Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Phuket officials probe ‘extra-large’ condo scandal
A major investigation is underway in Phuket as officials probe two controversial condominium developments in Cherng Talay. The projects, described as “extra-large,” have raised legal and environmental concerns, prompting high-level scrutiny from the Ministry of Interior. Leading the charge is Supoj Rotruang Na Nongkhai, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Interior, who is conducting a two-day inspection on the island.…
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Phuket Airport immigration chief transferred amid nepotism claims
Police Colonel Padthongtew Damapong, chief of Phuket Airport Immigration, has been promoted to head Nonthaburi Immigration, part of the Greater Bangkok area after only ten months. The move, which follows another fast-tracked promotion just 10 months earlier, raised eyebrows due to his high-profile family connections. Pol. Col. Padthongtew is the nephew of Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra, the ex-wife of former…
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Phuket taxi driver’s dash after runaway Russian fare dodgers
A Thai taxi driver chased after a Russian couple who allegedly fled without paying their fare upon arriving at their destination in Phuket. The couple still refused to settle the bill after the driver caught up with them. The Phuket Times shared pictures and a video of the argument between the Russian couple and the Thai taxi driver today, March…
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Fast & felonious: Patong car thief caught after high-speed chase
A brazen thief who stole a car from Patong beachfront on Sunday night was caught just hours later in Chumphon province following a high-speed police chase across multiple jurisdictions. The 32 year old Thai suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested at 1.10am on Monday, March 3 at the Baan Phala checkpoint in Chumphon. His capture was the…
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Search continues for missing American tourist in Patong Bay
Patong police have confirmed that they are continuing the search for a missing American tourist, despite reducing the scale of operations since her disappearance five days ago in Patong Bay. Nina Ng, a 38 year old New Yorker, was last observed removing her life jacket and entering the water from a hired jet ski approximately 1 kilometre from Patong Beach…
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Motorcycle clash in Phuket ends in fatal knife fight
A minor motorcycle collision in Wichit escalated into a deadly knife fight, leaving one man dead and three others injured. Police are now investigating the violent altercation that unfolded yesterday, March 3. Wichit Police responded to reports of a knife attack outside a house in Soi 3, Irrawaddy 1, at around 10pm. They arrived to find 37 year old Pornpot…
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Phuket Heroines Festival to feature epic historical drama
Phuket is gearing up for an unforgettable Heroines Festival 2025, with Thai actresses Anyarin “Tubtim” Terathananpat and Kessarin “Nui” Ektawatkul set to take centre stage in a dramatic re-enactment of the island’s most legendary battle. The two leading ladies were officially announced at a press conference on March 2 at the Chartered Bank intersection in Phuket Town, presided over by…
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Phuket loan sharks busted for 50% interest rate scam
Two men running an illegal loan shark operation in Phuket have been arrested after allegedly extorting desperate borrowers with sky-high interest rates. Their arrests come as part of a nationwide crackdown on unlawful debt practices and predatory lending. Phuket Immigration officers, working alongside the Immigration Bureau’s Crime Suppression Division 8 and Immigration Bureau 6, swooped in last Thursday, February 27,…
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Phuket locals demand action against foreign beggars targeting tourists
Locals in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket demanded official action against foreign beggars asking for money from tourists, fearing a negative impact on the province’s reputation. Newshawk Phuket shared a video yesterday, March 3, showing one of two foreign women asking a foreign man for money. The page reported that the incident took place in the Patong area of Phuket…
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Airport van crashes into traffic pole in Phuket smash
A terrifying crash in Phuket last night left a van driver trapped inside his mangled vehicle after it veered out of control and slammed into a traffic sign and an electric pole. The dramatic accident unfolded on Srisoonthorn Road, near the entrance to Wat Manik, at around 7.20pm yesterday, March 3. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to find the…
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Russian man found dead in Phuket, police investigate possible drug link
Phuket City police are investigating the death of a 41 year old Russian man whose body was discovered at a residence in Koh Kaew. Police Lieutenant Saruta Phumduang, the Deputy Chief of Investigation at Phuket City Police, was informed of the incident around 8pm, yesterday evening, March 2, prompting the deployment of officers to the location. Forensic experts from Vachira…
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Mentally ill Phuket man attacks mother, slits local’s throat
A mentally ill man in Phuket attacked his mother before attempting to slit another man’s throat with a box cutter in east Phuket Town on February 28, leaving locals in shock. The incident occurred near a local mosque. According to reports, the suspect, 35 year old Sansern Sa-at, first attacked his mother before turning his aggression toward 64 year old…
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2 foreign couples exposed for dine and dash at Phuket restaurants
Two Thai restaurant owners took to social media to expose two foreign couples for committing dine and dash offences at their establishments in Phuket last week. A female Thai restaurant owner, Narissara O OOp, shared a post on her Facebook account on February 28 condemning two foreigners for their fraudulent act and warning other restaurants to be cautious of the…
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Kata landslide inquiry faces delays, further interviews planned for March
The inquiry into the landslide in Kata that resulted in 13 fatalities and numerous injuries in August last year has encountered delays. Karon police require further interviews with victims and witnesses due to the significant damage. Officers have arranged additional questioning for March 5, with witnesses also expected to provide more statements. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ekkasak Kwanwan, Senior Inspector (Investigation)…
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Phuket tightens immigration checks amid illegal work, drug concerns
Phuket, in collaboration with international consulates, is intensifying its immigration checks and efforts to combat illegal activities due to a rise in drug-related offences and the presence of foreigners working without proper documentation on the island. Last year, 194 foreigners had their visas revoked, and 998 faced deportation in Phuket for activities primarily linked to drugs and working without valid…
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Phuket to host Thailand Biennale 2025, showcasing global art
