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.
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Ill health led to suicide
PHUKET: A 67-year-old Thai man committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday morning, just before a scheduled health check-up. Pol Lt Col Amnuan Kriwutthinant, of the Phuket Town police station, said Chanai Tulek, hung himself in his kitchen on 8/2 Baan Kuku, Moo 3, Rassadanusorn Rd. K. Chanai’s family told police that he had been worried about his health. He…
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19 die in traffic accidents
PHUKET: Nineteen people died in traffic accidents between June 20 and July 20, according to statistics from the Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. Ampaipan Pawawattananusorn of the Phuket Provincial Health Office reports that 18 of the victims died while on motorcycles, while one was in a car. In the same period, 57 people were injured in car accidents, while…
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Phang Nga counts storm damage
PHANG NGA: Provincial officials have been counting the cost of damage caused by Tropical Storm Kaemi after it hit Southern Thailand last week. Deputy Provincial Governor Wut Sitthisurat yesterday submitted a report on damage caused by the storm to officials at the Ministry of Interior, in which he estimated damage in six districts at 1.1 million baht. He added in…
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Airport throughput up in July
PHUKET: Heartening news again for the low season comes with the latest monthly figures issued by Phuket International Airport. These show an 8.69% rise in passengers using the airport in July, compared with July 1999. The statistics show that 267,436 passengers went through the airport in July of this year compared with 246,062 in the same month last year. The…
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Burmese man stabbed to death
PHUKET TOWN: A Burmese fisherman was found murdered near Rassada Port on Sri Sena Rd early yesterday morning. Pol Lt Col Weerawat Jantarawichit of the Phuket Town Police told the Gazette that at around 10 am yesterday, officers received a phone call from someone living in the area informing them that the body of a man had been found near…
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Crime statistics for July released
PHUKET: District patrolmen and crime suppression officers arrested more than 300 people for various crimes during the month of July. Gambling once again topped the monthly crime statistics released today by Phuket Provincial Police. 202 people were arrested for gambling in the course of 109 raids. Narcotics arrests were next on the list, with 129 defendants arrested in 106 cases.…
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Storms contribute to fatal traffic accident
PHUKET TOWN: Two people were killed in a weather-related traffic accident on the bypass road Saturday night. Pol Maj Pitsanoo Poolwong of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that the deaths occurred when a Toyota pick-up truck was involved in a collision with a bus coming in the opposite direction around midnight. Maj Pitsanoo said that the accident occurred…
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Tropical Storm Graeme rattles Phuket
PHUKET: Amorn Chantanavivate, Director of the Southwestern Regional Meteorological Center, told the Gazette today that the heavy downpours in southern Thailand over the last four days were being caused by a southwesterly monsoon named Tropical Storm Graeme. TS Graeme was created when a low-pressure system from the South China Sea developed into a depression, causing heavy rains and strong winds…
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Torso found on Kamala Beach
KAMALA: The torso of an unidentified man was found on the beach in front of the Muslim cemetery in Kamala this morning. Pol Capt Boonlert Onklang of Kathu Police station said police were summoned by a villager who owns a restaurant in the area, and who found the torso. “The body was completely rotten and the arms, legs, and head…
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Phuket Gazette under investigation
PHUKET TOWN: Investigators from the Tourist Police and the Phuket Provincial Employment Service Office (ESO) spent this afternoon at the offices of the Phuket Gazette, probing into an allegation that the newspaper employs numerous foreigners without work permits. The allegation was made in a letter to the Tourist Police signed by “Jobless Graduate”. The writer complained that he or she…
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Hotels move to block provincial tax
PHUKET: The Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) and the island’s Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) appeared today to be on a collision course over a proposed new tax on hotel rooms. According to the Provincial Administration Organization Act of 1997, any OrBorJor may collect a tax equivalent to as much as 5% of room revenue from all forms of accommodation in its…
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Robbery gangs stab two
PHUKET TOWN: Two Thai men were stabbed and nearly died in separate robbery attempts by teenage gangsters early yesterday morning. The incidents both occurred between 2 and 3 am, one in Saphan Hin, and the other in Koh Sirei port. Police said that in the first incident Chaiyot Mookdasakulpiman, 18, was walking along the Bangyai canal near his home in…
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Blue suede dudes
BANGKOK (AFP): The largest-ever gathering of Thai Elvis impersonators rocked a packed auditorium here last night in a sign of the growing popularity of “The King” in Bangkok, 23 years after his death. During a five-hour show, Thai Elvis impersonators, including one who has been performing since the late 1950s, sang tunes ranging from standards such as “Jailhouse Rock” to…
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Swede dies after stabbing
PATONG: Stig Gustaf Mörk, 57, a Swede living in Patong, died on Friday morning of massive blood loss, after being stabbed the evening before. Pol Col Kokiat Wongvorachart, superintendent of Kathu police Station, said that Mr Mörk was stabbed by his girlfriend, Ranthom Namyoo, 37, from Supan Buri. Col Kokiat said that according to a confession Ranthom made to the…
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11 bars face charges after raids
PHUKET TOWN: Eleven pubs and restaurants were today charged with a variety of offenses after raids by 120 Phuket Town police officers early yesterday morning. Four establishments – Kon Tid Din Pub, Kung Ja Restaurant, Studio Pub, and Rong-Tium Pub – were charged with allowing entry to people under the age of 18. Suan Ahan Pae-Tai Restaurant was charged with…
