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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Tsunami warning does not include Thailand
THAILAND: The Thai Meteorological Department, which runs the National Disaster Warning Center in Nonthaburi, has not issued a tsunami warning – or even a preliminary tsunami warning (advising that a tsunami may strike Thailand) – on its website following major earthquakes in Indonesia and Japan this morning. The US Geological Survey (USGS) Department on its website reports that the earthquake…
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Memorial service for One-Two-Go victims
MAI KHAO: To mark the one-year anniversary of the One-Two-Go flight OG 269 tragedy and to honor its victims, there will be a memorial service on Mai Khao Beach, near the end of the runway, at 3 pm on Tuesday, September 16. Some spirit houses have already been installed at the service site, and Christy Sweet will be putting one…
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Samak’s out, but PAD protests to continue in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Despite the Constitution Court today ordering Samak Sundaravej to resign his post as prime minister, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in Phuket will continue to protest at Saphan Hin to add pressure on the coalition government to step down.PAD Phuket leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “The PAD will not leave Saphan Hin. Although Samak and his…
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PM Samak forced to step down
Bangkok (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has lost his post and his cabinet will function as a caretaker cabinet following this afternoon’s Constitution Court verdict that the PM is guilty of violating the nation’s charter. Six judges considered Samak to be the “employee” while three others considered him a “business partner” of a TV studio, a constitutional offence in…
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7-Eleven robbers make a clean getaway
PHUKET CITY: Police are still searching for reliable leads that may result in the arrest of two men who held up the 7-Eleven store opposite Prompan shopping center on Chao Fa West Rd on Sunday. Phuket City Police received a call reporting the robbery around 2 am. The caller told police that two armed men in full-face helmets had stolen…
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Samak’s Judgement Day
BANGKOK (Gazette/Nation News Pool): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s fate will be decided this afternoon when the Constitution Court rules on whether he violated the charter by hosting commercial television shows while in office. The court, led by President Chat Chonlaworn, is scheduled to read its verdict at 2pm. If Samak is found guilty, he will have to step down. The…
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Students take to the streets
PHUKET: Thousands of flag-waving students led by about 100 youths on motorcycles began an anti-government protest march from Provincial Hall to Sapan Hin at about 9:30 this morning. Traffic delays are expected as the kilometer-long procession marches along Narisorn Rd towards Phuket City center. The protest is expected to be peaceful. The mood among the protesters is upbeat and police…
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Met warns of floods, landslides
BANGKOK (Nation, Gazette): Phuket is among seven provinces for which warnings of heavy rains and possible flash flooding today and tomorrow were issued by the Meteorological Department earlier this morning. In its forecast, issued at 4 am, the department said a low-pressure ridge over the central, eastern and lower northeastern regions coupled with the influence of the southwest monsoon would…
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Ya bah busts: 5 arrested, 1,453 pills of ya bah seized
PHUKET CITY: Police arrested five men and seized 1,453 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills and two firearms in a series of arrests starting early Thursday morning. Seeing two men busy repairing motorcycles in front of their home in Srisuchart Grandview Village in Rassada at 3:30 am, traffic police searched Theerawat Toh-Mad, 26, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, and Surasak Anantakan, 25, from…
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Politicians viewed with increasing disdain
BANGKOK (The Nation): The political situation in Thailand is boring, plagued by problems and has no solution in sight. That is the assessment of 60 per cent of the people surveyed across the country by a Suan Dusit Poll released yesterday. The opinion survey was an attempt to glimpse what people are thinking about the political turmoil. Politicians are viewed…
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Floods in Chalong and Patong
PHUKET: Heavy rains since this morning have caused flooding at many locales around the island, causing long tailbacks along major roads and damage to shops inundated with water. Patong suffered minor floods this morning before the rain stopped to give the resort town a midday reprieve, but the skies opened again this afternoon and brought more flooding. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi…
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Park chiefs hamper Navy plans for emergency helipads
PHUKET CITY: The Royal Thai Navy’s Third Fleet wants to build a network of helicopter landing pads on outlying islands so that tourists needing emergency medical treatment can be brought back to Phuket faster. Rear-Admiral Supot Pruksa of the Third Naval Area Command announced the initiative yesterday following his opening address at a two-day maritime safety meeting attended by 60 naval officers…
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All quiet at Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: The scene at Phuket Provincial Hall remained quiet late this morning, despite Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s announcement earlier that he would not step down – as many had expected – to ease political tensions throughout the country.Just before noon there were only about 10 members of the Phuket Watch group, a local affiliate of the Peoples’ Alliance for…
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Gov’t to organise referendum
BANGKOK (The Nation): In a bid to find ways to solve the ongoing political chaos, the Samak government agreed this morning to conduct a “public referendum”, Culture Minister Somsak Kietsuranond announced this afternoon.He quoted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej as saying that the referendum is the best solution to the problem.The decision was made at a special cabinet meeting conducted this…
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PM Samak still stonewalling
