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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Songkran road toll: 45 dead, 557 injured on first day
BANGKOK (TNA): A total of 45 persons were killed and 557 injured in 477 road accidents nationwide yesterday, the first of “seven days of danger” in the annual Songkran water festival celebrating Thai New Year.The accidents happened as people headed to their home provinces to celebrate the Songkran festival with family and friends.Former Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi, now permanent secretary…
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Aussie lifeguards lend a hand
KAMALA: Ahead of the rainy season arriving next month, when the rough surf along the west coast of Phuket becomes dangerous for all but very experienced swimmers, Phuket lifeguards are being trained in surf life-saving techniques at Kamala Beach today and tomorrow.Conducting the training are experienced members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in New South Wales,…
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Patong restaurateur stabbed
PATONG: The owner of a restaurant off Sawasdirak Rd, near the Patong beachfront, is in stable condition after being stabbed early on Thursday morning.He was allegedly stabbed by a drunk teenager who was dining in his restaurant.Capt Jongserm Preecha of Kathu Police Station told the Gazette that he received a call from Patong Hospital at 3 am reporting that a…
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Phuket Bike Week underway
PHUKET: Phuket Bike Week 2008 was kick started last night with an exhibition of gleaming custom choppers and other iron steeds, both old and new, showing their muscle in seven zones at Jungceylon shopping center.Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW have taken some of the stands to show off their latest superbikes, tourbikes and even jet skis until 11 pm tonight.Organizers expect…
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Songkran “soaking zones’ announced
PHUKET: As the island prepares for Songkran, which gets underway in earnest tomorrow, Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai has announced that a number of zones have been designated for water play.Muang district: Saphan Hin, Rawai Beach, Kata Beach, Karon BeachKathu district: Patong area.Thalang district: Nai Yang Beach, Surin Beach.The designation system has been set up in the hope that it will help decrease…
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Saphan Hin incinerator given top-level support
PHUKET CITY: A Prime Minister’s Office inspector who is in Phuket to review mega-projects for which the governor has requested funding said that top priority should be given to having a second burner installed at the incineration plant at Saphan Hin.Changthong Opassiriwit arrived in Phuket on Tuesday and spent the day visiting the proposed project sites, including a 150-rai site…
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Finn dies of suspected heart failure
KARON: Police are waiting for medical analysis of the body of a Finnish tourist who died Wednesday morning at the Hilton Phuket Acadia Resort and Spa before moving ahead with any further investigation.Capt Theerawuth Thepluan of Chalong Police Station identified the deceased as 46-year-old Onerva Kastehelmi Jaktholm. She was found dead of apparent heart failure in her room on the…
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Governor receives Songkran blessing
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai,…
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American man commits suicide in Rawai
RAWAI: Chalong Police are treating as suicide the death of an American man found hanged from a bridge behind the Rawai Municipality offices early yesterday morning.Lt Col Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the man as Duane Willis Daugherty, aged 45.A local resident called Chalong Police at 6:30 am, immediately after discovering Mr Daugherty’s body, Lt Col Chana said.The…
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Patong beach road to become “clearway’
PATONG: Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkabal on April 2 announced that from next high season no parking will be allowed along the busy beach road.“Taxis will be allowed on Thaweewong Rd only to drop off passengers,” K. Chairat told a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall.“Tuk-tuks and hawkers are currently taking up all the parking spaces along the beach road,…
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Candidates register for Phuket City elections
PHUKET CITY: The first day to register candidacies for the upcoming Phuket City Municipality elections saw a large turnout by supporters of both the incumbent Khon Noom (Young Turks) party led by incumbent mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana and her rival Ayuth Tansiriroj and his Chao Baan Sarng San (Creative) party.K. Ayuth, a lawyer and former ally of K. Somjai, hopes to…
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Robbery ring rounded up
PATONG: Kathu Police yesterday arrested six men for a string of robberies in this popular beach town.Kathu Police Inspector Lt Col Chalermchai Hernsawas and a squad of fellow officers made the initial arrest about 5 pm.The case started when 25-year-old Saiyon Jantorn reported seeing a man sitting atop her red-and-black JRD motorcycle, which was parked near Laem Petch Temple opposite…
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Jetstar and Tiger slash Singapore-Phuket route
PHUKET: Citing a lack of demand, Jetstar Asia Airways has ditched its service between Phuket and Singapore, while Tiger Airways has halved its service of the same route.Only 18 months after introducing a Phuket-Singapore air link, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia announced on March 30 that it has suspended its service of six flights a week. Low demand and a reallocation of…
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Navy boys are good to Phuket
PHUKET: Three US Navy warships – USS Hopper, USS Ingraham and USS Port Royal – are currently in Phuket, marking the first time that the three have anchored in the same port to give the 900-plus enlisted personnel and officers some well-earned R&R.While the ships are in port, many of the seamen can be seen around the island, letting loose at some…
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Destination Air flies on
PHUKET: The managing director of Destination Air has described Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit’s order to suspend flight service to Patong as “anticlimactic”, saying the airline had for months been scheduled to wrap up operations in Patong because of unsafe monsoon-season conditions now setting in. Pat James told the Gazette that the governor’s decision, taken in the wake of complaints about noise…
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Danish tourist dies in hotel reception
KARON: Danish tourist Finn Hansen, 54, was found dead on Thursday in the lobby of the “Welcome Inn” hotel, where he had been staying since March 18.“He was sitting in a chair in the hotel lobby for three hours before anyone noticed he was dead,” Capt Theerawut Thep-Luen of Chalong Police told the Gazette.As there was no evidence of foul play, police…
