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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Phuket runner goes the distance – aiming for 100km race
PHUKET: What were your plans last weekend? Did you see a girl running the 61-kilometer road distance from Rawai to Sarasin Bridge? Rest assured her upcoming plans are fixed as well – she’s preparing for her next long-distance run. Meet Kiranee Narabal, possibly Phuket’s most passionate long-distance runner, whose love for her chosen sport has taken her for a 100km…
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Making safe property investments in Phuket
PHUKET: At a time of year when many property sales are taking place in hotspot investment destinations, such as Phuket, it seems now is an appropriate time to recap the types of legitimate investment for foreigners interested in property in Thailand, and to note that there are some very straightforward methods of avoiding complicated and cumbersome transactions. Aside from land…
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Unidentified body found with kratom leaves in Chalong
PHUKET: A man believed to be collecting kratom leaves in the wild was found dead with burn wounds in Phuket this morning, said Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijun of the Chalong Police. “We have been unable to identify the man, who appears to have been in his 20s, or to determine the cause of death,” Lt Chollada told the Phuket Gazette. “There…
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Eight Thais, one illegal alien caught in Phuket gambling raid
PHUKET: Eight Thai nationals and one illegal Laotian were arrested for gambling in Patong on Tuesday. Police raided a rented room on Phra Metta Road after having been tipped off by locals about a group of people who were gathered there to gamble, Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “There were nine people…
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Shocked Myanmar worker falls from scaffolding
PHUKET: A Myanmar worker was seriously injured after coming into contact with high-voltage power cables and falling from the scaffolding where he was working yesterday afternoon. Khan Soe, 22, was working on a building inside Wat Khuan in Phuket Town when the accident occurred. “He was working on the top of the new temple hall, next to some high-voltage cables.…
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German tourist hit by jet-ski to leave hospital today
PHUKET: A German tourist who was hit by a French jet-skier on February 28 is expected to be discharged from hospital today. Erich Heim, 55, was swimming about 200 meters from the shore of Paradise Beach, south of Patong Beach, when Chadd Attard, 20, struck him with a jet-ski, rendering him unconscious (story here). Mr Attard was charged with reckless…
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Bundle of slow lorises seized in Phuket
PHUKET: A man was arrested on Tuesday in possession of a bundle of slow lorises and two iguanas after police were tipped off about him using them for photo opportunities with tourists on Naka Island. Phuket local Kiettisak Senkaew, 45, was arrested at his home in Pa Khlok at about 5:30pm in possession of six slow lorises and two iguanas.…
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Suspected kill-squad contractor denies charges
PHUKET: The suspect accused of hiring a group of hitmen to kill a man over a Phuket land deal gone sour last month turned himself into police on Monday, but denied the charges. Phang Nga local Anuthep Tanwera, 70, showed up at Thalang Police Station with an arrest warrant from the court in hand. The warrant charged him with hiring…
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Bay Regatta kicks off in Phuket
PHUKET: The Bay Regatta takes to the sea in Phuket tomorrow, with more than 30 sailing yachts and 250 competitors joining this year’s race. Unlike most other sailing regattas, this event takes the fleet from Phuket through the spectacular scenery of Phang Nga Bay to a new anchorage each evening, with awards parties held in a wide variety of locales.…
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Phuket beach vendors implore PM Prayut for help
PHUKET: A group of about 150 Phuket beach vendors today took their complaints all the way to Bangkok, where they submitted a letter imploring Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to revise the current beach management system. The letter accused Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong of ignoring the requests of local beach vendors and going ahead with bans on beach chair rentals…
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Five Frenchmen arrested for ATM skimming
PHUKET: Police this week arrested five Frenchmen, one who was wanted by Interpol, for skimming ATMs in Kamala and Chalong. The men – Kevin Tahiango Theodore Okito, 29; Mel Duval Poaty, 29; Accel Jonathan Poaty Pambou, 26; Samir Maruof, 29; and Jessy Bianvenu Vincence, 33 – were presented at a press conference at Phuket Provincial Police Station this morning. The…
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Superintendent investigates Phuket police corruption, extortion allegation
PHUKET: Karon Police are investigating allegations of bag men working in Kata for the Phuket City Police, extorting money from more than 100 bars and restaurants. “We are now trying to identify those who have been illegally collecting money from businesses in the name of the police,” Karon Police Superintendent Sompong Boonrat told the Phuket Gazette today. “We cannot provide…
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Charter-flight passengers forced to hike at Phuket airport
PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AoT) officers are scrambling to take care of passengers arriving on charter flights at Phuket International Airport, as the tourists’ buses are now being forced to park at one of the unfinished parking buildings. “Due to the airport expansion, buses have to park quite far away from the terminal,” said Pakin Sirijun, deputy vice president of…
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Lighthouse Market prizes announced
PHUKET: Although more than 2,000 people were on hand to enter the Lucky Draw and enjoy the bustling Lighthouse Market at the Boat Lagoon on February 21-22, only five could go home with the prizes. Following the Lucky Draw on Sunday, the Market is now happy to announce that the winners and their prizes were as follows: First Prize: Chakkapong…
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Appeal period extended in Dokset murder case
PHUKET: Both sides in the Dokset murder case have requested an extension to the appeal period, the Phuket Gazette was told yesterday. Norwegian national Stein Harvard Dokset, a long-term Phuket expat, was sentenced to nine years in prison for the brutal killing and disposing of the body of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong (story here). “Normally, after the sentencing, both sides…
