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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Top official inspects Phuket’s safety amid landslide scandal
A high-profile visit to Phuket has reignited scrutiny over the island’s safety protocols and infrastructure as former Vice Governor and now Inspector-General of the Ministry of Interior, Supoj Rodruang Na Nongkhai, returned on Christmas Day. Supoj, whose career has soared since leaving Phuket in 2020, arrived to review critical policies including tsunami preparedness, illegal hotels, and landslide prevention. Accompanied by…
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20th anniversary: Phuket looks back on Boxing Day tsunami
Two decades after the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami, communities along Thailand’s Andaman coast, including Phuket, gathered today, Boxing Day, to honour the lives lost and reflect on the lessons learned from that fateful day in 2004. The disaster claimed an estimated 230,000 to 280,000 lives across multiple countries, with Thailand designating December 26 as National Disaster Prevention Day in its…
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Aussie father fights to survive and heal after losing son to tsunami
Boxing Day 2004 started as a serene tropical morning for an Australian father, his wife, and their 16 year old son in a beachfront hotel in Phuket. But in moments, tranquillity gave way to catastrophe. “We were admiring the view, and all of a sudden, the water disappeared.” What seemed like an intriguing phenomenon – fish floundering on the exposed…
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Phuket duo swipes 600 euros from Belgian with a fake hug
Police yesterday, December 25, arrested a Thai woman and a transwoman for pretending to greet a Belgian man with a hug and stealing 600 euros in cash (approximately 21,000 baht) from him in the Patong area of Phuket. The 58 year old Belgian victim filed a complaint with Patong Police Station officers at around 5am on December 22, reporting that…
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Phuket vendor revives Italian man, but tragedy strikes in hospital
A Thai chicken rice vendor successfully revived an Italian man who collapsed while dining at his restaurant in Phuket, but tragically, the foreign man later passed away in hospital. A viral video of a Thai man administering CPR to a foreigner was widely shared on Thai social media yesterday, December 24. The incident reportedly occurred at a renowned chicken rice…
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Motorcyclist dies in high-speed crash on Phuket’s Thepkrasattri Road
A tragic accident occurred yesterday on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang, Phuket, when a 26 year old motorcyclist lost control of his high-speed big bike, crashing into a palm tree on the central reservation. The collision resulted in the rider’s immediate death. Police were alerted to the incident at 3.05pm yesterday, December 24, prompting Napadol Somnuek, an officer from Thalang Police…
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Tsunami tributes confirmed in Phuket after public outcry
Phuket’s long-awaited tsunami remembrance services are finally confirmed—though not without a wave of public criticism. Patong Municipality and Mai Khao Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) will host memorials to mark 20 years since the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami that claimed thousands of lives, following earlier silence from local officials. The Phuket News highlighted the conspicuous lack of announcements about events to…
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Phuket’s Nai Harn Lake revamp set for February completion
A significant 66-million-baht development project is currently transforming Nai Harn Lake in Phuket, with a completion target set for early February, according to local officials. The project, overseen by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), aims to enhance the lake’s surroundings with a new bike path and landscaping improvements. The initiative covers a stretch of 1,973 metres and includes the…
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Phuket tackles homelessness and begging with new initiative
Phuket officials have embarked on a significant initiative to tackle homelessness and begging in Phuket Town, with a focus on enhancing the lives of vulnerable residents. This proactive effort was spearheaded by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai, who led a field visit to Lan Nawamin, off Phuket Road, yesterday, December 23. The visit was a collaborative endeavour involving key agencies including…
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Husband strangles wife to death in Phuket tragedy
A tragic incident unfolded when a husband strangled his wife to death in their rented home in Pa Khlok, Thalang district, Phuket. Colleagues of the victim expressed sorrow, revealing that she had recently mentioned feeling relieved after her husband had moved out with his belongings. However, he returned and committed the heinous act early this morning, December 24, at 5.05am.…
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Phuket’s traffic revolution: New roads to transform island travel
Phuket is gearing up for a major infrastructure facelift with a slew of secondary road developments aimed at easing traffic woes and boosting tourism. Officials unveiled the ambitious plan at a press conference chaired by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwanarat at Provincial Hall on Friday, December 20, showcasing a roadmap for smoother travel and economic growth. Jakkrapong Thamuntree, Director of Phuket’s…
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Twenty years on, waves of Tsunami trauma still echoes in Phang Nga
Twenty years after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, survivors in Thailand’s Ban Nam Khem village in Phan Nga province still carry vivid memories of that fateful December morning. For Neungduangjai Sritrakarn, then a 20 year old college freshman, the day began with her mother’s urgent warning to evacuate their seaside home. Sensing danger from unusual whitecaps on the Andaman…
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Holiday turns tragic as two men drown after boat capsizes in Phuket
Three men in Phuket, faced an untimely and tragic accident yesterday, December 22, as they set out on a borrowed boat on a leisurely paddle in a local pond while visiting relatives. Holiday spirits were cut short as their boat capsized, leading to the drowning of two men while the third managed to swim ashore, exhausted. At approximately 6pm yesterday,…
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Phuket enhances travel with US$190.7 million investment in secondary roads
Phuket officials are making strides in reducing traffic congestion by developing secondary roads across the island. The initiative aims to ease transportation challenges and enhance access to key tourist destinations. Jakkrapong Thamuntree, head of the Phuket Department of Rural Roads, outlined the progress of these projects at a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall, with the meeting presided over by…
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Phuket mayors face charges in major corruption scandal
Three mayors in Phuket—Aroon Solos of Rawai, Panya Samphaorat of Pa Khlok, and Juta Dumlak from Kamala Tambon Administrative Organisation—are embroiled in legal battles over corruption charges. Phuket Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri confirmed these proceedings, emphasising a broader push against corruption in the province. Panya Samphaorat faces charges from the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for neglecting…
