Phuket News
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South Korean man rescued from drowning near Koh Racha, Phuket
The Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre rescued a South Korean man from drowning off Koh Racha, an island in Phuket, on Monday, October 7. The news was reported by the Phuket Hotnews, yesterday, October 8, detailing the successful rescue by Thai officials. The victim was identified as a 63 year old South Korean man, though his name was not disclosed. The…
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Phuket veggie festival gets a ‘clean plate’ in food hygiene check
As the vibrant Phuket Vegetarian Festival unfolds, a team from Vachira Phuket Hospital is cracking down on unsanitary practices among street market food vendors and shrine kitchens. Last Friday, October 4, Dr Thiraphong Aramruang, Head of the Social Medicine Group at Vachira Phuket Hospital, led an inspection mission at the Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Lor Rong) and the Tao Bo…
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Elderly Swiss man busted with gun at Phuket Airport
An 82 year old Swiss man was arrested at Phuket International Airport after security found a handgun tucked away in his luggage. The Swiss national, Kurt Fritz Loliger, a seemingly unassuming pensioner, was stopped at Gate 81 of the International Passenger Terminal last night, October 7. The drama unfolded around 8.30pm when Ainah Pango, an X-ray image officer, spotted something…
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Tuk tuk parking in Patong’s red and white zones sparks outrage (video)
A viral video showing tuk tuks parked along the red and white kerbside in Patong, Phuket sparked outrage on social media. The clip, shared on the โหดจัง-จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page, questions whether tuk tuks are permitted to park in these restricted areas, leading to a flurry of comments from netizens. The footage, lasting one minute and one second, was posted with…
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Jet-ski joyrider in deep water after Patong Beach hit-and-run injures Israeli
Police are in hot pursuit of a reckless jet-ski rider responsible for a shocking hit-and-run incident at Patong Beach that left an Israeli tourist battered and bruised. The drama unfolded around 6.21pm yesterday, October 6, when the unidentified foreigner, piloting a white-and-blue jet-ski, smashed into swimmer Nimrod Filip Solomon before vanishing into the sunset. Reports say the jet-ski collided with…
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Revved up: Phuket police crackdown on illegal street racing
Phuket City police swooped on illegal street racers in the early hours of this morning, targeting the notorious Saphan Hin area and seizing five motorcycles in a swift crackdown. The high-octane drama unfolded at 12.45am, today, October 7, after eagle-eyed officers spotted online chatter about the underground racing scene on local social media channels. Their prompt action led to the…
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Phuket deluge: It’s a washout for traffic and tides
Catastrophic downpours have wreaked havoc across Phuket today, submerging parts of the island and traffic in complete disarray. Areas like Cherng Talay, Kamala, Thalang, and Kathu were battered by relentless rain starting just before midday, leading to dramatic flooding and a partial landslide that had locals reeling. In a particularly hard-hit spot, Soi Hua Khuan Nuea near the iconic Phuket…
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Foreign tourist’s gold necklace stolen in Patong alley
Patong Police are currently investigating the theft of a gold necklace from a foreign tourist in Soi Sea Dragon, off Bangla Road, which took place early yesterday morning, October 4. The incident, which occurred around 12.20am in front of a bar, was reported by the victim, Guilherme Rodrigues e Almeida Fernandes, to the police. Fernandes, whose nationality was not disclosed,…
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Phang Nga governor pushes for Phuket rail link
Plans for a game-changing rail link to Phuket are gathering steam—but officials are staying tight-lipped. Phang Nga Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai has just held a high-level meeting to review the ambitious project connecting Tha Noon in Takua Thung district to Phuket International Airport. The proposed 18-kilometre railway, expected to feature four stations—Khok Kloi, Tha Noon, Mai Khao, and Phuket…
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Firecracker folly: Phuket driver’s explosive secret sparks car blaze
A Thai driver yesterday admitted to storing an assortment of firecrackers in his car, which led to a blaze that engulfed his vehicle and another nearby in Phuket. A witness lodged a complaint with Mueang Phuket Police Station around 8.30pm, Yesterday, October 3, reporting the fire that erupted on two vehicles in Soi Shopping, right in the heart of Phuket…
