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.
-
Sponsored Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers plenty of excitement and adventure, but the local healthcare system can be complex to navigate as an expat. From unique health risks to high costs at private hospitals, having a comprehensive health insurance plan is essential....
-
Four houses on fire in Phuket Town
This morning (February 5), Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, Phuket Municipality received a report about a blaze in Soi Hub Aek, Phuket Town, that quickly spread to another three houses. The estimated value of the losses is at least 400,000 Baht. At the scene, the 6 fire trucks couldn’t get into the street as it was too narrow. With the…
-
Anonymous attack in Patong
A 27 year old man, Natchasak Satitrong from Surat Thani province, was attacked while sleeping in a sala near the Loma Park football stadium in Patong early yesterday morning (Sunday). At 4 am Kusoldham Foundation received a report about a man being attacked by a sharp item. They found Natchasak with knife wounds on his scalp, his left fingers, right…
-
Boat crew arrested after slashing tourist
Phuket Tourist Police and Thalang Police arrested a boat crew, 24 year old Thanakorn Sechana from Sakon Nakhon province, after he slashed a Ukrainian passenger with a knife yesterday (February 3). The passenger, 24 year old Vitalii Kuzmichov, was traveling back from Phi Phi Island with a Best Travel Club tour boat and got slashed near his left elbow by…
-
‘Big drug dealer’ arrested in Rawai
Phuket police have held a press conference to reveal a drug network which included the arrest of one man and seizure of 1.39 kilograms of methamphetamine, worth 5 million Baht. Police allege the drugs belong to a ‘big drug dealer’, 26 year old Nakarin Chaweewongprateep. The police initially arrested 49 year old Suth Saekang in Rawai with 307 amphetamine pills…
-
Baby crocodile found in Chalong
A baby crocodile has been found at an old mine in Chalong yesterday (February 1) by local fishermen. Specialists say the reptile appears to be about 1 year old. The two men who found the crocodile, Suchatee Anoma and Pansak Chantawang, say that they were catching fish at the old mine in Soi Nakok and spotted a baby crocodile on…
-
Singaporean crashes into the Heroines Monument
A 55 year old Singaporean man, Ang Koh Lin, crashed his Toyota Fortuner into the metal fence adjacent to the Heroines Monument last night (February 1) and was critically injured. Emergency responders provided first aid at the scene and sent him immediately to hospital. From the investigation, police believe that he was driving from Paklok heading west towards the monument…
-
Baby crocodile found in Chalong tin mine lake
A local fisherman has found a baby crocodile at an old mine in Soi Nakok, Chalong. Fisheries Officers have been visiting the area and speaking to the man this morning. The question on everyone’s lips…’Where’s the mother?!” More information coming soon.
-
Chinese couple photo shoot no-no at temple crematorium
Pictures of Chinese couple taking their pre wedding photos at the crematorium at Chalong temple have gone viral among Thais social media users. People are criticising the couple and their entourage about the inappropriateness of this photo location, showing a proposal with a man kneeing down in front of a woman in red bride dress right in front of the…
-
Phuket Hotels Association award their first six scholarships
The PHAB (Phuket Hotels Association Benefit) fundraising event was held last year on May 13 and raised approximately 4 million baht. Since then, the Phuket Hotels Association’s Education Working Group has placed advertisements, shortlisted candidates and interviewed the prospects for its scholarship program. The three institutions they will be working with are Phuket Vocational College, Rajabhat University and Prince of…
-
THAIGER TODAY January 31
Frenchman and Thai accomplice re-enact murder | Viet Jet back-pedal over PR stunt | Thai PM admits falling popularity | British expat needs triple by-pass – no health insurance | Krabi province investigates marine ambulance | AMLO clamps down on Bitcoin.
-
Van crashes near Khao Lak
A van transporting Chinese tourists crashed on the way from Phuket International Airport to Khao Lak this morning (January 31), resulting in 13 injuries, 9 of them considered serious. The van was driving in foggy weather while a motorcycle cut ahead of it causing van driver to swerve. The 52 year old driver, Suchart Aduman, who received minor injuries, explained…
-
A 152 year chance to see a rare triple treat – Lunar Eclipse
Stargazers and astro-photographers will gather at locations along Phuket’s east coast between 6pm and 12pm to catch sight of the very rare triple display of a blue moon, a super moon and a total lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse, a blue moon and a supermoon will occur simultaneously, in a coincidence that last happened almost 152 years ago in 1866.…
-
THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 29
Krabi coal fire plant hearings get no opposition | Frenchman nabbed over Italian’s murder in Tak | Thailand voted the Number One ranking of the list of Best Countries to Start a Business | Anxious wait for Thai fishing ‘yellow card’ to lifted | Wildlife Selfie Code launched | ‘Upcycling the oceans’ event pulls nearly a tonne of rubbish off…
-
Russian man dies after walk along Krabi beach
A 61 year old Russian tourist, Shikokenko Alexander, fainted while walking along the beach at Hong Island in Krabi, was being taken to hospital but died on the way (January 28). At 1pm, the Chief of Bokkoranee National Park received a report that the Russian man was walking with his wife along the beach when he collapsed onto the sand.…
-
Krabi power plant public hearing went smoothly. Protesters boycot event.
