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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Tropical storm ‘Tembin’ weakens but rain still forecast for the weekend
Storm Tembin has been weakened by cold wind, but is still causing heavy rain along the east coast of the southern region and rough sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand, while cool weather and light rain covered the rest of the country. The Meteorological Department issued a weather update today stating that Tembin had degraded into a low-pressure area…
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Safety checks at Rassada Pier
The Deputy Director General of the Marine Department, Somchai Sukkamanatkajornkul, visited Phuket’s Rassada Pier, east of Phuket Town, to ensure the safety and security measures during this tourist high season and festive season. The team from the Marine Department together with Phuket’s Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyasat and Marine Police, visited the pier yesterday (December 26) as the pier is…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, December 27
‘Silly Season’ starts tomorrow | Government has new year ‘gifts’ | German detained over Krabi vandalism | Four hour waits for visa-on-arrival at BKK airport | Seven Dangerous Days ‘rules’ | Militants attack twice in Narathiwat.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
There are two seven-days-of-danger on Thailand’s roads, as designated by the police – one starting tomorrow and the other during Songkran. They are the two worst periods for road deaths, by far. We don’t want you to be one of the statistics this year so we urge you to prepare ahead of any road trips to ensure that you are…
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How was the tsunami reported on the island 13 years ago?
Imagine sitting in a news office on the morning of December 26, 2004. You’re working as a journalist in Phuket. It was that morning that an earthquake struck an area about 500 kilometres south west of Phuket. Two hours later the shock waves reached the island in the form of a tidal surge. This was the first report from the…
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Tsunami memorial ceremony in Phang Nga
Baan Namkem villagers from Phang Nga, plus relatives of the the 2004 tsunami victims, gathered this morning at the Tsunami Memorial Park for the 13th anniversary of Phuket’s biggest disaster. The crowd brought flowers to mourn the victims and their loved ones. There was also religious ceremony from the 3 main religions – Buddhism, Islam and Christianity – to bless the…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 26
Toon crosses the finish line | Overpass links the two Central Festival buildings | 60 year old British man drowns at Similans | Free helmets being handed out to kids in Phuket Town | Tropical depression heading our way for the weekend.
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Phuket tourism centres launched
Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, together with the Director General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Jatuporn Burutpat, hosted the opening of the Phuket Tourist Centres yesterday (December 25) in Patong. Phuket’s Governor says that Phuket is a tourism destination welcoming more than 15 million tourists a year, domestic and international, and there are a lot of tourists heading…
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British tourist drowns off Similan islands
60 year old Dennis Michael from Britain was pulled out of the seas off the Similan islands on Sunday. The incident happened off the beach in front of Koh Si. Royal Thai Navy Area 3 officers from the Similan marine security unit tried CPR but were unable to revive him. He was rushed to shore by the national park’s speedboat. An…
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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Boxing Day in Phuket. Where did the name Boxing Day come from? We’ve done the Googling for you. Have a read HERE. There’s another of these pesky tropical storms heading over the South China Sea at the moment, making landfall with Vietnam today then heading over the Gulf of Thailand and affecting the southern coastal provinces from tomorrow and Thursday.…
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18 year old alleged killer arrested in Thalang crackdown
An 18 year old, who allegedly shot a 17 year old couple on December 23, killing the girl, has been arrested along with 33 other people who illegally posses guns and bullets plus another 20 people involved in drug-related cases. This follows a police crime crackdown measures during Christmas and New Year period. The arrests were made between December 22…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, December 25
Car overturns in Kathu | Tragic accident killing two on Saturday night | Thailand’s 13 best beaches announced | 37 dead in Davao City blaze | Toon heads for the finish line today | Another illegal tour guide arrested at Ao Po | Drink driving still the #1 cause of our road deaths.
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MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Merry Christmas from all of us here at Phuket Gazette and The Thaiger. We urge you to be extra careful out on the roads on this day and in the days up to New Year. It’s the busiest time for tourism on the island and there are lots of people here to celebrate. Let’s see which stories are leading the…
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Thalang car crash kills two, including a one year old baby
At midnight on Saturday night, at Saladaeng intersection on Thepkasattri Road in Thalang, a 6-wheel bus crashed into a car, resulting in two casualties and an injured driver in serious condition. The bus was driven by 42 year old Boonyong Linla, who police allege was driving at high speed and ignored a traffic signal, running the red light. He crashed…
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Robber in Chalong caught last night
At 1 am this morning Chalong police received a report about a robbery in Aek Anda Village in Soi Anusorn and managed to catch 27 year old Aed Bangjak, who lives in Rawai. He was carrying a sack with him at the time. Inside the sack police found aluminium parts, a set of screwdrivers and other robbery equipment. Aed confessed…
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26 year old Chinese tourist drowns an hour after arriving in Phuket
A Chinese tourist drowned at Patong Beach yesterday while waiting to check into his hotel. Police say 26 year old An Huifeng drowned shortly after he and his girlfriend went into the water while they were waiting to check in. Police spoke to the man’s girlfriend and found out that the two arrived in Phuket only an hour before and…
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Who’s deserving of the title ‘Phuket Person of the Year’?