Phuket is set to become a global art hotspot as the Thailand Biennale 2025 gears up to showcase a fusion of contemporary creativity and natural beauty. The Ministry of Culture officially launched the event’s first group of participating artists during a press conference at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on Thursday, February 27. With the theme Eternity, the international…
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Netizens condemn foreign motorists for reckless driving in Phuket
A Thai man took to TikTok to condemn foreign motorists for reckless driving after a foreign motorcyclist collided with another foreigner’s hatchback on a road in Phuket. The Thai motorist shared dashcam footage of the accident on his TikTok account, @ram_cream, yesterday, February 27. In the video caption, he criticised the foreign motorists and government officials. “#WakeUp. When will Phuket…
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Chinese couple busted at Phuket condo for illegal business
A Chinese couple was arrested yesterday in a dramatic raid at a luxury condominium in Kathu, Phuket for allegedly operating an illegal business in Thailand. Phuket Immigration, working with the Investigation Unit of the Crime Suppression Division 3 and Region 8 Crime Suppression Division, swooped on the couple’s lavish hideout at 11.30am, yesterday, February 27, catching them by surprise. The…
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Phuket petrol station refuses rider’s coin payment
A delivery rider in Phuket encountered a surprising situation at a petrol station when his attempt to pay with coins was rejected. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต highlighted the incident yesterday involving a rider named Bob, who faced refusal from an older attendant while trying to refuel his motorcycle. The rider expressed his frustration, stating he regularly refuels at the…
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Search underway for missing American woman in Phuket
A jet ski rental operator on Patong Beach in Phuket contacted the police yesterday after an American woman went missing, leaving the rented jet ski floating in the sea. The operator reported the incident to Patong Police Station at approximately 11.25am, yesterday, February 27, stating that the foreign woman, later identified as 38 year old American citizen Nina Ng, disappeared.…
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Man seeks identity of foreign motorcyclist after hit-and-run in Phuket
Yesterday, February 26, a Thai man was a victim of a hit-and-run by a foreigner in Phuket as he was making a U-turn. The man took to social media to seek the identity of the foreign motorcyclist, urging those in the area to share their dashcam footage if possible. The Thai man urged the Facebook news page Newshawk Phuket to…
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Phuket crackdown: 11 arrested in nominee business scam
Phuket Immigration has launched a major crackdown on illegal nominee businesses, leading to the arrest of 11 foreigners and the seizure of substantial evidence. The coordinated raids targeted 15 suspected businesses across the island, exposing a network of foreign nationals allegedly using Thai nominees to operate prohibited enterprises. The large-scale operation was led by Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying, head of…
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Phuket officials under fire: Ombudsman probes corruption claims
Allegations of corruption and negligence are rocking Phuket as Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Ombudsman, Khanitnan Aphicharn, arrived to investigate a series of complaints against local officials accused of turning a blind eye to illegal activities. The explosive allegations were discussed at a high-stakes meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, February 24, chaired by Phuket Vice Governor…
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Phuket hotel project halted after environmental concerns raised
A controversial hotel project in Cherng Talay’s Pasak Soi 6 has been halted after outraged residents pressured officials to review its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), citing concerns about transparency, zoning violations, and environmental damage. The proposed Nebu Hotel, set to be a seven-storey building on a small 1,200-square-metre plot, was planned in a Yellow Zone designated for low-density residential use.…
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Billion-baht business bust: 2 Chinese arrested in Phuket
In a massive crackdown on illegal business operations, two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket for using Thai nominees to conceal ownership of multiple lucrative ventures, including restaurants, international schools, hotels, car rentals, condominiums, and luxury villas. The duo’s investments were valued at approximately 1 billion baht, with 4.1 million baht in cash seized during the arrests for further investigation,…
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Phuket meeting targets land disputes and environmental issues
Phuket’s top officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 25, to confront the island’s escalating land disputes and environmental challenges. The high-stakes meeting, led by Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, aimed to tackle the complex issues of land encroachment, overlapping claims, and environmental degradation, all of which threaten the island’s sustainability. The meeting was attended by heavyweights in the…
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Washed up: Garbage crisis floods Phuket’s Sirinat National Park
Sirinat National Park on Phuket’s northeast coast is drowning in garbage, sparking serious concerns among officials and locals. The mounting waste problem has reached alarming levels, with 200 to 300 kilogrammes of trash generated daily but left uncollected due to limited resources, according to Park Chief Siriwat Suebsai. The shocking revelation emerged during a visit by the House of Representatives…
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Tourists attacked on Bangla Road, police hunt for security guard
A wild night on Bangla Road turned violent when two foreign tourists were brutally assaulted by at least one security guard, leaving them injured and shaken. The shocking incident occurred in the early hours of today, February 25, prompting a swift response from Patong Police who are now hunting for the attacker. The two victims were identified as 24 year…
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Island crackdown: Phuket ups the ante on illegal foreign workers
Phuket officials announced they are getting tough on the wave of illegal foreign workers casting a shadow on the island’s paradise status. A high-stakes meeting unfolded at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 24, spearheaded by Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri. Power players in attendance included Worawan Waritphuttimeth, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, and Phichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket…
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3 Thais, 1 foreigner arrested for kidnapping 2 Vietnamese men
Police arrested three Thai men and one foreigner after the gang attempted to kidnap two Vietnamese men for ransom on Kho Simbi Road in Phuket at the weekend. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station were alerted to the kidnapping at 11.46pm on Saturday, February 22, by a friend of the Vietnamese victims. The two Vietnamese nationals, 40 year old Van…
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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