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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Robbers beat shop owner, steal 600,000 baht
PHUKET TOWN: Two armed thieves held up a woman in her shop on Ong Sim Phai Rd late Saturday night and stole 600,000 baht, a gold chain worth about 6,000 baht, and a mobile phone. They then pistol-whipped the woman and her niece, who arrived on the scene just as the robbers were completing their work. Pol Lt Parichat Jaturonpan…
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Aussie soldiers massacre Gazettes 45-0
PHUKET TOWN: Despite concerted efforts to reduce their opponents’ fitness by feeding them copious amounts of amber liquid the night before, the Phuket Gazettes rugby team were unable to withstand an Australian Army onslaught on Saturday, and were massacred 45-0. After the 15-a-side match at the Saphan Hin stadium, Gazettes skipper Patrick Cotter was gracious in defeat. “It was a…
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University lecturer charged with murder
BANGKOK (AFP): A Japanese-American university lecturer has been arrested on charges of murdering his Thai girlfriend and dumping her body into a river, police in Bangkok said yesterday. The man, identified by police as Michael Yoshinaka, 34, a teacher at a university in California, was arrested in a hotel on Friday night. They said a gold ring belonging to his…
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Two tourists killed, two hurt in van crash
CHIANG MAI (AFP): Two British tourists were killed and a Dutchman was injured this afternoon when a van crashed near a mountain-top retreat in northern Thailand. According to police, the accident happened when the van, hired by a tour company, went into a spin on a mountain road and hit crash barriers in northern Chiang Mai province, 700 kilometres (420…
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Father and son arrested for selling ya bah
PHUKET: A father and son were arrested in Phuket Town yesterday for selling ya bah. Pol Capt Anukul Nuekate of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that his officers had received a report that people in a house on Phuket Road had been using ya bah and selling it for a long time. They raided the house. In it…
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Hospital director appeals for funds
PATONG: Dr Taweesak Netwong, the director of Patong Hospital, has appealed to the public to donate funds to help him in his plans to create Thailand’s first state-owned “international” hospital. Dr Taweesak told the Gazette that since Patong is in a unique location which requires it to deal with more tourists than any other hospital in Phuket, it needs upgrading.…
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Patong parking plan postponed
PATONG: Patong Municipality will be unable to collect parking fees until at least December 1 because it has been unable to find enough people to do the collecting. The chief of the Patong Treasury Department, Poom Tapnarong, told the Gazette this afternoon that there have been only 11 applicants for the 25 vacancies for parking fee collectors. The big problem,…
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Phuket expels illegal immigrants
PHUKET TOWN: A total of 72 illegal immigrants – 28 Burmese laborers and 44 Cambodian beggars – were sent back to their countries from Phuket today. The Burmese were sent to Ranong while the Cambodians were trucked to Aranyaprathet. All the Burmese were adults, but 30 of the Cambodians were children, and many of the 14 adults were handicapped. The…
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Car rental owner gives evidence in murder trial
PHUKET: Prayoon Trongpeng, owner of a car and motorbike rental business, appeared in court yesterday morning as a witness in the ongoing trial of two people accused of participation in the murder of Briton Roger Jennings. Mr Jennings died after being stabbed 19 times in his Patong home on December 15, 1997. On trial are his common-law wife, Nongnut Tungkaburi,…
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Immigration Police crack the whip on foreigners
PHUKET: In a move reminiscent of the darker passages of a Kafka novel, Immigration Police in the province are visiting foreigners’ homes and demanding to see passports and visas. They say they plan to check up on every foreigner’s residential and work address every 90 days. The visits, which have raised the specter of a police state, have outraged a…
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Ozzies take three of four Laguna Triathlon titles
BANGTAO: Australian Marc Lees returned to reinforce his dominance of the Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon with another triumph in the event this year. His win of 2:29:45 h over nearest rivals New Zealander John Newsom (2:30:26 h) and Canadian Peter Reid (2:31:00 h) was not unexpected. But the 27-year-old pro confessed he was not cruising. “It was a hard…
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Blue Canyon nominated for Hertz awards
PHUKET: Blue Canyon Country Club is one of six resorts in the region nominated for the titles of “Asia-Pacific Golf Resort of The Year” and “Asia-Pacific Golf Course of the Year” in the prestigious Hertz International Golf Travel Awards 2000. Only one other Thai golf club, the Laem Chabang International Country Club, received a nomination, in the golf course of…
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Bank loses B350,000 to theft in car park
PHUKET: Nearly 350,000 baht was stolen from a vehicle in the Lotus superstore parking lot on Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle belonged to a senior bank employee. Pol Maj Amnaun Kraiwutthinan of Phuket Town Police Station told the Gazette that Vinai Wongkampoo, assistant manager at the Phuket Branch of Bank Thai (formerly the Saha Bank), and Urai Taweekul, a co-worker, had…
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Norwegian tourist killed in bike crash
PHUKET TOWN: A Norwegian tourist died in a motorbike crash on Tuesday, the day he arrived to begin his holiday in Phuket. The dead man, named by police as Aunrik Hakon, 40, was involved in an accident just before 11 pm in front of the Prasat Witthaya School on Wichit Rd. Police believe that Mr Hakon, who was staying at…
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Wachira renews appeal for Type A+ blood
PHUKET: Type A+ blood is still urgently needed at Wachira Hospital for a young man undergoing a series of operations after a horrific motorbike accident. Pillion rider Chanthit Suthitantayaporn, 22, was thrown from the bike when the driver braked violently for a red light. The rider received minor cuts on his head and chin, but Chanthit suffered severe head and…
