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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The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Kidnapped baby turns up in Krabi
THALANG: Police are searching for two people suspected of snatching a newborn baby from Thalang Hospital after a two-day ordeal ended with mother and baby being reunited in Krabi yesterday.Thalang Police have issued arrest warrants for Sunantha Sangarun, 28, and her unidentified accomplice, said Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima at a press conference today.Burmese native K. Fah, 20, gave birth to…
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Smith denies resigning as NDWC chief
BANGKOK: Dr Smith Dharmasaroja late this afternoon denied reports in the Thai media that he had resigned his position as Director of the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), which is responsible for issuing tsunami warnings.In a telephone interview with the Gazette, Dr Smith said that he told a press conference in Bangkok yesterday that he was only considering resigning –…
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Well-known Phuket resident dies
RAWAI: Long-term Phuket resident Erika Perschbacher was found passed away in her Rawai home on Sunday. She was 69 years old.Erika, a retired German nurse affectionately referred to by locals as “Mama”, was described by those close to her as wonderful, selfless and caring.During her nine years in Phuket, Erika took it upon herself to provide a home for stray…
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Samkong shortcut to become one-way
PHUKET: In a bid to relieve traffic congestion at the Wor Kor Intersection, the Rajabhat-Samkong road, which runs from the Wor Kor Intersection, past Phuket Rajabhat University (PRU) and ends at Yaowarat Rd, will be one-way from Monday.Phuket City Police Traffic Inspector Maj Teerawat Leamsuwan said that the one-way system should ease traffic bottlenecks at the Wor Kor Intersection, where…
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Aborted fetus found on Koh Sireh
RASSADA: Villagers on Koh Sireh made a gruesome discovery on Monday, finding the corpse of an aborted fetus partially buried by the side of the main road to Koh Sireh.Pol Maj Nanon Pitakkulthorn of Phuket City Police said that on the afternoon of March 10, a villager alerted police after he found the corpse of a fetus, probably in its…
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Brush with death
WICHIT: Female motorcycle rider Arisara Srimaung sustained only a cut eyebrow after colliding with a pickup truck on Chao Fa West Rd outbound near the House and Home building supply center, just before 9 o’clock this morning.Level-headed bystanders administered first aid and ensured that K Arisara remained motionless until a Phuket Ruamjai Foundation ambulance arrived about 10 minutes later to…
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Mother pleas for return of missing daughter
PHUKET: Maria Elfversson, mother of missing six-year-old girl Alicia Elfversson, has offered a US$10,000 reward to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to finding the missing girl. According to Interpol’s website, Alicia was allegedly abducted by her father, Norwegian native Torgeir Nordbo, from her home in Sweden on June 4 last year. Swedish authorities have since charged Nordbo…
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7-baht wage hike had “no effect’ – Labor chief
PHUKET: The seven-baht increase in the minimum wage in Phuket to 193 baht a day, which came into effect on January 1, has not negatively affected businesses on the island, Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima announced on Monday.Before the rise from 186 to 193 baht, bestowing Phuket with the second-most-expensive minimum daily wage rate in the country – and just a baht…
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Phuket roads leave 2 dead, 15 injured
PHUKET: At least two people are dead and many more injured after a truck overturned in Kamala this morning and a tour bus slammed into a house in Patong yesterday evening.About 9 am today, a 10-wheeled truck carrying mattresses from Bangkok to Phuket overturned on a hill in front of the Kamala Falls condo project site.Lt Col Warit Jado, Duty…
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Wounded tuk-tuk driver still missing
PHUKET CITY: Police have yet to hear back from a tuk-tuk driver who appeared at Phuket City Police Station early Friday morning drunk and bleeding from an apparent gunshot wound – and told to come back later.Pol Lt Saran Redeng, Duty Officer at Phuket City Police Station, said that Somkid Huangsrapram, 42, arrived at the station about 2:50 am, complaining…
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Case closed on Korean drowning
PHI PHI ISLANDS: The drowning of a Korean tourist while on a Hana Tour to Phi Phi Don Island last month is not being treated as suspicious, the Gazette has learned.Sen Sgt Maj Suwan Tuamsri of Krabi Tourist Police told the Gazette the drowning death of 35-year-old Kang Kyong while she was swimming with her tour group at Loh Dalam Bay…
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WiMax tests positive, but roll-out not likely this year
PHUKET: Although the recent high-profile testing of WiMax Internet access technology aboard a sailboat off Karon proved successful, the high-speed wireless service is not likely to grace Phuket’s shores until next year, the Gazette has learned.The WiMax tests were carried out on February 22 by broadband service provider the Benchachinda Group with its affiliate companies United Information Highway Co Ltd…
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Forest fire on Karon hills
KARON: Yesterday at dusk, Karon Municipality firefighters were called in to fight a forest fire in the Nakkerd Hills, upslope from the desalination plant on Siriraj Rd.Firefighters tried to gain access to the blaze for two hours before giving up.Fortunately, the fire burned itself out during the night.No injuries or property damage were reported.
