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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Phuket drug crackdown apprehends 62
PHUKET: Phuket police officers apprehended 62 people on drug charges yesterday as part of an anti-drug sweep in Phuket Town and Rassada ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. In total,180 officers took part in the late afternoon maneuver, which involved searching two houses and administering urine tests at four checkpoints. Five teenagers – two girls and three boys – aged…
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Phuket cops’ early morning raid nets 11 thieves, drug users
PHUKET: Police netted nearly a dozen snatch-theft and drug suspects during an early morning raid in Phuket Town yesterday. CCTV images of suspects stealing bags from two foreigners on Thalang Road in Phuket Town on Tuesday allowed officers to identify the suspects’ den on Srisena Road. The police raid on the house led to five teenagers being charged for ‘theft…
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Illegal wedding photographers busted in Phuket
PHUKET: Two photographers, a makeup artist and an owner of a Phuket photography studio were caught working without work permits yesterday after their rude behavior was flagged by local residents. Phuket Old Town residents filed a complaint to police against Love Island Wedding Studio Co Ltd, which had been using their homes as backdrops for pre-wedding photos without asking permission.…
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Patong Tunnel compensation for evicted Phuket villagers jumps to B2.56bn
PHUKET: The funds for compensating Phuket landowners who would be displaced by the construction of the Patong Tunnel have more than doubled, jumping from 1 billion baht to 2.56bn baht. The Chief Inspector-General of the Ministry of Transport, Somchai Chanrod, made the announcement in Phuket earlier this week. It was not clarified whether the government had expanded the number of…
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Frenchwoman in fatal crash identified as Phuket yacht staff trainer
PHUKET: The foreigner killed in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road before dawn yesterday has been identified as French national Julie Humbert, 31. Her identity was confirmed by an employee of Thalang Hospital, where her body was taken after the crash (story here). “A co-worker contacted the hospital this morning after she heard the story. She identified Ms Humbert’s body…
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Local Phuket fishing competition out to catch it all
PHUKET: The annual “Yamu Night Fishing Game” kicks off tomorrow morning.The annual competition, aimed at promoting local fishing traditions in the area, is put on by Paklok Subdistrict Municipality (OrBorTor).“Only those fishing from longtail boats with local fishing equipment are allowed to participate. However, both Thais and foreigners are welcome to get involved,” said Paklok Public Relation staffer Samart Sensai.“If…
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Wind at yachties’ backs in Phuket as boom swings against boat-stay law
PHUKET: The law reducing the time limit of boat stays in Thailand to two months is on hold starting today, and the old law will be applied in the interim, Phuket Customs Chief Nanthita Sririkub confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. As of today, yachts entering Thailand will be permitted to stay for up to six months. “I received official notification…
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Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire
PHUKET: A black-plate taxi carrying two foreigners to Phuket International Airport burst into flames on Thepkrasattri road at about 2pm today.It took villagers about 15 minutes and seven fire extinguishers to put out the fire, explained a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. No one was injured.“By the time we got there, the fire was already under control. At the scene were…
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Phuket EC not enrolling MP candidates by mail, yet
PHUKET: Despite an announcement by the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday that they would accept additional candidate registrations for the April MP election by mail, Phuket election officials have received no official instructions to enroll new candidates. Anti-government protesters in Phuket blocked MP candidates from registering last December. Only one person, Jirayos Songyos of the Pheu Thai party, was able…
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AirAsia flight makes emergency landing in Phuket after Mecca pilgrim suffers heart failure
PHUKET: An AirAsia plane made an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport after a Malaysian man returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca suffered heart failure while in Thai airspace. The crew of flight D7 171 from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur attempted to resuscitate Ridzwan Bin Jamaludin, 64, while still in the air, explained Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Amnuay Kriwuttianant. “The…
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Phuket canal reeking again, noodle factory blamed
PHUKET: For the second time in a year, Samkong residents have filed a formal complaint over a sickening stench emanating from the Bang Yai Canal. In April last year, the source was allegedly raw sewage dumped into the canal further upstream, in Rassada. This time, residents blamed an upstream noodle factory. During an inspection on Tuesday, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut…
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Widow of slain Phuket protester returns from Bangkok before fresh wave of violence
PHUKET: It has been a month since Phuket taxi driver Prakong Choochan died at the age of 46 from injuries sustained from an explosive device thrown at protesters in Bangkok. His widow, Tippayao Choochan, vowed to continue supporting the “Bangkok Shutdown” protests after his death, and was in the capital last week to join the rally (story here). However, she…
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The Terminal: asylum seekers’ limbo at Phuket Airport to end soon
PHUKET: The six stateless asylum seekers who have been housed under guard at Phuket International Airport for over a month may soon be leaving the island.Malaysia has agreed to accept the four Syrians in the group, and the two Lebanese men will be sent to Bangkok, said Prapansak Prasansuk, Chief of Immigration at the airport.How the men, said to be…
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Italian busted for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: An Italian man was busted for selling ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) to undercover cops in a sting operation in Patong Monday evening.Fabio Milan Bocca, 35, was arrested at a rental house on Pisitkoranee Road in possession of 8.52 grams of ya ice, 6.79g of marijuana and a single ya bah (methamphetamine) pill. “Our superintendent asked us to stomp out…
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Chalong steals Phuket’s booze ban spotlight this weekend
