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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Sponsored This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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Luxury beachfront suites at The Bay & Beach Club
The Bay & Beach Club boasts luxurious beachfront accommodation in the heart of Patong. Situated right on the soft sands of the beach in an area lined with palm trees, the resort is just a few steps away from the clear waters of the Andaman Sea. The Bay & Beach Club offers luxurious accommodation all designed with the finest contemporary…
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16 Chinese nationals arrested in Phuket over stock market scam
16 Chinese nationals have been arrested in Chalong for allegedly operating an online speculative stock market scam. Their victims are also Chinese. Immigration Bureau Chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn came down from Bangkok to a house on Khwang Road in Chalong where officers arrested the 16 Chinese nationals. During the raid they seized 18 computers, 68 mobile phones, more than…
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Man drowns in Kathu lagoon, Phuket
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation A man has drowned while fishing in a lagoon in central Phuket yesterday. Kusoldharm rescue workers were notified of the incident at a lagoon in Kathu before noon. Rescue workers arrived to find a body of a man lying on the ground near the lagoon. There were no signs of a struggle on his body. The man was identified…
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Police raid illegal Chinese call centre in Chalong, Phuket
FILE PHOTO A total of 16 Chinese nationals, 13 men and 3 women, have been arrested in Chalong, over the alleged operation of a call centre scam which targeted Chinese victims. Officers believe that the operation started sometime in the middle of March. The 16 were arrested at a housing estate on Moo 1, Chalong, southern Phuket, yesterday morning. “We were…
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Wastewater still flowing into Mudong Canal in Chalong
Officials from the Environment Office Region 15 in Phuket, along with Chalong municipal officials, have inspected the Mudong Canal. Water in the canal flows through villages and markets in Chalong and Wichit before getting to the open sea. Local villagers were complaining that the untreated water caused fish to die and that there was a bad odour all the time.…
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Patong tourist attackers remain in custody – investigation continues
PHOTO: Patong Police Six Patong taxi and tuk tuk driver suspects remain in custody following the assault of a middle eastern tourist. Two video clips of taxi drivers attacking the tourist in Patong went viral in social media last week. Read more about the attack HERE. Six suspects were arrested by Opting Police last week. Read more about their arrests HERE. Patong…
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Patong lifeguard wins first prize in the Thai lottery, 30 million baht
“I will continue doing my job as a lifeguard. I love my job and I am happy with it.” 32 year old Nara Nalack, Patong lifeguard, has won first prize in the bi-weekly national lottery, receiving a prize of 30 million baht. The Thai lottery is announced twice each month (the 1st and 16th of each month). The first prize ticket…
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Pickup truck crashes into power pole in Wichit, causes five hour blackout
PHOTOS: PEA A pickup truck accident in Wichit has caused a blackout for over five hours. The Phuket Provincial Electric Authority (PEA) reports that at 10.20pm last night the pickup truck ran into the pole, pulling down the high voltage pole. The accident caused a blackout in the area around Soi Bang Yai (behind Big C Super Centre) for over…
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Man arrested with 10,000 methamphetamine pills in Thalang checkpoint
A man who was driving a pickup truck has been stopped at a routine checkpoint in Thalang over the weekend where he was found with 11,110 methamphetamine pills along with a gun. Police have arrested 44 year old Pisak Rodpai from Trang, south of Phuket. Police seized 11,110 methamphetamine pills, a handgun and seven bullets from his vehicle. The arrest…
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Female motorbike driver dies in Bypass Road crash
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation A female motorbike driver has died in a motorbike crash on Chalerm Phrakiet Rama 9 Road (Bypass road) early this morning. Kusoldharm rescue workers headed to the accident scene on the Bypass road in Rassada at 3.30am today. At the scene they found a damaged motorbike. Nearby they found Wilai Jamjan lying on the road. She had…
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Kudo Beach Club in Patong charged after allowing under-age entry
A lawyer of a night club in Patong and a representative of an event organiser yesterday presented themselves to police to face charges after allowing customers younger than 20 years of age to enter the venue. The incident was highlighted by the Spotlight Thailand’ Facebook page. At Patong Police Station last night, the lawyer for the ‘Kudo Beach Club’ and…
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New airport duty free bid split into two
The Government has insisted that the AoT rejig its awarding for the concession of duty-free shops at its airports. Up to now King Power Duty Free has had a monopoly on the lucrative duty free concessions. So the Board of the Airports of Thailand Company has now decided to split the concession to operate airport duty-free shops into two contracts – one for Suvarnabhumi…
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Roll out the water trucks – Phuket’s water runs low
by Salinee Prap Many areas of Phuket have suffered a shortage of tap water, with inconsistent or no flow, prompting business operators and residents to buy water from the private sector. Phuket as an island, is usually self-sufficient with its water supply, with three large catchments on the island serving locals, expats and the 12 million annual tourists. Phuket governor…
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70 year old Austrian man dies after jumping from 14th floor of Patong hotel
A 70 year old Austrian man has died after jumping from the 14th floor at a hotel in Patong today. At 11am today Patong Police were notified that a foreign man had fallen from a hotel in Patong. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of a man who was later identified as 70 year old Austrian man…
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Darasamuth Underpass closing this Saturday and Sunday night
The Darasamut Underpass (adjacent to Central Festival) will temporarily close tomorrow and Sunday from 9pm until 5am (overnight). The Phuket Highways Chief Somwang Lohanut says, “Both the northbound and southbound lanes through the underpass will be temporary closed at those times.” “Workers will be carrying out repairs and replacing light bulbs and fans as part of the normal scheduled maintenance.”…
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Patong taxi driver suspects arrested after ganging up and beating a tourist
