Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Army tells White Box fat cats to drop weight
PHUKET: The owners of the White Box restaurant on the Kalim beachfront, north of Patong, have been given seven days to remove more than half of the restaurant – or have the army take it down for them. The order was delivered this morning by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who led officials and military personnel to inspect the venue…
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Waves drag musician from iconic Phuket cape, search efforts postponed
PHUKET: High waves forced rescue workers to abandon their search for a musician who was swept from the rocks near Promthep Cape this afternoon. Somchai Yung-Talay, 30, was visiting Phuket from Koh Yao Yai with his girlfriend when he was struck by a large wave and dragged out to sea while fishing. “Witnesses saw the man in the sea trying…
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Police bag Bangkok-Phuket dealer with B400k of drugs
PHUKET: Police arrested a man on Sunday for smuggling 400,000 baht worth of drugs from Bangkok into Phuket. Amnart Rossukhon, 28, was arrested at his rental room in Rassada at about 11:30pm on Sunday, explained Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arayapan Pukbuakao. Officers searched Mr Amnart’s bedroom and found 100.8 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and 2,000 ya bah…
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Phuket City Police stunned by officer’s suicide
PHUKET: The Phuket City Police this morning are reeling after the death of one of their well-liked officers by suicide. Sen Sgt Maj Sapeewat Kongchim was found in the car park of the police accommodation units behind the Provincial Police headquarters on Yaowarat Road, in Phuket Town, at 7:30am. He had a single gunshot wound to the head. The weapon…
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About 90% of Phuket protected forest stolen, says RFD
PHUKET: The Royal Forest Department (RFD) is untangling the land title documents that account for 90 per cent of what is supposed to be Bang Khanun protected forest, said RFD Director-General Theerapat Prayurasiddhi on Saturday. The RFD has joined the battle on Phuket against land encroachment, which has seen swaths of public beaches, national parks, protected forests and protected mangroves…
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Forest Department targets Phuket luxury resort for allegedly illegal land documents
PHUKET: Officials from the Royal Forest Department (RFD) are investigating the legality of nine land title deeds for a Phuket luxury resort allegedly being built in a protected forest. “We inspected a luxury resort on Kamala Hill that is being built on 10 rai of land that is possibly protected forest,” RFD Director-General Theerapat Prayurasiddhi said during his inspect of…
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Nibali’s journey from Sicily ends in yellow in Paris
PHUKET: Thirteen years ago, Vincenzo Nibali packed his bags and left his home in Sicily to start the journey that led him to a triumphant ride on the Champs Ely sees on Sunday as Tour de France champion. The 29-year-old Italian, as soft-spoken in life as aggressive as he is on the bike, joined Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault,…
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Loan shark gang arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Officers arrested a Phuket loan shark and his four henchmen in a raid on Saturday afternoon. Armed with a search warrant, officers entered a house in Suanluang Chaofa housing project in Soi Sermsab to arrest the 34-year-old alleged gang leader Sakkarin Saleh for running a loan shark operation. Four other men were also arrested: Abdulloh Jeleh, 29; Muhammad Soming,…
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Belgian family escapes Phuket surf disaster – all safe
PHUKET: Surin Beach’s fatality-free four-year* record almost came to a tragic end when four tourists, including a 3-year-old boy, were caught in a flash rip current yesterday. “A family of three from Belgium, including their three-year-old son, along with a fourth victim, could have all lost their lives yesterday in a space of a few minutes,” a Surin Beach lifeguard…
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Weekly Phuket beach cleanups important, says Army
PHUKET: The tourism industry would benefit from locals cleaning up Phuket’s beaches every week, said an Army officer after yesterday’s 3,000-person-strong cleanup. “Officials should hold beach cleaning events at least once a week. If locals continued to clean the beach, it would improve the island’s image,” said Somchai Ponatong of the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle. About 2,700 Phuket…
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Phuket Police on alert for fake B1,000 banknotes
PHUKET: Senior police officers have warned people to beware fake 1,000-baht banknotes in circulation in Trang province, south of Phuket, as the counterfeit notes may make their way onto the island. The warning follows Raksina Chittawech, a tea shop owner in Trang Town, reporting being handed a fake1,000-baht banknote just before she closed shop last week (story here,in Thai). Ms…
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Ramadan draws to a close throughout Phuket
PHUKET: The sighting of the new moon last night heralded the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with Eid-al Fitr to be celebrated today. “The traditional sighting of the moon was carried out by representatives at mosques throughout Phuket, ” said Piyadet Chuachalard, Secretary of the Phuket Islamic Committee. “As the moon was sighted, we are celebrating Eid-al…
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Gold the best remedy for England’s suffering Trott
PHUKET: England’s double Olympic champion Laura Trott, who has been suffering with a kidney infection, claimed gold in a dramatic women’s 25km points race at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday. “I can’t believe it. I felt so bad at times and I’m so glad. I’m not even 100 per cent, I’ve not eaten properly for the last two days and…
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Phuket investors urged to verify land plots near national park
PHUKET: The chief of Phuket’s Sirinath National Park, Kitiphat Taraphiban, is urging prospective investors and private landowners to verify whether or not plots they have bought – or are thinking of buying – are deemed to be within the park. The checks can be made at the park’s land verification center, which was established at the order of Nipon Chotibal,…
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Chalong Police officers to be charged for Phuket dive company shakedown
PHUKET: Three officers from the Chalong Police are expected to be charged with extortion and abusing their positions of power by the end of August, the Phuket Gazette has been told. Lt Col Wannop Somjintanakul, the Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) officer leading the investigation into the alleged extortion of more than 20 dive instructors at Chalong Pier in March,…
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European challengers commit to America’s Cup
