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 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Chris McCormack to race at Laguna Phuket
PHUKET: Australian Chris “Macca” McCormack, the two-time Ironman World Champion and one of the most successful athletes in triathlon history, has signed up to compete in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 25 and Ironman 70.3 Laguna on December 2.Macca has won 200 races around the world since 1993 including 12 Ironman victories, more than any other male competitor,…
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Korean tourist survives gash in head from longtail propeller
PHUKET: A Korean tourist who was struck in the head by a longtail boat propeller while on a snorkeling trip off Koh Panyee is conscious and eating unassisted, staff at Phuket International Hospital told the Phuket Gazette this morning.Kang Chulgue, 30, was on a day trip with five other Korean tourists at the popular tourist site Tumlod-Khao Phing Kan, located…
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Eight injured as bus flips in heavy rain in Phang Nga
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: A tour bus en route from Phuket to Chumphon, north of Koh Samui on the Gulf of Thailand, slammed into a bridge guardrail and flipped onto its side in heavy rain in Phang Nga province late this afternoon.Lt Col Anan Kuaboonkaew of Takua Pa Police received a report of the accident at 5:30pm.“Eight of the 20 passengers…
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Koh Lanta officials blame turtle soup for “strange’ outbreak
PHUKET: Officials on Koh Lanta believe a sick hawksbill sea turtle was the cause of a mass poisoning that may have contributed to the death of a 61-year-old man and resulted in 43 other villagers being admitted to hospital. (Click here to see Phuket Breaking News report.) “Many people in the Urak Lawoi sea gypsy village on Koh Lanta Yai…
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One dead, 43 hospitalized after “strange’ outbreak on Koh Lanta
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: Officials on Koh Lanta in Krabi province are investigating the cause of an outbreak that has been blamed for one death so far, and has left 43 other villagers in hospital.Despite initial concerns the villagers had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease, officials are investigating whether it was a sick turtle that the villagers had eaten that…
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Phang Nga politician gunned down in broad daylight
PHUKET: While Phang Nga Immigration officers were busy rounding up the 112 Rohingya refugees who landed at Tai Muang on Saturday, police in the neighboring town of Khok Kloy were responding to a drive-by assassination of a leading local community figure. Lt Nakhon Tangruamsub of Khok Kloy Police told the Phuket Gazette that he received a report of a man…
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Thai authorities arrest 112 Rohingya after boat washes ashore in Phang Nga
PHUKET: Heavy seas on Saturday forced a boat loaded with 112 Rohingya, attempting the perilous journey to Malaysia, to land north of Phuket on Tai Muang beach in Phang Nga, where they were promptly arrested by the authorities. According to police the boat was part of a flotilla of seven boats ferrying over 1,000 Rohingya that departed their native Rakhine…
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Burst water main topples power pole in Phuket
PHUKET: A power pole that fell onto a house and injured a man in Phuket yesterday was unstable due to the water erosion caused by a burst water pipe, locals told the police. Police received the report of the incident at about 3pm and arrived to find power lines hanging on the ground near a freshly dug waterline trough on…
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Man injured as power pole falls on house
PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: A man was rushed to hospital for immediate treatment of injuries sustained yesterday when a power pole fell onto a house in Cherng Talay, on Phuket’s west coast, dragging live power cables down to the street.
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Earthquake Update: Reports from Myanmar say little damage, but one dead, several missing
PHUKET (Reuters): The major earthquake that shook Mandalay this morning, and was felt in Bangkok but apparently not Phuket, is likely to have caused limited damage to Myanmar’s second larget city, although one person has been reported dead and several construction workers are missing. The 6.6 magnitude quake struck around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of Mandalay, the U.S. Geological…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Thailand face Spain in round of 16
PHUKET: Hosts of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, Thailand, have reached a new benchmark by advancing to the second round of the prestigious tournament – for the first time in four appearances. A shock win by the Solomon Islands over Guatemala on the final day of the World Cup’s group stage proved to be a blessing for Thailand, who…
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Phuket Poll: Should Phuket fight for the right to party?
