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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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PWA announces Chalong water shut off tomorrow
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Chalong will be shut off from 9am tomorrow (August 6) until the work is finished. The PWA says that water supply in some areas of Chalong will be shutoff while work is being carried out on main pipes at the entrance of Soi Tanuthep on Chao Fa…
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Latest ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’ nets UK and Nigerian overstayers, both over 1,000 days
File Photo The crackdown on serial overstayers continues across the country, including a British national arrested in Phuket. 53 year old Chris Michel was bundled up on Friday morning after it was revealed that he had overstayed his visa by 1077 days, nearly 3 years. 62 foreign nationals were detained in the latest ‘Operation X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner’, targeting 75 locations…
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Phuket boat show rumbles – a new show announced
There used to be one Phuket boat show, then there was two, then there was the two coming together as one… and now there is a new event. Royal Phuket Marina are putting together their own show with Andy Dowden, of PIMEX fame, the principle organiser of the new Phuket Yacht Show. The new show is being planned for January…
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Man charged over posting soft porn photos in Old Phuket Town
A man who appeared in ‘obscene’ photos, shot in Old Phuket Town and posted on Facebook, has been charged with offences to the Computer Crime Act. The couple, engaging in ‘intimate’ photos taken around Old Phuket Town, met with police after their photos went viral in social media on Thursday (August 2). Read more about the photos HERE. Yesterday afternoon (Aug…
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‘Big Joke’ stops to help Phuket hit and run victim
PHOTOS: Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn Deputy Commander of the Tourist Police Bureau based in Bangkok, Maj Gen Surachete Hakparn, ordered his team to stop they convey of official vehicles to help a student who had been hit in Phuket Town this afternoon (Aug 3). Maj Gen Surachete reported that he saw the accident while he and…
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Russia set to establish Consulate-General in Phuket
The Russian Federation is poised to open a Consulate-General in Phuket in response to the growing Russian expat community and consistent stream in Russian tourists coming to the island. Russian PM Dmitriy Medvedev signed the order last Saturday ratifying the new diplomatic mission on the island. There are no details in the letter about when the Consulate-General will open its doors…
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Couples posting obscene photos in Old Phuket Town to meet with police
Pictures of a couple in allegedly obscene photos taken in Old Phuket Town are to meet with police after their photos went viral in social media yesterday (Aug 2). A Thai facebook page which is translated as ‘Want to be famous; here we go’ yesterday shared photos of a Facebook user with message read ‘here we come, school cosplay. what…
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Suspect in Sattahip double murder surrenders to Patong Police
One of the suspects in Sunday’s Sattahip double murder case has surrendered himself to Patong Police yesterday (Aug 2). Chonburi police have already taken the man back to Chonburi province for further questioning. Read more about the double execution-style murders in the car park of Buddha Mountain in Sattahip HERE. The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen says, “At about…
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VIDEO: Four escape serious injury in dramatic Phuket three vehicle collision
Four men have been injured after three vehicles were involved in a collision on Thepkrasattri Road in Rassada his morning (Aug 2). Kusoldarm rescue workers were notified of the incident at 6.28am today on Thepkrasattri Road, northbound lane, near the SuperCheap main store in Rassada. The four people injured include the driver of the white pick-up, 28 year old Kittithorn…
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Police search Patong bar owner’s rentals and home – Sattahip murder investigation
Police searched Patong Bar owner Panya ‘Sia Auan’ Yingdang’s accommodation for evidence that may link him to the Sattahip double murder over the weekend. Chonburi Police, investigating the double execution-style murders in the car park of Buddha Mountain in Sattahip, say their initial investigations revealed a number of key suspects. Read more about the issuing of a warrant for the…
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The Thai internal security command steps in to take over marine safety in Phuket
PHOTOS: Government Public Relations Department, Phuket Branch. The Thai military’s Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), is now taking over the overhaul of boat safety for Phuket in the wake of the July 6 tragedy when 47 Chinese tourists died after their tour boat sank off Phuket. The Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the political attaché of the…
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Officials file report about land encroachment on Naka Noi Island
Forest Department officers and soldiers yesterday (Aug 1) filed a report to police about alleged land encroachment on Naka Noi Island which is located next to Thai actor Puri Hiranpruk’s land plot. Yesterday, officers investigated the land plot on Naka Noi Island. The investigation came after they were notified about 10 men carrying construction equipment to the land area. They…
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Happy Birthday Thaiger – One year old today
Acute self indulgence today as we announce our first major milestone for thethaiger.com. We’re one year old. It was on August 1, 2017 that the fledgling Thaiger company took over the reins of the 23 year old Phuket Gazette and started posting under the new management. Only two weeks before we had received the keys to the toy box and…
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Entertainment venues in Patong, connected to the Sattahip murder, found illegal
Police last night (July 31) raided an entertainment business on Bangla Road which allegedly belongs to one of the Chonburi double murder suspects. The business was found to be illegal. Chonburi police, investigating the brazen double execution-style murder in the car park at Buddha Mountain in Sattahip, say initial investigations were able to uncover a number of possible motives and…
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Arrest warrant issued for Patong bar owner linked to the double murder in Sattahip
Two houses in Patong, linked to a suspect in the double murder at Sattahip, Chonburi, remain under surveillance but there hasn’t been any activity according to police. Chonburi police, investigating the double execution-style murders in the car park of Buddha Mountain in Sattahip, say their initial investigations revealed a number of possible motives in the gruesome hit. Read more about…
