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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Second, lighter earthquake rattles Phuket
PHUKET: A second earthquake, measuring 3.2 in magnitude, shook Phuket just after noon today. The Thai Meteorological Department reported the quake as striking at 12:25pm, with its epicenter halfway between Phuket and Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga Bay. It struck close to the epicenter of the 4.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred before dawn today (story here). The most recent…
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Boy, 5, killed in motorbike crash on Phuket bridge
PHUKET: A 5-year-old boy was killed after his 16-year-old relative crashed into the back of a car parked illegally on the Srisoonthorn Bridge, from Phuket to Phang Nga, yesterday afternoon. “The boy died instantly. However, his relative Cholnakorn Cheylangsad, 16, was still alive when we arrived,” Maj Santi Prakobpran of the Tah Chat Chai Police told the Phuket Gazette. Kusoldharm…
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Aussie lad gets head stuck on Phuket International Airport escalator
PHUKET: A 12-year-old Australian boy is safe after getting his head caught between an escalator handrail and a wall at Phuket International Airport yesterday evening. The boy, who the airport director declined to name, was travelling back to Melbourne after flying in to Phuket with nine of his family members to visit Khao Lak. “After checking in at Terminal 2,…
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Suspected human-trafficking victim’s body uncovered in Phang Nga
PHUKET: A suspected human-trafficking victim’s body was uncovered in a shallow grave north of Phuket in Phang Nga this morning. The discovery follows the news of police uncovering mass graves in the Thai-Malaysian border province of Songkhla last weekend (stories here and here). The badly decomposed body, believed to be that of a woman, was unearthed after officials launched a…
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Soldier nabbed for bag-snatch theft in Phuket
PHUKET: An army private and his friend were arrested in Thalang last night for bag-snatching. “We were able to identify the suspects from a description given to us by the victim,” Cherng Talay Police Superintendant Serm Kwannimit told the Phuket Gazette today. “The two suspects grabbed the victim’s bag and sped off together on a motorbike.” Private Chonlatea Krolek, 23,…
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Hotly contested Phuket land earmarked for public park
PHUKET: A plan by Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup to transform an area of 69 rai of long-contested land near Tri Trang Beach into a public park received special attention last weekend. Maj Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, adviser to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Petipong Pungbun Na Ayudhya, inspected the site on Saturday. Gen Intarat explained to the accompanying members of the press…
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Phuket officials probe return of jet-skis at Surin Beach
PHUKET: Marine officials are investigating reports that jet-ski operators have returned to Surin Beach, where the wave-riding machines are banned. The investigation, led by Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuriphat Theerakulpisut, follows recent reports and photographs of jet-ski touts bringing the machines onto Surin Beach, as well as allowing them to be driven dangerously close to swimmers. “I will have my…
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Cyclists injured in Phuket Town firework explosion
PHUKET: A firework injured four cyclists after it exploded in a crowd at the start line of a night ride in Phuket Town on Saturday. The four injured were taken to Bangkok Hospital Phuket for minor injuries and released within a few hours, confirmed one of the organizers of the Plukpanya Night Ride, who declined to be named. “We will…
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Mayweather beats Pacquiao via unanimous decision
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Mayweather beats Pacquiao via unanimous decision Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats by improving to 48-0 with a unanimous decision over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday in a fight that lived up to its immense hype…
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Phuket gifted B1.3bn for roads; underpass motorcyclists to face law
PHUKET: Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith today announced that Phuket will receive funding of more than 1.3 billion baht to build underpasses at Bang Khu on the bypass road and at Chalong Circle. Included in the funds is 200 million baht to build a flyover at the Koh Kaew Intersection on Thepkrasattri Road and another one at the main airport…
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Mayweather vs Pacquiao “Fight of the Century’ to break records
** Fight of the century live, 10am Phuket time this Sunday ** PHUKET: Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao weighed in for what has been labeled the ‘Fight of the Century’ on Friday, promising to deliver on the massive hype and give fans the excitement they deserve. What had been a subdued buildup to the most anticipated fight in decades…
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Rock-throwing teens surrender to police
PHUKET: Two teenagers surrendered to authorities yesterday after photos of them throwing rocks at a Swedish man’s car went viral earlier this week (story here). The teens – named by police only as “Yu”, age 15, and “Phong”, 16 – surrendered to Kamala Police Superintendent ML Pattanachak Jakkapan and Lt Col Sophon Borirak at about 4pm. “They said they were…
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Phuket FC set sights on Krabi in bayside derby
PHUKET: Phuket FC maintained their abysmal record away from home on Wednesday, when they gifted Prachuap FC their first home win of the season. The loss saw Prachuap rise to fifth place on the Yamaha League 1 table, while Phuket’s Ronins slipped from fifth to sixth place. Prachuap striker Neto Cossantos netted two goals: one at end of the first…
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Autopsy results delay defer alleged baby rapist, killer trial
PHUKET: A delay in autopsy results has resulted in police having to defer bringing to trial the alleged rapist and killer of a 1-year-old baby boy who died in Phuket Town last month. Police launched a manhunt for Somsak Yakob after he called the child’s mother to tell her that her son had fallen to his death. He left the…
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Rotary collects donations for Nepal, holds auction for local children
PHUKET: The Rotary Club of Patong Beach is collecting monetary donations for the victims of the recent earthquake in Nepal. “This relates back to how many people helped us during our time in need during the 2004 tsunami,” said Brad Kenny, president of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach. “The Rotary Club of Patong Beach had more than US$1 million…
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Foundation now accepting relief supplies for earthquake victims