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Thailand eyes Phuket for bitcoin sandbox experiment
Thailand is edging closer to cryptocurrency adoption, with Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira dropping hints about extending the bitcoin sandbox experiment in Phuket. This bold move could position Thailand as a regional leader in digital currency innovation. “We are not suggesting replacing existing currencies with bitcoin.” Pichai emphasised the controlled nature of the trial. Under the sandbox model, bitcoin would be…
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Phuket to host Thailand’s first legal same-sex marriages
Phuket is set to make history on January 22 next year, as the island hosts a dazzling event to mark the first day of legal same-sex marriages in Thailand. Held at Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong, the celebration promises to be a landmark moment for equality and love in the country. Dubbed DOPA Day One: Equality Rings in 878 Districts,…
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Plane and simple: Phuket Airport gears up for holiday rush
Phuket International Airport is bracing for a surge of holiday travellers, with up to 60,000 passengers expected daily during the festive season. Officials promise streamlined services and enhanced security to handle the crowds. The Royal Thai Police (RTP)’s Immigration Bureau, led by acting commissioner Police Lieutenant General Panumas Bunyalak, joined forces with airport director Monchai Tanode to ensure the airport…
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Extra road safety: Phuket’s ‘7 Dangerous Days’ extended to 10
In a bid to curb road carnage this new year, Phuket officials are going all out. The long-standing “7 Dangerous Days” campaign will stretch to a full 10 days this year, running from December 27 to January 5, marking the most extended safety crackdown yet. The decision was confirmed during a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday, December 18,…
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Austrian man denies killing Russian man in Phuket jet ski accident
An Austrian man today denied involvement in a fatal jet ski collision with a Russian man in Phuket, which resulted in the latter’s death during the arrest. A local fisherman in the Karon area of Phuket discovered the body of 58 year old Russian man Kirill Kolovachev against a group of rocks near A Blanket & A Pillow restaurant on…
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Drunken drama: Russian hospitalised after Bangla brawl
A night of partying on Bangla Road turned into chaos when a drunken Russian tourist was hospitalised after a violent altercation with security guards. The incident unfolded at Oscar Bar, Patong, late last night, December 18. Police were called to the scene at 11.50pm, where they found 31 year old Russian national Evgenii Kozlov seriously injured after a scuffle with…
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Lorry with missing wheel sparks safety fears on Phuket road (video)
A video clip sparking safety concerns has taken social media by storm, showing a lorry missing a wheel and with a bulging tyre, driving along Thep Kasattri Road, in Thalang, Phuket. Shared by a popular local social media page, the 27-second video amassed significant attention and stirred a variety of reactions online. The incident occurred on the outbound lane of…
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Phuket police profile trans workers to boost nightlife safety
Police in Phuket are actively compiling profiles of transgender people working in a bustling nightlife area of the city to bolster public safety measures. This initiative, undertaken by local police and administrative officials, is happening along Bangla Road, a popular spot near Patong Beach frequented by tourists. Head of Patong Police Station Chalermchai Hernsawat explained that this effort is primarily aimed…
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Phuket plans major disaster drill for flood preparedness
Phuket is set to enhance its disaster preparedness with an integrated exercise aimed at tackling potential floods and mudslides. Scheduled for January 16, 2025, the event is designed to boost the island’s readiness and response capabilities in the face of such emergencies. A significant planning session took place recently at the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket).…
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Jet ski accident off Phuket coast leads to tourist’s tragic death
A tragic accident involving a jet ski and a tourist took place off the coast of Karon, Phuket, leading to the tourist’s disappearance underwater. The body was discovered in the early hours of this morning and police are set to conduct an autopsy to investigate further. At 7pm yesterday, December 17, Sanya Suksawat, a police officer with the Karon Police…
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Five injured in Kamala pickup vs tuk tuk smash
A dawn disaster struck the steep, winding road between Kamala and Patong when a pickup truck with faulty brakes collided with a tuk tuk, leaving five people injured, including a Russian tourist. The crash happened at 4.45am yesterday, December 17 just south of the notorious Khuan Yak Curve. When police and rescue teams from Kamala Rescue and the Kusoldharm Foundation…
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Phuket takes a bite out of food waste with food banks project
Phuket is stepping up to combat food waste and hunger with a groundbreaking new initiative. The Food Conservation Project: Developing Food Banks was officially launched yesterday, December 17, in the Laem Tukkae Community, Ratsada, spearheaded by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) in partnership with the Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS Thailand). Deputy Permanent Secretary Chatuphon Rojanaphanich…
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10 year old dies in football goal accident in Phuket school
A 10 year old Thai boy tragically died after an old rusty football goal crossbar fatally struck him on the head at his school in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket . Facebook page Phuket Info Center reported the schoolboy’s death, identified as Thanakrit, yesterday, December 17. The page shared pictures of the broken goal at the school in Phuket, accompanied by…
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Phuket driver faces charges after fatal hit-and-run incident
A driver involved in a tragic hit-and-run incident in Phuket turned himself into the police. Police confirmed that the driver will face charges for his actions following the fatal accident that occurred in the early hours of December 14. The unfortunate event took place around 3.20am along Srisoonthorn Road, near the Bang Jo Intersection in Srisoonthorn. The 22 year old…
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Copy-paste tourism: Phuket Airport owns up to Singapore snap
Phuket International Airport today announced that the use of images of buildings from Singapore’s old town to market its own tourism were intentional and not a mistake. Phuket Airport yesterday, December 16, found itself in the eye of a social media storm after they used some pictures of Singapore to promote the popular holiday resort. Netizens took to social media…
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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