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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Cement truck crash causes power outage in Cherng Talay
A cement truck en route to The Aqua project in Cherng Talay collided with a power pole early on January 25, causing a power and internet outage for residents. Cherng Talay Police responded to the incident near the Samnak Pathipatham Luang Pho Sompharong temple on Cherng Talay-Baan Don Road at approximately 6.15am. The driver, 31 year old Chanchai Daengphrom from…
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Foreign motorcyclist leaves 4,000 baht for injured Phuket man, then flees
A Thai mother is calling for justice after a foreign motorcyclist collided with her son’s motorcycle on a road in Phuket and fled the scene, leaving only 4,000 baht in compensation. The Thai victim sustained injuries, and his motorcycle was damaged in the incident. The mother reached out to the Facebook news page Phuket Times to seek justice for her…
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Phuket to use AI for traffic congestion relief amid road projects
Traffic Police in Phuket are looking to implement AI technology to alleviate congestion on the island until the completion of several major road projects. This initiative aims to optimise traffic flow through adaptive traffic control, similar to systems already in use in Bangkok. Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Major General Sinlert Sukhum, updated Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the island’s traffic…
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6 Britons arrested in Phuket with cannabis and laughing gas
In Phuket, six British nationals were detained following a police raid on a house in Mueang district where they were found with 6 kilogrammes of cannabis buds and 39 small tanks of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The raid, conducted on Thursday, January 23, discovered the group inside the property. Police confirmed the results of the operation yesterday.…
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Phuket’s future: Seminar tackles bold new environmental rules
Phuket’s business leaders and environmental experts gathered yesterday, January 23 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel for a pivotal seminar titled Unlocking the Phuket Environment: Crisis or Opportunity? Organised by the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and presided over by Chamber President Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, the event focused on the sweeping new environmental regulations announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and…
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Chinese duo nabbed in Phuket café lion cub photo scam
Two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket after allegedly using lion cubs to lure tourists to The Glass House Cafe and Space, charging them for photo sessions with the animals. The café, located on Ratsada-Anusorn Road in Ratsada, has a history of similar wildlife abuse scandals, including last year’s notorious incident involving a cub named Nong Kiwi. Armed with a…
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Phuket hosts landmark event for equal marriage registrations
Phuket hosted a groundbreaking event yesterday, January 23, marking a significant advance in the recognition of equal marriage registrations in Thailand. This event was part of the nationwide initiative, DOPA-Day One: Beating the Gong to Win All Love, and was held at the Bay Arena in Jungceylon shopping mall, Patong. The event saw 24 couples, including seven male-male and 14…
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Mammoth madness: Runaway elephant sparks chaos in Phuket
Panic swept through Cherng Talay in Phuket this morning as an escaped elephant roamed the village streets, prompting an urgent response from police and handlers. The drama began at around 10am when the elephant bolted from its camp, heading towards Cherng Talay Wittayakom School, with a scaffolding pole tangled around its neck. Witnesses reported minor damage to property, including a…
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Phuket party hub: Top official targets crime in Bangla Rd crackdown
Bangla Road in Patong was under scrutiny last night, January 22 as the Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), Chaiwat Junthiraphong, led a high-profile inspection to tackle crime and ensure public safety in Phuket’s nightlife hotspot. The initiative is part of a broader campaign to address critical issues threatening the province’s stability and tourism sector. The inspection focused…
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€100,000 reward offered in Dutchman’s mysterious death in Phuket
The chilling mystery surrounding the death of Dutch national Stephan Buczynski in Phuket 12 years ago has taken a dramatic turn, as the Peter R. de Vries Foundation announced a €100,000 reward (around 3.5 million baht) for any information leading to justice. Buczynski, only 26 years old at the time, was found dead in the waters off Patong Beach on…
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Russian tourist shot with rubber bullet in Phuket knife drama
Chaos erupted in Nai Yang, Phuket yesterday, January 21, as police resorted to using a rubber bullet to disarm a knife-wielding Russian woman in a bid to prevent self-harm. The shocking incident unfolded near Soi Nai Yang 16, sparking alarm among locals and tourists. The commotion began around 4pm when Sakhu Police received a call about a 55 year old…
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48 Rohingya migrants found in Phuket and Phang Nga
A group of 48 migrants, consisting of 19 men and 29 women, was taken into safe custody after being found walking along roads in northern Phuket and in Tha Nun, Phang Nga province, early yesterday, January 21. The group is believed to have travelled by boat from Bangladesh or Myanmar. Tha Chatchai police at the northern tip of Phuket were…
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Fiery destruction in Phuket leaves 29 homeless: Safety warning
A fire in Phuket’s Mueang district destroyed six rental homes and left 29 residents in urgent need of temporary shelter. The fire, which broke out yesterday, January 20, prompted the provincial governor to call for increased vigilance during the Chinese New Year festivities. Emergency services, including the Phuket Municipality’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, responded swiftly to the fire…
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Foreign motorcycle rider crashes on dangerous curve in Phuket
A foreign motorcycle rider lost control of the vehicle last night at a curve along Kalim Beach in Phuket, cutting off a Thai man’s car before crashing into a barrier and parked motorcycles. A Thai motorist shared a dash cam video of the accident yesterday, January 20, on Facebook account Mai All Star, with a caption that read… “A foreigner…
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3 foreigners arrested for drugs at Phuket EDC music festival
Police arrested three foreigners, a Japanese man, a Malaysian man, and a Burmese man, at the Electric Daisy Carnival Thailand 2025 (EDC Thailand 2025) in Phuket for possessing illegal drugs. The three-day music festival, EDC Thailand 2025, was held at the Boat Avenue Lakefront in the Choeng Thale district of Phuket, concluding on Sunday. While many partygoers and locals praised…