PHUKET: Four European teams promised on Friday to compete for the next America’s Cup, ensuring the event would be viable after official challenger Team Australia pulled out because of rising costs. The European rivals from Italy, Sweden, Britain and France said they would cooperate with Oracle Team USA, the holders, to ensure the 35th America’s Cup in 2017 was a…
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Phuket beach vendors given 15 days to clear Tri Trang and Paradise Beach
PHUKET: Businesses encroaching on the sands at Phuket’s Tri Trang Beach and Paradise Beach on Thursday were given 15 days to tear down their illegal structures – or pay Navy officers to do it for them. “We will check in every day. If it is not done by the deadline [August 7], I will have my officers take the structures…
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No answers for outraged Phuket beach vendors
PHUKET: Dozens of Phuket beach vendors went toe-to-toe with Patong’s mayor yesterday demanding that she protect them and their livelihoods. “I thought the beach vendors would have ideas on how we can support them, but they mostly just complained about me not taking care of them and not protecting them,” said newly-elected Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab. “I understand that they…
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Hamilton fastest in hot Hungarian practice
PHUKET: Lewis Hamilton started his Hungarian Grand Prix weekend as he meant to continue, with the fastest lap in Friday’s first free practice and championship-leading Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg behind him. The winner of the last two Hungarian Grands Prix lapped the Hungaroring circuit outside Budapest with a best time of one minute 25.814 seconds. Rosberg was second fastest,…
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Olive ridley sea turtle found dead on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Local residents collecting shells on Mai Khao Beach discovered the remains of a female olive ridley turtle washed ashore yesterday. “We believe the turtle died a few days before the local villager found its remains,” said Jittipong Pimarnprom of the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers took the remains of the turtle, about 53cm long…
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Big snake rattles Phuket henhouse, and its owner
PHUKET: A local resident received a fright yesterday when she went to investigate what was causing a commotion in her chicken coop near her house in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, in central Phuket, yesterday afternoon. “I heard my ducks and my chickens panicking, so I went to the henhouse to see what was scaring them,” said Wanna Bilabdullar. That’s when she saw…
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Phuket beach vendor fined for burying coolers in sand
PHUKET: A vendor has been fined 2,000 baht for burying her coolers in the sand in an attempt to carry on selling ice-cold drinks to tourists on Patong Beach. Officers discovered three large ice boxes buried in the sand across the road from Burger King while patrolling the beachfront road on Monday. “We asked people in the area who the…
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PLTO chief demands harsh penalties for illegal Phuket taxis
PHUKET: The highest penalty will be sought for all illegal taxi drivers caught operating on the island after August 1 vowed Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) Chief Terayout Prasertphol today. “Police have just been fining and then releasing drivers. However, from August 1 onward, if police apprehend any illegal taxi driver, they must send the case directly to court and…
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Germany Ambassador to Thailand bids farewell to Phuket consul
PHUKET: German Ambassador to Thailand Rolf Schulze bid farewell to Phuket legacy Dirk Naumann on July 18 as Mr Naumann concluded 12 dedicated years on the island as German Honorary Consul. Amb Schulze commended Mr Naumann for his years of service, especially his work after the tsunami. “Without your creativity, engagement, help and human feeling it would not have been…
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Phuket taxi call center on hold, ranks wait for green light
PHUKET: The launch of the Patong taxi call center has been deferred indefinitely as officials scramble to prepare staff, taxi drivers and necessary equipment. The service was slated to kick off this month (story here), following the tear-down of illegal taxi stands throughout Patong and the rest of the island (story here). “We have mapped out the proposed locations of…
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Sale of B60mn prime Phuket land plot spooked by suspect land title
PHUKET: A family of farmers trying to sell nine rai of land with an estimated value of 60 million baht have come under scrutiny for trying to upgrade a SorKor 1 deed for the site to full Chanote status. Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak led officers to inspect the site yesterday after receiving an anonymous complaint asking for the Governor’s…
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Tourists on ‘walk-in’ visa entries to get 30-day extensions
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Immigration Office, Col Sunchai Chokkajaykij, has confirmed that his office has received an official order to begin issuing extensions of up to 30 days to foreigners who enter the country on visa-exemption status. The order, signed by Immigration Bureau Acting Commissioner Sakda Chuenpakdee, is to come into effect from August 29, said Col Sunchai.…
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Newcastle lead the Premier League jet-setters
PHUKET: By the time Newcastle United kick off their Premier League campaign at home to champions Manchester City in little less than a month’s time the squad would have clocked up an astonishing 24,687 pre-season air miles. Globe-trotting West Ham United will not be far behind while five other clubs would have covered distances in excess of 12,000 miles as…
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Phuket SEA Coworking Space hosts iSeahorse workshop tonight
PHUKET: The SEA Coworking Space in Phuket Town will be saddling up to host a free iSeahorse workshop this evening at 6:30. The event is a training workshop for scuba divers, snorkellers and beach goers who have an interest in learning how to survey and identify seahorses in coastal locations, explains Lindsay Aylesworth, lead researcher in Thailand for Project Seahorse…
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ITF Pro Circuit winners rejoice
PHUKET: WITH the Chang SAT International Tennis Federation (ITF) Pro Circuit doubles event at Phuket’s Thanyapura half way through, the first winners are celebrating their results. Ya-Fan Wang of China played from the qualifying round to win the Women’s Singles event. In the final round Wang survived five match points to come back to defeat Yi-Fan Xu 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.…
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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