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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Police to press charges over sea gypsy assault
PHUKET: Police are preparing to press grievous bodily harm charges against a businessman accused of cutting the oxygen line of a sea gypsy diving off Nui Beach in January, Lt Col Peerapan Meemak of Chalong Police Station announced at a meeting at Provincial Hall to discuss Rawai sea gypsies’ fishing rights.“I received a report from two sea gypsies on January…
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Phuket prepares for water shortages
PHUKET CITY: Despite a spattering of some much welcome rain on the island yesterday, provincial authorities are preparing for water shortages as Phuket is expected to endure more hot weather before the annual rains arrive in May.At a March 15 meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall chaired by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima, Aroon Kerdsom, Chief of the Phuket Office of Disaster…
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BIS to teach English at Phuket schools
PHUKET: British International School (BIS) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to teach English-language classes at five Phuket schools.BIS teachers will teach English at Muang Phuket School, Kathu Wittaya School, Cherng Talay Wittayakom School, Baan Maireab School and Thalang Phra Nangsang School.OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thephabutr said, “The OrBorJor is committed to developing education…
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Youth arrested for See Kor stabbing
TUNG TONG: A young man was arrested early Sunday morning for the murder of 20-year-old Thanongsak Umpaisakul, who was stabbed to death outside See Kor market at dawn the previous day.Thongchai “Lan” Noomueang, 22, was riding his motorbike around Saphan Hin with a group of friends when police caught up with him and presented him with an arrest warrant for…
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License plate auction raises B11.62m
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) and Pun-Neung Co Ltd’s third car license plate number auction at Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel March 17 and 18 raised 11.62 million baht, which will be donated to the Road Safety Fund to help victims of road accidents and to support traffic safety education in schools.The previous such auction in 2005 raised…
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West Sands to be investigated over encroachment
MAI KHAO: Thalang District Chief Samart Waradisai and Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization President Sarawut Srikookam will spearhead an investigation into whether the West Sands development being built near Phuket International Airport is encroaching on government land.The investigation follows allegations by villagers from Mai Khao Village 4, led by Boonlit Sae-aew, who filed a complaint to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit on…
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Patong one-way to stay
PATONG: The one-way traffic system in Patong will stay after the 90-day trial period is over, the Superintendent of Kathu District Police Station has told the Gazette. Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen said the system would definitely remain in place, though with improvements to meet the demands of people in Patong. To this end, a survey will be carried out to gauge…
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Gov moves to evict Chalong encroachers
CHALONG: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit will head a committee aimed at evicting encroachers from government land off Soi Songkul, where three homes were badly damaged last November in a bombing believed to have been motivated by a land rights dispute.Tawicha Chaithong, who heads the Phuket Administrative and Justice Enhancement Group, said there are three areas of greatest concern: Klong Mudong…
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Chalong policeman’s wife arrested for Phichai murder
CHALONG: Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, today confirmed that the wife of a Chalong police officer has been arrested for allegedly hiring four men to kill 44-year-old construction contractor Phichai Wanlayapetch, who was gunned down after dropping his child off at a Chalong day care center on February 26. Col Chalit declined to name the officer, but…
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Guts and glory
PATONG: The champion of Jungceylon’s first Charity Eat-A-Thon, held from March 9 to 11, is Brazilian Moises Huerta. He downed two large hamburgers, a personal-size pizza, three donuts, a pitcher of beer and a bottle of water. The massive meal earned him 10,000 baht in winnings.The Eat-A-Thon raised about 20,000 baht in donations to help buy lunches for poor children…
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Water shortages imminent – ODPM Chief
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM) has identified 43 areas in Phuket that are expected to suffer water shortages in upcoming weeks with some areas already trucking in emergency water supplies.Some areas in Thalang are expected to run dry within days, said Phuket ODPM Chief Aroon Kerdsom.“We know from previous years where the trouble spots…
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Govt dedicates 238 rai for B1.4bn sports complex
MAI KHAO: The Treasury Department has signed an agreement with the Phuket Sports and Recreation Development (SRD) Office allowing 238 rai of government land in Mai Khao to be used for a sports training complex costing 1.4 billion baht.The agreement was signed February 23 by Tamrong Tongtan, Head of the Phuket Provincial Treasury Office, and Promchote Traivate, Head of the…
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“Red tide’ blooms cause murky conditions
PHUKET: Many of the island’s beaches are experiencing algal blooms that are causing murky conditions commonly called “red tides”, but marine biologists say the situation is not dangerous and sea conditions are expected to return to normal soon.Suree Satapoomin, a researcher at the Phuket Marine Biological Center, told the Gazette that the blooms were first detected on west coast beaches,…
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Kamala school gets freshwater supply
KAMALA: Some 500 students and 30 teachers at Rajaprachanukroh 36 School in Kamala now have fresh water piped in from a groundwater well some two kilometers inland.The water is piped to the school, where it undergoes treatment with iron oxide filtration and reverse-osmosis (RO) technology installed by the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) at the cost of 400,000 baht, explained…
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Charity gorge
PATONG: Gluttony and generosity will go hand-in-hand this weekend, when 80 contestants take part in Jungceylon’s first-ever “EAT-A-THON” to raise money to buy lunches for poor local students.Jungceylon Public Relation’s Manager Slilla Svetsreni explained that on Friday, Saturday and Sunday contestants will compete in devouring four categories of fast food to be provided by sponsors Burger King, Swensen’s ice cream,…