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Blazing drama: Phuket boat blaze leaves captain burnt out
A fire erupted aboard a Phuket tourist boat leaving the captain nursing injuries and igniting a full-blown investigation. The Phuket Marine Office got the alarming call at 10.35am today, October 3, about the Flamingo Lady 2 tour catamaran going up in flames, sending shockwaves and panic rippling down the Andaman coast. The vessel, which had just dropped off 22 tourists…
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Phuket’s veggie fest: A taste of tradition that’s un-beet-able
The enchanting atmosphere of Phuket’s iconic Vegetarian Festival has officially started. Yesterday evening, October 2, the ceremonial raising of the Go Teng poles took centre stage at Chinese shrines across the island, heralding a nine-day celebration that promises to captivate both locals and visitors alike. At the heart of the festivities, thousands flocked to the Jui Tui Tao Bokeung Shrine…
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Thailand’s wellness powerhouse: A health revolution in Phuket
BDMS Wellness Clinic has teamed up with Sri Panwa Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Phuket to create an unparalleled fusion of relaxation and medical excellence, as part of the ambitious Phuket Wellness Hub project. With wellness tourism projected to hit a staggering US$1.4 trillion (around 46 trillion baht) by 2027, and Thailand already ranking seventh globally with a market value of…
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Foreign couple loses 100,000 baht to Muay Thai trainer in Phuket
A foreign couple exposed the fraudulent behaviour of a Muay Thai trainer and his Chinese wife in Phuket, who tricked them into a visa scam, resulting in a 100,000 baht loss. The 29 year old Czech victim, Vit Musilik, and his 26 year old Chinese wife, Xiao Feng Kang, urged officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) to help them retrieve…
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Phuket outlines five-year sustainability development plan
Phuket advances with innovative efforts that integrate community-based tourism, gastronomy, and smart city solutions as part of a five-year development plan for sustainable growth. Suphon Suwannarat, the governor of Phuket Province, highlights the long-term vision. “We have a 20-year development goal for Phuket province, which is Phuket as a city of the new economy based on sustainable development to create…
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Phuket scoops top awards in time for Vegetarian Festival
Phuket is proving it’s not just a holiday hotspot but a global player in events, as it bagged two major honours at the 2024 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards in the US. The Thai island, renowned for its stunning beaches, was crowned World Festival and Event City, and its iconic Vegetarian Festival snatched the prestigious Grand Pinnacle award. These accolades…
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Mother seeks justice after teen daughter attacked in Phuket
A mother has taken action after her 13 year old daughter was lured from their home and violently attacked by seven individuals in Phuket. The 40 year old mother, reported the incident to Wichit Police, detailing that it took place around 4.30pm on September 29. According to her, the daughter, Kai, was deceived by two acquaintances, identified as Fa and…
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Missing Thai woman found dead off Phuket’s coast
A Thai woman reported missing from Sai Kaew Beach on Phuket’s northwestern coast was found dead in the water at Tha Chatchai late yesterday afternoon. Jiraporn Onkhajorn raised the alarm to Tha Chatchai Police about her sister-in-law, Jiraporn Sararat, who had gone missing earlier in the day. Jiraporn discovered her sister-in-law’s blue Honda Scoopy motorbike, along with a pair of…
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Fire erupts at Phuket work camp, swift response averts disaster
A fire erupted at a work camp behind the Government Savings Bank in Phuket yesterday leading to a swift response from local officials. Police and firefighters were alerted to the incident around 11.14am, yesterday, September 30, by Samphan Somsakon, the owner of the house where the fire originated. Samphan explained that he had been charging a power bank inside the…
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Syrians arrested at Phuket Airport with fake passports
In a dramatic bust at Phuket International Airport yesterday, two Syrian men were arrested for attempting to enter Thailand with forged passports. The suspects, Abdulkarim and Mohamad, both aged 23, yesterday, September 30, travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket on Batik Air Malaysia, flight OD540. They presented what appeared to be United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports—but they didn’t fool the sharp-eyed…
