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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5 best wine bars in Bangkok offering rich and quality wine
It’s wine o’clock! Whether you’re all about fruity reds, sweet whites, or funky naturals, Bangkok has many great spots to sip your favourite varieties. But with an array of options to choose from, and the constant rise and fall of...
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Two Phuket motorcyclists die in separate accidents
PHUKET: The deadly stretch of Thepkrasattri Road that runs through the northern Phuket village of Kor En claimed another life before dawn today after months of no serious accidents. An unidentified man was riding in the northbound lane at about 3am when he lost control of his motorbike and hit a pole, breaking his neck. When Tah Chat Chai Police…
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Phuket Immigration arrests French chef for alleged rape of disabled woman
PHUKET: A French chef working in Phuket’s premier party town, Patong, was arrested yesterday for the alleged rape of a disabled woman in his home country in 2004.Christopher Pierre Verdino, 28, slipped into Thailand in 2007 three years after French authorities issued an arrest warrant. His exact whereabouts became known to the French Embassy in Bangkok after he made a…
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171 Rohingya refugees arrested north of Phuket
PHUKET: The flow of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar continues unabated with Border Patrol Police in Phang Nga, the province immediately north of Phuket, today taking into custody two boats carrying 171 Rohingya men, women and children. Today’s apprehension follows 73 Rohingya being arrested off the southern coast of Phuket on January 1. Those refugees were subsequently deported back to Myanmar (story…
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Thailand Futsal League: Phuket United edge Si Saket
PHUKET: The island’s pro indoor soccer club Phuket United came from behind to beat Sripatum Sunrise Si Saket Futsal Club 4-3 in a fantastic and exciting match in Phuket Town last night. Played in front of an energetic crowd of about 1,000 fans at Phuket’s 4,000-seat Indoor Sport Complex in Saphan Hin, the match was Phuket’s seventh home match of…
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Newborn baby’s body found dumped in Phuket trash heap
PHUKET: Police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby girl whose body was found dumped in a garbage heap in Wichit yesterday.A woman collecting recyclables discovered the three-day-old’s body stuffed into a rubbish bag among a heap of trash along Chao Fa West Road, said Sub Lt Suporn Muangkai of the Wichit Police.“Wan Rattanawilai, 57, told us that…
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World Sports: Arsenal and Man United sneak FA Cup wins; EPL update
Arsenal and Man United sneak FA Cup replay wins Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Jack Wilshere’s late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay win over Swansea City and Manchester United also progressed with a 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday. Arsenal wasted a hatful of good chances before sealing the win over Swansea thanks to…
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Dutch tourist autopsy results from Bangkok expected next week: Phuket Police
PHUKET: Police yesterday morning confirmed that the body of 26-year-old Dutch tourist Stephan Buczynski had been sent to Bangkok for an autopsy. Mr Buczynski was last seen by his fellow Dutch travel companion on Saturday night. His body was found floating off the north end of Patong Beach early the next morning (story here). “The body was sent to the…
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Live Wire: Phuket’s Internet options
PHUKET: As many of you know, I am in the process of moving. Sometime in the next month or so, I’ll be moving from a Patong townhouse – where I’ve lived for the past 12 years – to a modest housing development in Kathu, near Loch Palm Golf Course. For most of you, moving is a massive pain. For people…
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World Sports: Armstrong confesses to drug taking – USA Today
Lance Armstrong confronts doping charges in interview Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Lance Armstrong could be jailed and cycling could be dropped from the Olympics as a result of the disgraced American athlete’s reported admission that he had used performance-enhancing drugs during his racing career. USA Today and other media said on Monday that Armstrong confessed to the doping in…
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Phuket First Person: Taxi greed still in driver’s seat – Iain Barnes
