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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British expat pleads guilty to North Korean meth smuggling charges
PHUKET: A former Phuket resident involved in an international plot to move enormous stockpiles of North Korean drugs through Thailand and into the United States pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. British national Scott Stammers, 46, was arrested in Phuket with four other foreigners in September 2013 as they prepared…
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Video Report: Rescue worker dances with king cobra
PHUKET: A two-meter-long cobra was successfully wrangled after hiding from rescue workers at the back of a rental room in Chalong yesterday evening. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers received the call from a woman who had seen the reptile while getting water from her well at Baan Na Bon. “When we arrived, we couldn’t find the cobra, but after searching around…
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Czech man killed after night out in Patong
PHUKET: A Czech man was killed after crashing his motorbike into a utility pole on his way home from Patong early this morning. Jaroslav Krupka, 44, was on his way to Phuket Villa in Kathu when he lost control on a curve, hitting and splitting a tree, before crashing into a power pole near Kathu Temple, confirmed Lt Sawanna Iadtrong…
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Chinese tourist runs over Phuket traffic cop
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist drove his rented motorbike into the back of a traffic police officer in Karon yesterday evening. Sen Sgt Maj Chaichana Phatikabot was only minorly injured in the incident. “There were four of them on two motorbikes. They had already been stopped and fined for driving without a licence at our checkpoint,” said Sgt Maj Chaichana. “After…
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Fisherman mutilates co-worker’s genitalia
PHUKET: A man confessed to killing a fellow fisherman by stabbing him in the groin at Phuket’s main fishing port yesterday afternoon. “Witnesses told us that they saw a man dragging the body of Mu Sor and leaving it at Rassada Pier,” said Lt Col Chana Sutthimat of the Phuket City Police. Eventually, police were able to track down the…
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Phuket haze not Indonesia’s fault, says expert
PHUKET: The Indonesian fire haze that has settled over Kula Lumpar is not associated with the thick haze that Phuket residents woke up to this morning, confirmed a top official at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). “This is ‘wet haze’, which is normal,” said Suntad Panbanpaew, director of the Phuket TMD weather center. “This weather condition often occurs with high…
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Krabi land grab leader shot dead
PHUKET: The leader of a group trying to grab a large unregistered palm oil plantation in Krabi’s Khao Phanom District was shot dead Tuesday, police said this week. Thammayut Sungrod, 57, was shot at a palm oil plantation in Na Khao subdistrict. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Khao Phanom Hospital, said Khao Phanom Superintendent Somdet Sukkarn. “There is…
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Highway Office demands underpass road hazard be fixed
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office is pushing the repair of the dangerously rough road surface on both sides of the Samkong intersection underpass construction site. “Construction is well on its way at the site and it is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year,” said Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “However, there are some…
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Locals discover dolphin stranded in mangroves
PHUKET: Endangered species specialists are fighting to save the life of a spotted dolphin discovered stranded in the mangrove forests bordering Phuket Town yesterday. “When we arrived, villagers were helping the dolphin by holding the exhausted animal in the water, as it was unable to swim,” said Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). The locals…
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Bangla bars investigated for encroachment
PHUKET: Almost 30 businesses along Phuket’s primary party street Soi Bangla are being investigated for illegal encroachment, confirmed Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong yesterday. The 28 businesses, occupying 33 units, are allegedly on one rai of land that belongs to the municipality, explained Mr Sayan. “We will be investigating exactly how the businesses located near the beachfront road, on the…
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Widow ghosts “force’ men to cross-dress for protection
PHUKET: The sudden string of deaths of ten fit and healthy men in Nakohn Phanom province has locals pulling out all the ritualistic, spiritualistic and superstitious plugs to avoid widow ghosts, pee mae mai. Red shirts hanging in front of homes to ward off the ghosts are a common sight in the Don Nang Hong sub-district, with some male teenagers…
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Beach police confident about positive effect [video]
PHUKET: The Phuket Beach Police program is rolling forward successfully despite having booked no cases yet, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayut Karajedee. “Things are going well. However, we will run the program for a bit longer before we do our own evaluation and source community feedback,” Col Peerayut said. “It’s just too early to know what the exact…
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Powering up Coconut Island for locals, businesses
PHUKET: Much-needed mainland power is now flowing to Naka Yai and Coconut Island, off the coast of Phuket. “We have invested in the project, not because we expect to make a profit, but because we can improve the quality of life for the locals and improve their economic situation,” said Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Governor Sermsakul Klaikaew, who chaired the…
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All hands on deck for Phuket flood prevention
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has ordered all relevant local authorities to tackle the chronic flooding issues on Phuket. “The recent bout of floods have highlighted how serious the problem with drainage systems are in certain areas of the island, especially villages and other low-lying places,” Governor Nisit said. “We have a team, led by Vice Governor Pallop Singhasenee, developing solutions…
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A Decade Ago: Fears of sex on the beach in Phuket
PHUKET: Facebook profile pictures turned into rainbows following the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States two months ago. The US Supreme Court ruled in the Obergefell versus Hodges case that state-level bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional. However, a decade ago in Phuket – now well-known for the flamboyant Pride Week – the Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual,…
