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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B200k worth of drugs nabbed in ‘random check’ in Phuket
PHUKET: A man was arrested with about 200,000 baht’s worth of ya bah (methamphetamine) pills while trying to enter Phuket yesterday. “We caught him at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint just as he had arrived in Phuket from Narathiwat,” said Lt Col Thawat Tansakun of Tah Chat Chai Police. The suspect, named by the police as Apisee Ya, 26, had…
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Police hunting for gunmen in Krabi van driver’s murder
KRABI: Police are hunting for at least two gunmen who killed a van driver in Krabi yesterday. “The victim’s van was found in a palm plantation on Petch Kasem road in Ao Luek Tai sub-district. On the driver’s seat, we found Chalee Petchpuang, 48, covered in blood, with bullet wounds to his neck and forehead,” said Capt Manas Inthornprom of…
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Photos of foot waving foreigner criticized in Phuket
PHUKET: A foreigner who stuck his foot out the window of a passenger van has received a lot of criticism on social media after pictures of the incident were posted online. The pictures were taken two weeks ago by a Facebook user, who wishes to remain anonymous, driving behind the van on Thepkrasattri Road near the Bang Koo junction in…
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French, Italian tourists rescued from Phuket speedboat crash
PHUKET: Forty four Italian and French tourists were rescued yesterday after a speedboat crashed into an underwater concrete pole about a hundred meters away from shore. The boat, named Ao Ja Sira, left the Gypsy Pier behind the Westin Siray Bay resort in Rassada at about 10am. The crash occurred less than five minutes into the journey. A passing tourist…
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Krabi police crack down on drug network; nab weapons, pills
KRABI: Krabi police yesterday revealed a series of drug-related arrests, including three members of a major drug network named ‘Add Nanon’. “The leader of the network, Kittisak Nanon, 25, and two of his associates, Suphap Reaproi, 28, and Kittiphan Sukdam, 25, were arrested with about 40,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills, a shotgun, revolver and handgun, and several rounds of ammunition,”…
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NEPC approves Krabi coal-fired power plant
KRABI: The National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) has resolved to continue the construction of the Krabi coal-fired power plant, Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced today. The decision was made by the committee during a meeting at Government House this morning, amid an uproar about the value of the plant and Thailand’s future energy policy. Gen Prayuth said the project…
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B16m traffic cams unveiled as Phuket named in top 5 deadliest provinces
PHUKET: Five new high-tech ‘red light cameras’ were launched this morning in response to Phuket’s recognition as one of Thailand’s five most dangerous provinces for road travel. “These cameras can help catch those who are speeding, not wearing helmets or running red lights. A computer then automatically prints a penalty notice, which will be sent to the driver’s residence,” said…
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Another boat capsizes in Phuket
PHUKET: A cargo boat capsized and sank in rough rough water and strong currents off Koh Gai (Chicken Island) this afternoon. The boat, named Chok Suthida 2, left Jian Wanich pier in Phuket at 8:40am to deliver supplies and daily usage items to hotels on Phi Phi. A Thai captain and Burmese crew member were the only ones on board.…
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French tourists, taxi driver killed in crash with 10-wheel-truck
KRABI: Two French tourists and a Thai taxi driver were killed in a collision between an airport taxi and a 10-wheel-truck in Krabi yesterday afternoon. The victims were Victoria Bureau, Betrice Bureau and Thanat Pankhwan. Two other French tourists, namely Julien Remy Viallet and Alian Nicolas Bureau, as well as the driver of the 10-wheel-truck, Boonrit Senasamorn, were injured. “The…
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Anti-corruption boss says Phuket ‘most corrupt’ in Thailand
PHUKET: A Facebook post by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand prompted an emergency meeting of the island’s top bosses yesterday to ‘investigate’ allegations of corruption laid against officials from major sectors of the government. Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan, while insisting that he himslef had not accepted bribes, did launch an initiative called “White Phuket'”for the public to provide him with…
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Breaking: Anti-Corruption agency, Phuket Gov lock horns over corruption
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has denied accepting bribes and urgently ordered officers to investigate corruption allegations made by the Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand in a Facebook post yesterday. “I have never accepted tea money, or ordered any of my officers to do so, from any business – legal or illegal,” said Gov Chokchai Dejamornthan. The governor set up a committee…
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Monitor lizards celebrate Valentines Day
KOH LANTA: Monitor lizards celebrated Valentines Day today by professing their love openly in Koh Lanta. The two reptiles, who asked to remain nameless, were found hugging each other in a pond in front of the Pimalai Resort & Spa. Locals and tourists gathered around the pond to take a peek, as it was surely a sight to see. The…
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Foreigner survives hanging attempt from Phuket bridge
PHUKET: Valentine’s Day in Phuket started with an unidentified foreigner attempting to hang himself from a pedestrian bridge in Thalang early this morning. The man survived, but sustained serious injuries from falling on to the road after the wire he was using snapped. One end of it was tied around his neck and the other was attached to the bridge.…
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Staff involvement suspected in Samui bank break-in
SAMUI: Police are hunting for masked robbers who broke into a Krungsri Bank branch located only about 100 meters from a police station in Samui on Friday night. Lt Col Vachara Somsri of Samui Police received the report soon after the incident took place. “We believe that at least two suspects were involved in the affair. They didn’t manage to…
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Phuket mourns death of Soi Dog co-founder
PHUKET: The untimely death of Gill Dalley, who was a prominent member of the Phuket community and co-founder of the Soi Dog Foundation, was announced early this morning by foundation representatives. Ms Dalley was 58 years old and battled cancer for a short period of time. She was the inaugural winner of the ‘Canine Hero of the year’ award at…