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Danish tourist with drug-abuse history found dead in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a 52-year-old Danish tourist who was found dead in his Patong hotel room yesterday. “Kenny Isabella Kjaer Olesen was discovered in his room at The Oddy Hip Hotel by one of the cleaning staffers,” said Lt Col Jetsada Saengsuree of the Patong Police. “He was wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts when…
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Burglar steals children’s allergy medicine
PHUKET: Police are hunting a person who stole about 20 bottles of children’s allergy medicine from a pharmacy in Phuket Town on Saturday night. “The store, Vasin Pharmacy, had been broken into the night before, but the only thing missing was the allergy medicine. No other drugs or valuables had been taken,” said Capt Weerachart Seera of the Phuket City…
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Unidentified body found outside Phuket school
PHUKET: Police are working to identify the body of a man found dead in front of Wat Tepnimitr School in Wichit yesterday morning. “The man looked to be in his 40s and was about 170 centimeters tall,” said Capt Nattaya Supannapong of the Wichit Police. “We questioned local residents about the man and were told that no one knew him,…
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Man fatally stabbed in front of Phuket massage parlor
PHUKET: Police arrested two men on Saturday night for fatally stabbing a 20-year-old man outside a Karon massage parlor last month. Officers tracked down Virat Chomket, 32, and Thongchai Sanguanroj, 23, and arrested them at Rassada Pier. The men confessed to police that they were responsible for the murder of Supakarn Petsut on February 23. “The killers were driving home…
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French jet-skier hits German swimmer in Phuket
PHUKET: A Frenchman riding a jet-ski struck a German swimmer in Phuket Saturday afternoon, rendering him unconscious. Chadd Attard, 20, hit Erich Heim, 55, about 200 meters from the shore of Paradise Beach, south of Patong Beach. A lifeguard immediately responded and was able to bring Mr Heim to shore, said Lt Col Anukul Nuket of the Patong Police. Mr…
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Meth-dealing mum busted in Phuket
PHUKET: A meth dealer told Phuket police yesterday that she was selling drugs in order to financially support her baby. Natthanicha Wongsopha, 34, was arrested in possession of 170 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills when police raided her house in Thalang at about 4pm. “She told us that she was selling the drugs so that she could have enough money to…
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Australian expat killed in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: An Australian expat in Phuket died in a motorbike crash early Thursday morning. The body of Adam Tepper, 34, was found in Sai Yuan Junction on Wiset Road below a destroyed traffic sign. The motorbike Mr Tepper was riding was about 30 meters away. “Mr Tepper was not wearing a helmet and struck his head on the sign –…
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Brakeless tour bus driver safely stops on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A tour bus driver’s cool head prevented a runaway bus on Patong Hill from becoming the latest serious accident in a seemingly endless string of crashes, some fatal, on this notorious road. When police arrived at the scene, the Amphol Seatiew tour bus had come to a stop after scrapping against a utility pole outside of Wat Suwankiriwong, at…
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Illegal alien caught in Phuket gambling raid
PHUKET: An illegal alien was snared when police busted a local gambling event in Patong last night. Police were tipped off by locals about a small group of people who were gathered to gamble at a rental room on Phra Metta Road. The three Thai nationals arrested in the bust were named as Nimit Thambanyo, 45; Thanaknut Narasukulpiphan, 35; and…
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New, ‘better-staffed’ police station slated for Phi Phi Islands
PHUKET: Construction of a new police station in the Phi Phi archipelago is expected to go ahead this April, Krabi City’s top cop confirmed yesterday. The ‘well-equipped and better-staffed’ station will be located on Phi Phi Don, the largest and most heavily populated of the islands – all of which come under the administration of Krabi province. “We have already…
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Phi Phi “aquarium in the wild’ ordered to close
PHUKET: The “aquarium in the wild” boat anchored inside Phi Phi national park was ordered to close on Wednesday. The large fish hold of Lok Tai Taley (World Under the Water) had been converted to allow fish to swim freely into it and guests to walk among them. “We ordered them to stop the ‘fish pool’ service, which the owner…
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Phuket gifted B3.5bn boost over Chinese New Year
PHUKET: The Chinese New Year holidays brought a much-welcomed boost of 3.5 billion baht to the local economy this year, the chief of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office has announced. The island attracted more tourists who also spent more than those who came last year, Anoma Wongyai, director of TAT Phuket, told the Phuket Gazette. “Phuket had…
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The Return: 91.5FM Island Radio issued licence
PHUKET: The island’s best-known English-language radio station, Phuket Island Radio 91.5FM, is preparing to return to air following completion of re-licensing formalities required after the military coup saw the closure of thousands of stations throughout the country. Although the station’s new license was approved in September last year, it’s actual issuance did not occur until earlier this week. “This has…
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Dear Mr Vard, file a complaint – we’ll take it from there, says Navy
PHUKET: The leading representative in Phuket for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has called on Colin Vard to file a formal complaint so that the Royal Thai Navy can launch an investigation into allegations of inaction by police into death threats, kidnapping and property fraud. The call follows Mr Vard’s 15-year-old daughter Jessie posting a video on…
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Phuket Air Show & Fly’n to go ‘extreme circus’ tomorrow
PHUKET: The Phuket Aviation Club will host its first ‘Air Show & Fly’n’ event from 8am until sunset at Phuket Airpark in Pa Khlok tomorrow. Entry to the event is free of charge and the show will feature a wide variety of aviation activities and competitions. “For anyone who joins us tomorrow, a fun-filled day is guaranteed,” Show Director Pat…
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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