Charity runner/singer Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai has been voted Thailand’s most admirable person of the year, overwhelmingly beating Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, in a poll conducted by Bangkok University. The survey was carried out by Bangkok Poll who interviewed 1,154 people from December 9 to 12. The survey results announced today reveal that Toon had 83.5 per cent of…
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17 year old couple shot in Thalang
PHOTOS: Kusoltham Phuket Foundation At 11.30pm last night (December 22), Kusoltham Phuket Foundation rescue team reported a shooting in Baan Pa Krong Cheep, Thalang. At the scene the team found an injured 17 year old boyfriend and girlfriend who were both shot in their neck. The man, Rohmat Tumwong, was conscious and sent to Vachira Hospital while his girlfriend, Panilada…
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Ceremony to commence the removal of the Royal Crematorium replica in Saphan Hin
A worship ritual was held yesterday (December 22) to start the removal the replica of the Royal Crematorium of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej Rama 9 in Saphan Hin. The ritual was chaired by Phuket’s Vice Governor Thavornwat Kongkaew, alongside a number of local authorities and local people. The ritual was conducted in front of Late HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej…
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SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Two sleeps before Christmas and the weekend has brought a bit of Christmas cloud. Possible showers today and an 80% chance of rain forecast for Christmas Eve. Watches are back in the news, a decision to reject wiretapping, moving Rama IX’s Royal Crematorium and the ongoing search for wayward Abbot Phra Dhammachayo. Here we go with today’s briefs… ‘No’ to wiretapping…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, December 21
New Drink Drive Death campaign | Laypang finds her new home | Police still investigating pick-up fatality | EU demands release of journalists | Toon gets some celebrity encouragement.
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Two illegal tour guides picked up but blitz is on for illegal Chinese guides
Two illegal Thai tour guides have been arrested following a protest lasting two days from other local Thai tour guides crying foul over illegal Chinese guides taking their jobs. Yesterday (December 21) at 5 pm police visited the popular tourist spot following the local tour guide protest at Promthep Cape. Phuket’s Governor ordered a team to conduct a random check…
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Strong winds in Krabi sweep a speed boat off its mooring
A speedboat belonging to a Swedish man, that was tied up in the bay at Koh Lanta, went missing after strong north easterly winds on Wednesday night. The 9 metre speedboat named ‘Baghera’ was reported missing. A team of Marine Security Unit of Royal Thai Navy, Koh Lanta Noi, headed out on Thursday morning in search for the missing vessel.…
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70% of the illegal businesses on Laypang beach cleared. A few remain.
Cherngtalay’s OrBorTor President, Ma-Ann Samran, visited Laypang Beach yesterday (December 21) with about 30 military officers and local police to follow up on the progress of the demolition of encroached restaurants on Laypang Beach. The team found that 70% of the restaurants have already been removed. After the Supreme Court passed down its judgement on November 1 that the 178…
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Local tour guides protest over illegal Chinese tour guides
A group of local tour guides, who lead Chinese tours, protested today (December 21) at Promthep Cape against workers, they claim, are illegal Chinese tour guides taking their jobs in tour companies. https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1557310141013475/ The protest started yesterday (December 20) but continued again at the same place today. The group is calling for help from local authorities, saying that the tour…
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Krabi supporters of the coal power plant voice their support
More than 400 Krabi residents gathered in front of Klong Nua District Office to support the coal power plant today (December 21). The group of villagers, led by Baan Pakasai Moo 3 Village Chief, Kijja Thongthtip, says the group under the name ‘Representative of Krabi people network’, filed a letter to the district officials to pass to PM Prayut Chan-Ocha…
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Amazing Thailand Countdown 2017 @ Phuket
Phuket is ready for an Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 @ Phuket on December 30-31, expecting to generate at least 200 million Baht. Last night (December 20), at Blue Elephant, Deputy Governor of Domestic Marketing, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Noppadon Pakprot, alongside Phuket Governor Norapat Plodthong and the President of Phuket Old Town Community, Don Limnantapisit, held a press conference announcing…
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFS – All your local news in 3 minutes
We welcome Thursday and are enjoying the continuing good weather but know there’s a bit of possible rain on the way with a weakening tropical depression. From the TMD… “During 22-24 December, it is forecast as a tropical depression moving near Malaysia and the lower South of Thailand.” Let’s check today’s main news stories… Protesters threaten to go to BKK…
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Laypang arrives at new home – Phuket Zoo
The 2.8 metre crocodile, Laypang, said to be an “alien species” that was caught around Laypang Beach several months ago, was transferred to the Phuket Zoo today (December 20). During the transfer ceremony at the Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Regional Centre 5 in Thalang district, Phuket Zoo manager Pichai Sakulsorn signed a three year agreement with Fisheries Department representative…
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How can Thailand curb its appalling road fatality rate?
It’s a question asked by an article nearly a year ago. Tim Newton ponders if much has changed in the last 12 months…. “In the worst of the incidents, 25 people died on Monday in Chonburi province after a pick-up truck and a minivan collided and burst into flames. In all, 426 people died on Thailand’s road between Dec 29…
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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