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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Cockfighting a gamble in Phuket
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world about Thailand, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: Initially reported by the Phuket Gazette on Monday, a raid on a cockfighting ring in Phuket on Sunday has caught the attention of online gambling journal ‘Gaming Zion’, which in a report filed last night looks…
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Rough seas off Phuket through Thursday
PHUKET: The Meteorological Department (MET) has issued a weather advisory warning of rough offshore conditions over the next two days. Issued at 4pm today from the MET headquarters in Bangkok, the warning calls for strong monsoonal conditions across the country, causing heavy seas in both the Andaman Ocean and Gulf of Thailand from today through Thursday. All shipping should proceed…
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Phuket students prevent suicide leap
PHUKET: A group of Satree Phuket School students were able to talk a troubled teenager out of committing suicide by jumping off the pedestrian footbridge near their school this morning. Satree Phuket 12th-grade student Nat Koeypoekaisan said he was walking over the footbridge that spans Thepkrasattri Road when he noticed the young woman climbing over the handrail, facing out over…
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FC Phuket 2 – Satun United 1
PHUKET: First-place FC Phuket won a key football match on Sunday, with a clutch 2-1 road win over second-place Satun United. Satun United, coming off a 1-0 win over Hatyai FC, were in high spirits for the match against FC Phuket, who won the first encounter played at Surakul Stadium in March by a score of 2-0. In second place…
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42 arrested at Phuket cockfight
PHUKET: Forty-two people were arrested and charged with gambling following a raid at a Phuket cockpit yesterday afternoon. The raid, led by Crime Suppression Division Area 5 Inspector Sitthikiat Srichan, came at 1:30pm at a rubber plantation area off Soi Suanwat in Rawai Village 1, behind Rawai Temple. Among those arrested were two women, one of whom was pregnant. All…
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‘Farang’ killed in motorbike crash on Patong Hill, Phuket
PHUKET: Police are trying to learn the identity of a Caucasian man killed early Sunday morning in a motorcycle accident on Phuket’s infamous Patong Hill road. Kathu Police Duty Officer Nitikorn Rawang received a report of the accident at 4am yesterday. Together with Kusoldharm Foundation workers he rushed to the scene at Kuan Yang curve on Phra Barami Road where…
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Dems in Phuket: unity sought, top cop consoled
PHUKET: During a Democrat Party seminar in Phuket over the weekend, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban urged fellow Democrat MPs from throughout the south to take a creative, friendly approach in trying to mend the fractious issues dividing the country. DPM Suthep was speaking at a party seminar entitled “Join Forces and Solve the National Crisis” at the Phuket Merlin…
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Thai jails swamped with inmates
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: The number of prisoners in Thailand’s 143 jails is now well over capacity, with more than 200,000 inmates around the country. About 60 per cent have been jailed for drug offences, Corrections Department chief Chartchai Suthiklom says. In…
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Phuket to stay green up top
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: Phuket’s Natural Resources and Environment department head Ong-art Chanachanmongkol has announced that the 80-metre height limit on new construction will remain in place, according to Property Report magazine. Some had speculated that the limit might be dropped on…
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PM Abhisit in Phuket for Democrat “Crisis Seminar’
PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived in Phuket yesterday evening ahead of the two-day Democrat Party “Crisis Seminar”, which got underway at the Merlin Beach Resort at Tri Trang Beach this morning. During his opening address, PM Abhisit reminded party members to “perform our duty with efficiency and in accordance with the law and the principles the spirit of the…
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Revitalized Phuket Town to boost tourism
PHUKET: Revitalization of Phuket Town’s Sino-Portuguese heritage was the topic of a seminar held by the Senate Tourism Committee on July 30, led by Phuket Senator Thanyarat Atchariyachai and Phuket City Municipality at the Metropole Hotel. Speaking at the seminar, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana explained that there were three major plans for the project. The first is to develop…
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Phuket “still life’ wins Wichit photo contest
WICHIT: Chusak Uthaipanumas has won the Wichit Municipality’s “Travel Thai Way in Wichit” photo contest for his outstanding photo Cheewit Haeng Sai Nam Mudong (Life of Mudong Canal). For first prize, Mr Chusak will receive 10,000 baht cash and a certificate of achievement. “I feel delighted. I often go to that area to shoot photos. This photo was taken around…
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Phuket eyes “huge’ medical tourism boom
PHUKET: Medical and healthcare providers on the island can expect to get a large slice of the 402.9 billion baht that the Ministry of Health (MoH) expects Thailand’s medical tourism industry to rake in over the next five years. Phuket Public Health Office Deputy Director Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch said, “Over the past five years, Phuket has enjoyed great success in…
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Phuket reservoir project stalled by red tape
PHUKET: Construction of the 5.7-million-cubic-meter Klong Krata reservoir in Chalong has stalled because the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has yet to approve a request to use a 60-rai plot needed for the project. According to Isara Anukul, chief of the water allocation division at Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office (PPIO), construction was planned to begin this year and…
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Over 7,000 alien workers deported from Phuket this year
PHUKET: Phuket is on track to set a record number of deportations of illegal workers this year, with at least 7,086 illegals having been deported from the province in 2010, according to the latest statistics from the Phuket Immigration Office. In 2009, 10,790 illegals were deported, preceded by 7,867 in 2008. Announcement of the figures comes on the heels of…
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Dems to hold “Crisis Seminar’ in Phuket this weekend