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Fast Eddy wins Patong mini-marathon
PATONG: “Fast Eddy” Ou of the Hash House Harriers made it two years in a row when he won the “Fun Run” Mini-Marathon held to mark the beginning of the tourist season on Monday. Fewer than 50 runners took part in the 16-km race which went from the football field on Thaweewong Road to the Karon traffic circle and back.…
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France wins Junior Pétanque Championships
SAPHAN HIN: France on Sunday recaptured the Seventh World Junior Pétanque Championship title after a lapse of six years, with a convincing 15-6 win over Switzerland. The French team – Ludovic Labrue, 17, Alexandre Ruffo, 17, Romaine Scultore, 15, and Nicolas Taviand, 17 – used a variety of strategic moves in “pointing” and “shooting” that experts agreed showed maturity beyond…
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City’s water to be suspended on Thursday
PHUKET TOWN: The town’s water supply will be suspended for 15 hours on Thursday (4 November) so that tanks at the waterworks can be cleaned, the Municipality announced yesterday. Mayor Phumisak Hongyok said that supply will be suspended from 9 am to midnight. He advised anyone using mains water to ensure that they keep an adequate supply in their homes…
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Hot competition in Junior X-Games
PATONG: Today’s ESPN/Junior X-Games semi-finals saw tough competition, especially in the sport climbing – bouldering category. Pipoy Cosculluesia and Tagoy Ledesma from the Philippines, Kim Dae Yaob from South Korea and Michael Foo from Malaysia topped the event, each clearing the two routes on their first try. In the female category of the same event, Shaina Gu from Taiwan and…
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Four crushed to death in truck accident
CHALONG: Four construction workers from Phuket were crushed to death and two others were seriously hurt when a 10-wheel truck crashed on Patak Rd in Karon on Saturday. Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that the truck was carrying a 3½-ton excavator as well as 10 construction workers, four in the cab with the driver…
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Lotus road chaos “could last a month’ – police
SAM KONG: With traffic backed up in all four directions at the ‘Lotus intersection’ again last night, Phuketians are getting a good taste of motoring Bangkok-style. The narrow Phra Phuket Rd, running east from the notorious junction with the Bypass Rd, was blocked all the way to the traffic lights at Yaowarat Rd, a distance of close to two kilometers.…
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Home-owners catch burglary suspect
CHALONG: Police have asked foreigners who have lost safes, cash, jewelry and other property in burglaries over the past 18 months to contact them. The call came after the arrest of a man they believe was responsible for raiding at least four foreigners’ homes in the Nai Harn area, and who appears to be connected also to a spate of…
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Drug cases top crime league
PHUKET: Drug cases overtook gambling in the first three weeks of this month in the list of crimes reported. However, gamblers once again topped the league for the number of people arrested. The Phuket Provincial Office reported 64 cases or drug possession or trafficking between October 1 and 21, with 69 people arrested. Cases involving ya bah, which are counted…
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Airport much busier than last year
PHUKET: If figures just issued by the Phuket International Airport are anything to go by, this year’s high season could be another big one. The numbers for September show that 210, 343 passengers arrived or departed through the airport, an increase of more than 7% on the same month last year. Although passengers on domestic flights totaled 131,443, a decrease…
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Lotus opening creates massive traffic jams
PHUKET: Lotus yesterday opened its new super store on the edge of Phuket Town, the company’s 17th in Thailand. The “soft” opening caused huge traffic jams in all direction as shoppers rushed to check the place out. Grinning widely, Gwyn Sundhagul, Senior Vice President of Operations, admitted that the company, which is majority-owned by British retailing giant Tesco, had underestimated…
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Businesses help tax office stay on track
PHUKET: With 11 months of the taxman’s year complete, The Phuket Provincial Revenue Office reports that collections are up very slightly compared with the same period last year. There have been significant falls in VAT revenue, down 47 million baht; in Specific Business Tax (mostly from banks and finance companies), which fell 32 million baht; and in Personal Income Tax,…
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Taiwan team wins Phuket Soccer Cup
KO KAEW: The Kaohsiung 100 Pacers set a pace that proved too hot for the Lions Singapore in the finals of the 1999 Phuket International Football Cup at Dulwich International College last weekend. The Lions had no chance to respond to the Pacers’ 1-0 lead by half-time. And when the Pacers slammed home another in the last few minutes of…
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14 hurt as police turn dogs on tapioca protest
BANGKOK (AFP): Fourteen people were injured today when riot police turned dogs on thousands of tapioca farmers blockading Government House in Bangkok. Witnesses said police moved to break up the protest after demonstrators, who have been surrounding government offices for 24 hours, crossed a bridge leading to the entrance of the building. Dog handlers advanced on a line of women…
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Last call for listings for local “yellow’ pages
PHUKET TOWN: The deadline for listings in the Year 2000 Gazette Guide is 5 pm, Friday, November 12. Local businesses are urged to enter (or check/update) their listings by going to https://thethaiger.com/guide/form.asp as soon as possible before that date. Listings, or alterations to listings, received after the deadline will not appear in the 2000 Gazette Guide, (although they will be…
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Drug suspects “attempted to bribe police’
PHUKET TOWN: Two alleged ya bah dealers arrested by Phuket Town police on Friday got themselves into even bigger trouble when they tried to bribe officers to release them. Pol Maj Prakarn Permwassana, inspector of the Phuket Town investigation team, told the Gazette that officers had received information that ya bah dealers were due in town, that they would be…
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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