Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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Phuket Vice Gov steps in to take charge of Sirinath case
PHUKET: Officials confirmed on Tuesday that initial investigations indicate that only 27 of the 715 much-disputed plots of Sirinath National Park land have been proven legal, said Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. The vice governor spoke with a committee, comprised of experts and officials, formed to investigate and resolve issues surrounding the national park’s land disputes. The committee was set…
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Phuket Heroines’ Memorial Festival March 5-19
PHUKET: This year’s Heroines’ Memorial Festival, running March 5-19, is sure to impress all in attendance with cultural and historical activities to honor war heroes Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn. “The purpose of this event is to honor the heroism of Lady Thepkrasattri and Lady Srisoonthorn, who sacrificed their blood and lives for generations to come,” said Phuket Governor Chamroen…
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Hit-and-run driver kills Indian man in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting the driver of a fuel-transport truck who fled the scene after killing an Indian man in Phuket last night. “Cheriya Parambil Johi, 40, sustained a serious head injury in a motorbike crash on the bypass road and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other passenger, Thai national Veera Morthong, 28, was also seriously injured,” said…
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Car-bomb suspect arrested after 16 years on the run
PHUKET: A man wanted in connection with a car bombing in Patong more than 16 years ago was arrested at his home in Trang yesterday. Police were acting on an arrest warrant issued in May 2003 by the Phuket Provincial Court following a car-bomb attack that seriously injured three people outside of a gold shop in 1999. Police officers from…
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German cancer patient dies in Phuket fall
PHUKET: A German man died after falling from the balcony of his seventh-floor condo room in Phuket yesterday evening. “Karl Geier, 76, was reportedly living alone at the building on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road,” said Lt Col Jetsada Saengsuree of the Patong Police. “There were no signs of a struggle or robbery in his room.” Police questioned a number of…
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A Decade Ago: Visa runs and the ‘Ranong 12’
PHUKET: Phuket is changing at exponential speed. The transformation from what this little island looked like ten years ago, to the traffic-congested mayhem we now see on our roads, is dramatic to say the least. But some things never change, or at least they don’t change for long. ‘Visa runners released after four nights of fear’ reads the sub-headline on…
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Aussie survives Phuket balcony fall
PHUKET: A conscious Australian tourist was rushed to hospital after falling from the third-floor balcony of a Patong hotel just after midnight today. “Jonann Petschauer, 65, fell off the balcony attached to his room and through a glass ceiling at Charm Resort Phuket,” said Lt Col Anukul Nuket of the Patong Police. Mr Petschauer was on holiday with Jacqi Lillian…
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Bodies of two missing canoers found in Rassada
PHUKET: Rescue workers this morning recovered the bodies of two men who had been missing since their canoe capsized near Koh Sireh on Sunday. “The body of Mat Panthip, 51, was found floating near Ruen Talay Seafood restaurant in Rassada at about 9:30am,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “About two hours later, we found the body of Laong…
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King cobra killed after raiding camp
PHUKET: A three-meter-long king cobra was killed after attempting to sneak into a workers’ camp in Paklok yesterday afternoon. Snake catchers from the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation rushed to the camp after receiving a report about the deadly reptile, but by the time they arrived on the scene, the camp’s occupants had already dealt with the snake their own way. “By…
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One dead, 17 injured in another Patong Hill bus crash
PHUKET: A Phuket bus driver was killed and 17 tourists injured when the bus crashed into an electricity pole while descending Patong Hill last night. Bus driver Jeerasak Kimbuathong, 40, was pinned in the driver’s seat by the the pole, which fell on the vehicle. “It took rescue workers nearly an hour to pry him out, but he could not…
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Calls for closure of Phuket Zoo
PHUKET: Milo, the female orangutan at the center of a wildlife furore, is recovering in the Phang Nga Wildlife Nursery Station after being rescued late on Saturday (story here). Wildlife activist Edwin Wiek said yesterday that Milo was ‘a bit weak, but in good spirits’ after being dumped in the jungle while still in a cage. More than 12,000 people…
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Prime Minister keeps controversial comedian off stage
PHUKET: The show of controversial comedian and hate-speech convict Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, scheduled to take place last month at Illuzion night club in Phuket, was cancelled after the venue pulled the plug less than 24 hours ahead of the Frenchman taking the stage. Since then, Mr M’bala M’bala has struggled to find his footing in Asia. “One of the owners…
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One dead, two missing after Phuket canoe flips
PHUKET: One man is dead and two are still missing after the canoe they were taking to a yacht anchored near Koh Sireh in Phuket capsized last night. Rescue workers were able to recover Visut Prasert, 58, and Santhaya Kasikun, 9, from the water, shortly after the canoe flipped at about 10pm. Mr Visut was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital…
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Phuket orangutan discovered caged in jungle
PHUKET: Khao Phra Thaeo Non Hunting Zone officers discovered a missing 13-year-old orangutan Saturday evening after she disappeared from the Phuket Zoo ahead of a police raid on Friday. “Milo was found in a healthy condition,” Edwin Weik, the founder and director of Wildlife Friends of Thailand (WFFT), told the Phuket Gazette. “I do not believe that she went missing…
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Brother-in-law of ex-mayor arrested after standoff with CIB
PHUKET: Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers swarmed the home of former Rassada mayor Suratin Lian-udom on Saturday morning during a standoff with suspected drug dealers (story here). CIB officers were informed that those living in the home may be involved in an influential drug network on the island, confirmed CIB Commander Maj Gen Chatchai Eamsang. Officers from the Crime Suppression…
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Rescue workers unable to revive swimmer at Bang Tao
