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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Phuket health officials warn of dengue crisis after floods
Phuket is on high alert after a dengue fever advisory was issued by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), warning residents of a potential surge in infections following a week of relentless rain, flash floods, and landslides. The advisory, released yesterday, September 19, comes with no detailed explanation but the timing is telling as stagnant water, a breeding ground…
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Phuket’s prison break: Drug rehab programme promises new life
Phuket is shaking up the prison scene with a groundbreaking initiative aimed at turning drug dealers into model citizens. The revamped Prison Scout Volunteers for Social Development programme officially launched its fourth edition, with bold ambitions to reform inmates, shape positive mindsets, and offer a way out of their criminal past. With the Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat notably absent, Vice…
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Phuket police intensify search for MG linked to robbery-murder
Phuket police are intensifying their investigation into an MG car linked to a robbery-homicide in Nakhon Chai Si after GPS data revealed its presence in Phuket. Yesterday, September 19, Police Captain Ratchanat Ratsadaproni from Nakhon Chai Si Police Station was alerted to the discovery of 47 year old Thitirat Chatput’s body. Thitirat, who lived in the Lat Phrao district of…
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Patong mayor urges caution after landslips and road damage
Patong Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri called on residents and drivers to remain vigilant following several landslips, potholes forming on rain-soaked roads, and a large tree falling onto power lines between Patong and Kamala. A notice was issued by Patong Municipality today, September 20. “Watch out! Follow the situation of flash floods, forest runoff, flooding, mudslides, and strong wind waves.” Residents affected…
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Phuket: Lifeguards rush to save turtle washed ashore in Thalang
Lifeguards at Bang Tao Beach in Thalang district, Phuket, faced an unexpected rescue mission this morning when a 30-kilogramme sea turtle, too weak to swim, was found washed ashore. The beach patrol team, led by Wirun Chuea-saman, head of the Surin-Bang Tao Beach lifeguards, quickly sprang into action. “We spotted the turtle during our routine patrol. It wasn’t injured but…
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Thai woman killed in head-on collision with taxi in Phuket
A tragic accident occurred in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket early today when a 33 year old woman lost her life after her motorbike was struck head-on by a green plate taxi on the wrong side of the road. Police responded to the incident on Srisoonthorn Road, near the Party Party Store, approximately 230 metres north of Soi Bang…
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Royal Thai Navy rescues 143 tourists stranded on island off Phuket
Sailors from the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Third Area Command successfully rescued 143 tourists stranded on Racha Yai Island due to severe weather conditions and returned them safely to Phuket. Heavy rain and strong winds had created waves up to 4 metres high, making it impossible for tourist boats to reach the island, according to the Third Area Command based…
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Phuket drug suspect nabbed in mangrove forest hideout
A Thai man wanted on serious drug charges was finally captured today after being tracked down to a remote mangrove forest in Pa Khlok subdistrict, Thalang district, Phuket. A police investigation team from Thalang Police, supported by local patrol officers, swooped in on the suspect’s hideout. The high-stakes raid, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Luecha, Inspector of Investigation at…
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Phuket tourists engage in steamy street show on tuk tuk
In a jaw-dropping scene that left locals stunned, two foreign couples were caught engaging in intimate acts aboard a tuk tuk near Phuket’s Patong Beach during a traffic jam caused by heavy rain. Despite the crowd of onlookers, the couples carried on brazenly, seemingly unfazed by the attention. The scandalous incident took place yesterday morning, September 17, when a 40-second…
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Phuket Airport skips memorial for One-Two-Go crash victims again
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) once again dodged the chance to hold an official memorial service in Phuket for the 90 victims of the One-Two-Go Flight OG269 disaster. This marks the 17th consecutive year that local officials have avoided organising any remembrance ceremonies for one of Thailand’s deadliest air crashes. On the anniversary of the tragedy, Monchai Tanode, General Manager…
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Phuket on 24-hour alert as rainstorms, flash flood warnings issued
Phuket has been placed on 24-hour alert as heavy rainstorms drenched the island today. Officials urged residents to stay vigilant for potential flash floods, mudslides, and strong winds. On September 15, the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) issued a notice, authorised by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, advising the public to brace for severe weather conditions. The notice…
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Phuket plans sustainable tourism overhaul to boost economy
Phuket’s sustainable tourism took centre stage yesterday, September 15, as the House of Representatives Tourism Committee held a seminar to explore new directions for the island’s tourism sector and delve into the creative economy. The event, Transforming Phuket’s Future, was held at Dara Hotel and saw participation from significant figures in government, the private sector, and civil society. Phuket Vice…
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Violence erupts in Patong: Tourists injured in separate altercations
Violence erupted once again in Patong yesterday as two separate incidents involving tourists left one man unconscious and another with a severe head injury. On Bangla Road at around 7.10am, yesterday, September 14, a fight broke out between three Middle Eastern tourists. Witnesses reported that the men had been drinking heavily before an argument escalated into physical violence. Two of…
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Fire destroys over 3 million baht of cannabis at Phuket warehouse
A fire at a warehouse in Srisoonthorn early today resulted in the destruction of more than 3 million baht worth of cannabis. The blaze broke out at a facility owned by J.L. Development in Moo 4 and was reported just before 7.30am. Police and firefighters from Srisoonthorn and Cheng Talay Municipalities quickly responded to the call. Firefighters battled the flames…
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Passengers on IndiGo flight to Phuket stranded for hours
Passengers on an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Phuket endured a travel nightmare yesterday, September 13, as their journey turned into a chaotic ordeal. The flight was unexpectedly diverted to Penang International Airport in Malaysia due to bad weather, leaving travellers stranded for hours with clogged washrooms, no food or water, and stuck on the tarmac for over three hours.…
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Phuket on high alert as heavy rains and flash floods loom
Phuket is bracing for a weather onslaught as officials sound the alarm over impending flash floods, mudslides, and hazardous sea conditions. A stark warning has been issued by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, through the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, urging all local officials to prepare for extreme weather set to batter the island this week. The Thai Meteorological Department…
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Phuket’s overtourism: Is Thailand’s holiday hotspot ruined?