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One dead, three injured in motorbike accident
PATONG: A young French tourist has been charged with negligent driving resulting in accidental death after the motorcycle he was driving collided with another motorbike early Thursday morning, killing the driver and leaving two passengers critically injured. Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Chawalit Niamwadee identified the Frenchman as Diallo Guimba, 24. At about 4:20 am, Guimba was riding…
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Drug dealer avoids capture
KATHU: Following a series of tip-offs, Kathu Police seized a suitcase containing 510 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills in a sting operation on March 3. However, police narrowly failed to snare the intended target, a major drug dealer from Chiang Mai known as Suphawat, who fled the scene before he could be arrested.Police set a trap to catch Suphawat following inquiries…
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Shops warned over trading stolen goods
PHUKET CITY: Secondhand-goods shops found trading or in possession of stolen goods may soon face legal action, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Piya Bharatasilpin warned at a special meeting convened to tackle the issue on Tuesday.“This is a problem in many provinces, not just Phuket. Thieves often sell stolen property to secondhand-goods stores for cash. We need government officers…
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Three Brits still in Phuket jail
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Court has denied bail to a British family charged with bank fraud after they were caught using counterfeit cards to withdraw more than 100,000 baht from a Kasikorn Bank ATM in downtown Phuket City. Lt Col Chakaphol Suchon of Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette that the three suspects are still being held at Phuket Provincial…
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Patong bars to fight 2 am closing
PATONG: Bar, discotheque and pub owners will be given a 90-day grace period before police begin to strictly enforce a 2 am closing time at all nightlife venues on the island, authorities have announced.Starting at 2 am on February 27, police presence was unexpectedly heavy on Soi Bangla and along nearby roads that make up the heart of Phuket’s nightlife…
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Four Phuket police stations upgraded
PHUKET: As part of a nationwide reorganization of the Royal Thai Police Force, Phuket’s four subdistrict police stations have been upgraded to district police stations, effective from an order dating back to January 16, the Gazette has learned.Col Phuwanart Rithawej, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent of General Staff, told the Gazette that the order is intended to improve investigation and budget management…
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Thanyarat wins Senate race, again
PHUKET: Unofficial results of yesterday’s senatorial election indicate that Thanyarat Achariyachai won the contest, garnering 39,574 votes to win a surprisingly close race over second-place finisherAdirek Engchuan, with 35,471votes.In third place was Cherdchai Wongseree, with 9,947 votes.The results, posted on the Phuket Election Committee (PEC) board at Saphan Hin, will be announced officially only after Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha, in…
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Anchalee resigns OrBorJor presidency
PHUKET: Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), yesterday tendered her resignation to the Governor’s Office, the Gazette has confirmed.Manus Nooluck, Secretary to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, this morning confirmed receipt of the letter.No reason was given for the resignation, which takes effect today, he said.However, a source in the OrBorJor told the Gazette the move…
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Top cop toppled after Phuket visit
THALANG: Royal Thai Police Commissioner Gen Sereepisut Taemeeyavej had a busy day in Phuket yesterday, attending two important dedication ceremonies.However, it turned out to be his last day as national police chief as Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej today announced his abrupt transfer to a temporary post in the Prime Minister’s Office.Gen Sereepisut arrived in Phuket from Bangkok yesterday and at…
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Foreigners charged over ATM card forgery in Patong
PATONG: Two European men arrested by Kathu Police last Sunday night for scanning information allegedly to be used in committing bank card forgery remain in jail without bail, the Gazette has learned.Maj Narong Laksanavimol said that the two men arrested, whom he named as German national Hota Bogdan Nicolae and Romanian Andrei Gugioman, both 25, are part of a larger…
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Classic ketch gutted in boatyard blaze
RASSADA: Police suspect that a smoldering cigarette butt caused an early-morning fire that gutted a 25-meter yacht in dry dock at Phuket Fishing Port. Maj Wicharn Suwannasit of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that he was notified of a boat ablaze just before midnight on Monday night. Police and firefighters arrived to find several people trying to douse the…
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Police raid Patong bars in Chalerm’s crackdown
PATONG: Last night’s police crackdown on Soi Bangla entertainment venues trading past 2 am was in response to an order by new Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung, Kathu Police chief Col Grissak Songmoonnak has confirmed.Col Grissak, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette today that he ordered the crackdown after Interior Minister Pol Capt Chalerm told police nationwide to get…
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Revered Abbot passes away
WICHIT: Phra Ratchakiti Soonthorn, revered Abbot of Wat Thepnimit died of congestive heart failure at Thalang Hospital on Sunday night at the age of 78.As head of Phuket’s provincial monastic council, Phra Ratchakiti Soonthorn was Phuket’s highest-ranking Buddhist cleric at the time of his death.Born as Sommart Kinkaew, the Phuket native entered the monkhood at the age of 22, when…
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Outrigger to operate West Sands resort
MAI KHAO: Lifestyle-property developer and management company Outrigger Enterprises Group announced on Thursday that it will manage West Sands Resort, Phuket, a mixed-use luxury resort and residential development currently under construction by Central & City Developments at Mai Khao Beach.West Sands is seen by Outrigger Enterprises as a showcase resort as the company moves to establish a strong presence in…
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Missing monk found dead in PSU lagoon
KATHU: Police are treating as a case of accidental drowning the death of a monk whose body was found in a pond at the Phuket campus of Prince of Songkla University on Sunday.Maj Passakorn Sonthikun of the Tung Tong Police identified the monk as Phra Thawat Theerawiniyo.The body of the 29-year-old monk, originally from Nongkhai province, was discovered by a…
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Blues Fest rocks Karon
KARON: Blues fans were treated to a lineup of local and international acts last night at the first night of the Phuket International Blues Rock Festival at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa. Gates opened at 6 pm and the crowd slowly swelled as the acts played late into the night. Bangkok-based Soi Dog Blues Band were the first…
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Young love ends in ya bah bust
PHUKET CITY: A Muang District special operations unit arrested a pair of young lovers and seized 697 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills in a sting operation early this morning.The arrests were announced by Phuket Vice Governor Worapoj Ratthasima and Muang District Chief Wisit Kurattanavej at a press conference at Muang District Office at 9:30 this morning.The couple were identified as Nakhon…
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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