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Police raid bars and clubs
PHUKET TOWN: Police launched a series of raids early this morning, aimed at catching bars and clubs breaking various laws. Pol Lt Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, deputy superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that 120 officers were sent out on the raids, targeting bars and clubs that allow entry to people under 18 years old, that stay open…
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Ladies-only bus service set up
PHUKET TOWN: A local company has started a bus service exclusively for women on the long distance route between Phuket and Bangkok. Phuket Travel plans to do 14 trial runs of the “ladies bus” during the month of August. The company has provided this service for the past two months, but few people know that it is available. However, most…
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Phuket Tourism Association elects new president
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) has finally elected a new president at a meeting held Tuesday evening at the Phuket Merlin Hotel. Sombat Atiset, managing director of Kata Thani Hotel & Beach Resort, was elected by the majority of eligible voters. K. Sombat said that the first issue the PTA will address is the hotel tax, which will…
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Sanan quits party post after conviction for graft
BANGKOK, Aug 10 (AFP) – Thailand’s former interior minister Sanan Kachornprasart Thursday resigned as secretary general of the ruling Democrat party, hours after the Constitutional Court found him guilty of corruption. “I listened to the court’s verdict with respect, and I do not regret the verdict. I accept the court’s decision,” he said in a statement read out by government…
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Three die in motorcycle accidents
PHUKET TOWN: Three people were killed in three separate motorcycle accidents early this morning. Pol Capt Pairin Jamjumrat of the Phuket Town police station told the Gazette that the accidents all occurred during heavy rains at around 4 am. The first crash occurred in front of the Tourism Authority of Thailand office on Phuket Rd. Sompornrat Pinprasert, 16, and Mala…
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OrBorJor to take over local bus service
PHUKET TOWN: Dr Prasit Koysiripong, President of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), announced last week that the OrBorJor has decided to take over the operation of a new local bus service. In May, PB Holdings pulled out of the venture as the company believed it could not survive with passenger fares restricted to 10 baht. The restriction was stipulated in…
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Sapan Hin murder victim identified
PHUKET: The identity of a man who was found dead in Saphan Hin on Saturday evening, July 29, has now been established. The murder victim has been identified as Chin Lueyot, 33, a Phuket-based long tail boat driver. Last week, Tanakarn Wareethip, a construction worker from Tambon Rasada and a friend of Khun Chin, saw a picture in a local…
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Air passengers surpass year-ago figure
PHUKET: Heartening news for the low season comes with the latest monthly figures issued by Phuket International Airport. These show an 8.73% rise in passengers using the airport, compared with June 1999. The statistics show that 208,426 passengers went through the airport in June of this year, compared with 191,698 in the same month last year. Due primarily to an…
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Village chief smoked out by police
CHALONG: Sema Adhan, a village headman in Chalong, was arrested for possession of marijuana at his home yesterday. Pol Capt Chana Suthimas of Chalong Police Station said an informer told police yesterday that there was marijuana hidden in a house in Chalong. In the process of acquiring a search warrant, police investigators found that the house belonged to Sema, who…
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Tourist guide nabbed for passing phoney bill
CHALONG: After arresting Viroj Chookrue, a Thai photographer, on counterfeiting charges three days ago, Chalong police arrested the man who they suspect gave the money to him. Porramet Thongton, a 28-year-old tourist guide, was arrested yesterday on counterfeiting charges after Viroj told police that Porramet had given him a phoney $50 bill. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station…
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Abandoned baby found in field
KATHU: A baby boy, estimated to be only three days old, was found abandoned in a field used by a driver’s training school in Kathu yesterday morning. Pol Capt Theerarat Choychanchaikul, of Thung Thong Sub-District Police Station, said the baby was found wrapped in a towel inside a black leather bag. The bag had been placed on the ground next…
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Beach tar not really a hazard, say officials
NAI YANG: In response to complaints from both tourists and Thais about tar washing up on Phuket’s beaches, a team of local government officials and environmental experts investigated the problem at Nai Yang Beach yesterday. The investigation was led by the Phuket Health Office and the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) at the request of Phuket Governor Charnchai Soontharamut. Phuket…
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Chinese minister to visit Phuket
PHUKET: Chen Changzhi, Vice Minister of the ‘Ministry of Inspection’ of The Peoples Republic of China, will arrive in Phuket tomorrow for a personal visit. Mr Chen and his entourage will stay at the five-star Le Meridien Phuket on Relax Bay. Scheduled excursions for the group include Krabi and Phang Nga Bay National Park. They also plan to visit Phuket…
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PPEA announces blackouts for August
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has announced scheduled blackouts for the month of August. The PPEA will be clearing tree branches and adding covers to the electric lines in these areas. On all days listed, the blackout will extend from 9 am to 4 pm. August 3: from Phuket Town Municipality to SU Garage, including Surin Rd; some…
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Murder victim found in Saphan Hin
PHUKET: A man was found murdered in Saphan Hin, Phuket Town, on Saturday evening. Police have not yet been able to confirm whether he is Thai or Burmese. Police said the victim died of blood loss from stab wounds to his face. Other wounds on his body indicated that he had been involved in a fight. Pol Capt Pin Inmak…
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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