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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Conservationists call for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays
PHOTOS: จิตà¸à¸²à¸ªà¸² Go-Eco Phuket Phuket conservationists are calling for the protection of Guitarfish and Electric rays from fishermen after many of them have been found dead at Koh Racha Noi. A Facebook user ‘Go-Eco Phuket’, a local conversation Facebook page, yesterday posted pictures and a video with a message reading… “We were notified by our network that 11 metres under the sea…
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Chinese tourist couple found after getting lost in Thalang jungle
PHOTOS: The Thalang Police and The Phuket Tourist Police Officers were searching for about four hours for a Chinese tourist couple who were lost in the Khao Phra Thaew Non – Hunting area forest in Thalang district last night. The local Tourist Police and the Thalang Police were notified of the pair getting lost early in the evening after they called the Phuket Tourist…
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Wastewater from Bang Tao Canal flowing into sea
Local residents near the Bang Tao canal in Cherng Talay are again pleading for help because of the ongoing bad smells and effects from wastewater flowing down the waterway. Local Rohem Taosakun says, “This problem has been particularly bad over the past five days. Related government officials have tried solving the problem but wastewater is coming back again. This problem…
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No injuries as ceiling collapses at Tesco Lotus Samkong
A part of a ceiling at Tesco Lotus in Samkong on the Bypass road collapsed early last night. No injuries were reported. At 5.50pm yesterday a part of ceiling at the Tesco Lotus Samkong collapsed while customers were still shopping. The incident happened above the aisle kiosks near the checkout counters and caused damages to one of the kiosks. The…
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His Majesty pays Phang Nga boy’s medical costs – more operations Saturday
HM the King has helped pay for some of the medical care for the seven year old boy mauled by four stray dogs at a beach in Phang Nga last weekend. He is now recovering in Vachira Phuket Hospital. The boy was attacked in Ban Tha Noon, Takua Thung district on Sunday. Dr Chalermpong Sukhonthapol, spokesperson for the hospital, says…
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Peter Denman from Channel 3 visits Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation
The famous actor from Channel 3, Thai-British Peter Denman, paid a visit to Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket on January 28. He visited so he could get to know more about the work they do and spend some quality time with the animals. He has also been nominated to be one of Soi Dog’s Brand Ambassadors as well. During the visit, he had…
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King Maha Vajiralongkorn supports boy attacked by dogs at Sarasin Bridge
PHOTO: The Phuket PR Office His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn has ordered that the boy, bitten by soi dogs at a Phang Nga beach this week, to be under special medical care by royal command. The seven year old boy was seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge last weekend. Read the…
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Russian man dies after drowning in a villa pool in Cherng Talay
FILE PHOTO (Original photo removed at the request of the Villa owner) A Russian man has died after drowning in a pool at a house in Cherng Talay. The Cherng Talay Police say that they were notified by the Thalang Hospital that a foreign man had died while being transported to hospital after being found floating face down in a…
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Reflections #2 – Thailand Tourism Forum – ‘Chindia Tourism’
‘CHINDIAN’ Tourists – Same Same or Different? by Wimintra Raj – hotelintel.co If you’re running a hotel or any business related to the local tourism industry in Thailand, this is an article you need to read, then read again. It was just one of the many presentations at the annual Thailand Tourism Forum held in Bangkok recently. “For the third…
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British Embassy contact Police to release the body of the 17 year old who died in a motorbike incident last week
A representative of the British Embassy has contacted Kamala Police to retrieve the body of the teenager who died in a motorbike incident in Kamala last week. The family are trying to raise funds to repatriate the body of Anthony Ryan. The 17 year old teenager from Yorkshire in the UK died after being involved in a head-on motorbike accident…
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Australia Day 2019 function at Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort
PHOTO: Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana and Australian Consul General for Phuket Craig Ferguson Celebrating the 2019 Australia Day, the Australian Consul General for Phuket Craig Ferguson hosted a lovely evening with guests including Phuket’s Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana along with other local dignitaries and invited local Australians. About 300 people were in attendance as Mr Ferguson reflected on the past year and…
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Four Russian tourists fined in Phuket jet-ski accident
Four tourists have been fined following a jet-ski accident at Kata Noi Beach. One Russian female tourist was taken to a hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the incident. Karon Police were notified of the incident at 4.50pm yesterday (Monday) at Kata Noi Beach. Four Russian tourists were injured in a jet-ski incident offshore from the beach. The…
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Wat Chalong Fair kicks off on February 4
Phuket’s biggest annual temple fair, held at Wat Chalong, will kick off on February 4 to offer one week of local fun, stalls, food and entertainment. Each year the Fair attracts thousands of visitors who come to sample the wide range of food, browse the market stalls and enjoy the variety of activities on offer. There will also be traditional nang talung shadow…
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Sharks on order – Phuket seafood restaurants
PHOTO: Sunshine Sketcher “Sea food restaurants along Kata and Karon Beach are famous among tourists as prices of dishes are quite reasonable.” The IUCN is calling for every country to educate tourists to protect sharks before they become extinct. More sharks have now been discovered hanging in front of seafood restaurants along the Karon restaurant strip. Read more about recent sightings…
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Seven year old recovering after attack from wild dogs in Phang Nga
“The dogs have been captured and are no longer a danger to beachgoers.” Daily News is reporting that a seven year old boy is fighting for his life in Vachira Hospital Phuket after being mauled by a pack of dogs at a beach near the Sarasin Bridge, on the Phang Nga side. “D-Max” was just out playing with his friends…