PHUKET: A Chinese national died Saturday afternoon after swimming with his family at Bang Tao Beach. Miu Zhioin, 63, was pulled unconscious from the water after losing his footing and going under the waves, confirmed Capt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. “Layan rescue workers’ attempts to revive Mr Miu were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Thalang…
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Kusoldharm Foundation worker killed in three-vehicle crash
PHUKET: A Kusoldharm Foundation worker was killed yesterday afternoon after he crashed his bike and was dragged underneath a bus in Phuket Town. Police found Sakpayom ‘Ajarn Jack’ Tarapong, 36, lying in the road near the rear wheel of a bus and a parked vehicle, confirmed Maj Somchai Nooboon of the Phuket City Police. “According to the bus driver, Nukul…
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CSD raids home of former Rassada mayor’s wife
About a hundred officers led by the Crime Suppression Division this morning surrounded the house of former Rassada Mayor Suratin Lian-udom’s wife, as the Central Investigation Bureau continues raids throughout the island. Several suspects were apprehended after declining to be searched and resisting arrest. Mr Suratin was not at home at the time and was not the apparent target of…
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Ultraman World Champion to swim around Phuket
PHUKET: Swedish Ultraman World Champion Jonas Colting will undertake the first ‘Swim Around Phuket’. If successful, he will be the first swimmer to circumnavigate the island. Another aim of the mission is to raise funds for the Yaowawit School, a government-approved boarding school for children from underprivileged families, initially founded to help children who were victims of the 2004 tsunami.…
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Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video]
PHUKET: Karon Beach is preparing its sands for the Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket powered by PTT on March 23 through March 27. The international amateur beach volley tournament will feature three classes: two X two men, two X two women and four X four mixed. After preliminary pooled games, the men’s two X two event will be divided into…
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US Embassy to hold consular outreach in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Millennium Resort Patong on February 26. Consular staff will be available from 8am to noon to provide the following services: • Passport renewal applications (US$110.00 or 4,070 baht for adults, and US$105.00 or 3,885 baht for children). • Passport applications for lost or stolen…
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Rawai sea gypsies turn down government offer
PHUKET: The Rawai sea gypsies have turned down the provincial government’s offer to purchase 19 rai of disputed land (story here), insisting that the land deeds must be revoked entirely. Reasons for the most recent refusal in the prolonged land dispute between landowners and the sea gypsies were that the sea gypsies believe the land deeds were unlawfully acquired so…
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Van driver crushed in early morning collision
PHUKET: A van driver was killed when he reportedly slammed into the back of an 18-wheeler truck on Thepkrasattri Road early this morning. It took rescue workers about 40 minutes to remove driver Nate Saengpayap, 35, from the vehicle, confirmed Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police. “Mr Nate was not transporting any passengers in his van at the…
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HeadStart International inaugurates new Phuket campus
PHUKET: HeadStart International School last week held an opening ceremony for its new campus, located at Soi Na Sua near Central Festival Phuket. “Our new campus is situated on 15 rai of beautiful landscape and is very easy to access from major locations in Phuket,” said School Director Jazon Edouard. Some of the facilities at the new campus include large,…
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OrBorTor council head survives drive-by shooting
KRABI: Police are searching for multiple suspects wanted for the attempted murder of the Ao Luek Noi Administration Organization (OrBorTor) council head. Rorseff Kasirak, 55, sustained serious injuries after a group of men pulled up to his home and fired about 10 rounds Wednesday night, confirmed Capt Manat Inprom of the Ao Luek Police. Mr Rorseff was struck in the…
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Upcoming alcohol ban for Makha Bucha Day
PHUKET: A nationwide ban on the sale and purchase of alcohol will be in place for 24 hours on Monday out of respect for Makha Bucha Day. “Letters will be sent to night entertainment business operators to inform them of the ban,” Peerayuth Karajedee, Phuket Provincial Police deputy commander, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “According to trading laws, entertainment…
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Video Report: Officials hunt boat caught anchoring on corals
PHUKET: Officials are hunting down the company that owns a boat that was caught on video anchoring in fragile corals off Koh Racha Yai. The video shows the anchor biting into a coral bommie with the metal chain laying across a few species of corals. The anchor is connected to a rope tied to the boat, which the cameraman clearly…
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Turkish Ambassador blasts Phuket airport
PHUKET: The Turkish ambassador to Thailand blasted Phuket International Airport during a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Tuesday. “Phuket is a beautiful place and many Turkish people want to travel to the island. However, they always complain about three aspects of their trip: the narrow airport terminal, communication issues with airport employees, and immigration,” Ambassador of the Republic of…
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Phuket, Tangier plan twin-city partnership
PHUKET: A twin-cities partnership between Phuket and Tangier is in the works following a meeting between the Phuket governor and the Moroccan ambassador to Thailand. “About 10,000 Moroccans visit Phuket each year,” said His Excellency Ambassador Abdelilah El Housni. “Although this number may not seem large, most of these are luxury travelers who own private jets and stay for an…
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Almost A Decade Ago: WWII relics and superyachts
PHUKET: As the Phuket Gazette plunged in with its first-ever Thailand Yacht Show Special Edition, we narrowed the gap in ‘A Decade Ago’ to 9-years-and-9-months ago… for the sake of marine thematics. Skipping over what is without a doubt a very dry page one at the beginning of the rainy season, let’s dive to the depths of a small story…
![Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/4_2016220103833722_befeUubbmSCpXLeQUIsKkrqHWJFqEGWflCJFwkhj_jpeg.jpeg)
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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