Phuket News
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Krabi palm oil plant given warnings after releasing waste water
A privately owned palm oil mill in Krabi is being told to close its doors by the Krabi Office of Industry after releasing waste water into a natural canal twice in a month. On January 22, Benyathip Tanti-Ariyasap, and her team from the Krabi Office of Industry, visited the palm oil mill belonging to the Lap Pakdee Palm Company Limited,…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 23
3 killed and many more injured in latest Yala bombing | Another bus with Chinese tourists ends up in a road ditch in Chiang Mai | Later on the Israeli mob hit on Samui | Central Pattana introduce cashless technology at 4,000 stores | Bullets flying in Hat Yai yesterday | Exports up 9.9% over past 12 months.
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 22
Israeli hit squad kills one in Koh Samui | ‘Taxi OK’ App and reforms launched this Thursday | Spot checks at Chalong Pier reveal shortcomings on some boats | Couple arrested at Don Mueang after alleged murder in Pichit | Total of four arrested over Phuket Airport baggage thefts.
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Driver runs away after flipping Mercedes at Samkong
What do you do when you flip your Mercedes E350 at 2am in the morning at the Samkong Underpass? You run away it seems. The driver flipped the car heading southbound into the Samkong Underpass. Some other drivers on the road at the time witnessed the crash and tried to use their own car extinguishers to control the blaze. By…
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UPDATE: One more airport worker arrested for stealing passengers’ valuables
After three Phuket airport staff were arrested for stealing passengers’ valuables on Saturday, police extended their investigation and arrested another staff member, 28 year old Kwanchai Butchai, from Sisaket province. The three men that were arrested earlier include 30 year old Manote Nakpojit and 29 year old Nirut Saksri who admitted the thefts, while another one, 23 year old Chakrit…
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Phuket and Krabi province officials meet for marine safety meeting
Authorities from Phuket and Krabi provinces have met to discuss marine safety, boat management and the tourism situation on Koh Phi Phi. About 33 authorities plus media from Phuket led by Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, left from Ao Po Pier on Saturday heading to Phi Phi to meet with Krabi authorities led by Krabi Governor, Second Lieutenant Apinan Puakpong and…
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12 infringements during random safety check at Chalong Pier
The Tourist Police, Marine Police and Phuket Marine Office headed to Chalong Pier yesterday (January 20) to conduct random inspections and found 12 boat operators in error over various safety issues. Two people held expired licenses, another one didn’t bring his license onboard and another 6 operators were not running boats in accordance with the conditions specified in their license.…
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Baggage handlers arrested over thefts at Phuket airport
Police arrested two worker at the Phuket International Airport and their alleged accomplice over the theft of passengers’ belongings, said Sakhu Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Jirasak Siamsak on Sunday. 29 year old Nirut Saksri and 30 year old Manock Nakphojit, plus alleged accomplice 23 year old Chakrit Chanprasert, were arrested and some 100 stolen items recovered, including computer notebooks,…
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Buggy crash at Ao Po Pier
A buggy with passengers crashed into Ao Po Long-tail Boat Club yesterday (January 19) resulting into 10 people being injured. All the injured are Chinese tourists who have already been sent to Thalang Hospital. The driver, 39 year old Pongthep Lawan, said that after he picked up his passengers from the boat returning from Naka Yai Island, the buggy stopped…
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Three foreigners, one Thai arrested for drug possession in Kamala
Kamala police arrested 27 year old Viktor Dvinsky from Russia and 22 year old Berezina Vladystava with 14.44 grams of cocaine, 2 amphetamine pills, 17.66 grams of marijuana. Police also seized an iPhone and $2,400 and 11,000 Baht in cash. They were charged for possession and trading of illicit drugs. After the two were arrested, police extended the investigation and…
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Machete road rage in Phuket
The video of a pickup driver pulling out a machete to threaten another driver after being ‘tooted’ has gone viral. The man has since been arrested. He is being investigated by Muang Phuket police, along with the evidence, his 77cm-long machete. The 2 minute video shows the bronze pick-up truck that was driving in the middle lane cutting in front…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 19
Chinese swimmer drowns off Karon Beach | Police raid of BKK pub over late 4am closing time | Prawit promises free airing of World Cup games in Thailand | Workers get a new minimum wage | Enormous drug/assets haul from 59 locations. Plus the weekend’s forecast.