British tourist Iain Barnes arrived in Phuket to begin his dream of traveling to Asia while in his twenties – he turns 30 on January 19.Here, at the start of his trip, Iain describes his “welcome” to Phuket from the taxi touts stationed at the Phuket International Airport.PHUKET: The scene at the airport was bedlam. The taxi drivers were grabbing…
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Phuket Island View: Deporting Rohingya only feeds traffickers – Phil Robertson
PHUKET: The Rohingya refugees rescued off of Phuket on January 1 reportedly requested to be sent back to Myanmar, according to Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut.Since Thai authorities systematically deny access to detained Rohingya for humanitarians, NGOs and journalists, it’s impossible to actually know what the Rohingya told the officials, but you can bet they were not given much choice in…
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Swiss tourist dies after being pulled from Phuket waters
PHUKET: Police are waiting for doctors to confirm whether or not a 75-year-old Swiss man pulled from the water at Patong Beach yesterday afternoon died from drowning or other – more natural – causes. Staff at Patong Hospital notified Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Pratuang Polmana of the man’s death at about 4:15pm. Police named the man as Thomas Nebel, 75.…
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Monk defrocked after robbing Phuket “money tree’
PHUKET: A monk chose to be defrocked at the main temple in Phuket Town, Wat Wichit Sangkharam, this afternoon after being caught stealing a temple donation “money tree” and running off with 1,000 baht in cash. Wichit Police were alerted to the theft at 11:30am after local residents near Wat Nakaram (click map here) reported a monk absconding with a…
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Phuket metered taxis still under the gun
PHUKET: A spat between “regular” taxi drivers and a metered taxi driver broke out in Patong on December 26, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two groups. The Patong taxi drivers accused the metered taxi driver of trying to pick up a fare from the street while on “their turf”, when all he allegedly did was provide directions to a…
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Hong Kong tourist dies in Phuket ICU after “mysterious’ swimming incident
UPDATE: Since this story was posted online, staff at Bangkok Hospital Phuket have confirmed that Mr Lai has died in the hospital’s ICU. “We cannot release any details as per the family’s request,” the staffer said. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa staff confirmed they have been notified of Mr Lai’s death. “We are still working with the police in…
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Hundreds of Rohingya refugees offshore north of Phuket
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has confirmed reports of hundreds of Rohingya in open boats in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga, just north of Phuket. The news comes as thousands of ethnic Rohingya flee the violence in Myanmar. “We have heard there are about nine boats containing hundreds of Rohingya, but they have yet to land anywhere along the coast,”…
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Phuket Futsal: Andaman Pearl suffer shark attack
PHUKET: Top of the table Chonburi GH Bank ABAC were too strong for a spirited Phuket United, with the Andaman Pearl losing at home 3-2 last Saturday night.The high tempo match – the 14th match of the GMM Sport Thailand Futsal Premier League 2012-2013 season – was played in front of about 1,200 vocal supporters at the Saphan Hin Indoor…
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Phuket Police to order Bangkok autopsy for Dutch tourist
PHUKET: Police investigating the death of a Dutch tourist whose body was discovered floating off Patong Beach yesterday will send the man’s body to Bangkok for an autopsy in order to identify the cause of death.The body of Stephan Buczynski, 26, was discovered at about 9:30am by a tourist riding a jet-ski some 500 meters offshore from the north end…
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Phuket beach turf war leaves car gutted by flames
PHUKET: Phuket police believe a Honda Jazz belonging to a beachfront seafood restaurant owner was maliciously set ablaze last night as part of an ongoing conflict between vendors in the Surin Beach area. Police declined to name the owner of the car for safety reasons. The owner parked the car in front of the restaurant at about 3pm yesterday. Just…
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World Sports Watch: Man Utd & City put pretenders in place; Euro round-up
Dominant United and City beat pretend pretenders Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Premier League leaders Manchester United and second-placed champions Manchester City put former English heavyweights Liverpool and Arsenal firmly in their place yesterday with United’s Robin van Persie again on song. United sealed a needlessly nervy 2-1 home win over eighth-placed Liverpool to maintain their seven-point lead after Van…
