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.
-
Sponsored Working in Thailand: How expat health insurance protects your career and lifestyle
Starting a career in Thailand can be an exciting chapter, but it also brings unique challenges, especially when it comes to health and wellness. For expats, navigating Thailand’s healthcare system and meeting work permit requirements can be difficult. And while...
-
Phuket ‘Seasteaders’ told to pack up and go home
PHOTO: An artist’s impression from the seasteading website The ‘seasteading’ couple, that have set up a ‘floating’ home some 15 nautical miles off Phuket’s coast, are now the subject of an official complaint by the Thai Third Naval Area Command (that oversee Phuket’s security). Chad Andrew Elwartowski and his Thai wife, Supranee Thepdet are said to be in violation of…
-
Day Two: First death in Songkran ‘seven days of danger’ in Phuket
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket As reports are tallied for the second full day (April 12) of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ Songkran road and marine safety campaign, one death was reported yesterday plus four injuries in four road accidents. There have been no marine incidents reported. The person who died was a 26 year old Burmese man, Ye Min Aung, who…
-
60 million baht in damages as investigations continue into Patong fire – VIDEO
Songkran in Patong awakes to reveal extensive damage and destruction from last night’s beach road blaze. A fire started from a faulty electrical transformer in a loud and spectacular short-circuit, quickly escalating to engulf nearby roadside shops, causing damages estimated at 60 million baht. Firefighters and emergency responders arrived at the scene of the growing fire at 7:40pm around Banana…
-
The ‘Fun Police’ crackdown on posting ‘lewd’ Songkran pics and video
The Thai police have become Thailand’s fun police today as they warn Songkran revellers against posting photos of scantily clad people, or ‘invitations’ to consume alcohol’… pretty much everything you see during the madness of Songkran festivities in the main tourist hot spots. “No photos, video clips of live broadcasts of nudity, lewd acts or inviting consumption of alcohol should…
-
No deaths in the first day of Songkran ‘seven days of danger’ in Phuket
PHOTO: Newshawk Phuket As reports are tallied for the first full day (April 11) of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ Songkran road and marine safety campaign, no deaths were reported but five people were injured on the island. According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phuket the island saw 4 road accidents on Day One…
-
‘Seastead’ set up off coast of Phuket
PHOTOS: Nation TV A Thai couple has successfully set up a ‘Seastead’ near Phuket. Seasteading is aiming to build floating societies with “significant political autonomy”. Nearly half the world’s surface is unclaimed by any nation-state, and many coastal nations can legislate “seasteads” in their territorial waters (like a “homestead” but wetter). The nation TV reports that website ‘Bitcoin.com’ and ‘Ocean.builders’…
-
Thai authorities target 10% fewer Songkran accidents
PHOTO: Daily News The chief of the communications ministry says that the Thai authorities are aiming for a 10% reduction in accidents on selected and particularly dangerous roads. They also want to see a 5% reduction in the country’s total number of road accidents. They have identified 111 roads around the country deemed as high risk for road fatalities that will…
-
Three people injured, two chickens die in Chalong crash
A motorbike sidecar (saleng) has collided with a motorbike in Chalong where two people sustained serious injuries and two chickens died yesterday in Chalong. The Chalong Police were notified of the incident on Chao Fa West Road at at the entrance of Soi Baan Klang in Chalong at 7pm last night. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged…
-
Phuket’s water supply scraping the bottom of the three dams
The temperature hit 34 degrees today, light winds and 10% chance of rain for the rest of today (code for a slight chance of a tropical storm cell dropping its load on some small part of the island). And there’s little rain in sight until maybe Sunday. Meanwhile the remaining supply in Phuket’s three main catchments continues to evaporate today.…
-
Chinese tour companies in Phuket being checked