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Island gears up for Heroines’ Festival
PHUKET: This year’s festival honoring the heroine sisters of Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Sri Soontorn will include traditional dances, games and a mountain bike race during the three-day celebration. The festival, a commemoration of Phuket’s victory over the Burmese incursion of 1785, will be held at Baan Riang in Thalang, near the heroines’ monument from March 11 to 13. The…
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License plate auction to top 10 million baht
PHUKET: A total of 301 “lucky” numbers will be up for bid at Phuket’s third two-day auction of auto license plates, starting at 8:30 am on March 17 and 18 at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel.Suraphon Tanrungruangthawee, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPLTO), told the Gazette that there will be a variety of categories of numbers up for…
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Anton Haig wins Johnnie Walker Classic
By Oliver BatesPHUKET: The final day of the Johnnie Walker Classic lived up to all expectations as South African Anton Haig won his first Johnnie Walker Classic in a dramatic playoff.Twenty-year-old Haig joined the elite of Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo to become a Johnnie Walker Champion.Haig’s sudden-death playoff victory over Oliver Wilson and Richard Sterne…
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Sterne swings to lead Johnnie Walker Classic
PHUKET: In a late charge this afternoon, South African Richard Sterne finished 13 under par to head the leaderboard going into final day of play in the Johnnie Walker Classic 2007 tomorrow.Yesterday’s leaders, Oliver Wilson from the UK and South African Anton Haig were put to a series of challenges throughout the day. The first challenge came from another experienced…
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Khun Sao murder suspect still at large
KATHU: The suspected accomplice in the stabbing murder of 40-year old Nongyin “Sao” Sengton is still at large.Khun Sao was murdered in her home near the Tung Tong Market on November 27 last year. She was a long-term companion of property owner Tavorn Kajkla, also known as Pae Lian.She was found with 15 deep stab wounds, and her gold necklace…
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Bars urged to close over Buddhist holiday
PHUKET: The Makha Bucha holiday will again be marked by closed bars this year as police request all establishments that serve alcohol to shut down for the Buddhist celebration tomorrow.Makha Bucha commemorates the day when 1,250 of Buddha’s disciples convened to hear the Buddha’s preachings. It also marks the day when Buddha announced that he would enter nirvana in three…
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Three arrested in Patong ya bah bust
PATONG: Kathu Police arrested three young men for possession of almost 200 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills in the early hours of yesterday morning.At 1:30 am, an investigation team from Kathu District Police Station led by Maj Serm Kwannimit arrested the men in a rented room at 26/3 Soi King Fashion, off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd.The trio were identified as Jamorn…
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“Saijai Aid’ launched to aid burn victim
PHUKET: People wanting to make direct donations to aid the recovery of burn victim Saijai Phromdaen, who was set on fire by an itinerant glue addict at Patong Beach on February 13, can now do so via the Internet or by visiting Vachira Phuket Hospital. Dr Jerry Hoss, who is organizing the aid drive, told the Gazette that K. Saijai…
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Patong hotel owner shot
PHUKET CITY: Suppakon “Ko Yin” Ektaweechot, owner of the Hyton Leelavadee Resort in Patong, was shot in the back with a shotgun on Sunday evening as he was eating dinner at Ban Panun Restaurant on Rassada Anusorn Rd in Phuket City.He is now recovering at Vachira Phuket Hospital and reported to be in a stable condition.Lt Col Ampolwat Seangraung, Investigating…
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Traffic safety spurs Central Festival access restriction
PHUKET CITY: From March 15 access to and egress from Central Festival Phuket from Wichit Songkhram Rd will be restricted.In an effort to reduce traffic tailbacks and the high number of accidents at the location, Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch has ordered that the center line along Wichit Songkhram Rd where traffic stops to enter Central Festival Phuket…
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Favorites struggle in Johnny Walker Classic opener
By Oliver BatesTHALANG: The first day of play at the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic produced some surprised leaders as the favorites coming into the event struggled with challenging fairways at the Blue Canyon Country Club.The morning produced a string of early birdies as Australian Brad Kennedy carded eight on his way to the lead with 65, which was closely matched…
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Kamala OrBorTor President removed over corruption allegations
KAMALA: Jaral Sararak, President of Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), has been dismissed over allegations of rampant corruption.The order removing him from office, signed February 23 by Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa, followed an investigation requested by Sorranun Sane, Chairman of the OrBorTor Board.K. Khantee told the Gazette, “We have investigated Jaral many times for a lack of transparency in…
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Gov gets tough on bars, violence and encroachment
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has ordered police to continue their crackdown on bars in Patong opening after hours, saying that there were no exceptions in the law for “tourist provinces”.At the Phuket Provincial Security Committee’s monthly meeting at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth asked the Governor to clarify…
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Four arrested for Nongnuch murder
KAMALA: Police have arrested four suspects for the shooting murder of Nongnuch Kongpleum, who was gunned down in front of the The Club restaurant on the main road through Kamala around 7:30 pm Friday.Lt Col Monsak Suebsuwan, Duty Inspector at Kamala Police Station, told the Gazette that the victim, 42, was the partner of Dutch property developer Harry Tawando, 72,…
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Governor relaxes jet-ski ban
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has backed down from the province’s policy to gradually phase out jet-skis at Phuket beaches and is now allowing owners of registered jet-skis to replace old or inoperable vessels with new ones.Karon Municipality filed a complaint with the Governor following the arrest of 36 people found to be operating unregistered jet-skis in Karon in…
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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