PHUKET: The Thai-Nepalese Foundation is now accepting donations of relief supplies to aid the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Nepal, the foundation’s president confirmed today. Supplies being collected by the foundation include clothing, medicine, tents (family size), gloves and sanitary napkins. The death toll from last Saturday’s quake has risen to 6,204, The Nation reported today (story here). “If…
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Fire rips through shops on Phi Phi
PHUKET: Police believe that an electrical short circuit caused the fire that consumed 10 shops on Phi Phi Don today. The fire broke out in the tourist-dense area of Ton Sai, gutting restaurants, rental rooms, clothing stores and a tour company storefront. Nobody was injured in the blaze. “A house next to the group of connected buildings was burnt too.…
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Phuket aims to allow foreign-flagged superyacht charters
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office will table the idea of creating temporary chartering licenses for foreign-flagged superyachts, as Thailand pushes for the province to become a maritime hub for Southeast Asia. “There will be a public hearing, with an English-language translator, to discuss what legal measures need to be taken to ensure that Phuket becomes the destination in the region…
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PRBC seeks blood donations for monsoon season
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is calling for all qualified island residents to donate blood as the monsoon season – and the dangerous road conditions that come with it – rolls in. PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak said the month-long blood drive is being held to replenish blood supplies for the southwest monsoon season and in acknowledgment of World…
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Mysterious Brit burglar Charlie Machin still on the run
PHUKET: Karon Police are still trying to track down a British thief, known only by his alias ‘Charlie Machin’, who is wanted for robbing a Swedish man’s home of about 200,000 baht in valuables in March (story here). “We only have this name and a few pictures of him. All farang [Caucasians] look the same. It has been very hard…
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Seniors swing at Phuket ITF Open
PHUKET: More than 80 international players from 24 countries competed in the Phuket ITF Seniors Open 2015 contested at Thanyapura last week. Timothy Alcos of the Philippines took top honors in V35 Men’s Singles after dispatching Arjun Varma of Singapore in straight sets (6-1 6-1) in the final last Saturday. Right-handed Daniel Rajsky of the Czech Republic, playing with his…
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Police hunt men for stoning Swede’s car
PHUKET: Kamala Police are hunting two motorbike-riding men* who chased down and threw rocks at a Swedish man’s car in Phuket on Monday. Bo Jonas Daniel Svegsjo, 38, and his passenger, Chaiyanan Boonpa, were driving from Cherng Talay to Kamala when a motorbike carrying two men overtook his vehicle on a narrow road. “Mr Svegsjo honked at the men, as…
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Video Report: Phuket fishing boats raided for human trafficking, IUUs
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong yesterday joined a random inspection of three Phuket fishing boats near Rassada Pier as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal trawlers and human-trafficking of migrant workers in the industry. The boarding party comprised officers from the Phuket Marine Police, Royal Thai Navy and other government agencies, accompanied Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pinit Sirichai. “The…
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Phuket immigration, government offices take four-day weekend
PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office, along with other government offices on the island, will be closed from Saturday through Tuesday, confirmed Phuket Immigration Chief Sunchai Chokkajaykij today. However, they will remain open for the Labor Day holiday tomorrow. “Our office and the Patong Immigration Office will be closed for four days, starting from Saturday May 2,” Col Sunchai told the…
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GPS tracker sparks Phuket hotel bomb scare
PHUKET: The provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit cleared the car park at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town in response to a reported potential bomb threat this afternoon. The EOD unit arrived at about 2:10pm, after receiving a call from the Phuket City Police. “A security guard found an object in the open area of the car…
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Video Report: Rank canal water not polluted wastewater, says Phuket official
PHUKET: Tests conducted by environment officers have confirmed that the foul canal water that washed onto Nai Yang Beach this week is in fact not polluted wastewater, the Thalang District Chief told the Phuket Gazette today. The tests, conducted yesterday, were prompted by villagers complaining of rank-smelling water emanating from a blocked canal that overflowed and seeped across Nai Yang…
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Phuket donations roll in to aid Nepal earthquake victims
PHUKET: Donations for victims of the disastrous earthquake in Nepal continue to roll in, with more than 1 million baht already having been raised for the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund. As of this morning, the devastating quake had claimed more than 4,400 lives. The fund’s donation total more than doubled after two donors handed over more than…
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Divers clear marine trash to protect new Phuket reef
PHUKET: More than 100 volunteer divers yesterday recovered more than 200 kilograms of trash from the waters off Nai Yang Beach in an underwater cleanup operation aimed at protecting a new reef system there. The divers hail from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang, explained Monrudee Gettuphan, director of Phuket International Airport. “Yesterday, the divers cleaned the area in front…
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Phuket scrambles to raise funds for Nepal
PHUKET: Donations to the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund can now be made directly to a joint bank account held by the Phuket Governor and the President of the Phuket branch of the Thai-Nepalese Foundation. The Phuket branch of the Thai-Nepalese Foundation, officially called the Shree Bhagawat Dhaam Sanatan Mandir Foundation, has already raised more than 400,000 baht…
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Phuket’s notorious Patong Hill road gets B25mn safety makeover
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office will close a 200-meter section of the outside westbound lane over the top of Patong Hill in order to repave the road and complete safety improvements at the notorious site. The lane will be closed from tomorrow through Sunday, confirmed Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “Warning signs have been installed to inform…
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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