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Registration van makes slow progress
PHUKET CITY: The introduction of a high-tech mobile registration van late last year has recorded an increase of 16,000 in Phuket’s official population, only a small fraction of the island’s “hidden population” of about 300,000.The project is the brainchild of Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, who announced that tackling the hidden population problem would be a top priority after he was…
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Tourist Police call for Songkran volunteers
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Tourist Police have appealed for Swedish- and Russian-speaking volunteers as the force prepares for Songkran.“There are now many Swedish and Russian tourists in Phuket, so we should be prepared to take care of them,” said Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Col Sathaporn Sangaunsuk.“We have about 100 officers, including 18 foreigners,” he added.With the holiday period looming, about 100 Tourist Police…
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Trang man executed on Koh Sireh
KOH SIREH: A man was fatally shot by a single bullet to the mouth as he was riding his motorbike on Koh Sireh early yesterday morning. Phuket City Police Inspector Lt Col Sarit Butnongsang identified the victim as Reab Paothong, 46, of Kantang district, Trang province. The murder happened on Theppratan Rd near the Koh Sireh Community Health Office about…
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Frenchman crushed under cement truck
PHUKET CITY: French national Dominique Jules Valery Bagus, 46, died instantly when he was crushed under the wheels of a cement mixer truck on Sunday.Capt Supachai Petchsakul of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that Mr Bagus was driving a Suzuki motorcycle on Thepkrasattri Rd when the accident happened.“He was overtaking a cement truck being driven by 31-year-old Yutthana Promwiset, who was on…
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Man stabbed to death in Soi Romanee
PHUKET CITY: A sound technician tidying up after a jazz event in Soi Romanee was stabbed to death early Monday morning over a reported “misunderstanding”.Lt Col Adul Nirapai of Phuket City Police said that police received a call at 2:10 am, reporting that a man had been stabbed in Soi Romanee, which connects Dibuk and Thalang roads in the heart…
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Hilton staff bus overturns on Karon Hill
KATA: A bus carrying 32 staff of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa to work yesterday morning overturned after its brakes failed.Lt Rattaket Manmuang of Karon Police Station said, “The bus driver, 34-year-old Paitoon Panbuddee, said that he lost control of the bus after the brakes failed as he was driving down the hill.”The accident happened about 7:40 am, he…
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Sweden mulls issuing travel warnings
PHUKET CITY: The Swedish Consulate in Phuket and the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok are considering posting warnings on their official websites, advising Swedish women of potential dangers when traveling in Thailand.The move follows sexual assaults and killings of female foreign tourists in recent years, most recently the stabbing murder of 26-year-old Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund on March 15 at Mai…
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Bar owners bamboozled by 30-day booze ban
PHUKET: In a hastily arranged press conference, the Ministry of Interior has announced a month-long ban of alcohol sales throughout Phuket, effective today.Vice Minister Dumwrong Raknaa told the Gazette that the booze ban will, in one clean swoop, further the Ministry’s dual aims of celebrating the nation’s return to democracy and promoting traditional Thai values.As Thailand’s face to the world,…
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Emotions run high as arrested fugitive faces family
SAMUT PRAKAN: More information about the crimes of arrested fugitive Kriengkrai “Krieng” Saelee came to light Saturday morning when police in Samut Prakan told a press conference the suspect was wanted for the shooting murder of a 14-year-old girl in the waning hours of 2006. Krieng was arrested about 10:30 pm on March 27 while selling clothes at a stall…
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Gov flames MNRE for lack of environmental protection
PHUKET: Citing examples of deforestation and encroachment across the island, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday criticized the Phuket office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) for failing to report any encroachment or make arrests, despite evidence that encroachment was continuing in some areas.At the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Security Committee at Phuket Provincial Hall, Gov…
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Fugitive arrested in Patong
PATONG: Kathu Police took into custody on Thursday night a fugitive wanted for murder and other crimes committed in Samut Prakan in December 2006.Kathu Police Inspector for Investigations Lt Col Chalermchai Hernsawat identified the suspect as Kriengkrai “Krieng” Saelee, 26, a native of Tambon Paknam, Muang District, Samut Prakan.Kriengkrai was arrested about 10:30 pm while selling clothes at a stall…
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Marriott’s Courtyard ablaze
PATONG: Crowds gathered on Ruamjai Rd this afternoon as flames engulfed the corner section of The Courtyard hotel, formerly known as the Grand Tropicana Phuket and now owned by Marriott.“The fire started about 2 pm and took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out,” Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak told the Gazette.“We believe that a spark from workers carrying…
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Wichit Municipality Offices open
WICHIT: Wichit Municipality yesterday officially opened its new, three-story office building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by some of the island’s highest-ranking officials.The new building, completed at a cost of just over 96 million baht, sits on five rai on Chao Fa East Rd, next to Wat Thepnimit.The ceremony was attended by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima, Senators Phummisak Hongsyok and Thanyarat…
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Police net 10,000 ya bah pills in post office sting
PHUKET: Phuket Police intercepted a package containing 10,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills with an estimated street value of 5 million baht at the Phuket City Post Office on March 21. The drug seizure followed the arrest the day before of two men in Phuket City for possession of illegal firearms, Region 8 Police commander Lt Gen Thanee Thawisri announced at 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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