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.
-
Sponsored
Siam Paragon and Bangkok Pride proudly celebrates Pride Month from May 31 – June 4, 2024
To mark Pride Month and Thailnd’s milestone of being the first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage, Siam Paragon, a top-of-mind global destination, for Thais and international visitors, in collaboration with Bangkok Pride proudly supports and empowers the diversity,...
-
Fire destroys plastic water pipes in Rassada
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Kritsada Mueanhawong & Newshawk Phuket Last evening (Monday) a fire swept through a storage area for huge pipes in Rassada which were to be used for the Phuket City Municipality flood problem-solving project. No injuries was reported as the blaze engulfed the storage area. At about 6.30pm, at the rear of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (OrBorJor)…
-
Phuket Administrative Court officially opens
The Phuket Administrative Court has been officially opened which provide service for the Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong and Phuket provinces. The Administrative Courts adjudicate on cases relating to people and private business versus state-run departments, enterprises and political entities. The official launch ceremony was held this morning at the new Phuket Administrative Court in Mai Khao and led by Piya…
-
Police hunt for suspects after an early morning car chase around Phuket
Phuket police are now hunting for suspects who broke through a checkpoint in Rassada and then abandoned their car in Chalong early this morning. The Phuket City Police set up a routine checkpoint at 2am on Rassada Nusorn Road in Rassada. A Lop Buri licensed sedan approached the checkpoint but slowly turned back and sped away. The car then collided…
-
Two injured after car overturns and hits a bridge
Two people have sustained injuries after their car overturned, colliding with a bridge and mains water pipe in Chalong early this morning. The Chalong Police were notified about the accident at 2am today. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged Honda Jazz car overturned at the bridge on Chao Fa East Road in Chalong. The driver and passenger…
-
Heavy rain in spots around the country until Monday
Residents in the Central, East and the South, including Bangkok and suburbs, are being warned to brace themselves for heavy rains from tomorrow until Monday. In a first warning issued at 11am this morning, the TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) said that heavy rains would hitting the forecast areas due to a low-pressure cell over the lower South China Sea. They…
-
Suspect arrested in Phuket over 11 year old murder case
Phuket police yesterday arrested a suspect in Phuket who was allegedly involved in a police killing in Phattalung 11 years ago. On May 10, 2007, 37 year old Maj Wuttichai Jantakan, who was stationed at Tung Tam Sao Police in Hatyai, Songkhla, was murdered in Pattalung. Slash wounds were found on his neck and a bullet wound was found on…
-
Evidence of Maya Bay recovery
Blacktip reef sharks have been spotted at the recovering Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley today. This morning official at the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park reported that many Blacktip reef sharks were discovered swimming just off the beach in Maya Bay. They said it was a good sign of the improving biological system. The famous…
-
Environmental Impact Report for the Ao Kung marina project withdrawn
The Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) of the proposed Ao Kung Marina project has been withdrawn after most locals rejected the idea of the project. The issue of potential damage to coral reefs was raised after local residents near Koh Hei, in the Ao Kung area of Paklok, was brought up with the Phuket Governor during the earlier phases of…
-
More cocaine being discovered in Patong
More cocaine has been discovered in Patong while more heroin has been seized in a major crackdown on ‘hard’ drugs. Police and authorities say they are concerned about the rise in drug seizures and the amounts flowing around Phuket’s seaside party town. Phuket Vice Governor Supot Rodrueang Na Nong Khai says, “Nowadays drugs price have decreased, especially the cost of…
-
Woman stages an accident and lies to police about gold theft
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket A woman has confessed to lying to police about two thieves that snatched her gold necklace and bracelet on Sakdidet Road in Wichit. On Tuesday, ‘Newshawk Phuket’ reported that two thieves snatched the gold necklace and bracelet weighing around 30g of gold, worth 40,000 baht, on Sakdidet Road in Wichit. Patrol police arrived at the scene to…
-
Final night of Vegetarian Festival in Phuket – Photo montage
The final night of the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town is one of the most exciting, out-of-control, intense and noisy public events in the world. It’s also very dangerous. But, somehow, the participants, mostly, remain unscathed by the sense-assaulting final night activities which sends the nine emperor gods back to their home in the skies. For three hours firecrackers…
-
Maya Bay recovering says marine biologist
Marine biologist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says Maya Bay is starting to recover after many Blacktip reef sharks were found swimming around yesterday. Dr Thon has commented on a video showing the Blacktip reef sharks found swimming near the shores of Maya Bay yesterday, “I have seen them about 2-3 times in the past week that I have been there. This…
-
Fake goods seized and two arrested at Patong market
Soon we’ll all have to buy the ‘real’ branded items as the fakes are getting more difficult to find. The authorities and vendors continue to play a cat and mouse game in the ‘intellectual property’ crackdown. Officers yesterday raided another market in Patong and seized more than 4,000 counterfeit goods valued more than a million baht. A team of officers…
-
Leatherback turtles face extinction
by Pratch Rujivanarom It may be too late to save leatherback turtles from extinction in Thailand’s seas, as a legal deadlock prevents a conservation status upgrade to protect this critically endangered turtle species and three other rare marine animals. Wildlife conservationists are warning that the slow pace of stepping up the conservation of the leatherback turtle, whale shark, Bryde’s whale…
-
Can Thailand lure the Chinese back?
