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 Top 5 luxury villas in Phuket and Koh Samui for your next holiday
Ask people to name the most beautiful places in Thailand, and you'll often hear Phuket and Koh Samui being mentioned. Who would disagree? One is renowned for its bustling nightlife, vibrant culture, and lively beach scene, while the other is...
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Woman dies in Phuket Town road smash
A woman is reported dead following an accident in Phuket Town this morning (June 26). The Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at 5.30am at an intersection in front of Phuketthaihua Asean Wittaya School on Wichit Songkram Road in Phuket Town. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a damaged motorbike, a car, a van…
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Phuket airport’s domestic terminal officially launched
Phuket airport’s domestic terminal renovation was officially launched yesterday (June 25). The opening ceremony was held at the Phuket International Airport and hosted by the Airport of Thailand (AOT) president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn. Khun Nitinai says, “The Phuket International Domestic Terminal upgrade project is now complete with new facilities and world standard security services. The airport is now available to service up to…
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Two arrested in Phuket drug crackdown
The Phuket City Police have arrested two suspects found with kratom on Saturday (June 25). Police arrested 51 year old Watcharin ‘Gor’ Saeiw at a house in Phuket Town. He was found with many small bags of kratom weighing about 3 kilograms. Watcharin was taken to the Phuket City Police Station where he has been charged with illegal possession of Category 5…
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Thief steals heroine statue sword
A thief has stolen a sword which was part of a statue of Phuket’s Heroines in a temple in Thalang. A facebook user ‘Prasong Trairat’ posted a photo on his personal Facebook yesterday (June 24) with a message reading “The sword of the grandmothers (reference to the heroines’ name by locals) disappeared last night. The thief is not aware of…
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Phuket Surf Series 2018
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket office, in collaboration with Surfing Thailand and the Phuket Surfing Club, is hosting the Phuket Surf Series 2018 from June to October this year. A media briefing was held yesterday at SurfHouse Phuket in Patong in spectacular sunshine. Just across the road, at Patong Beach, the monsoon surf was surging into the west coast…
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Phuket: Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair 2018
The event is being held on June 22-24 from 10am to 9pm at the Central Festival Home Work’s side under the concept Green and Innovation. The event was officially opened on June 22 by Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew and Deputy Director of the Phuket Office of Tourism Authority of Thailand Montri Manator. They say the Fair aims to support and…
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Phuket: Two arrested in Rawai over illegal football gambling
Two Thai men have been arrested in Rawai after they were found to be illegally gambling on World Cup football matches. Yesterday afternoon a team of officials from the Chalong Police arrested 55 year old Gosri ‘Boon’ Rueangrit and 30 year old Sriwawut Rueangrit at a house in Rawai. Police seized four books of loan lists from Gosri, a bank…
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How much would you pay for a plastic amulet?
The shenanigans at the Kathu Temple, where Chinese tour buses are arriving daily in their droves to purchase ‘lucky’ and ‘magic’ amulets, continues. This time two Dutch tourists, interested to visit a temple and check out the alleged lucky amulets, were horrified by what they discovered. The two, who have asked us not to publish their names, visited the temple…
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Saleng driver escapes side-car gas bottle fire
A saleng (motorbike side car) has caught fire after a cooking gas leak today (June 22) in Kathu. Officers at the Kathu Municipality were notified about the incident on Phra Phuket Kaew Road near the Bang Chak Gas Station around 11am. Kathu Police and fire fighters arrived at the scene to find a Honda and its side car (saleng) on fire.…
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Two motorbike taxi drivers arrested in public transport drug crackdown
A team of officials led by the Provincial Police Region 8 Police have conducted drug and alcohol tests in a campaign at the new Phuket Bus terminal in Rassada yesterday (June 21). The campaign ran from 3-5pm. Sarawut Pakdee, a law enforcement officer of the Provincial Police Region 8 says, “Phuket’s Governor Norraphat Plodthong is very concerned about public transport safety…
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Nine arrested in Phuket drunk-driving campaign
Nine people have been arrested during random checks last night (June 21)around Phuket Town. A team from the Phuket City Police set up a checkpoint from 8.30pm to 11.30pm on Pa Lean Road in Phuket Town to enforce traffic rules and conduct random alcohol breath tests. 88 drivers had alcohol breath tests. Nine of them were found over the alcohol…
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Man drowns in Phuket jet-ski accident
A man has died after falling off from a jet-ski at a lagoon in Thalang yesterday (June 21) Thalang Police were notified about the incident at a lagoon on Srisoonthorn Road near the Valley Housing estate in Thalang at 4.30pm. Phuket Marine Police, diving rescue workers and the Thalang Police were involved in the search for the body. The search was…
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Motorbike driver dies exiting Bang Khu underpass
A 43 year old Thai man died in a motorbike accident when he was driving out of the Bang Khu Underpass in Koh Kaew yesterday (June 21). Police were notified of the accident at Bang Khu Underpass on Thepkrasattri Road at 3.40pm. They arrived at the scene with rescue workers to find a man who was later identified as 43…
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Fake goods seized at a Patong warehouse
Yesterday afternoon (June 21) police raided a warehouse at SB Plaza market in Patong and seized counterfeit goods valued at many hundred thousand Baht. A team of officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), together with a search warrant, raided the warehouse. Police found counterfeit goods including fake brand name bags and clothes. Officers arrested a man named ‘Bobby…
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One Chinese drowns, two others rescued at Koh Racha