PHUKET: Paris Hilton’s announcement late last month that a two-day dance party will be held at Surin Beach to celebrate New Year 2013 has set the cat among the pigeons, sparking a debate over whether or not Phuket should host such large-scale events. The event, being organized by Sydictive Element, is hoping to bring 14 world-renowned DJs and artists to…
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Krabi Police reject YouTube rapist bail blame
PHUKET: The Krabi Provincial Police will post a YouTube video in response to the “Evil man in Krabi” music video that has caused a furore in Phuket’s sister tourism province across Phang Nga Bay. The news was announced at a press conference yesterday called by Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanon to answer publicly what action has been taken in the case.…
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Phuket Sports: Breaking free from the fear of choking
PHUKET: It’s been an eventful few weeks with Sumitra “Dear” Basnyat winning the inaugural Sugarpova contest and playing events in Bahrain and Bangkok. Sumitra concluded a major change with her equipment sponsor, which means for the next critical phase of her career we will be using and promoting Pacific racquets/grips and strings. Maria Sharapova launched her Sugarpova candy brand a…
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Phuket Sailing: Youth sailing club
PHUKET: It was a slow start to the day as sailors were greeted with blue skies and no wind. The morning was spent under the guidance of Akapoj Kankeaw (Tik) and Teerapong Tokratoak (Nu), both previous winners of the Phuket King’s Cup Optimist Regatta 2011, on racing tactics and boat tuning. After lunch, a steady breeze picked up, which provided…
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Phuket Sports: King’s Cup helps sports tourism
PHUKET: Recognized throughout the eastern hemisphere as the premier sailing event of its kind, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will once more put on a spectacular display of the finest sailing talent from around the world from December 1 to 8, 2012. In addition, the Regatta’s gravitas in attracting sailors from over 35 countries, and some of the fastest racing…
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Phuket incinerator struggling to cope with landfill, rising tide of trash
PHUKET: Phuket’s main landfill site on the outskirts of Phuket Town is a long way from disappearing, despite the new 960-million-baht incinerator working at near-capacity of 700 tons of trash a day. Prachum Suriya, chief of the Phuket City Municipality Environment Office, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette on Wednesday that the landfill site is “100 per cent full”. Earlier in…
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Brazil Ambassador announces Honorary Consul for Phuket
PHUKET: Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Cesar Meira de Vasconcellos was in Phuket this week to install Jiratha Thavornwongwong as the Brazilian Honorary Consul for Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi.At the Kata Beach Resort and Spa on Thursday, Ambassador Meira de Vasconcellos was joined by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai and host of other Phuket dignitaries. “I am very…
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Phuket wall collapse prompts buildings safety blitz
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has vowed to set up a task force to inspect building sites on hill slopes across the island in order to prevent any further incidents like the wall collapse that endangered the lives of a mother and child this week. Atchara Jutisen, 28, and her 3-month-old baby boy Attawat “Big” Chottantikul last Sunday escaped injury…
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International Cricket: Rain delays start of Aussie test
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sporting news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rain delays start in Australia-South Africa test Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Heavy rain at the Gabba prevented the second day of the first test between Australia and South Africa from getting underway today.South Africa had reached 255 for two in their first innings with Hashim Amla…
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Phuket hoteliers claim Paris Hilton party sparks B8mn in room cancellations
PHUKET: The hoteliers of eight resorts who have appealed to the Phuket Governor to not approve the huge Sydictive new year party at Surin Beach have claimed that just the announcement of the event by global celebrity Paris Hilton has already cost the resorts 8 million baht in room cancellations. Among the hoteliers chief concerns are the level of noise…
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Phuket friends to hold Chris Hart Memorial Football Tournament
PHUKET: Friends, coworkers and footballing colleagues of Chris Hart, who died tragically in a motorbike accident on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang on Tuesday night, are invited to attend a seven-a-side football tournament in his honor. Eric Haeg, who organized the event, to be held at Headstart School, wrote on his Facebook page: “Please feel free to attend even if you’re…
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Phuket-based hotel booking site sells for US$25mn
PHUKET: Blair Speers, founder of the Phuket-based hotel booking website HotelTravel.com, sold the company to Indian online travel agency (OTA) MakeMyTrip.com for US$25 million (over 760mn baht).Mr Speers, a resident of Phuket for the past 20 years, founded HotelTravel.com in 1999.MakeMyTrip.com reportedly paid US$15mn in both cash and shares upfront, with the remaining US$10mn to be paid in MakeMyTrip shares…
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New generation of rescue workers train up for marine incidents
PHUKET: A new generation of rescue workers and Phuket Marine Police received necessary training in marine search and rescue as part of their adaptation to the growing number of water related deaths on the island, said the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation President.Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation workers, who are more normally associated with the grisly business of saving lives on the roads, spent…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Thai fans keeping fingers crossed for Serbia/Russia win
PHUKET: With the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 preparing for its final four matches of the group stage tonight, local fans will be closely monitoring the results, which will have an impact on the fate of the Thailand national squad. Despite losing two of its three Group A matches, this year’s hosts, Thailand, may still advance to the second round…
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Phuket Sports: BIS tournament underway
PHUKET: British International School (BIS) kicked off its Phuket International 7-a-side Football Tournament this morning. The tournament is now in its 11th year and 23 schools from South Korea, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore brought with them a total of 88 teams. This morning started with a welcome from BIS Phuket’s headmaster Neil Richards before the first games,…
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Retired Swedish expat found hanged at Phuket shopping mall
PHUKET: Staff arrived at the HomePro Village in Chalong this morning to find a retired Swedish expat hanged from a drainpipe at the back of the complex. Sub Lt Kraisorn Boonprasob of the Chalong Police told the Phuket Gazette that he was notified of the discovery at 7:30am. “When we arrived, the wife of the man was already at the…
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World Sports: Update of action and news from across the globe
PHUKET: A round-up of the latest news from the world of sport for Phuket’s international community. Football – European footballInter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen cruised into the Europa League knockout stage with emphatic wins last night, but holders Atletico Madrid and former winners Liverpool suffered surprise defeats. Russia’s Rubin Kazan, Olympique Lyon, Hanover 96 and Metalist Kharkiv joined Bayer and…
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Phuket youth crime blitz nets 220 arrests for weapons, drugs charges
PHUKET: In a 12-day blitz on youth crime in Phuket Town, Phuket City Police arrested 220 people on drugs and weapons charges – and six youths for attempted murder after being caught in two separate gang sword fights at Saphan Hin.Phuket City Police chief Col Sermphan Sirikong told the Phuket Gazette today that the campaign began on October 25 and…
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Phuket Sport: Jones Lang LaSalle Cricket league launched
PHUKET: The Jones Lang LaSalle Cricket League was launched last Sunday, complementing a fun family day at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG). Teams with players representing the Southern and Northern hemispheres, as well as the Subcontinent vied for the inaugural 10 over tri-series crown. The first match of the round robin structured tourney set the pace for the day, with…
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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