Phuket News
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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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Phuket Poll: Let us pay, not run for visas, expats say
PHUKET: More than half of all respondents to a Phuket Gazette online poll have voted for options other than making the obligatory, and often dangerous, visa runs that are required every 30 to 90 days in order to continue their stay in Thailand. Nearly a quarter of all respondents, including Thai nationals, preferred foreigners to present themselves to the Phuket…
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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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Phuket motorists in three death-defying accidents in one day
PHUKET: With the tourism high season fast approaching and Phuket’s roads about to become much busier, several Phuket motorists managed to escape death in three separate serious accidents all occurring within 18 hours. The most recent was a collision between a tour van and a six-wheeled dirt truck on the Patong-Kamala road at about 11:30am today. Capt Jakkapong Luang-aon of…
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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 Sports: English Premier League review and look ahead
PHUKET: Robin Van Persie scored his 10th league goal of the season against his former team, Arsenal, to help send Manchester United on their way to a comfortable 2-1 win. On this showing, Arsenal have a long way to go if they want to be taken seriously as title contenders. The sending off of Jack Wilshere for two yellow cards…
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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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Krabi Tourism chief blames police rape case cover-up for tourism backlash
PHUKET: The president of the Krabi Tourism Association has criticized the police for their handling of a rape case, accusing the local authorities of a failed cover-up that has now backfired and is costing local resorts lost revenues through booking cancellations by tourists.The news follows the posting online of a YouTube music video called “Evil man from Krabi”. The video,…
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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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Baby elephant DNA results finally revealed
PHUKET: After months of silence, the DNA results needed to determine the legality of three baby elephants seized in raids on Phuket in February have been released for two of the three young pachyderms, while one’s fate is still undetermined. The DNA results for the baby elephant seized from the Phu Thai Souvenir Market in Chalong proved that it was…
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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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Work on Phuket’s B600mn underpass to start November 21
PHUKET: The leading engineer heading the project to build Phuket’s first underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection, located in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, today confirmed that work will commence on November 21. Speaking at a meeting at the Phuket Highways Office in Phuket Town this morning, Itiwatra Kritsanavanich said that the inside lanes on the north side…
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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…
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Phuket Sport PSS Academy host local tournament
PHUKET: The Phuket Soccer Schools (PSS) Academy Program welcomed Kajonkiet FC, Bang Jo and a Thalang team to Thanyaura Sports and Leisure Club for a three-team training tournament on Saturday. The PSS Under-8 team played two matches against Bang Jo. In the first game, the U8s went 1-0 up with a goal by Daniel C, but were pegged back by…
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Phuket Andaman Culture Festival deferred until December
PHUKET: The deputy chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Department Sophon Kiemkarn today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Andaman Culture Festival, which was due to start tomorrow, has been postponed until December. “We have yet to be informed of the exact dates when the festival will be held,” Mr Sophon told the Gazette. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck…
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Phuket Sports: F1 – Gremlins, graunches, gruffness, grit and glory
PHUKET: After qualifying the script for the Abu Dhabi race was clear; Lewis Hamilton would coast around to win. Sebastian Vettel, starting at the back would make no impression; Fernando Alonso would take his customary third, while Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button would take some good points. It would be boring, but could open up both championships. I had fortified…
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Governor urges prompt completion of Phuket mangrove flyover
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday urged officials to complete the Klong Koh Pee flyover, which will traverse 600 meters of protected mangrove forest on the border of Phuket Town, as quickly as possible.During an inspection visit to the site at Saphan Hin, officials told Governor Maitri that Cabinet had approved a budget of 170-million-baht for the project and that…
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Phuket Sports: IronKids by the kids
PHUKET: In the build up to IronKids 2012 on December 1, the Phuket Gazette interviewed six participants who will be featured throughout November. The first IronKid is 13-year-old Malaysian, Zoe Bowden. Phuket Gazette:Why are you competing in the IronKids competition?Zoe Bowden: To meet new people, to learn from others and also to have some exposure.Every time you go for a…
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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