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Body of missing boy washed up on Nai Yang Beach
PHOTO: The Royal Thai Navy The body of an 11 year old boy has been found on Nai Yang beach this morning (Aug 1). Five Thai boys had survived being washed into strong surf on Monday – either being saved or getting back to shore themselves, while the other Thai boy went missing at Laem Po off Nai Yang Beach…
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Man surrenders after killing co-worker in Thalang
A man has surrendered himself to police after stabbing and slashing his friend to death. The Thalang Police were notified of the incident that happened in front of a local shop in Baan Don, Thalang at 8pm on Friday. Thalang Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a body of a man who was later identified as…
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First croc caught at sea – Yanui’s crocodile catchers
One of the Surat Thani-based crocodile catcher team says that ‘Yanui’ is the first crocodile that he has caught in the sea – a lot more difficult than catching ‘Laypang’, last August’s crocodile captured in a lagoon off Layan Beach. Head of the crocodile catcher team, Nikhom Suksawat, says, “It took 12 days to catch the crocodile because the weather…
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Search for missing boy at Nai Yang Beach resumes
A search for a missing boy resumed this morning with jet-skis and speedboats combing the shoreline and areas around Nai Yang Beach. Six boys headed into the water, but only up to their knees not far from the shore, yesterday afternoon. But the conditions were very rough with Nai Yang beach known for its rips dangerous surf at this time…
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Dead dugong found off Phang Nga
A 250 kilogram dugong, found dead off Phang Nga over the weekend, has been brought to Phuket for further examination. Officials from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) were notified on Sunday that the body of the dugong was found by local fishermen in Phang Nga. The dugong has been brought back to Phuket for a full autopsy. It was a…
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One missing in Nai Yang beach accident – Photos and video
PHOTOS: Tanakit Meebunkit/Facebook – Emergency Incident Phuket VIDEO: Wallop Jf Boonjun One child remains missing after a fun day to Nai Yang beach in the north end of the island’s west coast beaches, went wrong. The missing boy has been named as 11 year old Suphat Jampathong from the Wat Mongkolwararam School. The kids were playing in the shallows when a…
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Man killed in Patong road accident
A man has died in Patong after he appears to have lost control of his motorbike on Saturday (July 28). Patong Police were notified about the accident at 10.44am on Pang-Muang Sai Kor Road in Patong. Police and emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the body of a man who was later identified as 23 year old Adipong…
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‘Yanui’ the crocodile is probably from a crocodile farm
Experts believe that ‘Yanui’, the crocodile caught yesterday off Layan Beach, is not from the wild. The crocodile tried to return to land several times during its 12 days swimming in the sea along the west coast of Phuket, prompting croc experts to think it has been raised in captivity. Expert says that Yanui is a female crocodile which was…
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Croc breeders, you have until August 10 to register your crocodile – Phuket Governor
By Salinee Prab The latest crocodile-on-the-loose has been snared but Phuket’s Governor is now threatening to take legal action against crocodile owners who fail to register their animals by August 10. Norapat Plodthong says that only five owners had registered their reptiles since the order went out. Norapat says legal action would be taken against those failing to report by…
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Kathu Street Festival, preserving culture and tradition
The tenth annual Kathu Culture Street Festival is on until Sunday night (July 29) and is being held on Wichit Songkhram Road, showcasing the cultural heritage of one of Phuket’s oldest and most vibrant communities. Vice Governor Snith says, “this is the second time that I am taking part in the Kathu Culture Street Festival. The festival is important to…
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Phuket honours HM The King on his 66th birthday
A host of special ceremonies are being held across Phuket today to honor and celebrate HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun’s 66th Birthday. The first ceremony, which got underway at 6.30am, was presided over by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong offering alms to 67 monks as part of a blessing ceremony to honor HM The King at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket Town. Also…
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Kathu Culture Street Festival until Sunday night
The tenth annual Kathu Culture Street Festival is on until Sunday night (July 29) and is being held on Wichit Songkhram Road, showcasing the cultural heritage of one of Phuket’s oldest and most vibrant communities. Vice Governor Snith says, “this is the second time that I am taking part in the Kathu Culture Street Festival. The festival is important to…
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Phuket’s croc watch takes to the skies over Layan Beach
Phuket’s latest crocodile escapee was spotted from a drone yesterday (July 27) afternoon near Layan Beach. The drone spotted the crocodile 200 metres from Layan Beach at 3pm yesterday. Cages have been set up along the beach and around rocks with chicken meat to tempt the hungry crocodile. The lone crocodile has been drifting with the current northwards along Phuket’s west…
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Register your crocodile by August 10 – Phuket Governor
OK, all you closet-crocodile owners, it’s time to register your crocodile. And make it snappy! Owners of crocodiles in Phuket must register them with the Phuket Provincial Fisheries Office before August 10, 2018, or they will face legal action. Phuket’s Governor says “The province has issued an announcement notifying crocodile owners who have yet to register to the Phuket Provincial…
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Phuket crocodile spotted off Laypang Beach
Phuket’s latest crocodile escapee was spotted from a drone yesterday (July 26) evening near Laypang Beach, north of Bang Tao Beach. The crocodile catching team were notified by local fishermen at 6pm that the crocodile was seen swimming in the water near Laypang Beach. The drone spotted the crocodile near an island off the shore of Sirinat National Park area.…
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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