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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Rugby Six Nations: England to face Welsh dragon’s fire
PHUKET: England must “smash everything in red”, maintain cool heads and silence a raucous Millennium Stadium crowd when they meet Wales in their Six Nations championship opener in Cardiff on Friday (kickoff 3:05am Saturday, Phuket time), England World Cup winner Neil Back said. Stuart Lancaster’s side suffered a humiliating 30-3 defeat on their last visit to the Welsh capital in…
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Phuket Police nab serial burglars in Thalang
PHUKET: Two Phuket burglars thought to have been involved in a series of recent robberies of homes in Thalang have been arrested, police announced today. The master thief, 26-year-old Saroj Seubsot, and his accomplice Prasert Thothip, 20, were detained after police discovered a large number of items at Mr Saroj’s house that were linked to the robberies. “Mr Saroj confessed…
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Teen drug runner busted with B100k in meth
PHUKET: A 17-year-old was busted with more than 100,000 baht worth of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) by Phuket City Police early this morning. The minor, who police named only as Mr Nuom, was found in possession of 200 grams of ya ice hidden inside a facial cleanser box, and ready for delivery to customers at Goodnight Resort, said Lt Col…
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Migrant worker found dead in empty elevator shaft
PHUKET: The body of a migrant worker was found at the bottom of an empty elevator shaft at a construction site in Cherng Talay last night. Police arrived at the scene, a Castlewood Group construction site on Soi Khok Tanot 12, at about 7pm to find the body of Myanmar national San Hla @ Nai, 34, floating face down in…
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Canadian found dead by Thai girlfriend in Phuket
PHUKET: Police have yet to rule out foul play in the death of a Canadian man allegedly found hanged by his neck from the cement ventilation holes in his bathroom this afternoon. The 29-year-old expat originally from Prince Edward Island, whose name is being withheld until next of kin have been notified, was found dead by his Thai girlfriend in…
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Phuket Old Town plays host to Sketchwalk 2015
PHUKET: Some of Phuket’s most beautiful and historical locales will play host to the second annual Phuket Old Town Sketchwalk event this year from February 20 to 23. The Phuket Old Town Sketchwalk – organized by the Phuket Sketchwalk Club, Phuket City Municipality and The Attitude Club Co Ltd – will feature many special events, including sketchwalks in Phuket Old…
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Phuket teacher answers prayers of mum with deaf son
PHUKET: The deaf man who disappeared from his family home last week has been found alive and well, and may soon undertake schooling thanks to a teacher at Phuket Punyanukul School for special children. Therdsak Sankaeo, 22, disappeared from his home in Phuket Town on January 27, prompting his mother, Ms Saithong, to make a public plea to find him…
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Patriots Super Bowl XLIX champs, Seattle in shock
PHUKET: The New England Patriots sealed a come-from-behind victory, 28-24, over the defending champions Seattle Seahawks with a goal line interception in the final seconds on a pass play that will go down as one of the most questionable offensive play calls in NFL playoff history. This was a game for the ages and one with more ebb and flow…
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Police bust yields more than 14 kilos of kratom
PHUKET: Police arrested two kratom dealers and one user yesterday, following a tip-off that netted more than 14 kilograms of kratom leaves and a list naming more than 100 kratom customers. Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police led the raid that took detectives to the house of a suspected dealer in Soi Phra Barami 9. “On arriving in…
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New tour guide regulations rolled out at Phuket airport
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office is cracking the whip on tourism businesses in Phuket, conducting island-wide raids and imposing stricter requirements for tour companies. “We checked the documents of tour companies and guides collecting incoming tour groups from Phuket International Airport, but did not find any illegal activity,” Santi Pawai, director of the MOTS Phuket…
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Phuket Marine Police step up human-trafficking raids on fishing boats
PHUKET: Marine Police searched six Phuket fishing boats today and checked the documentation of 155 crew in their efforts to stamp out human trafficking in the region. The mass raid targeted vessels at the Tah Jeen Canal, near the fishing port area in Rassada, where Marine Police arrested two Myanmar nationals last night. “We found no illegal workers today,” said…
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Video Report: Police raid massage parlors for human trafficking, child prostitution
PHUKET: Police came up empty-handed in a series of raids on massage parlors in Phuket Town in search of human-trafficking victims and underage sex workers last night. “We had more than 300 officers checking massage parlors at Phun Phol Plaza, and along Soi 11 and Phun Pol Road,” Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Khunnadet Nanongkhai told the Phuket Gazette this…
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No Phuket security boost in wake of Bangkok bomb blasts: Police
PHUKET: There will be no boost in security by police following the two bomb blasts outside the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok last night, one of Phuket’s top cops confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier today ordered police in the capital to ramp up security following two pipe bombs detonating on a pedestrian…
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Bill Barnett launches new book: Collective Swag
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette‘s “Island Fever” columnist, Bill Barnett, is back with his third book, Collective Swag, a phantasmagorical collection of rabid essays on everything from the evils of low-cost travel to blunders in modern architecture. Reading his frantic, caffeine-charged chronicle of life on the road throughout the Indian subcontinent and the Asia-Pacific region is a sure cure for elevator…
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Ghostrider killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: Police are hunting the driver of a sedan that killed the passenger on a ghost-riding motorbike in the northbound lane of the bypass road this morning. “Anukul Polrop, the 25-year-old driver of the bike – which was travelling in the wrong direction on the road – was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital,” said Maj Rachan Panwai of the Phuket…
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Taiwanese “bank account mule’ arrested in Patong