Yesterday (June 21) strong waves battered three Chinese swimmers who went swimming, unattended, at Patok Beach on Koh Racha. Two of them were rescued while the third drowned. The body of a Chinese man was identified by the Phuket Tourist Police as 30 year old Su Wang when his body was brought back to Chalong pier. No signs of struggle…
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Monkeys released at Koh Payu – video and photos
Yesterday morning (June 21) 80 monkeys were released at Koh Payu, off the coast of Phuket. This island covers 26 rais plot of land. Water tanks were also installed on Koh Payu last week. Read more HERE. Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre and his team released 80 monkeys on their new home on Koh Payu.…
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Sansiri launches THE BASE Central – Phuket
Sansiri launched another one of their ‘BASE’ branded condos with the launch of ‘THE BASE Central Phuket’. Quoting from their media release, “The design is influenced by an enchanting lifestyle where the native people and Chinese from across the seas come together to create the Peranakan culture under the new concept ‘MARK MY BASE’.” Poomisak Julamaneechot, Vice Managing Director of…
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Phuket to hold Digital Innovation Summit 2018: Big Data
Digital Innovation Summit 2018. The event will be held on June 29-30 from 10am to 6pm at Central Festival Phuket East (Home Works ground floor) The main purposes of the event is to build awareness and to drive more understanding about the digital economy and smart city projects in Phuket and nearby. The keynote speaker is Dr. Pichet Durongkaveroj, Minister of…
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41 more sterilised monkeys released back on Koh Sirey
41 sterilised monkeys have been released back to Koh Sirey yesterday (June 20). Another 52 monkeys were captured at Koh Sirey for sterilisation while 42 sterilised monkeys were released back to Soi King Kaew in Rassada on Monday (June 18). Read more HERE. Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area…
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Clear the streets! Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon – August 5.
The streets are cleared, the roadways barren of traffic, all is ready. The Bangkok Airways Phuket Half Marathon 2018 coming up on August 5 is more than just a race. It is a chance to observe the local way of life and appreciate the area’s landmarks and Sino-Portuguese architecture from a different perspective in busy Phuket town – from the…
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Monkey update: Rassada locals say returned monkeys happy to be home
Tha Chin locals in Rassada say they’re satisfied with the way the monkeys were captured last Friday (June 15) while locals say sterilised monkeys at Soi King Kaew in Rassada can get back into their groups now that they’re been released into their area. Yesterday (June 19) Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao…
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French expat rescued off Phuket, jet-ski and parasail ban remains in force today
A French expat on a dinghy has been rescued in Ao Yon, Wichit yesterday (June 19) while the Phuket Marine Office has announced that jet-skis and parasails will remain beached until today (June 20). Maj Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police was notified at 1.30pm yesterday that a French man, 78 year old Claude Gasca, had been rescued off…
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Phuket marine chief warns operators about boat safety during severe weather
The chief of the Phuket Marine Office has ordered authorities at all ports and piers, as well as the boat operators, to be careful heading out to sea, including today (June 20). Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyat, says “according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Office, strong winds and waves are still affecting the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand…
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Kratom use on the rise in Phuket
Drug arrest statistics have shown that the use kratom is on the rise in Phuket followed closely by methamphetamine pills and crystal methamphetamine. Phuket’s Vice Governor Snith says, “We have found that kratom is the number one drug seized in Phuket. Even though our officers are strictly enforcing the law, arresting suspects and seizing this drug in large quantities, kratom…
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52 monkeys captured in Koh Sirey, 42 sterilised monkeys released in Rassada
52 monkeys have been captured at Koh Sirey for sterilisation while 42 sterilised monkeys have been released back to Soi King Kaew in Rassada yesterday (June 18). Meanwhile the monkey sterilisations continued, as they have since June 12. So far there are 216 monkeys captured as part of the capture-neuter-rehome program for some of Phuket more mischievous monkeys. 42 monkeys that…
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Phuket: Areas to have water shut off for one week
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Patong, Kata and Karon will be shut off from 9am to 5pm on June 25 to July 2. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out conducting maintenance on the Reverse Osmosis (RO) water pumping station in Karon. Areas to be affected are…
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Chao Fah West road closure for Chalong Underpass construction
Parts of Chao Fa West Road will close at night from June 29 to July 28 as the the Chalong Underpass construction staggers along. A meeting was held yesterday (June 18) at the Phuket Highway Office hosted by Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok and Phuket Highway Office Chief Somwang Lohanut. Vice Governor Snith says, “Traffic problems during the peak hours…
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Ride4Kids – Interview with Darren Scherbain
Tim Newton speaks to Darren Scherbain at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos.
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90 houses damaged, power cables down on main roads – Phuket storm
There have been about 90 houses across Phuket that have been damaged from storms whilst eight power cables have been brought down in Thalang today (June 18). This is the latest in our coverage of the unusually wet and windy storms to hit the island. Officials have surveyed all the districts and found that there are about 90 houses which…
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Monkey move to islands postponed due to inclement weather
The task to move some of the migrating monkeys to Koh Payu in Paklok has been postponed due to strong wind and waves while the monkey sterilisations continue. Some sterilised monkeys will be released in Rassada today (June 18). 38 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi Tha Chin in Rassada last Friday (June 15). Water tanks were also installed on…
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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