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Boy seriously injured after mauling by dogs near Sarasin Bridge
A seven year old boy has been seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge. Sarasin Bridge connects Phuket with the Thai mainland. The seven year old boy is Yueanyong ‘D-Max’ Chairab. He was attacked by four dogs at a beach near Sarasin Bridge in Thanoon, Takua Tung on the Phang Nga side…
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Fire destroys buildings in Phuket Town
A fire has destroyed a building in Phuket Town, damaging nearby buildings before it was brought under control. Fire fighters at the Phuket City Municipality were notified of the incident at a building near Phuket Bus Terminal 1 in Phuket Town on Phang Nga Road at 8.53am. About 10 fire engines arrived to find the three storey building was in…
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OPINION – One, two, three bad incidents on Patong Hill within 24 hours
The bottom of Patong Hill, on the Patong side, has been the scene of numerous fatalities over the past 20 years. Following a steep decent and some tight windy turns, some vehicles simply come to grief. Residents and shops at the bottom of the hill have built barriers, walls and fencing to try and defend themselves from the parade of…
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Suspect dies in Phuket road incident after killing his wife – VIDEO
The car driver, who died in the crash on Phuket’s Bypass road yesterday, appears to have crashed his car intentionally after killing his wife. The car driver was killed after colliding with a pickup truck at a U-Turn in the road. The dash cam video from the man’s car appears to clearly indicate the driver’s intentions. Read more about the…
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43 foreign Phuket tourists saved after speedboat capsizes on way to Koh Phi Phi – VIDEO
VIDEO: à¸à¸±à¸™à¸”าวารี 43 foreign tourists from Phuket have been saved after water started pouring into a speedboat they were travelling in and capsized on the way to Koh Phi Phi. At 11.40 am yesterday a speedboat named ‘Apitsada 1’ with 43 foreign tourists and two Thai guides, left from Chalong Pier to Koh Mai Thon and Koh Phi Phi. When they…
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Car driver killed after colliding with pickup on Bypass Road
PHOTOS: The Phuket City Police A car driver has been killed after colliding with a pickup truck on the Bypass road today. The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 11am today on the Bypass Road, northbound, at a U-turn near the Premium Outlet Store. Police report that the driver of a red car, driven by 60 year…
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Rawai locals protest against high Dengue rates in southern Phuket
VIDEO: Nicholas Spaethe Rawai and Nai Harn locals in southern Phuket, along with the Rawai Or Bor Tor Mayor Aaron Solos, protested this morning about the rise in Dengue Fever cases in the area. They say they are concerned about the high rates of contracting the virus in the south of the island and are calling on the provincial government…
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Dugong found dead at Phang Nga Beach
PHOTO: DMCR A 300 kilogram dugong has been found dead on a beach in Takua Thung, Phang Nga, yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is reporting that they have been notified from the national park officials in Phang Nga that a dugong was found dead near a cave at Koh Panak in Takua Thung in Phang Nga.…
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Motorbike rider dies in head-on between Patong and Kamala – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report A motorbike driver has died as a result of injuries sustained when his motorbike collided, head on, with a mini van. The man was a UK citizen. Kamala rescue workers were notified of the incident on the Patong-Kamala road at 20.57 pm last night. The head-on collision happened just near the entrance to Nakalay Palm condo.…
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Thailand’s marine industry unites around single yacht show
The fourth Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous has now wrapped up with many of the exhibitors praising the new format and noting the sales and contacts made during the four day marine exhibition. The exhibit was held between January 10-13 at the Royal Phuket Marina. Leading international yacht dealers, brokerage houses, charter agencies and marine suppliers were there to showcase…
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All day dining at The Patong Bay Hill Resort – Phuket
A tropical, luxurious resort nestled into the landscape of Hasibpee Hill, the Patong Bay Hill Resort overlooks the ocean and the Patong Beach neighborhood below. The resort offers sweeping sea and city views to accompany its suite-style accommodation, and features a wide variety of on-site amenities and a fantastic all day dining restaurant. The all day dining restaurant at Patong…
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Bus crash on Patong Hill takes out 12 other vehicles, passengers in bus shaken
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report VIDEO: Provided by Newshawk Phuket The tour bus accident on Patong yesterday afternoon, the third such incident in the same spot within 24 hours, has caused three injuries and with vehicles damaged as the bus careered down the hill, out of control. There were 10 tourists on the bus who were shaken by the incident but…
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Chalong Police tracking down a foreigner caught on camera carrying a sea star
Chalong Police are trying to track down a foreign man caught on camera carrying a sea star along Chalong Pier. Chalong Police are checking CCTV footage at the Chalong Pier to find the foreign man who was caught on camera carrying sea stars in a plastic bag along the pier on Tuesday. Read more about the story HERE. Khanchit Klingklip, who…
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Seaweed on Patong Beach – just a seasonal phenomenon
The seasonal mass of seaweed that was washed up onto Patong Beach over the last week is a natural phenomenon. A spokesperson for the Phuket Marine Biological Centre says that the seaweed isn’t harmful although it can smell bad as it starts to rot in the daytime sun. The seaweed first started coming ashore back on January 10. Read The Thaiger…
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Foreign tourist caught carrying protected sea star at Chalong Pier – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Khanchit Klingklip A foreign man has been caught on camera carrying sea star along Chalong pier yesterday. A Facebook user ‘Khanchit Klingklip’, a member of a nature resources volunteer network, yesterday posted photos and a video with a message reading, “6pm at Chalong Pier, a foreign man was carrying sea star inside a plastic bag. Why can’t he just watch…
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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