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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Phi Phi scuba divers mangled by speedboat
PHUKET: A Russian diver lost his leg and another was seriously injured after being hit by a speedboat near Maya Bay this morning. “I was taking 30 tourists to Ao Maya when it felt like we struck a submerged object. I turned the boat around and saw scuba diving tanks, and the water began to fill with blood,” said Adisorn…
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Phuket sea gypsies allowed access to ceremonial site, for now
PHUKET: Private land owners have temporarily allowed Rawai sea gypsies access to a traditional ceremonial site, pending consideration of donating the land to the seafaring nomads. The issue was brought to a head after more than 30 sea gypsies were injured in a violent confrontation with private business owners after they blocked access to the sea gypsies’ Balai table, a…
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AMCHAM Phuket presents trends in sustainable hospitality
PHUKET: The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Greater Phuket Chapter has organized a tourism seminar on Friday (Feb 5) that will address how sustainability helps hotels cut costs and increase overall satisfaction and loyalty from both their associates and guests. The event will be led by Grace Kang of Singapore’s Greenview Hospitality company and will be held at the Keemala…
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Phuket police hunt company after tourist’s watery death
PHUKET: Police are hunting representatives of a tour company after a Chinese tourist died on a snorkelling trip off Koh Racha Yai yesterday morning. The company that booked Weidong Lu, 49, and his family on the boat, does not appear to have provided a tour guide, explained Lt Wuthiwat Leangboonjinda of the Chalong Police. “We are now trying to contact…
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Thailand Yacht Show appoints event Ambassador
PHUKET: Rose Maitland-Smith has been appointed as the official Ambassador of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS), which will take place at Ao Po Grand Marina under the patronage of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Phuket’s newest, largest and most exciting gathering of yachts, boats and luxury brands, brimming with parties and glamour, will open its doors on Thursday, February 11…
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Human skulls in Krabi mark possible ancient burial site
KRABI: The discovery of human skulls, bones, pottery and cave paintings in Krabi could mark a fishermen’s burial site dating as far back as 700 years ago, experts announced yesterday. “Everything was found in a cave about 56 meters above sea level and about three kilometers from Ao Naam Port,” explained Phuket archaeologist Tawatchai Chanpaisansilp, who visited the site yesterday.…
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Brit arrested at Phuket airport after “tempting’ discovery
PHUKET: Police charged a British national who found an envelope of mixed currency and pocketed the cash at Phuket International Airport yesterday. Darren Chapman, 49, was arrested while checking in at the Bangkok Airways counter after having taken US$320 and CA$100 cash from the envelope, which had been left at an Air Asia counter. “Mr Chapman confessed that he took…
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Z-Coaching Phuket team takes podium by storm
PHUKET: Last weekend saw the recently established Z-Coaching Phuket triathlon team sweep the field clean at the Surat Thani/Khao Sok National Park cycling race (70km/120km), where over 1,000 cyclists participated. Jaray Jearanai took the much coveted win in the Men’s Open 120km race, with fellow teammates Martin Brot, Oat Wongtanaponsil, Toha Navong and coach Jurgen Zack all placing in the…
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Damaged road not to affect underpass construction
PHUKET: The severely damaged road near the Samkong intersection has had no effect on underpass construction, confirmed a Phuket Highways Office official. Heavy rains on Thursday left sections of the road running alongside the underpass, as well as one of the underpass walls, heavily damaged (story here). “As of last night, the road can be used as normal and traffic…
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Phuket police struggle to identify dead foreigner
PHUKET: Dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the area where a foreigner was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a bus on Wednesday (story here) have left police clueless. “We had hoped to find CCTV footage showing where the man had come from so that we could identify him and track down his relatives or friends. However, we came up empty…
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Blood donations save German crash victim
PHUKET: A motorcycle crash victim is out of danger after undergoing surgery and receiving seven units of A-negative blood following a plea last week for donations of the rare blood type. German national Bernd Langer, 51, is recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after coming off his motocycle in Rawai on January 24 (story here). Mr Langer underwent emergency surgery at…
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Navy seizes alleged IUU fishing boats in Phuket
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy seized two fishing vessels for illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing when the ships returned to Phuket after tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean. Mook Anda 018 and Mook Anda 028 arrived at the Phuket Deep Sea Port on Saturday, where Rear Admiral Kittipong Rumakom, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, was…
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DSI vows to back Phuket sea gypsy land claims
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) vowed to renew its efforts in backing the Rawai sea gypsies’ claim of having lived on a disputed piece of beachfront property for more than 100 years. “At the meeting with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada on February 2, we will provide all the DNA evidence collected from the archaeological dig we conducted on…
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Ladyboy burglar targeted foreigners’ homes in Phuket
PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested a 28-year-old ladyboy and his or her partner for the burglary of foreigners’ homes in Kamala and Kathu. Boonrit Anchaisiri, 28, and Teerawat Boonampol, 29, were arrested in their rental house in Srisoonthorn with more than 300,000-baht’s worth of stolen goods, said Kamala Police Superintendent Pattanachak Jakkapan. “The two confessed to targeting homes where tourists were…
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Southbound bypass closed at Samkong underpass
PHUKET: Southbound traffic at the Samkong underpass construction site is being diverted east toward Samkong and west toward Kathu after recent heavy rain wreaked havoc on a section of road alongside the site and cracked one of the underpass walls (story here). “Those who want to go straight on to Central Festival now have to turn left, drive through the…