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted in an address to the nation on Radio Thailand this morning that he would not step down, quashing widespread expectations that he would finally resign.Samak has been driven into a tight corner, suffering two blows in a row yesterday. The first came when Army chief Anupong Paochinda told him that the military would not…
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PAD to leave Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: Encouraged by recent developments in the capital, local members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) say they will end their protest at Phuket Provincial Hall today. Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “The government ordered a state of emergency in Bangkok, but the Thai military refused to disperse the protesters. This refusal of the military…
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Pian keeps digging for Patong tunnel
PATONG: Pian Keesin, the recently re-elected Mayor of Patong, yesterday announced he will continue with his plan to build a tunnel under the hills separating the popular beach resort town from Phuket City.“We plan to set up a budget to study and research the impact of building a tunnel, in the hope that – if there are no objections –…
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Highways Office chief told to speed up Chalong Circle removal
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima has told Saroj Suwinchai, the chief of the Phuket Provincial Highways Office, and Paiboon Upatising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), to get going on removing Chalong Circle.At the monthly Governor Meets Press meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday, V/Gov Worapoj said, “It’s too old and not attractive for people who pass by…
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Phuket ICT a “no show” at Chinese expo
PHUKET: The project to have representatives from Phuket businesses and other organizations promote Phuket’s information and communications technology (ICT) prowess at the 5th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, next month has failed due to lack of interest. The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) aimed to run 69 presentation booths at the event (click here for earlier report).…
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Japanese tourists cancel trips to Phuket
PHUKET: More than half of the Japanese tourists who planned to visit Phuket over the next week have canceled their bookings due to concerns over political unrest in Thailand.Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Chirayus yesterday told the Gazette that despite the reopening of Phuket International Airport on Sunday, there have been many cancellations among foreign tour groups. Cancellation rates…
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State of Emergency announced in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej this morning announced a state of emergency in Bangkok, following a clash between the pro and anti-government supporters at about 1:30 am.Reasoning that some groups of people caused disturbances in Bangkok that affect peace and security, Samak announced the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.The prime minister’s order…
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Lost in Transit: airport closure cost B250m a day
PHUKET AIRPORT: Losses of an estimated 250 million baht per day have been reported to an ad-hoc committee set up to monitor and control safety at Phuket International Airport following the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) anti-government protests. Phuket International Airport was closed at 4:50 pm on Friday and did not re-open until 11 am yesterday. Marking the return to…
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“Bang Hem’ wins Pa Khlok OrBorTor presidency
PA KHLOK: In unofficial results of balloting held yesterday, Athipong Khongnam defeated incumbent Panya Samphaorat by 261 votes to win the presidency of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Turnout saw 6,307 of the sub-district’s 8,131 eligible voters (77.6 %) making it to the six polling stations, which were open from 8 am to 3 pm. Voters also cast…
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Airport closure work of infiltrators: Phuket PAD
PHUKET CITY: In a stunning development, the Phuket chapter of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its affiliate Phuket Watch have denied involvement in the violence and forced closure of Phuket International Airport that left thousands of tourists stranded over the weekend. At a press conference at the Phuket office of Manager newspaper today, Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup…
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Phuket Airport reopens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport has re-opened, two days after protesters stormed the facility, forcing it to close.Although there are still protestors at the gate to the facility, the first flight is expected to land within the next 15 minutes. More than 1,000 People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters on Friday overran the main gate. Some parts of the main terminal were damaged,…
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Phuket Airport still locked down
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport continues closed. An airport official who asked not to be named told the Gazette this this morning that although the furor of the protesters has abated somewhat, the mob’s dedication to keeping the airport closed remains firm.The same trusted source notes that it is not possible for airport management to make an estimate as to when the facility might be open again.The number of outbound…
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Phuket Airport remains shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as the People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that…
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Phuket International Airport still shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that no…
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PAD PROTEST: Airport runway clear, but still no flights
PHUKET AIRPORT: Police have persuaded protesters to leave the runway at Phuket International Airport, the Gazette has learned.Protesters left the landing strip on the agreement from airport officials that flights would not resume until their demands had been met.
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PAD PROTEST: Phuket Airport overrun, runways blocked
PHUKET AIRPORT: At about 4:45 pm today, People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters breached the main gate at Phuket International Airport, made their way into the main terminal and smashed the windows of the VIP lounge. Several hundred protesters stormed the runways and airport officials have ordered a halt to all air traffic. Police have been called in from around…
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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