Officers have made random checks on tour companies in Phuket today after receiving complaints. Tourist Police, soldiers and officers from the Tourism Business and Guide Southern Division 2 have descended on 10 tour companies in the Wichit and Phuket Town areas, based in the Phuket Villa 3 housing estate, Panason housing estate, Phuket Villa Dawroong housing estate and Soi Poonphon. Chief…
-
Situation critical for Phuket’s water supply
Phuket has an acute water shortage. But there has been no warnings or even suggestions of restrictions from the Phuket Water Authority. Instead residents are heading to the local media to vent their frustration. On February 6 the PWA foreshadowed odd/even day water restrictions for some residential areas of the island, only to rescind the action the next day saying…
-
Vachira Phuket Hospital sets new after hours fee, other public hospitals to follow
Vachira Phuket Hospital, Phuket’s largest public hospital, will charge non-emergency patients 100 baht for after-hours treatment. The new charge kicks in on May 1. The new 100 baht fee co-incides with a change in policy by the Thai Ministry of Health that has ordered all hospitals in the country to charge fees for non-emergency patients arriving for treatment outside normal…
-
Fake news goes viral about ‘death sentence’ for Phuket airport selfies
International media are going crazy over a completely nonsense story. But, of course, one outlet posts the fake news and the others copy/paste. “Tourists who take selfies on notorious airport beach are threatened with the death penalty by Thai officials,” trumpets the headline in Daily Mail. (‘notorious’???) “Tourists taking beach selfies while planes take-off have angered airport chiefs in Thailand…
-
Woman arrested after stealing 2.3 million baht cash in Phuket
A woman has been arrested yesterday after stealing more than 2 million baht cash from her victim’s house in Phuket. She told her neighbour that she won on a lottery ticket. She also bought a new car. Anusara Kaewsopa filed a report to Chalong Police that a suspect had broken into a house in Soi Songkun, Chalong on April 4.…
-
Massive 11 hotel project, surf club and waterpark for Kata, Phuket
by Bill Barnett, C9Hotelworks.com Thai developer K.W. Plaza group has unveiled plans for a large-scale mixed-use project called The Beach Plaza on 15 rai, that will have 11 three and four star hotels with a total of 1.490 rooms. The developer is already pitching the unconstructed project to global hotel interests for an imminent sale. The properties will have varying room…
-
Skinny ‘Real-life Dumbo’ filmed at Phuket Zoo performing tricks for tourists
PHOTOS: Moving Animals The Phuket Zoo has again been exposed as a below-standard attraction where the inmates appear to be often mistreated, defying modern international standards and conventions for zoos. A skinny looking baby elephant has been filmed as it was forced to dance and perform tricks for tourists in, what the Mail Online describes as, “heart-breaking footage”. It’s not…
-
500 free helmets to be handed out to motorbike drivers before Songkran
FILE PHOTO: Patong Police Patong Development Foundation, along with Patong Police and Patong Municipality, will be handing out 500 helmets to motorbike drivers in Patong before Songkran Day under the campaign ‘Where’s your helmet’. Patong Police Chief Col Anothai Jindamanee says, “Many motorbike drivers have been injured and die in road accident. We want 100 percent of motorbike drivers and…
-
US Navy and Royal Thai Navy conduct maritime enforcement exercises – PHOTOS
The US Navy and Royal Thai Navy are joining annual maritime enforcement exercises ‘Guardian Sea 2019’ up to April 11 in the Andaman Sea around Phang Nga and Phuket. The Royal Thai Navy in Phang Nga and the Third Area Command based at Cape Panwa is responsible for maritime security along the Andaman coast. Joining the five-day maritime enforcement exercises…
-
Water trucks asked not to cross Patong Hill on Songkran day
PHOTOS: Patong Municipality Water truck operators will be asked to stop delivering water by crossing the notorious Patong Hill on April 13 (Songkran Day). The announcement was issued by Patong Traffic Police Chief Lt Col Lert Pokhwang. The statement says, “April 13 will be Songkran Day. There will be many road users on that day which heightens the risk of…
-
Sacred waters begin their journey to Bangkok for Royal Coronation