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Wat Chalong Fair kicks off on February 7 [video]
PHUKET: It’s that time of year again. Phuket’s biggest annual temple fair, held at Wat Chalong, will kick off on February 7 to offer one week of local fare and entertainment. “There will be plenty of food vendors, circus rides, games and stalls set up at the fair. Everyone is more than welcome to come and enjoy themselves,” said Chaiwat…
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Fishing boat slaves rescued in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket and Bangkok officials raided a dormitory in Koh Sireh yesterday to rescue 32 illegal Myanmar workers being held captive and forced to work without pay. Officials were alerted to the dormitory after a worker, named only as Nai, escaped from the fishing boat they were forced to work on and swam ashore to call relatives in Myanmar. “Mr…
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Chinese tourist remains unconscious in ICU
KRABI: Krabi Marine Police were called to aid in the rescue of a Chinese tourist who fell unconscious while swimming in Koh Hong yesterday. Cong Xu, 27, was swimming close to shore with friends when they noticed she didn’t come up from under the water, confirmed Krabi Marine Police Chief Anurak Parinyasathiragul. “Her friends pulled her to shore, but she…
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Another Phuket Boat Crash: Five Chinese tourists injured in speedboat
PHUKET: Five Chinese tourists were injured after two speedboats crashed off Koh Phi Phi yesterday . Banthita 9 and Leeloo 3, carrying a total of 80 tourists, collided near the cape of Phi Phi Lay at about 5pm, confirmed Phi Phi Police Chief Jetsada Junphum. “Of the five injured, one was taken to Mission Hospital with a broken arm, while…
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Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land
PHUKET: Representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd presented a thick set of documents on Wednesday backing their claim to the land that is currently occupied by Rawai sea gypsies in Phuket. Among the documents presented by Chatree Madsatun, a representative from Baron World Trade, were four Chanote land titles (9613, 78116, 12616, 12592); a letter of permission from the…
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Island readies for 17th annual Old Town Festival
PHUKET: The 17th annual Phuket Old Town Festival, which celebrates Phuket’s unique culture and traditions, is set to kick off on February 13. The festival will get underway on four roads in the heart of Phuket Town: Thalang Road, Thepkrasattri Road, Soi Romanee and Krabi Road. “This is the 17th year that the Old Town Festival has been organized by…
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V/Gov clears Laem Sing Beach of illegal vendors
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week removed all the beach chairs and umbrellas set up by illegal vendors on Laem Sing Beach – one of Phuket’s ‘virgin beaches’. The Vice Governor ordered the beach to be cleared after aerial photographs of furniture strewn across its sands were published by the Phuket Gazette, and went viral on social media…
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V/Gov orders Laem Sing Beach cleanup
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week has ordered the removal of all furniture on Laem Sing Beach. The Vice Governor imposed the order after aerial photographs showing furniture strewn on the sands went viral on social media earlier this month (story here). “As soon as I received the report, I gave vendors five days to take all of…
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Deputy PM happy with Phuket’s progress
PHUKET: During a tour of five Andaman provinces, Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai visited Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to express his satisfaction with officials’ progress in solving local issues. Deputy PM Narong stopped by the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office) and met with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada to discuss current issues facing the island and the actions taken to resolve…
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All rock climbing banned on Phi Phi
PHUKET: All rock climbers, including independent climbers, are banned from scaling the bolted rock faces on Phi Phi Don as officials look to regulate safety standards. “We have already explained to nine tour operators offering climbing tours in the Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park area that they must suspend their services until they gain the necessary…
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Serial Phuket burglary suspect to surrender
PHUKET: A suspect wanted for a series of burglaries that led to the arrest of his girlfriend on Monday will surrender to police, confirmed a family member. Mac Kotter, 27, is behind a number of thefts in Phuket, alleged 23-year-old Soraya Chantasri after she was arrested. Police apprehended Ms Soraya after she fell from her third-floor balcony and through the…
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Dozens injured in violent clash at Phuket sea gypsy village
PHUKET: More than 30 people were injured in a violent confrontation between private investors and sea gypsies in Phuket today. “At least 100 men came to our village and attacked us. They put up rock blockades to keep us from accessing our village and an area where we perform traditional ceremonies,” alleged Nirund Yangpan, 40, a Rawai sea gypsy representative.…
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Blood surge saves German in Phuket, more donations needed
PHUKET: Though news of the desperately needed A-negative blood to save the life of a German man produced eight units, more is still needed. Bernd Langer, 51, was involved in a single vehicle motorcycle crash in Rawai at about 5am on Sunday. “Witnesses said that Mr Langer fell over while driving his motorcycle,” explained Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijan of the Chalong…
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Surin demolition pushed to next month
PHUKET: The expected demolition of buildings on Surin Beach has been pushed back to next month, announced Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. “The problem we are facing is with the documentation process,” Vice Governor Chokdee said. “We have to ensure that we are following all legal processes and are being very careful when demolishing government buildings.” V/Gov Chokdee noted that…
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Unidentified foreigner killed after allegedly jumping in front of tour bus
PHUKET: Police are working to identify a foreigner who was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a tour bus in Patong early this morning. Bus driver Somkhit Wongpan, 33, told officers that he was on his way to Patong after picking up about 20 Chinese tourists from the airport, confirmed Maj Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police. “Mr Somkhit…
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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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