PHOTOS: Patong Police Six suspects have been arrested today following an assault by a group of taxi, tuk tuk and motorcycle taxi drivers. The incident was captured on video, as the drivers ganged together to beat up a tourist in Patong last night. The argument started over a taxi fee to take the family back to their hotel. Patong Police…
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Event Round-Up – April 2019
by The Sponsorship Experts – Paul Poole (South East Asia) The first ever ASEAN Gastronomy Tourism Fair will kick off on April 9-10 at CW Tower Ratchadapisek Bangkok. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, it is the first time all 10 member states of ASEAN will come together to build a strong foundation for gastronomy tourism in the…
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Leopard cat found dumped in plastic box in Kathu
A leopard cat has been saved after being found dumped inside a plastic box in Kathu. The head of Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area Study Centre Pongchart Chueahom says he had received the healthy leopard cat kitten from a local. “After that we went to the Thalang Police Station to file a report about the dumping of a protected animal.”…
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Bus driver fined after dropping oil on Patong Hill – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Kathu Police / Law Enforcement 201 / Newshawk Phuket A bus driver has been fined after his bus dropped oil onto the road as it was coming down from Patong Hill. Motorbike drivers had been been injured after slipping on the oil slick. The CCTV footage shows the incident when the bus was going down from Patong Hill, dropping…
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Bomb making equipment discovered in Krabi cave
Krabi officers have discovered bomb-making equipment inside a cave in Krabi. Yesterday officers raided the cave on Koh Talu in Ao Lueak, Krabi after they found that the cave is part of an area of a company who received a concession to produce and farm bird nets. To men died from their injuries after stepping on mines along the shores…
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Motorbike passenger dies in accident with minivan in Thalang
A motorbike passenger has died after a motorbike, he was travelling as pillion, collided with a minivan in Thalang. The Thalang Police were notified of the incident at 5.20am yesterday on Paklok – Mueang Mai Road in Paklok, Thalang. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a motorbike crashed on the road. The motorbike driver, 26 year old Orrachun Kongkaew…
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Patong announces ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ schedule
Patong Municipality has announced details for this year’s ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ in Patong which will be held at Bangla Park on April 11-13, at the end of Bangla Road. April 11 Sand pagoda forming contest Miss Songkran Beauty Contest Thai dancing shows April 12 Shows from entertainment operators EDM music show April 13 Food offering to monks on…
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Cement truck company fined after dropping cement on Patong Hill – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Kathu Police A Phuket-based cement truck company has been fined after the truck dropped cement as it was climbing Patong Hill yesterday afternoon. The CCTV footage shows the incident when the cement truck was going up on Patong Hill and dropping cement on the road along the way. The incident was reported by Kathu Police. The cement company manager…
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Fourteen kilograms of marijuana seized in pre-Songkran drug crackdowns
Phuket police have sized a total of 14 kilograms of marijuana in three separate cases, including intercepting parcel post yesterday. It’s all part of the annual pre-Songkran drugs crackdown. Phuket Provincial Police have seized a parcel box sent via Thai Post in Rawai where they found 12 kilograms of marijuana. Police are now tracking down the sender. In the second…
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Power outage in parts of Chalong tomorrow
PHOTO: PEA Residents of Chalong should be aware that there is a scheduled power outage from 9am to 4.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) as the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) continues its work on high power voltage systems in the area. The blackouts will affect the areas from the Shell petrol station on Patak Road to Bayshore law office opposite Chalong Beach Hotel…
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Free water schedules for residents in Patong and Rassada
PHOTOS: PWA Authorities have announced schedules of free water distribution for residents in Patong and Rassada. In Rassada by the Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) Koh Siray, from 8pm to midnight every day at Supitcha housing estate Soi Kingkaew and Soi Honsaithong, from 9am to 3pm every day. Nattakamon housing estate, one time per three days. Thep Buri housing estate, one…
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Alleged Greek murderer of Phuket beautician remains at large
PHOTO: Dimitrios ‘Dim’ Chairopoulo, wanted and believed to be living in Greece Local Phuket police are yet be informed of the latest in an international hunt for a Greek alleged murderer Dimitrios Chairopoulos. He remains wanted as a suspect in the murder of local beautician 43 year old Niramon ‘Bea’ Aewkaew in Phuket during February. Cherng Talay police say they want…
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Democrats toppled in Phuket
PHOTO: Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva resigned the leadership position last night amid dismal polls around the country The Democrat Party in Phuket, once a reliable strong-hold of Democrat votes, has yielded its customary monopoly, ceding two House seats to the junta-aligned Phalang Pracharat Party. The unofficial tally, as of late last night, gave Phalang Pracharat’s Sutha Prateep na Thalang…
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Russian ‘mafia’ suspect arrested in Phuket
PHOTO: Siam Rath/Immigration Bureau / Phuket Immigration A male Russian ‘mafia’ identity has been arrested in Chalong, wanted over a number of alleged offenses in his home country. Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn says, “Officers have arrested a Russian man named Igor Tretiakov (spelt as ‘Ior’ on the Immigration poster), at an apartment in Chalong last Friday.” “We were notified from…
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Hermès opens its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta
Hermès has opened of its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta, the newly opened lifestyle shopping destination in the heart of the island, opposite Central Festival. As Hermès’ first venture outside the Thai capital, the new Hermès Phuket store makes a significant statement of expansion and confidence in the market. The new address in this world-renowned island will allow the…
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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