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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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Phuket ramps up flood prevention as rainy season nears
Phuket City Municipality is ramping up flood prevention efforts as the rainy season approaches, deploying a comprehensive strategy to protect residents and maintain city infrastructure from imminent rain damage. Preparations include mobilising manpower to combat incoming floods, deploying machinery, and distributing sandbags across vulnerable areas to minimise damages, according to Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas. The municipality aims to ensure both…
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Phuket hosts Southern Halal Expo to boost tourism
The Southern Halal Expo & Tourism fair is currently taking place in Phuket, aiming to revitalise local tourism and enhance the incomes of local families while enhancing a sense of community for Muslims. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officiated the opening ceremony at the Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Center in Thalang yesterday. The event, organised by the Andaman Phuket Muslim Women’s Association in…
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Shell shock: Hawksbill turtle rescued near Patong Beach
A young hawksbill turtle, found washed ashore south of Patong Beach, is now under care after suffering significant injuries due to entanglement in a discarded fishing net. Hotel staff at Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, discovered the turtle yesterday and promptly notified officers at the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center (Upper Andaman Sea). The marine officers confirmed…
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Phuket man arrested for murder of 21 year old masseuse
Phuket police arrested a man in connection with the murder of Benjarat ‘Nong Cream’ Cheychan, a 21 year old masseuse from Phuket who was last seen leaving her house in Rawai on June 3. Benjarat was seen departing with a man driving a grey Bangkok-registered Toyota pickup truck. She informed friends she was going to address a dispute with a…
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Missing American in Phuket beach found dead
An American man who was swept away by a giant wave in front of his three year old son and Thai wife has been found dead on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket. The incident occurred on June 9 as the family was enjoying their time at the beach. His wife, 49 year old Siriamorn, and their young son were at Nai…
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Search continues for American missing at Nai Harn Beach
Police in Phuket are intensifying their search for an American who went missing after being swept away by waves at Nai Harn Beach. Strong winds and high waves are hindering rescue efforts, with lifeguards raising red flags to warn against swimming. His wife, 49 year old Siriaamorn Petchraawut, hopes for a miracle. The 49 year old American father, James Everett…
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Spitting mad: Russian tourist’s traffic light tantrum in Phuket
A Russian man spat on a Thai woman and tried to slap her at Wat Naka Intersection in Phuket on May 29 in anger over a traffic light misunderstanding. The 46 year old Thai woman, Phatchareeya Rattanatorrakarn, accompanied by her husband, Boonyong Burirak, filed a complaint against the Russian at Vichit Police Station at 2pm on May 29. Phatchareeya said…
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Phuket raids uncover multi-million baht foreign business schemes
In a crackdown on illicit foreign enterprises, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), in collaboration with the Immigration Police, Tourist Police, and other authorities, stormed three businesses in Phuket. These companies, ostensibly legitimate, are suspected of being fronts for illegal activities. Thaveewat Surasit, Director of the DSI’s Security Cases Division, revealed that the coordinated raids, backed by search warrants, aimed…
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Thai lifeguards nab American phone thief at Kata Beach (video)
Thai lifeguards helped a foreign woman catch an American man who stole her mobile phone while she was swimming at Kata Beach in Phuket. The theft took place at Kata Beach on Saturday, June 1. The foreign woman reportedly left her mobile phone on the beach while she was swimming, giving the American man a chance to steal the phone.…
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British mum’s dengue fever warning after son’s Thai holiday tragedy
A crestfallen British mother urged travellers ahead of the holiday season to be wary of dengue fever after losing her son to the disease while he was on holiday in Thailand. The heartbroken mother, Jayne Toulson-Burke, recalled the last devastating phone call from her son, Bob, just before he died from the disease several years ago. The 59 year old…
