator Chatree Chuwichian told…
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B1bn Patong Tunnel payout “not enough’, say residents
PHUKET: Residents of the Baan Mon community yesterday continued their opposition to the proposed 6-billion-baht Patong Tunnel project, urging officials to choose a route that would not go right through their neighborhood. The opposition comes in the face of the announcement that the government would be looking to pay a total of about 1 billion baht to some 20 households…
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ITF Phuket Results: Day 3
PHUKET: Wildcard entry Kamonwan Buayam from Thailand caused the biggest shock of the third day’s action at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on April 17, defeating number two seed, Australian Olivia Rogowska. Olivia won the first set 6:2 but Kamonwan fought back to claim the second set 7:6, winning the tie breaker 7:2. The unknown Kamonwan then won the third…
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Phuket hotels, businesses targeted in dirty beach canal probe
PHUKET: Hotels and businesses located along the canal that empties onto Bang Tao Beach will be inspected and forced to conform to wastewater-treatment standards, Government Spokesman Prompong Nopparit has announced. The news follows the public exposure of dirty water in the canal that has caused a rash of health problems for tourists and local boatmen in the area, some of…
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Thai innovation may resolve Phuket’s dirty water woes
PHUKET: Officers at the Phuket Office of Natural Resource and Environment (NRE) are promoting a new mini wastewater treatment machine developed in Thailand as a possible savior for Phuket’s ongoing water-pollution woes. The machine was developed by Kanok Nakaew, the Research and Development chief at the Energy and Environmental Engineering Center (EEEC) of Kasetsart University in Bangkok. “This new wastewater-treatment…
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Rusty ex-con nabbed with modern technology in Phuket
PHUKET: A Songkhla man fresh out of jail for bag-snatching was apparently out of practice and failed in his first attempt to grab a woman’s purse yesterday afternoon. He succeeded on his second try, but landed in the hands of the police shortly thereafter, thanks to the “Find My iPhone” application.Just two days out of prison in Songkhla, Suphada Tuansuwan,…
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Former illegal taxi drivers pressure AOT chief over Phuket Airport counter
PHUKET: About 50 taxi drivers who previously operated illegal “black plate” taxis arrived at Phuket International Airport on Monday to request permission to open a counter inside the terminal. The drivers, all members of the newly-formed Mook Andaman Business & Travel Co-operative Ltd, asked to open a counter inside the main terminal while Airports of Thailand (AOT) chiefs decide on…
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Phuket Governor combats dengue with “333′ strategy
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has branded his new strategy to combat the spread of dengue fever in Phuket with the lucky number 333, representing a sustained campaign of “three days, three weeks, three months”.After witnessing a sharp increase in the number of people contracting the disease in the past three months, Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday called on communities across the…
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Phuket Sports: Brothers Grimes step up a gear
PHUKET: After completing their rookie karting season at the national level in 2012, Phuket’s Ben and Sam Grimes took a well-earned rest for a couple of months over the New Year and reviewed their options and priorities for 2013. For Ben, it was about improving on his 3rd place finish in last year’s Thai National Championship and consistently competing at…
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Phuket Sports: Day 2 results of the ITF at TSLC
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) is hosting a round of the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro tennis circuit. The 2013 ITF round consists of two consecutive women’s tournaments from April 20 to April 27 and April 27 to May 4. Result for Main Draw 1st round, April 22: Luksika Kumkhum ( THA ) beat Yi Chen (…
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Melbourne Super Kings Win 10th Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes
PHUKET: The Melbourne Super Kings were crowned Cup champions at the 10th annual Asia Escape Phuket International Cricket Sixes. The Super Kings demolished defending champions MG7 from Kuwait in the Cup final. In other tournament divisions, MG Warriors won the Bowl, Phuket Cricket Group won the Plate and Lamma CC won the Spoon. Eighteen teams from around the world have…
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Billionaire’s bones: another skeleton in closet of alleged Phuket killer
PHUKET: Samui police, acting on a tip from their counterparts in Hungary, yesterday dug up a skeleton in the basement of a villa owned by Moshe David, who is currently awaiting trial in Phuket for the murder of Hungarian Peter Reisz last year (story here). The bones are believed to belong to Laszlo Csepai, 39, a Hungarian billionaire and business…
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Second big bike fatality in 24 hours claims life of British national
PHUKET: A British national died in a high-speed motorbike crash on Chao Fa East Road early this morning. The 31-year-old man, whose name the Phuket Gazette is withholding until family members are notified, overshot a curve while driving a 1000cc Yamaha R1 and crashed into a roadside post near Wat Ladthiwanaram (map here) just after midnight, explained Sub Lt Kraisorn…
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Teen masseuse falls from fourth floor after argument with boyfriend
PHUKET: A 17-year-old masseuse is in a coma after falling from the fourth floor of a building following an argument with her boyfriend. The young woman was discovered unconscious and severely injured on the ground behind the Phuket Town massage parlor where she worked, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker told the Phuket Gazette. Rescue workers administered emergency first aid before…
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Rash of motorbike burnings in Phuket continues
PHUKET: Eight more motorbikes have been torched in Phuket, this time in a housing estate off of Vichit Songkram Road, near Prince of Songkla University. At 3:30 this morning, police were called to the C apartment block in the Moo Baan Irawadee Ketho Yee Teng housing estate, where they found eight burned motorbikes. “I believe the fire started from a…
