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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American tourist badly injured in rock climbing fall
KRABI: Another tourist, this time an American, has been seriously injured while rock climbing in Phuket’s neighboring Krabi province. At about 2pm, a rescue team and the Krabi Tourist Police received a report from the ‘Railay Rock Climbing Club’ that American tourist Eduardo Keane had fallen off a viewpoint from the near-vertical cliff face at Railay Bay. “Mr Keane is…
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ATM skimming: Two more Chinese tourists arrested
PHUKET: Two Chinese ATM skimmers were arrested in the act of installing their equipment at an ATM in Thalang yesterday afternoon. “The suspects, Chaopeng Zhou, 30, and Qihong Zhou, 24, were nabbed in front of a 7/11 in Baan Lipon on Thepkrasattri Road northbound,” says Lt Col Natthaphop Phongsapan of Thalang Police. Officers seized two pieces of skimming equipment, four…
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Masked robbers with a shotgun and an M16 foiled by a single man in Phang-nga
PHANG NGA: Police are hunting for two men who used an M16 machine gun in a failed attempt to rob a snooker hall in Phang-nga on Monday night. The 35-year-old owner, who refuses to be named, filed a complaint about the attempted robbery with the police in Phang-nga Town yesterday morning, along with evidence from CCTV footage. The footage shows…
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Minister hammers Phuket Airport, alleging that women are allowed to touch monks
PHUKET: Phuket Airport Director Phet Chan-charoen made a statement yesterday after mass circulation Thai Rath newspaper reported that an unnamed ex-minster is criticizing the airport for allowing female security staff to use hand-held metal detectors to search monks, instead of strictly limiting that process to male inspectors. “We have investigated the incident. It occurred on May 1 when a monk…
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Phuket International airport under fire for filthy, stinking toilets
PHUKET: Well known Thai actor Krirkphol Masayavanich has taken to Facebook to tell airport management that he’s not happy their toilets. Translated from Thai, the complaint reads: “The toilets [at the airport] are in serious need of attention. So dirty and stink terribly. I can’t even take a [xxit]!” Many comments under the post agree with him. Recently appointed Airport…
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Rape escape: Phone call aborts rape of Phuket woman two months pregnant
PHUKET: A chance incoming phone call saved a two-month pregnant woman from being raped yesterday afternoon in her rental room in Phuket. The loud ring panicked the rapist who then fled. “After receiving a report from the victim’s boyfriend, we arrived at the scene at about 4pm. It was a rental room in Soi Pracha in Wichit district. The girl,…
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Motorbike in Phuket worker’s kitchen explodes, reaps big damage in Thalang
PHUKET: A motorbike explosion caused a worker’s quarters in Phuket to catch fire last night, resulting in more than 100,000 baht in damages. Police have yet to learn why the bike exploded. Thalang police station received a report of the incident at about 10:30pm from the quarters in Baan Manik and dispatched fire fighters from the Phuket Disaster Prevention and…
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Double trouble for thief arrested in Phuket Town
PHUKET: A Phuket man who stole a motorbike and Buddhist artifacts, in two separate crimes, in order to buy drugs was arrested yesterday by Phuket City police. Following a June 14 complaint by a Ms Sopee Koodkrai, 51, that her motorbike had been stolen in front of her house in Phuket Town, the police located CCTV footage showing a male…
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Good Thai-Myanmar relations highlighted at border management meeting in Phuket
PHUKET: The 31st meeting of the Thai Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC) was held at Patong Resort & Spa this morning to solve border problems and strengthen relationships. “In the past, Thailand and Myanmar have always helped each other to deal with border problems, and the purpose of this meeting today was to ensure continued cooperation for stability. Most importantly,…
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Phuket Crime: French tourist latest victim of ladyboy theft at Patong Beach
PHUKET: Patong police yesterday arrested a ladyboy who stole an iPhone from a French tourist on Patong beach. “Mr Montree Srijantra, 24, was arrested near the Paris Star guesthouse in Patong following a complaint by the tourist,” said Capt Jarun Jaisuntud of Patong Police. “On June 19, we received a report from Mr Marcel Sawcho that his iPhone 6 was…
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Driver leaped from truck moments before explosion, flip-over
PHUKET: A truck driver narrowly escaped death or serious injury by scrambling out of his truck before a wheel explosion flipped it over on the bypass road yesterday evening, causing a major traffic jam. “The incident occurred on the northbound side of the road near the Pornthip souvenir shop at about 7:30pm. We found the truck flipped over with a…
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Phuket teenaged delinquents in riot at juvenile observation center
PHUKET: A group of 12 juvenile delinquents wreaked havoc at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center (JOPC) at Saphan Hin yesterday afternoon, causing major damage there. At about 3:30pm, the Phuket City Police were called in to control the situation. The call came from JOPC Director Rawee Kuhapimook. “The riot was in the canteen, where 12 of the teens…
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Phuket’s Mai Khao Beach disgraced in social media
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong is demanding fast action from officials in Sirinat National Park over a stream of complaints from tourists and local villagers about an accumulation of ‘huge’ amounts of trash on the beach at the threshold to the runway at Phuket International Airport. Access to that stretch of beach is through Soi Mai Khao 4, next to the…
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Erection of fence angers Phuket market vendors on Koh Siray
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad held a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday over an erection on Koh Siray of a fence that is alleged to have damaged the income of vendors in a local market. At the meeting, among others, were concerned officials, vendor leader Sontaya Chulpum, and a representative of Siam Dock Yard Co (SDYC) who had installed…
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Cause of Phuket volunteer diver’s death continues under investigation
PHUKET: A volunteer diver died on duty while planting coral off Racha Yai island yesterday. Police are not sure about the cause of her death but are looking into personal health issues and the possibility that her tank ran out of air. The diver, Lakkana Sakunpong, 40, was on a volunteer job arranged by the Department of Marine and Coastal…
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Phuket police nab, charge man selling drugs to teenagers