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Two arrested in Phuket for pyramid scheme
PHUKET: A Phuket couple surrendered to Chalong Police yesterday for their alleged involvement in the international 10-billion-baht UFUN pyramid scheme. Damrongsak Pitisuk, 38, and his 37-year-old wife Pornthicha Pitisuk had both received ‘Achievement Awards’ at the ‘The Black Night Party by URICH’ in December last year. The party was held in order to applaud those who manged to recruit investors…
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Pothole suspected in Phuket bikers death
PHUKET: Police suspect a large pothole caused the death of a man driving a Honda 150cc CBR motorcycle on a curvy road in Mai Khao last night. Pattanapong Nainet, 20, was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, said Lt Thanom Thongpan of the Tah Chat Chai Police. “There was no identification cards on his person, only 42,360…
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Video Report: Bodyslam rocks for Phuket charity
PHUKET: Five thousand fans crowded the sold-out ‘Bodyslam’ concert at Laguna Grove on Saturday evening. The charity concert featured local band ‘Boynavio Group’, as well as a performance from the local youth group ‘Umbrella’ as opening acts for Thailand’s famous rock band, ‘Bodyslam’. Bodyslam vocalist Mr Toon, who is a frequent visitor to Phuket, enjoys spending time at various sporting…
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Phuket and Koh Samui promoted in Australia
PHUKET: Samui and Phuket tourist associations teamed up for the first time ever to promote Thai tourism in Melbourne, Australia earlier this month. Phuket Vice Governor Suthee Thongyam and Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization members also joined in the Phuket & Samui Roadshow Table Top Sale and its mission to promote Thailand’s tourism. The group was hosted by Jirachai Pankrasin, Thailand’s…
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Phuket arrivals rise despite Bangkok bomb
PHUKET: The total number of passengers arriving at Phuket International Airport this week has increased compared with the same period last year, President of Phuket Tourism Association Sathirapong Na Takuatung said at a meeting held yesterday to discuss the aftermath of Monday’s bombing in Bangkok. “We are concerned about the number of tourists dropping, but the number of tour groups…
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Electrical fire near gas station sends residents running
PHUKET: Residents in the Koh Kaew area suffered power outages and heavy traffic jams after power cables caught fire across from the PTT gas station on Thepkrasatti Road yesterday afternoon. The flames frightened many shop owners, including 70-year-old Aree Jindapol. “At about noon, while we were selling food at the market, I heard what sounded like a bomb,” Ms Aree…
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Beach chair judgment day put on hold
PHUKET: The final decision on how to the manage Phuket’s controversial beach chair services has been delayed yet again as Prince of Songkla University (PSU) researchers and Governor Nisit Jansomwong have not yet discussed the university’s research results. Governor Nisit previously told the Phuket Gazette that the PSU Phuket campus would be presenting their results to him on August 20…
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Thai Iron Chef to cook at Andaman Hotelier expo
PHUKET: Andaman’s biggest hospitality expo, Andaman Hotelier 2015, will take place next month at Limelight Avenue with the full support of private businesses and government organizations. Kritsada Tonsakul, president of the Southern Region Hotel Association, explained that Andaman Hotelier is the biggest skill-training expo for the hospitality circle in the Andaman area. “There are eight departments, according to each career,…
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Phuket divers recovered after night lost at sea
PHUKET: Two scuba divers were found and safely rescued this morning after disappearing from the tour group they were part off yesterday evening.VTT Group brought the tourists to Koh Racha Noi to scuba dive. When it came time to bring everyone back on board the boat, the crew realized that Thai tourist Asang Saelor, 31, and Chinese tourist Huaqiu Ji,…
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Rogue waves sink Phi Phi cargo ship
PHUKET: Fishermen rescued two men after their cargo ship was allegedly sunk by rogue waves in Krabi yesterday afternoon.Phon Boon Phi Phi Don 1, carrying construction materials to Phi Phi, was reported missing by the boat owner at about 3:30pm, said Krabi Marine Police Chief Anurak Parinyasathiragul.Marine Police and the Navy immediately began a search for the 15-meter-long boat and…
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Officials announce alternative routes for Chalong Underpass
PHUKET: Officials have released alternative routes for the first and second phase of the Chalong Underpass, with construction slated to start next month. “Though we do have routes sorted out for the first two phases of the project, we are still negotiating with private land owners in order to secure necessary alternative routes for phase three and four, which will…
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Cobra slithers into Phuket kitchen
PHUKET: A two-meter-long cobra chased a terrified homeowner out of her kitchen last week. The woman, who declined to be named, immediately fled her kitchen, closing the door behind her before calling the Kusoldharm Foundation. “At first, when we arrived, we couldn’t find the snake in the kitchen,” said Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker Sakun Naepnean. “However, after moving the fridge,…
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Officers hunt fugitive on secluded island off Phuket
PHUKET: Police are hunting one more fugitive after catching an attempted gang murder suspect hiding out on a secluded island east of Phuket this week. A 50-man raid of the island rooted out Danai Homhuan, 36, who had given away his position by firing warning shots at local fishermen earlier this year. Mr Danai was wanted by Thalang officials for…
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30kg python caught with mouth full
PHUKET: A 30 kilogram python was caught midway through gobbling up a chicken in Phuket earlier this week. “It was about 2am when we woke to the sound of our chickens causing a ruckus,” Wisit Powikit told the Phuket Gazette. “It was strange, so I went to investigate.” Mr Wisit owns about 10 chickens that he keeps in a henhouse…
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Budget peddles out cash for bike lanes
PHUKET: Work on Phuket’s eagerly awaited bike lanes will start in October with an already approved budget of more than 50 million baht, confirmed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. “Over 30 million baht from the 2016 fiscal year budget has been approved for the development of Bang Wad Reservoir, which will include the installation of bike lanes,” said Governor Nisit. “We…
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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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