PHUKET: Leading Democrats and rank-and-file party members will attend a “crisis seminar” in Phuket this weekend. Democrat Party official spokesman Dr Buranaj Smutharaks announced the meeting on Tuesday, saying all Democrat party members “without exception” are expected to attend. The seminar, from Friday to Sunday, is entitled “Concentrating Energy to Solve the National Crisis”, Dr Buranaj said. The emphasis will…
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Phuket F&B Show starts Friday
PHUKET: The Phuket Food and Beverage Show will take place starting on Friday at Central Festival Phuket’s HomeWorks complex on the bypass road. The three-day event will feature a wide variety of events including contests and exhibitions in bartending, cooking, linen folding, wine butlering, ice carving and so on. The event, sponsored by Smirnoff vodka, will run from 11am to…
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Bt1m stolen from Phuket temple on Buddhist holiday
PHUKET: Thieves used yesterday’s Buddhist holiday to rob a Phuket temple of one million baht in cash and valuables, Siangtai Daily newspaper has reported. Monks at the well-known Rasadaram Temple, located off the bypass road in Rassada, reported the theft early yesterday evening. The burglary occurred in the monks’ cell area while they were attending a service that began at…
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‘New York City cop’ arrested on drug charges in Phuket
PHUKET: Police on Monday arrested two men caught smuggling some 8,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills onto the island at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint. Tah Chat Chai Police identified the suspects as 35-year-old Nonthaburi resident Wesarat Ninjamrat and his alleged accomplice Jad Jedklang, a 26-year-old from Nakhon Sri Thammarat. At the time of his arrest, at about 6pm, Mr Wesarat was…
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Trawler sinks off Phuket after collision with barge
PHUKET: In the latest marine mishap off Phuket, a crew of 12 fishermen were saved by another fishing boat after their trawler slammed into a sand barge off Wichit last night. Pol Sub-Lt of the Phuket Marine Police received a report of the accident at 7am. The 10-meter trawler Sri Thong Prae 4 from Ranong was cruising about 2 kilometers…
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Truck crash: Phuket power pole snapped in half
PHUKET: Two truck drivers emerged unscathed after a high-speed collision that snapped a power pole in two early this morning. The accident took place on Thepkrassatri Road southbound, in front of the Honda Marine showroom in Koh Kaew. The driver, who identified himself only as “Cha-oum”, said he slammed into the pole at about 3:30am. Mr Cha-oum said he had…
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MET issued flood warning for Phuket
PHUKET: Due to prevailing strong monsoonal conditions, the Meteorological Department (MET) has issued a flood warning to residents in risk areas of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong. Issued by the MET Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) at Phuket International Airport at 11am today, the warning states that residents in risk areas should be prepared for flooding and flash-flooding. It…
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Kids’ crash helmets selling like hot cakes in Phuket
PHUKET: There are only two days left to enjoy special discounts on children’s motorbike helmets on sale at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. The sale, which runs daily from 9am to 6pm, offers five different types of children’s helmets at prices ranging from just 180 baht to 280 baht. Each style is available in a wide variety of colors. Sunantha “Jae Taew”…
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Phuket Raceweek draws to wild close
PHUKET: Winds gusting up to 35 knots and driving rain drew the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek regatta to a dramatic close yesterday with two men being catapulted overboard and at least one boat being left with her mast in tatters. The racers received an early warning before the final day of racing after news spread yesterday morning that Stuart Williamson’s…
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Sunee’s murderer flees Phuket: police
PHUKET: Police have released images of the man they believe is responsible for stabbing Sunee Premprasert and then slitting her throat and leaving her to die in Thalang on Thursday. Tah Chat Chai Police duty officer Watcharin Jirattikarnwiwat told the Gazette this afternoon that police were continuing their investigation, but believe the suspect was no longer on the island. Ms…
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Phuket exhibit fit for a King
PHUKET: Residents and tourists alike flocked to Central Festival Phuket over the weekend to view the “Good Living under His Royal Kindness” exhibition, a tribute to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej organized by the Royal Thai Army. The exhibit, which ran Friday through Sunday, presented the public with information about His Majesty’s life and the countless Royal Patronage Projects he has…
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Warning to Phuket Tourists: Don’t swim!
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: Red flag warnings are in force along Phuket’s west coast beaches, several of which have achieved notoriety in recent years for scores of drownings and near-drownings during the monsoon season (May through October). Strong West/Southwesterly winds reaching speeds…
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Phuket bars closed for two days
PHUKET: All bars and nightlife entertainment venues on the island must close for the two-day Asarnha Bucha Day public holidays (today and tomorrow), Phuket Provincial Police have confirmed. A spokesperson in the Phuket Provincial Police planning section today confirmed that there will be a two-day ban on alcohol sales at all nightlife venues. Alcohol sales at retail establishments will remain…
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FC Phuket crush Chumphon FC, 5-1
PHUKET: Coming off a tough 2-0 home loss to Yala, Phuket’s proud new football club, FC Phuket, regrouped with a 5-1 win at home over hapless Chumphon FC yesterday. FC Phuket took the lead 18 minutes into play with a nice left-footed shot from in front of the goal by Sarach Yooyen. Some scrappy play ensued, with Thawin Butrsombat suffering…
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Miss Thailand World 2010 contestants grace Phuket
PHUKET: Thirty hopeful contestants in the Miss Thailand 2010 pageant paid a visit to the new OTOP outlet at Saphan Hin Friday morning, getting a warm welcome from Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising and fellow PPAO members. Located near the Mining Monument, the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) outlet is a PPAO project built in part of…
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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