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2 Canadian men run police checkpoint, claim assault triggers escape
Two Canadian men ran a police checkpoint in the Patong to Karon area of Phuket on Sunday, January 19, claiming they were fleeing from attackers. Officers from Patong Police Station sought assistance from Karon Police Station to intercept the black Ford Raptor pickup truck, which sped through the checkpoint in Patong. A high-speed chase ensued, with police pursuing the Ford…
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Canadian pickup artist leaves Phuket in a tailspin
A Canadian man in a pickup truck yesterday led police on a dramatic, wild high-speed chase across Phuket, leaving a trail of damaged vehicles in his wake before being nabbed in Karon. The chaos kicked off at 4.45pm, yesterday, January 19, when Patong police were alerted to a fracas outside the Patong Condo Hotel. But just as they arrived on…
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Canadian and American men die after attending Phuket EDM music festival
Two foreign men, one Canadian and one American, tragically lost their lives after attending the Electric Daisy Carnival Thailand 2025 (EDC Thailand 2025) in Phuket on Saturday, January 18. The causes of their deaths are still under investigation. The music festival that most Thais and foreigners in Phuket were looking forward to joining took place between January 17-19 at the…
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Fire devastates Chalong camp, damages worth hundreds of thousands of baht
A fire erupted at a workers’ camp in Soi Ruamjai Uthit, Moo 10, Chalong, early yesterday, January 18, resulting in extensive damage valued at over 100,000 baht. Chalong Municipality was notified around 9am by Chalong Police Station, leading to an immediate response from the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Division. Local council members, along with heads of government departments, joined firefighting…
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Phuket honours teachers with National Teacher’s Day celebration
Phuket officials commemorated the 69th Teachers’ Day, also known as Wai Khru Day, with an event at Phuket Wittayalai School on Thursday, January 16, honouring educators for their vital role in shaping Thai education. Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai led the event, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education Region 6 Office, the Culture Office of Phuket,…
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Phuket man arrested for sexually exploiting young boys
The Phuket Provincial Administration Promotion Office arrested a Thai man for sexually assaulting more than 10 young boys and distributing explicit videos of the victims on X (formerly Twitter). More than 1,400 indecent videos were found in his possession. Officials received a tip-off from the non-governmental organisation Scientia that a 15 year old victim sought help from the organisation after…
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Phuket netizens slams half-naked foreign man on red baht bus
Thai netizens criticised a foreign man after a photograph of him standing half-naked on a red baht bus in Phuket circulated on Thai social media platforms. The Phuket Times shared the images yesterday, January 16, with a caption that read, “#Patong. A foreign tourist pulled his shorts down and revealed his bottom. Doesn’t care about anyone.” The two images shared…
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Plane stupid! Australian man’s flight crash threat lands him in jail
A disgruntled Australian man found himself behind bars after making a chilling threat to kill everyone at 35,000 feet. His off-the-cuff remark about crashing a plane left airport officials with no choice but to take him seriously. Marli Curtis Philip Moncrieff embarked on what he thought would be a dream holiday from Perth to the sunny shores of Phuket with…
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British explorer uncovers shocking truth at abandoned Phuket Zoo (video)
A British explorer got more than he bargained for during a visit to Thailand’s abandoned Phuket Zoo, uncovering a hidden and haunting secret that left him and his viewers stunned. British content creator Sean King, known for exploring deserted attractions on his YouTube channel @SeanKing5150, ventured into the defunct zoo. What he found was both extraordinary and deeply troubling. “I…
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Dim sum drama: Hungry tourist rides into restaurant for a bite (video)
A hungry foreign tourist made an unforgettable entrance into a dim sum restaurant in Chalong in Phuket yesterday driving his motorbike straight into the eatery and causing a stir on social media. CCTV footage captured the bizarre moment yesterday, January 15, as the tourist lost control of his bike, crashing into a parked motorcycle and a table at Mangmee Dim Sum,…
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Phuket under siege: Tidal wave of trash threatens tropical paradise
The once-idyllic waters and landscapes of Phuket is in danger of being flooded in a rising tidal wave of trash is threatening to overwhelm this renowned tourist haven. Plastic bottles and empty beer cans now clutter the ocean floor while the island itself groans under the weight of mounting rubbish, casting a shadow over its famed beaches. Behind the scenes,…
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Phuket cracks down on parasailing risks following accident
Officials in Karon announced a sweeping crackdown on water sports safety protocols following the death of a parasailing staff member earlier this month. The high-profile meeting, held on Tuesday, January 14 at Karon Municipality, aimed to bolster safety for tourists and operators. Chaired by Karon Police Chief Police Colonel Khundet Na Nongkhai and Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchapong Pranit, the…
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2 Frenchmen arrested for brutal assault of Burmese employee in Phuket
Police arrested two French restaurant owners in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket for brutally assaulting a Burmese employee, allegedly for being late for work. A video of the physical assault, which occurred on the roadside in Patong, was shared yesterday, January 14, by the news Facebook page Phuket Times. The page captioned the video… “Cruel! Patong. A French gang brutally…
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Baht bus brawl: Phuket driver and foreign man row over fare
A physical altercation broke out between a Thai baht bus driver and a foreign man outside a hotel in Phuket after the foreigner refused to pay the agreed transport fare. The Phuket Times shared a video of the altercation today, January 14. However, the page did not specify when or where the incident occurred. The accompanying post read… “Fighting! The…
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Phuket tourists smash wheel lock with rock, sparking outrage (video)
Foreign tourists in Phuket sparked a social media firestorm after blatantly disregarding Thai law by smashing a police wheel lock with a rock in broad daylight. The brazen act occurred outside a shopping mall on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong today, January 14. A 23-second video of the incident was shared by the Phuket Newshawk Facebook page, captioned:…
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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