PHOTOS: Phuket – Kritsada Meuanawong Thailand’s 76 provinces have taken part in a nationwide ceremony to draw sacred water from 108 water sources to be used during the Coronation of HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn on May 4. The ceremony began in all provinces at the same time of 11.52am. The only exception was Bangkok where the same ritual will be held on April 12 at the Haw Sastrakhom, inside…
-
Russian tourist rescued off Patong Beach
PHOTOS: Patong Surf Life Saving A Russian tourist has been rescued after getting into difficulty while swimming at Patong Beach this morning. Patong Surf Life Saving report that around 10.45am at Patong Beach a Russian tourist was spotted in the water, choking and fighting to stay afloat after being hit by a breaking wave. Lifeguards dived in and brought him…
-
Phuket’s Songkran ‘seven days of danger’ safety campaign is on again
Phuket officials are preparing for the annual ‘Seven Days of Danger’ Songkran safety campaign that will this year runs from April 11 to April 17. The official Songkran day (Thai New Year) is on April 13. Phuket Governor Phakkapong Tavipattana says, “Road safety is being emphasised for drivers who are over speed limit, ghost riders, running through a red light,…
-
False Killer Whales sighted of Koh Similans in Phang Nga – VIDEO
VIDEO: Wow Andaman About ten killer whales have been sited off Koh Similans in the Andaman off the Khao Lak coast this week. Thai Rath reports that tour guides from the Wow Andaman Tour were on a speedboat with tourists in the morning at Koh Similans this week. They say they sighted about ten False Killer Whales near the boat. The…
-
Motorcyclist dies after slamming into power pole in Wichit – VIDEO
A male motorcyclist has died instantly after trying to overtake a minivan and colliding with a power pole in Witchit this morning. Wichit Police report that they were notified of the incident in Soi Thep Anusorn, Wichit at 5.45am this morning. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of a man who was later identified as 26 year…
-
Phuket launced GPS and ‘Bus Beam’ for local buses
The Phuket Land Transport Office has launched the Global Positioning System (GPS) and ‘Bus Beam’ application for local Phuket buses; Pink bus (Po Thong) and blue bus (Song Thaew). The Chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office Banyat Kantha says, “The Po Thong Bus is a Phuket symbol which was launched since 1967 (52 year ago). Many tourists still love…
-
Motorbike passenger dies after being crushed by bus in Kathu – VIDEO
A motorbike passenger has died at hospital after being crushed by the rear wheel of a bus in Kathu yesterday. Kathu Police were notified of the incident at Seekor Intersection on Phra Phuket Kaew Road in Kathu at 9.25 am yesterday. Emergency responders arrived to find the damaged motorbike along with the driver, 19 year old Sahassawa Churat. He had…
-
Motorbike driver dies after slamming into parked truck in Phuket
PHOTOS: Kusoldarm Foundation A motorbike driver has died at the scene of the collision in Mai Khao after slamming into the rear of an asphalt truck this morning. The Tha Chatchai Police were notified about the incident on Thepkrasattri Road, northbound in Mai Khao at 7.20am. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of a man who was…
-
Luxury beachfront suites at The Bay & Beach Club
The Bay & Beach Club boasts luxurious beachfront accommodation in the heart of Patong. Situated right on the soft sands of the beach in an area lined with palm trees, the resort is just a few steps away from the clear waters of the Andaman Sea. The Bay & Beach Club offers luxurious accommodation all designed with the finest contemporary…
-
Man drowns in Kathu lagoon, Phuket
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation A man has drowned while fishing in a lagoon in central Phuket yesterday. Kusoldharm rescue workers were notified of the incident at a lagoon in Kathu before noon. Rescue workers arrived to find a body of a man lying on the ground near the lagoon. There were no signs of a struggle on his body. The man was identified…
-
Police raid illegal Chinese call centre in Chalong, Phuket
FILE PHOTO A total of 16 Chinese nationals, 13 men and 3 women, have been arrested in Chalong, over the alleged operation of a call centre scam which targeted Chinese victims. Officers believe that the operation started sometime in the middle of March. The 16 were arrested at a housing estate on Moo 1, Chalong, southern Phuket, yesterday morning. “We were…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.