More than 2,500 people attended the public hearing about Krabi’s proposed new coal power plant yesterday (January 28) with 1,150 police and army officers guarding the meeting and watching out for any potential protest activity. The 1,150 officers were guarding the area of the public hearing stage at Klong Kanan Sub District Administration Organisation office (OrBorTor), both in uniforms and…
-
4 metre long python found in goat farm
Last night (January 28), the owner of Kiang Tawan goat farm in Krabi, 56 year old Kiang Yaithong, along with his friends, tried to capture a 4 metre and 15 kilogram python that sneaked inside his farm and ate a cat and a few chickens. They tied it up and dragged it out from the goat cage then left it…
-
1,150 Officers prepared for Krabi Power Plant Public Hearings
Krabi’s Police Commander, Pol Maj Gen Boontawee Toraksa, has promised that the public hearings will not see any violence with the addition of 1,150 police, military and defense volunteer officers, all prepared to guard the area. Infrastructure for the public hearings has already been put in place with 3 big air-conditioned tents with a capacity of 2,500 people. CCTV cameras…
-
Waste water flowing freely onto Krabi’s beaches
Krabi Vice Governor, Pol Capt Apinan Puakpong, with a team of military officers, Krabi Office of Natural Resources and Environment and Krabi Provincial Public Health Office, inspected hotels, resorts and restaurants along Tub Kaeg Beach and found that there are five 5-star hotels as well as one restaurant that have their waste water pipe releasing directly into the sea. The…
-
Coal plant protesters hold seminar in Krabi
The Network Protecting Andaman from Coal arranged a seminar to pass on knowledge about the effects from the coal power plant this week. The seminar was headed under the topic ‘Krabi, Andaman – World Tourism Attraction or Charcoal Pollution Source’. The seminar was attended by approximately 500 people, including locals and business owners. “We always disagreed about the Krabi thermal…
-
FIFA World Cup lands in Phuket
The FIFA World Cup has already arrived in Phuket for an exhibition. The exhibition is arranged under the auspices of the ‘FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour 2018 by Coca-Cola’ which takes place today (January 27) at Central Festival Phuket. Phuket fans will be meeting with the legend of FIFA Christian Karembeu, former player of French National Team in the World…
-
Mother & child re-united. And it feels so good.
Rescuers had to break a car’s window after its doors automatically locked with both a toddler and the car key inside in Phuket’s Mueang district on Thursday morning. The mother, 36, whose name was withheld, sought help from the people nearby after she was unable to open her car door, and police and rescuers were alerted at 8.40am. The mother…
-
THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 26
Latest announcements about Smart Visa | Re-enactment of Israeli mob hit in Samui | 3 road deaths on Patak Road, Karon in 24 hours | Police raid illegal hostels in Koh Pha Ngan | Monster drug haul in BKK | Bans on catching and eating seahorses AND official bans on smoking on some Thai beaches starts next week.
-
House on fire in Phuket Town
Late afternoon yesterday (January 25), Muang Phuket police received a call about a fire at a house in Soi Prayoon, Yaowarat Road. Three fire trucks were called to the scene, a two-story building located 100 metres away from the main road. Firefighters managed to douse the fire in about half an hour. According to the house owner, there was only…
-
Motorcyclist dies whilst over-taking on the left in Karon
After an early double fatality on Patak Road, Karon, where two people on motorbikes collided (one Filipino, one from Myanmar), a rescue team member, 27 year old Sahasanai Nakan, crashed after overtaking a bus resulting in his death yesterday (January 24). The cyclist was riding on Patak Road in Karon without a helmet and overtook a bus, but fell and…
-
THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 25
THAIGER TODAY, Thursday, January 25…. The ‘S’ word in Bangkok | Why can’t our taxis work like this? | AIDS levels dropping in ASEAN | PM pleads with media to drop Prawit ‘chatter’ | Charged Israeli mobsters heading to Samui to recreate crime | Philippines volcano sparks evacuations.
-
-
3,466 new guns distributed to police in Phuket
The Police Region 8 Commander, Pol Lt Gen Sorasak Yenprem, hosted a ceremony to distribute a total of 3,466 guns today (January 23) following the approval from the cabinet for a budget of 990 million Baht to purchase 55,150 new 9 mm semi-automatic guns, magazines, bullets, sockets and belts, as well as handcuffs. “The weapons are distributed to the operational…
-
Thailand Yacht Show – attracting Superyachts to the region
PHOTO: Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder, Thailand Yacht Show At a Press Conference in Bangkok last week Prakob Wongmaneerung, Vice Governor of Phuket, Nithee Seeprae, Executive Director of Product Promotion Department of TAT and Andy Treadwell, CEO and Founder of the Thailand Yacht Show, along with numerous officials and key business leaders, gathered to re-confirm their commitment to promoting Thailand…
-
THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 23
3 killed and many more injured in latest Yala bombing | Another bus with Chinese tourists ends up in a road ditch in Chiang Mai | Later on the Israeli mob hit on Samui | Central Pattana introduce cashless technology at 4,000 stores | Bullets flying in Hat Yai yesterday | Exports up 9.9% over past 12 months.
-
THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 22
Israeli hit squad kills one in Koh Samui | ‘Taxi OK’ App and reforms launched this Thursday | Spot checks at Chalong Pier reveal shortcomings on some boats | Couple arrested at Don Mueang after alleged murder in Pichit | Total of four arrested over Phuket Airport baggage thefts.
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.