PHUKET: Police have arrested a Taiwanese man who was found in the illegal possession of bankbooks and ATM cards for 12 Thai bank accounts opened by local residents. Chen Yu-Chung, 34, was arrested on Saturday, after a tip-off from a Phuket tuk-tuk driver, who told police that he was paid 6,000 baht to open a bank account in Patong. “The…
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Patriots beat Seahawks for first Super Bowl win in 10 years
PHUKET: The New England Patriots were crowned Super Bowl champions on Sunday after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to capture their first National Football League title in 10 years. The victory put New England alongside five other teams with at least four Super Bowl wins while Tom Brady joined Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and childhood idol Joe Montana as…
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Djokovic grinds Murray down to win Australian Open
PHUKET: Novak Djokovic ground down Andy Murray 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 on Sunday to win a record fifth Australian Open title in the professional era and consign the Scot to further grand slam pain Down Under. The pair waged a fierce baseline duel for the opening two sets, but after taking a 2-0 lead in the third set, Murray crumbled…
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Two more unlocked homes robbed in Thalang
PHUKET: Police are searching for a potential group of serial burglars after two Thalang homes were robbed of cash and valuables amounting to more than 100,000 baht last night. “We are concerned that those responsible for these robberies are the same people who robbed another three foreigners’ homes in Thalang earlier this month [story here],” said Lt Suporn Muangkhai of…
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Tourist slashes own throat at Phuket resort
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist attempted to take her own life when she slit her throat with a kitchen knife at Supalai Resort and Spa Phuket in Thalang this morning. Police are investigating the circumstances following 46-year-old Yan Wenhong’s attempted suicide, after rescue workers rushed her to Thalang Hospital. Ms Yan and four of her friends had checked into the resort…
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Phuket university partners with China’s National Space Science Center
PHUKET: Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s National Space Science Center (NSSC) on Tuesday to solidify an agreement for further collaboration between the two organizations. The NSSC is an agency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that is responsible for planning, developing, launching and operating China’s space science satellite missions.…
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Singapore officials consider Phuket consulate
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several popular tourist destinations in Thailand being considered as the location for a consulate for the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore. Gabriel Liow, a counsellor from the Singapore Embassy, visited Phuket on Wednesday to wish the island’s officials a happy eew year and discuss issues that concern Singaporean tourists and expats in Phuket. “Mr…
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New Zealander shot in scuffle with Thai stepfather in Phuket
PHUKET: A New Zealander, born to a Thai mother, was shot late last night in an attempt to wrestle a handgun from his stepfather, who was allegedly drunk at the time. Jamie Smith, 30, was rushed to the new Dibuk Hospital on Chao Fa West Road (story here) after his mother called the police at about 11pm. When police arrived…
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Illegal tour guide swept up in Phuket crackdown
PHUKET: Another illegal tour guide was swept up at the Karon View Point in a recent crackdown aimed at protecting the job for Thai nationals. Liang Yang, 33, has denied the charges of operating an illegal tourism business, working illegally as a tour guide and working without permission. He told officers that the six Chinese nationals he was with were…
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Government puts end to Myanmar concert plan, cites security concerns
PHUKET: The first concert in Phuket dedicated to entertaining Myanmar nationals has been blocked by the local government, which has cited security concerns. The “Myanmar – Thai Cultural Relationship Concert” was to be held in a field behind Bus Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, tomorrow night. The event was to feature Myanmar celebrities R Zarni, Ni…
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Interest in Super Bowl undeflated as big game nears
PHUKET: After almost two full weeks of media hype, controversy over “deflated balls” and an orgy of wagering on Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots have emerged as very slight favorites to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy when they play the defending champs the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale Arizona on Super Bowl Sunday [Stupor Bowl Monday for Phuketeers –…
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Phuket sea gypsy, 59, denied hospital treatment for broken leg
PHUKET: A 59-year-old woman from Phuket’s sea gypsy community in Rawai denied treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital for a broken leg sparked a mass visit to Governor Nisit Jansomwong by more than 30 angry villagers yesterday. “Pohnao Bangjark broke her left leg while collecting shellfish at Rawai Beach on January 16,” sea gypsy Sanit Sae-Thua told Governor Nisit at Phuket…
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Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket officially appointed
PHUKET: The Australian embassy in Bangkok yesterday officially confirmed the appointment of Canadian national Michelle Hawryluk, a partner in the Phuket-based law firm Hawryluk Legal Advisors, as the Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket. Ms Hawryluk has jurisdiction in the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, read a statement from the embassy issued yesterday. An experienced lawyer, Ms Hawryluk has…
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Corrupt Phuket officials paid B700mn for parkland, Isoc told
PHUKET: A top-flight general from Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 yesterday heard first-hand that applicants had paid 700 million baht for land titles to be issued for plots within Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. Maj Gen Ronnarong Koatdamrong, who serves as deputy director-general of Isoc Region 4, heard the account at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, attended by…
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Norwegian expat Dokset jailed 9 years for Phuket murder
PHUKET: Norwegian national Stein Harvard Dokset, a long-term Phuket expat, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong. The sentence, which was handed down this afternoon at Phuket Provincial Court, stipulates that Mr Dokset will serve 7.5 years for murder, six months for concealing the evidence of the crime and one year…
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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