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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Funeral held for soldiers
RAWAI: Friends of Australian Jason Gerrard Flynn and James Plunkett Howe from the UK, whose bodies were discovered at a guesthouse in Rawai on July 28, attended a Buddhist funeral ceremony for both men on Sunday at Wat Sawang Arom temple in Rawai.The ex-servicemen were in their early 30s. They died unexpectedly overnight after celebrating during their last few days…
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Bangkok prisoner’s cell phone orders prompt Phuket drug raid
PHUKET: A man incarcerated on drug charges at Klong Prem Central prison in Bangkok managed to order a bus to transport 3,000 ya bah (methamphetamines) pills to his son in Phuket from his prison cell. However, not everything went according to plan for the father-son duo.The Phuket Provincial Police drug suppression unit discovered 2,893 of the pills when they raided three…
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OrBorJor targets bus service, hotel tax issue
PHUKET CITY: New projects launched by the new Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) include persuading more hotel owners to pay the controversial 1% hotel room tax and improving the OrBorJor bus service in and around Phuket City. OrBorJor President Paiboon Upatising told the Gazette the initiatives fall under the OrBorJor policy to improve public services and promote tourism in the…
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Truck crash on Patong Hill
PATONG: This 6-wheel Hino flatbed truck, which lost control on Phrabarami Rd in Patong at about 4 pm Wednesday afternoon, finally came to rest when it hit an electric power pylon.Under questioning at Kathu Police Station, the uninjured driver said his brakes failed.Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark was first at the scene, directing traffic by himself while a tow…
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Healthy growth for local television
PHUKET: After recently extending its network from local provincial cable and the Web, where PGTV appears as Number One in Google under the prime search term “Phuket Television”, the Phuket Gazette’s daily English-language television content has now been added in healthy doses to all patient rooms at Phuket International Hospital, and to the 15-inch touch-screen monitors on all of the…
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Labor camp raided near Mai Khao
TAH CHAT CHAI: Some 50 police and local villagers raided a laborers’ camp beside a construction site near Mai Khao Beach Tuesday morning, taking into custody 82 male workers on charges of illegal entry into the Kingdom. As is commonly the case when such raids take place in Phuket, no employer was found or charged. Pol Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduong…
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OrBorJor back in charge at Chalong Pier
CHALONG: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) was on August 1 back at the helm running operations at Chalong Pier after cutting ties with Chokaree Tour Co Ltd, the company previously enlisted to collect berthing fees and run the pier on the OrBorJor‘s behalf. A team led by OrBorJor Vice-President Chaowalit Na Nakorn visited the pier on August 1 to…
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Cypriot MP calls on Gov Niran
PHUKET CITY: Cypriot MP and European Parliament Member Marios Matsakis on August 1 met with top Phuket officials to follow up on Phuket’s progress in disaster prevention measures since the 2004 tsunami. Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit and Chotnarin Kerdsom, chief of the Department of Disaster Mitigation and Prevention (DDPM-Phuket), were both on hand to brief him. Mr Matsakis, who is…
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Elderly Belgian hospitalized after roadside incident
PHUKET CITY: A morning cycle ride turned into a nightmare for a 68-year-old Belgian expat who was hospitalized after allegedly being knocked off his bicycle by a pickup truck and then set upon by the driver. Paul Cassiens was cycling along Chao Fa West Rd yesterday morning when at 6:30 am his bike came into contact with a bronze Toyota…
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Yachting events giant acquires PIMEX
PHUKET: World-class yachting events organizer Informa Yacht Group has acquired the Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX), adding Phuket’s premier boating exposition to its calendar of international yachting events.The announcement was made at a press conference at Royal Phuket Marina today, attended by more than 100 press and VIPs, to announce the opening of the new Royal Phuket Marina Exhibition and…
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Backlund murder trial enters final days
PHUKET: The final hearing of witnesses in the Hanna Backlund murder trial will be held this Friday, Phuket Provincial Court Registrar Sittipong Engchuan told the Gazette today.Akaradech Tongay is accused of stabbing Ms Backlund to death in broad daylight at Mai Khao Beach on March 15.He will be given a final chance to add to his confession and Pol Lt Col Somkit…
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PAD rallies to continue in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Local members of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will continue their evening gatherings at Saphan Hin even though Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, wife of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was found guilty of tax evasion in court on Thursday.Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “We will only stop protesting if the Bangkok protests stop.”While the PAD…
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Phuket-bound tourists stranded in Bangkok
PHUKET: Now that One-Two-Go and Nok Air have stopped flying to Phuket, many tourists are unable to find flights to our southern isle.Angry Finnish tourist Arto Tiitinen called from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok this morning to inform the Gazette that many other irate Phuket-bound tourists were awaiting standby flights.“I’m surprised that there are not extra flights; now my family must holiday elsewhere.…
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Land brokers in murder-suicide
THALANG: A local land broker shot dead his female business partner and then turned the gun on himself in a murder-suicide last Sunday.The incident occurred at Manas House rented apartments on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn.After the owner of the apartment block heard gunshots, he called the police, who arrived at the scene about 5 pm, Pol Maj Prakob Boonkwun told the Gazette.The…
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Soldiers of fortune found dead in Rawai
RAWAI: Two men who worked for a “security” company in Iraq died from suspected drug overdoses in Rawai on Monday while on holiday in Phuket.Australian ex-soldier Jason Gerrard Flynn, 32, from Perth, and James Plunkett Howe, 34, from the UK, were staying in Soi Sammakkee 2 with their Australian friend Mark Leo, who discovered their bodies on Monday morning.“Both of…