Phuket, Thailand’s stunning island getaway, has claimed the dubious title of the world’s most overcrowded destination. Once a serene beach paradise, Phuket now sees tourists outnumbering locals by a staggering 118 to one, turning the tropical dream into a crowded chaos. Overtourism has become a hot topic since travel bounced back post-Covid. Eager holidaymakers have returned in droves, overwhelming many…
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Phuket takes the lead in fight against corruption
Phuket’s anti-corruption champions are making waves across Thailand. The Phuket Provincial Governance Committee and the Phuket Chamber of Commerce bagged the prestigious White Space Network Model Award for the fiscal year 2024, in recognition of their tireless work to combat corruption. The award ceremony, hosted yesterday, September 11, at the Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel in Nonthaburi, saw key…
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Foreign pickup driver flees after crashing into Thai woman in Phuket
A Thai woman took to social media in a bid to search for a reckless foreign man who crashed his pickup into her in Phuket and fled the scene. The Thai victim, whose name remains undisclosed, shared details of the accident with the Phuket Times today, September 12. She stated that the incident occurred a few days ago, but the…
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Fugitive with military style weapons nabbed in Phuket
A dramatic chase in Phuket ended with the arrest of a 37 year old man wanted for a violent home invasion, armed with military-style weapons. Thanongsak Jennari, from Koh Yao Yai, was apprehended by police on Tuesday, September 10, near Bang Rong Pier, Phuket, after trying to flee from justice by hiding in a mangrove forest. Police had been on…
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Phuket vendors demand extended hours and free parking
Vendors from Phuket City Municipality Fresh Market 2 in Phuket Town gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, September 10 to request officials to waive parking fees and extend the operating hours of the soon-to-open Go Wholesale fresh produce mall nearby. The formal request was submitted by the vendors, accompanied by members of the Kon Noom Team, to Monchai Sae-Lao, Director…
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Thai ladyboy steals motorbike key in Phuket home invasion
A woman in Phuket experienced a frightening encounter when a ladyboy, apparently under the influence of drugs, entered her home uninvited and demanded the key to her motorbike. When she refused, the individual stole the key and, after a confrontation with a group of young males, fled the scene. The incident gained public attention after Facebook user Earn PhimPhattha shared…
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Police nab three with meth and motorbikes on Bangla Road
In the early hours of this morning, Patong Police swooped to arrest three suspects on Bangla Road with a stash of 55 methamphetamine pills (Yaba) and nearly 5 grammes of crystal meth (Ice). The drug bust took place at around 3am today, September 10, as officers patrolling the area noticed the suspects acting suspiciously near a group of foreign tourists.…
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Nude awakening: Foreigner filmed naked on Phuket hotel balcony
A foreign man caught the attention of locals in Phuket after he was seen talking on the phone as naked as the day he was born on a hotel balcony. He continued to stand naked even after realising he was being filmed by a Thai man. A Facebook user, เบส ซาโจ้ (Best Sajo), shared a video of the foreign man…
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New marine route to slash travel time between Phuket and Krabi
To revolutionise marine transport, the Thai Marine Department has been urged to speed up the construction of four piers that will form a new Andaman marine ring route, dramatically cutting travel time between Phuket and Krabi by a staggering 90 minutes. Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said this push aligns with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s vision to improve infrastructure and…
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Drunk foreign men reportedly fight over Thai woman in Phuket
Two drunken foreign men have become famous in Phuket after videos went viral of the pair fighting over a Thai woman outside an entertainment venue in the Rawai neighbourhood. Footage and images of the altercation on Saturday night, September 7, between the two foreigners were shared by the news Facebook page Phuket Times on September 8. “Farang boxing show! It…
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Phuket fib flops: Gambler’s robbery tale unravels with a busted alibi
A man in Phuket reported a robbery by five individuals but ended up being charged himself after admitting he fabricated the story to hide gambling losses from his wife. CCTV footage did not support his claims. On the night in question, law enforcement was alerted at 10.30pm about a reported robbery near Bangla Mosque in Thalang, Phuket. The complainant, identified…
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Phuket taxi driver condemned for intentionally hitting foreigner
A Thai witness is seeking justice for an old foreign man after a Thai airport taxi driver hit him in Phuket yesterday, September 9. Fortunately, the foreign victim was not injured. A Thai woman who witnessed the incident in Soi Yensabai, in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket, came forward to share CCTV footage with the Facebook news page Phuket Times. She…
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Motorbike mayhem: Monkey wreaks havoc on bike seat in Phuket
A large monkey at Khao Rang (also known as Monkey Hill) in Phuket Town tore apart the seat of a parked motorbike, prompting an assistant village headman to issue a warning for locals and tourists to be cautious around the monkeys. Suriyan Mai-on, the assistant village headman for Thalang district, shared a video of the incident online today, September 9,…
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Tourists rescued after ignoring red flags at Phuket beaches
Emergency services in Phuket rushed to rescue two tourists who nearly drowned after ignoring red flag warnings at Kata and Karon beaches. The tourists, from Russia and China, were successfully resuscitated with CPR before being taken to Chalong Hospital for further treatment. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sanya Suksawat of Karon Police Station received notification from the Karon Radio Centre about the…
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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