Phuket News
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Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
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Big budget to fix Patong’s floods
PHUKET: A 420-million-baht budget has been approved by the Public Works Department to help alleviate flooding in Patong. “Four flood-protection methods will be put into place from 2016 through 2018,” Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub told the Phuket Gazette. The department is now working with municipality officials on surveying, planning and designing the new systems that include a retaining wall, man-made…
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Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Lifeguards issue warning against marine activities
PHUKET: Lifeguards issued a marine activities warning to tourists and island residence following the death of a teen fisherman whose body was recovered yesterday evening (story here). “Rough seas claimed another life this year. I urge everyone to avoid marine activities of any type, especially swimming and fishing, during these current weather conditions,” said Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom. Mr…
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Video Report: Shores awash with injured sea turtles
PHUKET: Four olive ridley sea turtles were found injured on Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches within a 48 hour period this week. All four turtles were in very weak condition, confirmed Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “Three of the turtles had severed flippers,” Ms Patcharaporn said. Experts believe that the turtles were caught in fishing nets…
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F1 racers heat train on Phuket
PHUKET: Adding to Phuket’s appeal as a first-rate sports destination is the recent arrival of two Formula 1 drivers, Jenson Button and Marcus Ericsson, to acclimatize to the heat at a local training camp prior to the Singapore Grand Prix. Aside from heat training at the Thanyapura sports facility, the pair are also doing some triathlon training with fellow triathletes…
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Teen goes missing in Kata waves
PHUKET: Rough weather continues to hamper search efforts for an 18-year-old man who went missing from Kata Beach yesterday afternoon, the Phuket Marine Police have admitted. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laew Fa’ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea. “We started our search yesterday, but…
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Lessons from AMCHAM: Waking the Sleeping Dragon’s FIT market
PHUKET: Few, if any, of those in the hospitality industry are unaware of the importance of high-end free independent travellers (FIT) from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’. In order to better understand the Chinese market and adjust marketing strategies sufficiently, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand will host an event tomorrow at the JW Marriott Mai Khao Ballroom. “It is all…
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Plastic bag possibly killed dolphin, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: A striped dolphin found washed up on Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday most likely died from the consumption of a plastic bag, explained marine experts today. “It was about 15 years old, 2.45 meters long and approximately 90 kilograms. It had a wound near its eye,” said Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “The results from…
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Phuket on flood, landslide alert
PHUKET: The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office has issued an official landslide and flash flood warning for Phuket following the recent heavy rains due to Tropical Storm Vamco (story here). “We issued a warning to all local governments on the island yesterday. We asked them to beware of current weather conditions that could possibly lead to flash flooding…
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Two killed in head-on motorbike crash
PHUKET: A head-on motorbike collision early this morning killed two men and put two others in hospital as one of the drivers attempted to navigate around roadworks in Rassada, Phuket City Police confirmed. Rescue workers rushed the two Indonesian survivors, named only as Lain, 23, and Dusoe, 24, to Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital. “When we arrived at the…
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Kiwis off the hook after paying ‘dine and dash’ tab
PHUKET: Police yesterday released two New Zealanders who were arrested upon arrival at Phuket International Airport on Monday after the pair settled their 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill with Blue Marine Resort and Spa in Patong (story here). “The settlement was made yesterday evening,” Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his…
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Thai-Malaysia border remains open for visa runs
PHUKET: Amid a flurry of concern about the Thai-Cambodian border being closed to ‘visa runs’ (story here), a high ranking Immigration officer has confirmed that there are no changes to procedures at the popular Phuket visa-run checkpoint in Sadao. “We have yet to receive any special orders to change how we process people needing visa exemptions on arrival or those…
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Blacklisted Kiwis busted for 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill
PHUKET: Police scooped up a New Zealander and his son upon arrival at Phuket International Airport last night for a 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill from the Blue Marine Resort and Spa in Patong. The Phuket Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his son Luke Russell Finn, 24, for allegedly ‘dining and dashing’ on a…
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Missing Phuket fishing crew all safely rescued