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UPDATE: Blaze near Surakul Stadium damages local shops
The fire started in the electric cabling curled up on the electric pole in front of a motorcycle garage and damaged the shop, including many motorbikes. The total loss, according to police attending the scene, following discussions with the proprietors, is at least 300,000 Baht. (We counted more than 20 motorcycles and parts in the shops so the estimate appears…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 18
Fire destroys two motorbike shops near Surakul Stadium | Two Russians robbed of their Bitcoin in condo raid | Governor urges better supervision of boat safety by marine office | DSI dismiss their raid on Bangkok brothel is politically motivated | Thailand’s sex trade valued at over 200 billion baht | Krabi council calls for limit on numbers at Maya…
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Thomas Cook Airlines flight attendant dies in Phuket hotel room
PHOTO: The deceased was working as a flight attendant for Thomas Cook Airlines and was on a layover in Phuket Saku police received a report yesterday (January 17) that an airline staff member from Thomas Cook, a 28 year old Finnish woman, died in her hotel room. At the scene, police found her body wearing only a black bra without any trace…
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Fire destroys two motorbike shops near the Darasamuth intersection
There’s been a fire, on the opposite side of the road between the Darasamuth School at the Central Festival underpass (Darasamuth Intersection) and Surakul Stadium, around 9am this morning. Two adjacent motorbike shops caught fire – there was an electrical work truck working on the electrical pole in front of the shops at the time. Emergency responders attended the scene…
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Russian gang drain a couple’s Bitcoin account in a Phuket condo
A Russian couple have spoken to Thai police claiming that fellow-Russians, posing as Interpol, had entered their condominium and forced them to give passwords before stealing nearly 4 million baht in Bitcoin. 23 year old Maxsim Latsoka and 28 year old Anna Nikurina were returning home on Monday night. When they entered their fourth floor condo in Muang district they…
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“Careless captain may be the cause of boat explosion,” Krabi Police
The Krabi Governor held a meeting yesterday to discuss about marine safety with the boat companies and tourism companies in the wake of Sunday’s boat explosion off Koh Phi Phi Ley. The meeting agreed on measures to cover pre-incident, during the incident and post-incident, to improve the rescue efficiency and to encourage trust among tourists. An information ‘central HQ’ that…
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Krabi officials to limit the number of tourists to Maya Bay
Following thousands of tourists pouring into Maya Bay during the tourism high season and over-crowding the beach on a daily basis, the President of Krabi Industry Council, Aekawit Pinyothammanotai, said today (January 17) that the number of tourists will have to be controlled. “The number of tourists traveling to Krabi beaches keeps increasing while the resources remain the same; this…
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UPDATE: Boat collision off at entrance to Royal Phuket Marina channel
From yesterday… Two boats have crashed at the entrance to the Royal Phuket Marina in the channel. Boats named ‘Pimracha’ and ‘Sattakamol’ collided just off the coast resulting in six injuries including one Thai man and 5 Italian tourists. The accident happened at the entrance to the channel leading to the Royal Phuket Marina at 4:30pm. Two of the tourists…
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Bottlenose dolphin at Phuket dolphin show gives birth to ‘Nattya’
The General Manager of the Phuket dolphin show has revealed that the dolphin named Alice has given birth to her first baby bottlenose dolphin (calf) after about 10 months of pregnancy, on January 13. “Our team is very excited to see this very smart mammal give birth to a baby in our place. The baby is very healthy and playful…
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Three nabbed over fake goods and items seized in Karon
An undocumented migrant from Myanmar and two others from Cambodia have been arrested in Karon for selling pirated goods. The arrests, in a bid to suppress copyright violations, were made by a joint operation of Interior Ministry officials, troops and naval officers led by Muang Phuket assistant district chief Danai Jaikheng yesterday (Tuesday). The three were arrested at a roadside…
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Mercedes driver knocks out hotel security guard in Patong
A bar owner in Patong, 37 year old Chana Thammawichai, the owner of the Mercedes in the video on social media, punched a hotel security guard, 27 year old Jetsada Thong-Iad, just because the guard didn’t open the barrier for him. Khun Chana has been arrested. The 4 minute footage of the attack shows that the man driving his convertible…
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Member of a Phuket gang arrested after attempted murder
Police have arrested 18 year old Pisut ‘Jojo’ Pohthong with a gun that he possesses illegally (a hand-made ‘Pradit’) and seven .38 bullets, in a house on Srisutat Road in Rassada. This arrest follows an incident that happened on January 1 when Jojo’s gang opened fire on the rival gang at the Queen Sirikit’s 72nd Anniversary Chalerm Prakiat Park (Dragon…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 16
The investigation starts into Sunday’s boat explosion | NACC asks posters to ‘go steady’ on Prawit’s watches | Armoured vehicle kills one, injures three in Pattani | American & Russian nabbed selling drugs on Koh Phangan | ‘Poshtels’ are the latest accommodation trend.
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Boat debris discovered and tagged off Viking Cave, Koh Phi Phi
King Poseidon 959 debris found in front of Viking Cave A team of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park officers, Krabi Marine officers, Forensic Police and divers explored the debris of King Poseidon yesterday (January 15), which washed up on a reef in front of the Viking Cave tourist attraction. The debris was about 200 metres…
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UPDATE: Two passengers and the captain of King Poseidon remain in ICU
The Deputy Director of Krabi Nakarin International Hospital, Doctor Sunthorn Fongfung, revealed today (January 15) that the two patients remaining at the hospital’s ICU including Xu Xin and Wu Zhi An are still under close care from the medical team and will have to remain in the hospital for at least 20 days as 50% of their bodies are burnt…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 15
Chinese tourists recovering after boat explosion near Phi Phi | Ban for hydrogen-filled balloons | Human trafficking investigation at Victoria Secret massage parlour in BKK | Jail-break at remand centre in Songkhla | Jealous husband murders wife | Monkey cheeks being installed near Saphan Hin to help with floods
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Boat fire off Koh Phi Phi – Chinese tourists injured
A speedboat named ‘King Poseidon’ carrying 31 passengers exploded this morning (January 14) in front of Viking Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley. Injuries have been reported from the accident. https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1580631392014683/ There were 26 Chinese (23 adults and 3 children) plus 5 Thais who are the crew staff. There are five reported to be severely injured at this stage with…
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From ping-pongs to the real-deal. The evolution of sex-shows in Bangla Road.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains material that may offend some readers. Thailand, despite it’s many natural wonders, superb street cuisine, vibrant culture and (mostly) warm weather, still has a reputation well-earned. Let’s call it the three Ps – Patpong, Pattaya and Patong. Whereas, say ten years ago, you could visit a few go go bars, see an occasional ping pong…
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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