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Concrete casualty: Driver crushed in Cherng Talay mixer mishap
In a devastating accident today at a Cherng Talay construction site, a concrete mixer truck driver lost his life when his vehicle overturned, trapping him underneath. Khannuch, from Phetchabun Province, met a tragic end after the ground gave way, causing his truck to topple into a 4-metre-deep pit. Cherng Talay police received an urgent distress call at approximately 11.10am and…
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Phuket feasts: Peranakan flavours go global at culinary festival
Phuket hosted the Phuket Peranakan Menu to the World festival yesterday, featuring more than 50 booths serving traditional Peranakan dishes. This event, part of the World of Peranakan Food Art Exhibition & Festival 2024, aims to bolster local tourism and achieve recognition in the Guinness World Records. An official report highlighted the festival’s role in boosting the local economy by…
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Wire we in the dark? Heist leaves Phuket underpass powerless
In a shocking turn of events, brazen thieves have plunged the bustling Darasamut Underpass into chaos, swiping electrical wires from the control room and causing a temporary power outage earlier today. The sneaky heist came to light when a worker from the Phuket Highways Office alerted Wichit Police to the power failure striking the tunnel around 7.40am, today, September 30.…
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6 year old boy stripped naked and assaulted by 2 girls in Phuket
A grandmother is seeking compensation after a six year old Thai boy in Phuket was stripped naked and physically assaulted by two 12 year old girls. The girls claimed they were only playing a game of ghost exorcism. The 41-second video when the six year old boy was abused was shared on Thai social media on Saturday, September 28. In…
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Foreign men vandalise Phuket restaurant, shatter windows and flee
Two foreign men vandalised a local restaurant in Phuket early this morning, September 30, shattering glass windows and causing distress among staff and nearby residents. The incidents occurred at the Birds Cafe Restaurant in Soi OrBorTor, Cherng Talay, and prompted a police investigation. The first act of vandalism took place at approximately 2.18am when a foreign man arrived on a…
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Father demands justice after son’s assault at Rawai school
A father from Rawai has brought his grievance to the public after his six year old son suffered a violent assault by classmates at Wat Sawang Arom School, and an agreed compensation has not been honoured. The incident occurred on August 18 when the 32 year old father reported to Chalong Police that his son had been tied up, stripped,…
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Phuket’s waste crisis worsens with tourist surge
Phuket grapples with a mounting waste crisis as tourism surges post-pandemic. The island’s waste disposal plant now receives 1,100 tonnes of garbage daily, a significant rise from 742 tonnes in 2022 and 961 tonnes last year, according to deputy governor Norasak Suksomboon. Norasak highlighted these challenges at the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy Forum, where 150 global tourism leaders and policymakers…
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Kathu: Thai man shoots himself after affair argument
A 31 year old Thai man is fighting for his life in hospital after a shocking self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head during a heated argument with his wife over an affair at their Kathu condo last night, September 26. The late-night drama unfolded around 11pm, with police and rescue workers rushing to a condo on Phra Phuket Kaew Road…
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Phuket police cracks down on noisy bikes and rowdy teens
Phuket Provincial Police have ramped up efforts to tackle the nuisance of roaring motorbikes and unruly teens as the island gears up for the famous Vegetarian Festival and the peak tourist season. At a press conference held at Phuket City Police Station, Region 8 Police Commander Police Lieutenant General Surapong Thanomchit announced the ongoing campaign, spearheaded by Phuket Provincial Police…
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Gypsy cash dash: Phuket locals swarm ATMs for 10k baht handout
Hundreds of sea gypsies in Phuket flocked to ATMs at Laem Tukkae, Koh Sirey, Ratsada subdistrict on Wednesday, September 25, as part of the Thai government’s 10,000 baht handout scheme for vulnerable citizens. The scheme, aimed at state welfare cardholders and disabled individuals, is part of a broader economic stimulus programme. A national report noted that the sea gypsies, still…
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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