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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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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Chinese firm interested in light rail project for Phuket
PHUKET: Representatives of a mainland Chinese construction conglomerate paid a visit to the Phuket Governor today to discuss the possibility of building a light-rail public transport system for Phuket. Francis Soo of Ershisanye Construction Group met Gov Wichai Phraisa-ngop at Provincial Hall this morning to express his firm’s interest. Founded in 1953, Ershisanye is engaged in construction engineering, mining development…
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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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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 beach deaths: Airlines, airport could help cut the toll
PHUKET: The full onset of this year’s monsoon season has brought with it a sadly predictable rise in the number of drowning deaths, most among foreign tourists who ignored not only the red warning flags, but also, in some cases, verbal warnings from lifeguards about the dangers. The latest casualty was a Romanian tourist who, like so many before him,…
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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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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 reservoir projects get green light
PHUKET: Work is set to go ahead on increasing the capacity of Bang Wad Reservoir by 3 million cubic meters after Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office (PPIO) Director Weerawat Aungsupanith and Kathu Mayor Chaianan Suthikul yesterday at Phuket Provincial Hall. Mr Weerawat told the Gazette that the 300-million-baht project will be…
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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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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 Police arrest 15 for alcohol ban violations in Patong
PHUKET: Fifteen people were arrested for selling alcohol at bars and restaurants in Patong on the Khao Pansa Buddhist holiday on Tuesday. Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Praya Chansomwong ordered police to be on the lookout for violators of the alcohol ban that was in effect on Monday and Tuesday, according to a report in the local Thai-language press. Violators 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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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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National census underway in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s national census-taking in now underway in Phuket, which is the first province where the data collection is taking place.Phuket Provincial Statistical Office (PPSO) chief Yuthachai Apichaicharnkit said the census, held every ten years, was initially slated to begin nationwide on July 1, but had to be postponed to September 1 due to the civil unrest in Bangkok in…
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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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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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Children of murdered bar hostess to receive scholarship funds
PHUKET: The two young children of Wanphen Pienjai, the Phuket bar hostess murdered by American Ron Fanelli, have been accepted into the Scholarship Program of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCPB) and will receive financial support on an ongoing basis. Meanwhile, Wanphen’s mother, Sa-ard Maliwan, 59, has told the Phuket Gazette that she gave 5,000 baht of the 20,000…
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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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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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Manhunt for Phuket maid murderer
PHUKET: Police say they know the identity of the man who stabbed a house maid to death at a luxury home Thalang last week and expect to make an arrest “soon”. The murder was reported to Tah Chat Chai Police on Thursday night by 50-year-old Khwanjai Aroonjareornkul, owner of the luxury home near the border to Sirinath National Park where…
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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…
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Katsu blazes into Phuket Raceweek lead
PHUKET: After trailing Scott Duncanson’s Quantum Fusion M on the opening day of racing in the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek regatta on Thursday, Ben Copley’s Katsu fought back with two first-place finishes yesterday to take the lead in the IRC1 class. Quantum Fusion M placed second and third in yesterday’s two races in the class to hold second place overall…
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Greater Phuket: Phang Nga hit by tough new zoning law
PHUKET: New ministerial regulations covering booming west coast areas in the south of Phang Nga aim to slow the number or new large-scale hotel and residential developments being built on prime oceanfront land in the area. Areas affected by the new regulations include parts of Khok Kloy in Takua Thung District, just across the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket, as well…
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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