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Falling tree damages tuk-tuk, injures driver in Phuket
PHUKET: A tuk-tuk driver escaped with minor injuries after a palm tree fell directly on top of his vehicle at a crowded shopping district in Karon yesterday. Prawi Sangkaew, 49, was driving past Karon Plaza when a strong gust of wind caused the 40-year-old palm tree to fall. The tree narrowly missed the driver’s section of the vehicle. There were…
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Patong parking complaints spark military blitz
PHUKET: Officers from the Region 4 Army Headquarters in Phuket visited Patong Beach last week to address complaints about the bike rental management system, particularly the decades-old problem of theft of space from the public. Vendors and locals in the area said that the beach looked disorganized as dozens of rental bikes were parked chaotically and illegally along the road.…
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Sentenced to jail, woman fights against ‘false’ evidence
PHUKET: A therapist accused of stealing a necklace in Trang and sentenced to jail is set to appeal. The theft occurred back in 2011, when the victim reported to Trang police officers that she was drugged by a waitress named Ploi, and her necklace with a Buddha pendant, worth 700,000 baht, was stolen. The accused, Pavitra Kongampon, 32, also known…
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Thai man’s body discovered after two days
PHUKET: A man’s rotting corpse was found in his house in Thalang this morning. The victim, Thaweechai Noppakao, 54, is believed to have been dead for at least two days before his bdoy was discovered by his daughter. Officers believe he died due to health complications. Locals of Moo 8, Baan Liporn in Srisonthorn reported the incident to Thalang Police.…
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Another drug dealer arrested, charged in Phuket
PHUKET: Another drug dealer was charged with several crimes in Phuket this morning, after he was busted arrested with a homemade gun, ammunition and ya ice (crystal Methamphetamine) on Wednesday afternoon in Wichit. Maj Thanasak Sawangsri with his team took the lead on the case after receiving a tip-off at about 3:30pm two days ago. “We spotted Keerati Laocome, 27,…
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Australian jet-ski victim’s partner awaits trial in Phuket
PHUKET: The partner of a 20-year-old Australian woman who was killed in a jet-ski collision with him at Kata Beach on Sunday, is expected to be charged with reckless driving causing death and is awaiting trial in Phuket. Thomas Keating, 22, and his partner Emily Jayne Collie, 20, came to Phuket for a holiday and had rented jet-skis to ride…
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Thai woman found hanged in Phuket apartment
PHUKET: A Thai woman was found hanged in a Patong apartment yesterday with a note that explained her health and money issues. “The apartment is located on Pisitkoraneee Road. We found the body of Chantraporn Martphanna, 47, hanging by electric wires tied to the closet bar,” said Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of Patong Police. “The body was taken to Patong Hospital…
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Mayor reveals tentative solution for brown water in Patong Bay
PHUKET: Officials have found an experimental or ‘beta’ solution for the repeated appearance of brown water in Patong Bay, which is caused by a plankton bloom. Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup yesterday revealed that the proposed solution is to grow eichhornia crassipes, better known as water hyacinths, to counter the plankton. Tourists and Patong beach operators complained about the presence of…
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Phuket’s Bypass Road ripped up for repairs
PHUKET: A 9 million baht budget has been set aside for repair work on the northbound Bypass Road leading up to Thepkrasattri Road. Locals are having trouble maneuvering on the road, as it has now become slippery and dusty. They asked officers why a section of the road that was in good enough condition is being fixed. Phuket Highways officer…
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Another teenager killed, and a second seriously injured in Phuket road crash
PHUKET: A 15-year-old biker was killed and his passenger, also 15, was seriously injured when a van driver cut them off, causing a three-vehicle collision yesterday evening in Chalong. Both boys were still in school uniform with their schoolbags across their shoulders. “Rescue workers provided CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to the driver, Wasin Thongsom, but his injuries were too severe and…
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Frenchman, Russians arrested in Phuket brawl
PHUKET: Two Russian tourists and a French expat were arrested after they were seen armed and fighting in Patong this afternoon. The incident happened near a bike rental shop run by the Frenchman, named by police as Gerard Pecherstorfer, 63, and his wife Suvan Paiwansao, on Sirirat Road. Ms Suvan told police that the argument was about a bike rental…
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Another suspect in million-baht drug deal arrested
PHUKET: A suspected drug dealer, part of a million-baht drug operation cracked in December, was arrested yesterday afternoon. Police in December had initially apprehended four suspects, including a minor (story here), with more than 4,000 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 200 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in their possession. The drugs were shipped into Phuket from Bangkok using…
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American found dead in Phuket hotel room
PHUKET: An American man was found dead at a hotel room in Patong yesterday afternoon. “We received a report of the incident at about 3:30pm. The deceased was 58 years old and staying at the Orange Hotel,” said Maj Pattapee Srichai of Patong Police. “We found him lying face up on his bed with no wounds or marks on his…
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Deadly crash kills one near Central Festival Phuket
PHUKET: A Rawai local was killed early this morning when his truck crashed into an electricity pole in front of Central Festival Phuket. Lt Patcharee Wongboon of Wichit Police received reports of the incident at about 4:30am. “We arrived with rescue workers to find the heavily-damaged brown Toyota Vigo pick-up truck flipped over to its left side and smashed into…
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Holiday nightmare: Aussie tourist killed in Phuket jet-ski collision
PHUKET: A 20-year-old Australian woman was killed in a jet-ski collision with her husband at Kata Beach yesterday evening. The victim, named Emily Collie, suffered severe injuries to her head, neck and shoulders. “Other beachgoers came to her aid and lifeguards administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) while waiting for police and rescue workers to arrive,” said Lt Col Patiwat Yordsuan of…
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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