PHUKET: Phuket rescue teams saved two missing fishermen today who were on board a boat that sunk while hunting for lost fishing gear near Koh Mai Thon yesterday. All four men have now been safely brought back to Phuket. However, the boat is gone, confirmed Marine Police Division Chief Maj Gen Kritapol Yeesakorn. “I didn’t think we would make it.…
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Phuket on alert for Enterovirus 71
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several provinces on alert for Enterovirus 71, which has killed three children in Thailand so far this year, confirmed the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Enterovirus 71 can cause outbreaks of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in children. Additionally, it has the potential to cause severe neurological diseases. Other provinces flagged as at risk…
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ICT considers developing ‘smart’ Phuket
PHUKET: The Information and Communication Technology Ministry (ICT) is eyeing Phuket and Chiang Mai as ‘smart cities’ that focus on tech start-ups as part of a move to turn Thailand into the digital hub of Asean. ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana said that under the policy the ministry planned to roll out pilot projects to drive the country forward, with the…
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Fishing boat sinks, two missing
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police are searching for two men who are still missing after their fishing boat sank off Phuket. “We received a report from speedboat captain Sulaiman Srisamut, who rescued a Myanmar national he found floating at sea near Koh Dok Mai,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “The first report was that three others were missing. However,…
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Private sector may join light rail project
PHUKET: The private sector might be asked to join forces with the government to push through the more than 23-billion-baht light rail project slated for Phuket. “When it comes time to propose the budget to the government, we will see if it is willing to take on the whole cost or if it will invest only a portion, giving the…
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Nai Harn soi dogs under control, says mayor
PHUKET: The Nai Harn Beach dog situation is under control without officials having to take any drastic measures, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos told the Phuket Gazette. “We will not be banning pets at worker camps. However, we have dispatched municipality officers to ask that the residents take proper care of them and sterilize the dogs,” Mr Aroon said. “We’ve also…
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Phuket marina wishes boat-fire victims speedy recovery
PHUKET: Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) issued a statement wishing the speedy recovery of the two men seriously injured after a speedboat engine exploded near the marina’s fuel dock yesterday morning. “Royal Phuket Marina staff acted quickly and professionally,” the statement said, noting that safety precautions were followed. “[RPM staff used] on-site fire safety equipment, doused the blaze, assisted the speedboat…
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A Decade Ago: Phuket shelter remains in dog house
PHUKET: The Mid Road Dog Shelter – which really hasn’t gotten out of the dog house a decade later – was on the chopping block with the headline ‘D-Day looming for dog pound’ in the September 10-16, 2005 issue of the Phuket Gazette. Just two months earlier, tough days for the dogs had made headlines with dwindling food supplies at…
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Freshly fueled boat bursts into flames at marina, two seriously injured
PHUKET: Five men were injured when a resort’s transfer boat burst into flames while refueling at the Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) at 9am yesterday. “Two of the victims were seriously burned, with one having burns to more than 50 per cent of his body and the other with burns to about 40-50 per cent of his body. The other three…
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Maroon 5 takes to Thanyapura’s tennis courts
PHUKET: Superstars from the American pop rock band Maroon 5 took to the tennis courts of Thanyapura last week for a bit of downtime between concerts. James Valentine, the band’s lead guitarist, took advantage of the world-class Phuket facility for some practice and a few friendly matches with the Spin and Slice Team. “It was such a surprise to see…
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German expat found dead in home
PHUKET: A German woman died yesterday after what police believe was an accidental fall from a ladder while changing a light bulb. Thalang Police were alerted at about 12:15pm. Upon arrival, officers found the body of Irmgard Helga Hein, 71, on the floor of her Dream Village home. “Ms Hein had a plaster cast on her left arm and nearby…
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Phuket temple raider caught red-handed
PHUKET: Monks prevented a thief, who had previously broken into Srisoonthorn Temple, from escaping when the man returned to the scene of the crime last night to commit another theft. “When we arrived at the scene, we found the monks standing around their residence to prevent 24-year-old Thawatchai Sirimonkon from eluding justice again,” said Lt Col Kritsana Jannit of the…
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Road-raging truckers crash in Phuket
PHUKET: Two road-raging truck drivers were in an intentional crash on Thepkasattri Road, the north-south artery of the island, causing long tailbacks for about an hour this morning. “Suriya Kuiyoksui, a 35-year-old driver of an 18-wheeled-truck, flung open his door to ensure a minor crash with the driver of a six-wheeled crane truck. The men immediately exited their vehicles and…
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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