After half a decade of incredible growth in Chinese tourism to Thailand, the numbers are now in a tail-spin as numbers drop off around the country. With annual rises of 20-50% per annum for half a decade there has been a big drop off in the last quarter (Q3) of 2018. This is the key statistic as compiled in two…
-
Phuket Immigration wind up ‘Operation X-ray Outlaw Foreigner’ crackdown
Phuket Immigration officers say they’re committed to the national crackdown called Operation X-ray Out Law Foreigner, especially on overstayers. As a show of force yesterday, more than 252 officers from the Phuket Immigration Office, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, the Phuket Provincial Police, Highway Police, Tourist Police and Marine Police assembled at the Phuket City Police Station.…
-
Man kills himself outside his home in Thalang
A Thai man has shot himself at a house in Thalang today. When Police and rescue workers arrived at the Suppamas housing estate in Paklok about noon, they discovered the body of 66 year old Somnueak Chanapan, a former staff member of the Khao Phra Thaew Non Hunting Area, on a chair in front of the house. Bullet wounds were found on…
-
Tour operators boycott visits to Similan and Surin islands to protest new restrictions
The tour operators have had enough of the winding back of tour boat operations and are now resorting to boycotting and ‘disrupting’ the tours in order to get their protests heard. About 50 tour operators in Phuket and Phang nga say they’re suspending boat trips to Similan-Surin islands in the Andaman sea (off the coast of Phang-Nga) today and tomorrow…
-
Minivan driver escapes serious injury after colliding with an ice truck in Thalang
A minivan diver has escaped serious injury after colliding into the back of an ice truck yesterday in Thalang. Thalang Police were notified about the incident on Thepkrasattri Road, southbound, near the Srisoonthorn Temple (Wat Baan Pohn). Police and rescue workers arrived to find a minivan driver with the front almost totally destroyed. No passenger were inside the minivan at…
-
Similans re-open with tight new restrictions
by Pratch Rujivanarom The number of visitors to the Similan Islands will be capped at 3,850 people per day as part of new tourism management reforms to preserve the pristine natural beauty of the islands and promote sustainable eco-tourism. When Mu Koh Similan National Park reopens today, tourists will discover some changes on the islands; they will find more tranquil beaches…
-
Day 4 – Phuket Vegetarian Festival processions ramp up the ‘crazy’
PHOTO: At least he’s taking sun shade wherever he goes – Kritsada Mueanhawong It just gets crazier as the days go by. With the shackles off this year (last year the festivities were subdued due to the impending grand Funeral for HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej), the Vegetarian Festival is back up to full speed. The impression we get is that the…
-
Two escape serious injury when a truck overturned in Kamala
PHOTOS: Kamala Police Two people have escaped serious injury after the truck they were travelling in over-turned in Kamala this afternoon. Kamala Police were notified of the accident around 2 pm. Police arrived to find the six wheeler truck over-turned on the side of the road. The truck driver was named by police as 37 year old Somchai Chueaput from Nakhon…
-
Maya Bay coral “far from ready”
by Pratch Rujivanrom The corals at Maya Bay are not strong enough yet to withstand the influx of visitors. This latest from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) explaining reasons for the indefinite closure of the bay. Though the iconic tourist attraction in Krabi’s Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park has been off limits for…
-
Phuket Vegetarian processions continue – Day Three
The Phuket vegetarian street processions continue to amaze, thrill and scare spectators. Thais, expats and foreign tourists are enjoyed watching and participating in some of the processions on day three. The festival will run until October 17 this year. Read more about the launch of this year’s vegetarian festival HERE. Today was the third day of street processions around Phuket Town.…
-
Million baht of counterfeit and prohibited goods destroyed
Fake goods, real machine to destroy it all. About 3,000 counterfeit items, valued at more than one million baht, including prohibited imported goods, have been torched at the incinerator in Phuket Town today. The destruction of the fake goods was held this afternoon and led by Phuket Customs Office Chief Kanjana Suwachino. Khun Kanjana says, “This is the final step in cases involving…
-
Power outage to hit parts of Karon
The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) says they’re going to have scheduled blackouts in Karon on October 16. Residents of Karon are being advised that there is a scheduled power outages on the day from 7am to 5pm as the PEA continues its work on high power voltage systems in the area. Areas to be effected are area in front…
-
Regular boat checks being enforced on Phuket
Thailand’s Marine Department says it has assigned more officers to check boats at every port and pier on Phuket. It’s part of a campaign to tighten regulations for tourist boats and also improve marine security after the tragic boat accident that killed 46 Chinese tourists in July. According to a report filed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand Newsroom, the…
-
UWC Thailand presents free screening of “SCREENAGERS”
In keeping with UWC Thailand’s (UWCT) commitment to helping students, parents and the wider community develop a ‘Good Heart, Balanced Mind, Healthy Body’, the school is hosting a complimentary showing of the internationally acclaimed film ‘Screenagers’ for families across Phuket on Friday, November 2 at 8:30am. In ‘Screenagers’, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Physician and filmmaker Dr.…
-
Body found floating at Phuket Beach
PHOTO: Kusoldarm Foundation An unidentified body has been found floating at Nai Thon Beach, on the northern coastline of Phuket. Sakoo Police were notified of the discovery from Nai Thon Beach lifeguards around 4pm yesterday (Wednesday). Police along with the Phuket Tourist Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of a foreign man who was only wearing swimwear.…
-
Phuket boys return tourist’s cash and belongings
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket Yesterday two Phuket boys did the right thing and returned a small bag to Police after they found it at Khao Kard – an Ao Yon viewpoint in Wichit. Wichit Patrol Police were delivered the bag by 14 year olds Peerayut Chaitin and Arneen Yukunthorn. They are both studying at Phuket Wittayalai School. Police say the boys…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.