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Foreigner unharmed after motorcycle crash with van in Phuket
A foreigner narrowly escaped death without a scratch after crashing his motorcycle on a mountain road in Phuket, sliding down Patong Hill, and colliding with a van. The van driver, Weerapong, shared a video of the accident on his TikTok account, Smith.van, yesterday, June 3. The footage showed Weerapong braking suddenly as the foreigner and his motorcycle lost control on…
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Patong fruit shop owner shoots wife in rage over affair
A fruit shop owner in Patong, Phuket, shot his wife in a fit of rage after discovering her affair with a newly hired employee. The incident occurred when the man fired his gun at the ceiling, but the bullet ricocheted and injured his wife. Police Lieutenant of Patong Police Station Phacharathon Chan-iad. received a radio report today about a shooting…
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Phuket beautician shot by van driver after DNA test dispute
A grey van driver in Phuket shot a slingshot at a beautician, causing her to bleed, due to anger over his wife refusing a DNA test for their child. Social Hunter 2022 posted an image and a warning, alerting Phuket residents about a grey van with the licence plate number 30-9306 Phuket. The van nearly collided with a motorbike, driven…
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Phuket Airport to invest 6 billion baht in new international terminal
Phuket Airport plans to invest 6 billion baht to construct a new terminal dedicated to international flights, aiming to boost its passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million annually to 18 million. The airport’s director, Monchai Tanod, highlighted the urgent need for expansion. Last month, the airport saw an influx of around 16,000 domestic passengers daily, hitting 90% of its pre-Covid-19…
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Russian nominee business bust exposes 1.5 billion baht scandal
In a dramatic crackdown on illegal businesses in Phuket, 231 suspects, including 98 foreign nationals, mostly Russians, have been arrested, revealing a scandal worth over 1.5 billion baht. The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD), under the directive of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Police General Jirabhop Bhuridej, raided several accounting and real estate firms on the island. The operation…
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Russian ruse: Massive Thai visa scam exposed
Thai police dismantled a sprawling network that illegally enabled foreigners, predominantly Russians, to secure long-term stays in Thailand through deceptive company setups. This elaborate scheme, orchestrated by a 45 year old Russian woman and her Thai accomplice, has rocked the idyllic province of Phuket. Police revealed that the Russian mastermind arrived in Thailand in 2012 and, alongside a Thai woman,…
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Cable chaos: Trio busted for illegal TV scheme in Phuket
Phuket Tourist Police nabbed two Chinese nationals and one Myanmar national for working illegally on an audacious cable installation operation to provide Chinese TV channels in Phuket Town. Acting on an anonymous tip-off, officers swooped on the roof of an apartment building on Yaowarat Road, catching the five foreigners red-handed. Thai national Sittichai Klapdee, who was present at the scene,…
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American man with depression commits suicide at Phuket hotel
A Thai maid discovered the dead body of a 63 year old American man in his Phuket hotel room after he committed suicide yesterday, May 29. His Thai ex-girlfriend reported that the foreign man suffered from depression but did not seek treatment. Hotel staff reported the death of the 63 year old foreign man, Michael Thomas, to Thalang Police Station…
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Ring rage: Brawl erupts at Phuket boxing stadium
A viral video capturing foreign boxers and their cornermen brawling in the ring sparked widespread criticism online. The explosive incident occurred at the Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket, during the main event on May 26. The showdown featured an Irish boxer in the red corner and a Russian boxer in the blue corner. As the ring announcer prepared to…
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Staffer pays the price for dine-and-dash at Phuket cafe
A staffer at the Cafe Dim Sum Phuket took to social media to warn fellow service workers about a crafty scam that left her out of pocket. The alarming incident occurred on May 23 at the bustling eatery near the iconic Clocktower Circle in Phuket Town. Nong Lin, an employee at the popular restaurant, recounted her experience with a group…