PHUKET: A man from Sukhothai has been apprehended and charged with selling drugs to teenagers in Phuket. The arrest of Nawareuk Lekam, 35, was announced yesterday by Capt Amphon Samorthai of the border patrol police. The arrest occurred in front of a shop on Phuket’s Pattana Rd on June 15. “We learned from local police patrols that Mr Nawareuk had…
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Officials try to curb growing numbers of beggars in Phuket
PHUKET: Officials are trying to counter the increasing numbers of beggars in Phuket, particularly in Rawai. Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad yesterday held a meeting with concerned officials and sea gypsy representatives to discuss ideas and solutions after a growing number of sea gypsy children were seen pestering tourists for money. “We have been informed by Rawai residents that a…
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King Cobra rescued and released
PHUKET: A king cobra was captured after it was found underneath the hood of a car parked at the ‘Nature and Wildlife Education Center’ at Khao Phra Thaew yesterday. The cobra was just over two meters long and weighed about 3kgs. It was released into a jungle near the center. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene after locals…
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Thailand receives ranking upgrade for combating IUU fishing
PHUKET: The European Commission has formally upgraded Thailand’s fisheries ranking, citing the Kingdom’s efforts to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing over the past two years. Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news during a ‘Point of Contact’ marine resources conference with Andaman officials at Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.…
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Technician injured from electric shock in Phuket
PHUKET: A 24-year-old man was injured from an electric shock after he accidentally stepped on a wire while fixing an electronic display sign in Kamala this morning. “The incident occurred in front of Tesco Lotus. The sign was located above a 7/11 store. Rescue workers climbed up a ladder to bring him down,” said Capt Chatchawan Poonaruemit of Kamala Police.…
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Phuket gov announces improvement plans at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has announced plans to boost security protocols at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint to ensure that no illegal substances are being smuggled in or out of Phuket. The governor unveiled his plans during a meeting with relevant officers at the Mai Khao OrBorTor office yesterday. “The final improvement plans have already been laid out. Some of…
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Victim helps arrested bike thief in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Police arrested a motorbike thief at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town yesterday, about six hours after he made off with a bike that had been parked at Dragon’s Monument in Talad Yai. The suspect, 42-year-old Suraphol Punpek, had earlier this year been released from jail where he was serving a sentence for theft. The incident occurred sometime between 4am…
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Teenaged tourist drowns, four others rescued on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Another Chinese tourist drowned and four others were rescued at Phuket beaches in two days, prompting the Phuket Governor to urge officials to find better safety solutions for tourists. The governor was present at the scene when the body of an 18-year-old Chinese tourist, Wei Peixin, washed up at Kamala Beach this morning after rescue workers were unable to…
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Aussie, Argentinian hospitalized after Krabi rock climbing accident
PHUKET: Two tourists were rescued but suffered serious injuries after falling off a cliff while rock climbing in Krabi yesterday. The accident occurred while climbing a cliff between Ao Ton Sai and Ao Pai Plong. Rescue teams, including tourist police, marine police and Nopparat National Park officers, went in search of them after the mishap was reported. Australian national Thomas…
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Belgian tourist arrested for shoplifting in Phuket
PHUKET: A Belgian tourist was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday, more than two weeks after he reportedly stole a mobile phone accessory from an electronics store in Phuket. Tourist Police were able to apprehend the suspect, Oliver Jerome Georges Verhaeghe, 58, while he was waiting to board Qatar Airways flight QR841 to Doha. Mr Verhaeghe was originally seen stealing…
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EGA launches ‘smart kiosks’ in Phuket
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong last week chaired a seminar titled ‘GovChannel Roadshow 2017: Digital Local Government’ at Novotel Phuket Phookeethra in Phuket Town. The seminar introduced the launch of a ‘smart kiosk’ at Big C supercenter, making Phuket the first province in the South to have one. “In continuation of the Smart City project, the GovChannel roadshow was…
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Body of missing swimmer found in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Thai man who went missing after swimming in a red-flagged zone at Karon Beach on Sunday (story here) was found near Laem Sai yesterday. The victim, Arnon Rodjui, was found about 2km from where he first disappeared. Fishermen in the area informed Karon Police of a body floating near the rocks at about 3pm. “We…
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One missing, six rescued from drowning at Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Two Thai tourists were safely rescued while one is still missing after the trio went swimming in a red-flagged area at Karon Beach yesterday afternoon. The missing man, Arnon Rodjui, is originally from Samuthprakan, reported Col Charnarong Krongkue of Karon Police. Officers from the Karon Tourist Help Center and Karon Police searched for Mr Arnon using jet-skis this morning,…
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Two charged for stealing Phuket tourist’s gold jewelry
PHUKET: An Indian tourist was reunited with his stolen jewelry after Patong Police tracked down the snatchers via CCTV footage and arrested them last night. The victim, Dr Deepak Kumar Sharar, was visiting Phuket for a conference. He reported the incident, which occurred near Novotel Phuket Vintage Park Resort on Saturday night, to Patong Police. “Mr Kumar told us that…
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20-passenger speedboat collides with another at Phuket pier
PHUKET: A speedboat carrying 20 passengers crashed with another at the Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew yesterday evening. No injuries were reported. A speedboat belonging to ‘Golden Dragon Tour 1’ was carrying passengers from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket when it collided with, and landed partly on top of, another speedboat, ‘K. Kanreab‘, which was not carrying any passengers at…
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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