PHUKET: Parts of Chalong will be effected by a booze ban this weekend for local elections.“Alcohol sales will be banned in District 2 of Chalong from 6pm on February 21 until midnight on Saturday due to local elections,” Phuket Election Commission Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette.The ban will cover five Chao Fa West villages, Chalong Municipality Election Commission…
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Phuket protesters head to Bangkok despite deadly violence
PHUKET: An anti-government co-ordinator in Phuket believes hundreds of Phuket residents will join a mass rally in Bangkok tomorrow, despite the violent clashes between protesters and police that have left at least one officer dead (story here). Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) last night called for supporters to join the protest tomorrow as a…
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Swedish tourist falls to death from slippery Phuket bar
PHUKET: A Swedish tourist fell to his death early this morning while dancing on top of a bar counter in Patong.“Witnesses in the bar said that the man had been drinking before he decided to climb onto the countertop and dance,” said a Kusoldharm Patong rescue foundation worker.“The bar was wet and slippery. He slipped and hit his head hard…
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Phuket Vice Governor champions Australian’s metered taxi complaint
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada stepped forward to champion a complaint about an airport taxi driver who refused to use his meter to take an Australian expat home to Kamala. The 51-year-old man arrived at Phuket International Airport last Sunday and was met by a metered taxi tout, who explained that it costs 650 baht to go to Kamala.…
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Deaf Ukrainian begging tourist arrested in Central Festival Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Tourist Police arrested a deaf Ukrainian tourist on Sunday for disturbing restaurant customers in Central Festival Phuket.Mykola Chornyi, 30, was dropping cards on restaurant tables that said he was deaf and asked for patrons to either donate money or purchase an Angry Bird key chain for 100 baht, Wichit Police Superintendent Chawalit Phetsipear explained.“We were notified by a…
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Phuket residents close accounts in protest of massive loan for rice-pledging scheme
PHUKET: Phuket residents flocked to several branches of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) today to withdraw money and close accounts after the bank lent 20 billion baht to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on Sunday.“Monday is always a busy day, since it is the first of the week. However, we admit that 10 per cent of our…
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Missing Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night.Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm yesterday afternoon.“My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of her illness,”…
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Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s Disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night. Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm that afternoon. “My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of…
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Thailand downs Hong Kong in Phuket Davis Cup
PHUKET: The Thai Davis Cup team triumphed against Hong Kong 4-1 in the regional (Asia/Oceania) matchup at Thanyapura Phuket yesterday. After an uncertain start (story here) which saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark defeated in the opening match against Hong Kong’s Phillip King, the home team rallied to win the following four matches over the weekend to triumph with an impressive margin.…
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New ports to be developed for popular island gateways north of Phuket
PHUKET: The Marine Department on Friday announced plans to develop two major seaports at Phang Nga jump-off points to the popular Similan and Surin islands. “Our aim is to promote sustainable tourism for Phang Nga’s Andaman islands. We also want to promote it as another diving location,” said Marine Office 5 Director Wichai Khamkong. The news follows two public hearings…
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Phuket baby born with rare condition out of ICU, finally home
PHUKET: A Phuket baby who survived surgery after being born with her intestines protruding from her abdomen was discharged from the hospital this weekend. Ornpreeya “Ang-Sing” Saisrikosol was born earlier this month with a rare condition called gastroschisis, and immediately underwent emergency surgery (story here), explained Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Jessada Chungpaibulpatana. Ang-Sing’s parents, at first devastated by their daughter’s…
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Phuket Police pounce on booze ban violator
PHUKET: Police discovered one shop in Phuket Town illegally selling alcohol during the celebration of Makha Bucha Day. The bust yesterday was made by Phuket City Police, who arrested two other vendors for trading after hours, said Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong. “We apprehended three local shop owners: one in Phuket Town near Surin Circle at 11pm and two…
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Déjà vu for Phuket Passport Office
PHUKET: The Phuket Passport Office had a false start this week as it re-opened its doors for service on Monday, just to close them again on Friday. Protesting has forced the second closure of the Passport Division in Bangkok, the first of which closed the Phuket office for nearly a month (story here). The headquarters in the capital terminated its…
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Thailand tied with Hong Kong after first Davis Cup matches
PHUKET: Thailand and Hong Kong are now tied, one win each, following the opening matches of the Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania region group 2) at Thanyapura yesterday. The first match of the day saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark (ranked number 1,258 in the world for singles) lose three straight sets to Hong Kong’s Phillip King (2-6, 6-7, 3-6). However, Thailand’s players redeemed…
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Mixed holiday keeps Phuket temples and shop owners busy
PHUKET: Reverence for Makha Bucha Day outshined Valentine’s Day in Phuket, but flower shop owners benefited from the lovers’ day rush. Local temples and flower shops had a busy day as Phuket residents flocked to make merit for Makha Bucha Day and ordered flowers for their loved ones. Wat Wichit Sangkaram on Narisorn Road saw a high volume of visitors…
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Volcanic ash forces Australia-Phuket flight cancellations
PHUKET: Ash fall from a volcano that erupted late last night on the heavily populated Indonesian island of Java has forced an Australian airline to cancel flights to Phuket, Denpasar, Christmas Island and Cocos Island today.“We are sorry for the inconvenience. However, the safety of our customers is our highest priority,” Virgin Australia airline said in a statement on their…
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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