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Top 5 surf beaches in Phuket: Unleash your inner surfer on vacation
Phuket, Thailand’s “Pearl of the Andaman,” isn’t just about pristine beaches and turquoise waters. Beneath the idyllic surface lies a thrilling secret for adrenaline seekers. While the island caters to sunbathers year-round, surfing in Phuket flourishes during the southwest monsoon season, roughly from May to October. So… Where are the best surfing spots in Thailand? Phuket’s beauty lies in its…
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Thai teenager with ADHD stabs uncle to death in Phuket
A 15 year old Thai boy stabbed his 60 year old uncle to death last night in a rented room in the Thalang district of Phuket. Officers from Thalang Police Station were alerted to the fatal stabbing incident at a rented room in the Thalang district of Phuket at about 7pm yesterday, May 27. The victim, 60 year old Somkiat…
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Filipino motorcyclist dies after running over palm kernel in Phuket
A Filipino motorcyclist died yesterday morning after running over a palm kernel and losing control of his motorcycle, crashing into a traffic sign on Thep Krasattri Road in Phuket. Officers from the Thalang Police Station and rescuers from the Kuson Dham Phuket Foundation were alerted to the fatal motorcycle accident on the Thep Krasattri Road at about 6.40am yesterday, May…
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Phuket: Belgian expat’s secret stash of illegal pawn busted
Phuket unveiled a clandestine operation hidden within the opulent residence of a Belgian national. Motorcycles, an array of national IDs, and a single mobile phone were found in the expat’s possession. Police Lieutenant Colonel Thepnom Suwannarat, Superintendent of Investigation Division 3, Provincial Police Region 8, bore fruit as he apprehended a 63 year old Belgian, known only as Philippe. His…
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High-speed motorcycle crash kills 2 Frenchmen in Phuket
Two Frenchmen tragically lost their lives in a motorcycle accident in the early hours of this morning on Anusawari-Ban Pa Khlok Road in the Thalang district of Phuket. Officers from the Thalang Police Station and rescuers from the Kusol Dham Phuket Foundation responded to the scene after receiving a notification from a local motorist at 4.40am today, May 24. The…
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Deranged expat threatens murder in Phuket over rental dispute
A Phuket neighbourhood was rocked by a chilling threat when a disgruntled Swedish expat promised to return and kill a local homeowner after being barred from his rental house. The shocking incident was brought to light on the Phuket Residents Seek Help Facebook page, prompting immediate action from the authorities. Immigration officers, accompanied by the Tourist Police, set up surveillance…
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IndiGo boosts Delhi-Phuket route, take off June 1
Starting June 1, IndiGo will double its weekly flights from Delhi to Phuket from seven to 14, in response to Thailand’s extension of visa-free stays for Indian citizens until November 11. IndiGo, India’s premier low-cost airline, is enhancing its service with twice-daily flights, offering morning and evening departures. This increased frequency will provide greater flexibility and convenience for travellers planning…
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Phuket jet ski tragedy casts shadow over British man’s holiday
A British man’s paradise holiday in Phuket tragically turned to gloom for his family when he lost his life in a jet ski crash earlier this month. Jonathan Greene, from Stoke-on-Trent, met a tragic end during his holiday in the sun-soaked paradise of Phuket earlier this month. The 37 year old, of Church Avenue in Baddeley Green, was soaking up the…
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Thai man and Frenchman duel in knife fight, both wounded
A knife fight erupted between a Thai man and a Frenchman in the middle of the road in the Karon sub-district of Phuket last night, May 20, resulting in injuries of both parties. Officers from Karon Police Station received a notification from a Thai man who discovered an injured individual, later identified as Jirasak Thonghor, outside his apartment building at…
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Chalong Bay luxury yacht goes up in flames
A 34.2-metre luxury yacht yesterday suffered extensive damage in a dramatic blaze, which left its towering mast levelled. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sprang into action around 3pm, dispatching two boats, Tor 111 and Tor 272, to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the yacht, Obsession II, anchored and continuously burning. The yacht’s crew, who…
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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