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Police Deputy Commissioner opens new Immigration building
PHUKET CITY: Gen Wiroj Phahonwet, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, arrived in Phuket to lead the opening ceremony of the new Immigration offices at Saphan Hin on Tuesday morning.The three-story building, which sits on 341 square meters of land, was built at a cost of just over 12 million baht.At 9:09 am, the ceremony started with a troupe…
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“Wave watcher’ may predict tsunamis
PHUKET: An automatic weather station to be installed on Koh Racha Noi will also measure wave and tidal movements, which may be able to help warn against impending tsunamis.The proposal has been approved by the Royal Thai Navy and the Town & Country Planning Department, though the budget required has yet to be determined, said Chumnong Chitpukdee, Director of Southern…
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Tosaporn named Korean Honorary Consul for Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Member of Parliament Tosaporn Tephabutra has been appointed the Republic of Korea’s Honorary Consul for Phuket and the new consular office here opened yesterday. Its opening occurs in a year coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Thailand, which will be observed on October 4. Presiding over the opening ceremony at the new office, located near Surakul Stadium on Wichit Songkram…
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Father who allegedly abducted girl to Cambodia is arrested
SWEDEN (Nation): Alicia Elfversson on Friday arrived in Sweden with her mother and aunt, who for the past year have been looking for the girl. Alicia was reported missing on June 4 last year after her father, Torgier Nordbo, picked her up for a routine visit to see relatives in Norway. (Click here for previous report.) Nordbo, who has business…
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Phuket’s first Toy Library opens
WICHIT: Muang District Chief Wisit Kurattanavate today officially opened Phuket’s first “Toy Library”, which has been set up at the childcare center at Wat Thepnimit on Chao Fa East Rd.Organized by the Phuket Community Foundation (PCF), Phuket International Hospital (PIH) and Wichit Municipality, which is responsible for the government-run childcare center, the toy library aims to give underprivileged children the…
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Immigration chief targets “national stability’
PHUKET CITY: In Phuket to officiate at the opening of the new Phuket Provincial Immigration Office at Saphan Hin today, Immigration Commissioner Lt Gen Chatchawan Suksomchit yesterday announced that he is shaking up his ranks to use technology to be more effective.Gen Chatchawan, Thailand’s top Immigration officer, said his goal is to improve “national stability” in order to restore investor…
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Anti-smuggler task force stages simulation
AO CHALONG: While the record fleet was wrapping up racing in the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek at Chalong Bay on Sunday, the Phuket Marine Police, Thai Customs officers and the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet staged a co-ordinated, simulated raid on a fishing boat with the crew pretending to be arms smugglers.In the exercise, a response group combining all three organizations…
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Man drowns in “freak wave’
PATONG (Gazette, Kom Chad Leuk): The body of one of the three men who were dashed against rocks at Paradise Beach by a single large wave on Saturday was recovered today.Cap Nithikorn Rawang, duty officer at Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that the men were fishing off a rocky outcrop near Paradise Beach when they were swamped by a…
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Pian wins second term as Patong Mayor
PATONG: Pian Keesin won the Patong Municipality election for the seat as Patong Mayor yesterday, defeating rival Somkiet Kuru by 577 votes.Of the 11,460 eligible voters in the resort town, 7,849 voters (or 68%) turned out to cast ballots at the 23 polling stations set up around Patong.Votes were cast from 8 am to 3 pm, after which the counting…
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OrBorTor moves to keep Koh Maphrao clean
KOH MAPHRAO: In a move to keep Koh Maphrao clean, Koh Kaew Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), the local authority responsible for Koh Maphrao, will place trash cans around the island.Koh Kaew OrBorTor President Kuakiat Jitkua today told the Gazette, “I’m trying to improve waste disposal at Laem Hin and Koh Maphrao. “On Wednesday, we held a beach cleanup with local…
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Yo!2 finds Raceweek plain sailing
AO CHALONG: Peter Ahern’s crew aboard Yo2! have maintained their lead in the IRC 1 class of this year’s Six Senses Phuket Raceweek with two more wins today, leaving them with four wins from four races so far in the series. Other provisional results posted this afternoon show that Ben Copely’s Swan 42 Katsu, racing in her first Raceweek regatta,…
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Yo!2 blows into first place in Raceweek opener
AO CHALONG: After torrential downpours delayed the start of the first race yesterday morning, crews racing in the Six Senses Phuket Raceweek regatta were blessed with steady winds of more than 10 knots pushing the record fleet around the courses. The fleet of 44 yachts, competing in seven classes, faced miserable conditions as heavy rain forced organizers to delay the…
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“Death truck’ families to receive B35k per victim
BANGKOK (TNA): Relatives of the 54 Burmese migrant workers who suffocated in the back of a seafood truck in Ranong on April 9 will receive 35,000 baht compensation for each relative who died while being illegally transported to Phuket, Suwanna Suwanjutha, director-general of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, said on Tuesday.A total of 121 people were crammed inside a…
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Fuel price cuts effective Friday
PHUKET: Phuket motorists will benefit from a reduction in fuel prices tomorrow following an announcement today by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) that gasohol, diesel and benzine prices at PTT and Bangchak stations will be lowered.Sunee Sorn-In, owner of the Kata Petroleum gas station operated under PTT, confirmed that the reduction will come into effect tomorrow and that her gas…
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New international school set to open
THALANG: Phuket International Academy (PIA), under construction on Soi Teenped-Nanai, in Baan Nanai and next to Khao Pra Taew National Park, is scheduled to open on September 8 with its first students, ranging from nursery to Grade 4, taking classes.The academy, once complete, will run through senior high school and a boast modern sports and performing arts facilities. All construction is scheduled…
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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