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A heart lost in Seoul: an English professor struggles with life after love in Phuket
SPECIAL REPORTPHUKET: In a cautionary, age old island tale, one known by many jaded and broken-hearted men on Phuket, Barry (not his real name) fell in love with a young Thai bar girl. “It was early Spring, 2010, almost three years ago. Her name was Liz (not real name). I fell madly in love with this girl. Each second apart…
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Blockade-sparked tour counter blitz, ‘well received’
PHUKET: A blockade of the Karon beachfront road by tuk-tuk and taxi drivers has sparked a police blitz on all tour counters in the area using Russian nationals to sell tours. So far the blitz has been “well received”, Karon Police Deputy Superintendent Narong Laksanawimon told the Gazette on Wednesday. The tour counters allegedly specializing in Russian services were individually…
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Royal Thai Police parade highlights Phuket, Pattaya tourism-safety campaign
PHUKET: Royal Thai Police stormed Phuket’s party street, Soi Bangla, with an 800 officer strong parade yesterday to highlight a 30-day safety campaign aimed at slashing the criminal activity in Phuket and Pattaya. “We expect the 30-day project to decrease the criminal activity in Phuket by 50 per cent, and significantly increase how safe tourists feel on our island,” Phuket…
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Love sick member of the Royal Thai Navy found hanged in Phuket
PHUKET: A member the Thai Royal Navy was found hanged in his Phuket garage, just days after he discovered his girlfriend was having an affair.The body of Wanchai Sripangmol, 23, was found hanging from a rafter in his Kathu garage by his parents yesterday morning.“He took leave over New Year to visit his girlfriend in Kalasin Province only to find…
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Phuket Sports: Julian Seal’s journey passing the baton
PHUKET: Julian Seal is a man on a mission. Inspired originally by “Met Track”, a London Metropolitan police initiative to get disaffected teenagers off the streets by using sport, his enthusiasm was galvanized by the success of the 2012 Olympic Games, and the inspiring way in which it showed how sport can foster not only excellence, but can instill in…
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No one seriously injured in Children’s Day car crash
PHUKET: A single car crash on the bypass road is slowing down morning traffic on Children’s Day (today) as Phuket commuters and others pause to look at the wreckage. The driver, sitting stiffly on the slope of the ditch where his Suzuki Swift came to its final rest, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that he was “okay”, given the circumstances.…
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Phuket Police have balls, promise to be gentle with ticket sales
PHUKET: The Karon Police do have balls, but heavy-handed tactics in selling the tickets will stop, the Karon acting police chief confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. The news follows a mob of angry residents in the popular Phuket tourist area of Karon Beach gathering at the newly-established Karon Police Station yesterday. Their complaint: the “strong tactics” used to sell…
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Phuket Sports: Bay Regatta back in style
PHUKET: THE Bay Regatta, formerly known as the Phang Nga Bay Regatta, will take place January 30 to February 3. The popular sailing event takes in the scenic cruising grounds around Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. The event is organized by Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) and is expected to attract around 40 boats this year. The racing is split…
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Phuket Sports: Phuket FC flies in Dudu for new season
PHUKET: Phuket FC has signed 25-year-old Brazilian striker Luiz Eduardo Porcino, better known as “Dudu”, from Osotspa FC. Dudu scored 10 goals in 28 games for Buriram PEA FC in 2010.“We told Dudu that if he plays in the Thai Premier League there will be strong competition with footballers of his caliber. But if he joins us in Phuket and…
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Phuket Sports: Andaman Pearl continue to shine
PHUKET: The Andaman Pearl’s last away game against CAT FC at Grand Sport Park, Bangkok, was played without their head coach issuing instructions from the sidelines. Suphol Senapeng was admitted to hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning suffering from a severe stomach ache. Phuket United used coach Suphol’s absence as an added incentive to continue their fine form…
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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