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Malaysian biker dies in crash on last day of Phuket Bike Week
PHUKET: A second Malaysian biker participating in the Phuket Bike Week died on Sunday morning after losing control of his motorbike on the infamous Baan Kor En curve and crashing into the median strip in Thalang. Zhi Wei Loh, 29, was starting the return journey to Malaysia with a group of friends when he approached Baan Kor En curve on…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: London does it; EPL nail-biters; Vettel wins
Big crowds, black ribbons for Boston at London Marathon Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Undaunted by the Boston Marathon bombings, big crowds lined the route of London’s mass road race to cheer on around 36,000 runners, many of whom wore black ribbons to remember the dead and wounded. Hundreds of extra police were deployed to secure the first race in…
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Tennis Update: Chang-SAT ITF Pro Circuit 2013
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) is currently hosting a round of the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro tennis circuit. Scroll down for today’s schedule and yesterday’s results. The 2013 ITF round consists of two consecutive women’s tournaments from April 20 to April 27 and April 27 to May 4. The highlight of the Chang-SAT ITF Pro Circuit…
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Thai Football: Phuket FC buries Khon Kaen’s ‘T-Rex’ in injury time
PHUKET: A late winner by Brazilian striker Luiz “Dudu” Purcino secured all three points for Phuket FC in their home match against Yamaha League One rivals, Khon Kaen FC, last night. Phuket wasted a number of chances throughout the game and the match looked destined to end 0-0, until Dudu scored his last gasp winner with one of the last…
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Dead dugong discovered east of Phuket prompts local resident action
PHUKET: A dead dugong was found floating just off the coast of Koh Pu in Krabi by a local crab fisherman yesterday morning, prompting villagers to take action.The young marine mammal was discovered with a long gash across its snout in front of the Baan Koh Pu village port and was dragged to shore by villagers before it was reported…
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Earth Day celebrated with Phuket beach cleanup
PHUKET: Earth Day, underway in Phuket and around the world Monday, will see local residents, tourists and island visitors take to Kata Beach in an effort to preserve the island’s environment with Go Eco Phuket’s beach cleanup. Those wanting to take part in the Earth Day activity on Kata Beach are encouraged to meet at 8:30am at the north end…
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Phuket Oilfield Classic drives new record
PHUKET: THE 5th annual Phuket Oilfield Classic (POC) charity golf tournament attracted more than 130 oil and gas executives from around the world, who gathered on the island earlier this month for four days of golf and entertainment (click here for final results table). After the welcome cocktail party on April 4, teams of four enjoyed a great first day…
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London Marathon is on
London lays on 40 percent more police for marathon Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain is increasing police numbers by 40 percent for tomorrow’s London marathon as part of an effort to reassure competitors and spectators after bombs devastated the Boston race on Monday (click here for the latest update). Two explosions near the finish line of the Boston race…
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Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder still on active duty
PHUKET: A Phuket policeman charged with attempted murder after a violent attack on Valentine’s Day remains on active duty in Thalang, while police prepare their case for the prosecutor. Sen Sgt Maj Wichit Dada of the Thalang Police was charged with attempted murder after he was accused of restraining a teenager while his son threatened the teen with his father’s…
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TPL teams struggle against champions
PHUKET: Thailand’s two representatives in the AFC Champions League, Muang Thong United and Buriram United, are struggling to make it out of the competition’s group stages. Muang Thong’s form in the Champions League is the polar opposite of their five-game unbeaten start to the 2013 Thai Premier League (TPL) season. The current TPL champions are rooted to the bottom of…
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Chonburi top AFC qualifiers
PHUKET: Thailand’s Futsal Premier League (TFPL) champions, Chonburi Bluewave finished top of the AFC Futsal Club Championship 2013 Zone 2 Qualifiers. The Zone 2 qualifying groups comprised of ASEAN and East Asian teams, while Zone 1 has West, South and Central Asian teams. Zone 2 featured two groups, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semifinals.…
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Phuket Police pursuit nets drug suspect from fish pond
PHUKET: Phuket City Police in hot pursuit of a drug suspect yesterday finally arrested their man after hauling him out of a fish pond in Rassada.Police were alerted to the suspect when officers at a checkpoint on Palian Road in Phuket Town saw a new Toyota Vios, still bearing red license plates, pull over just short of the checkpoint at…
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Malaysian biker dies en route to Phuket Bike Week
PHUKET: A Malaysian biker died in a road accident in Phattalung yesterday afternoon while riding to Phuket to join Phuket Bike Week. Lt Boonthip Wunfai of the Khao Chaison Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning that the accident occurred on Petchkasem Road, the main highway from the southern Thai border to Bangkok, at about 2:30pm. Officers and rescue workers…
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Phuket Justice: Hope fades for finding Jintana’s executioners
PHUKET: Police officers’ hopes are dissipating as they once again turn to the public for help in finding the executioners of Jintana Mahattanapak, who was shot in the head on her way home from work in January. With leads running out earlier this year, police were banking on CCTV footage captured in the area to help identify the killers or…
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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