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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Phuket’s new vice governors announced
PHUKET: The Interior Ministry yesterday announced Phuket’s three new vice governors, who will be taking their posts on October 1. The vice governors were named as: Prajiad Aksornthammakul, Phuket Provincial Office chief; Chokdee Amornwat, Department of Local Administration inspector in Bangkok; and Kajornkiet Rakpanitmanee, Provincial Office chief, Suphan Buri. Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak will be retiring this year, while Vice…
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Python enjoys breakfast at Governor’s Residence
PHUKET: A massive python was caught gobbling up a chicken in the hen house at Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong’s Residence this morning. “Inside the chicken coop we found the engorged snake. It was barely able to move after having eaten the whole chicken,” said Nantapong Klaithin, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. Governor Nisit was not at home during the commotion,…
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New route set to reduce Bang Khu traffic jams
PHUKET: In an effort to reduce traffic congestion at the Bang Khu underpass construction site (where the bypass road intersects with Thepkrasattri Rd, at Toyota Pearl), officials are testing a new route that requires switching off traffic lights at the normally busy intersection. Starting on October 1, motorists heading from town to Koh Kaew will have to turn left and…
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Scotsman found dead in Patong rental room
PHUKET: A Scottish tourist was found hanging from a wire inside the closet of his rental room in Patong this morning. The body of 45-year-old Michael William Smith, born in Edinburgh, was discovered by an employee of the residence and a friend, confirmed Lt Col Jongserm Preecha of the Patong Police. “His friend, who lives next door, came to ask…
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Try your best at Laguna Tri-Fest
PHUKET: This year’s Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest (CLPTF) will once again see world champions compete for a slice of the race’s 25,000-euro prize purse. Following the success of its inaugural event in 2013 and the second edition last year, the iconic multi-sport, week-long event is set to take place again, with the 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 22…
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Filipino fugitives to be deported
PHUKET: Two of the Philippines’ most wanted’ fugitives were handed over to Phuket Immigration last night for deportation, Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduang confirmed today. Joel Reyes, former governor of Palawan, and his brother, Mario JR Reyes, former mayor of Coron, were arrested in Phuket on Sunday. The pair are wanted for the 2011 murder of environmental activist Gerry Ortega (story…
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Navy tables limits for island tourism
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy tabled the idea of limiting the number of tourists to islands in the Andaman region, including Phi Phi Don, in order to promote environmental sustainability. “We are concerned that not enough is being done to preserve our nation’s environment, which is essential to the tourism industry,” said Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy…
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Male nanny off the hook for alleged baby rape
PHUKET: The results of an autopsy confirmed that there were no signs that a baby boy who died in April had been raped by a male nanny, as had been alleged. Somsak Yakob, 38, was alleged to have raped and killed a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town. He had called and told the child’s mother that her son had fallen…
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Thailand adopts new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa
PHUKET: In a move to boost tourism and drive the economy, Thailand has officially announced that it will start offering six-month multiple-entry tourist visas (METV) starting November 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website notes that the visas will cost 5,000 baht and will grant travellers multiple entries during a six-month stay, for up to 60 days per entry.…
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Ammonia leak scares Rawai locals
PHUKET: After a string of complaints, municipality officials found that a water plant in Rawai had been leaking ammonia into the main canal on Sunday. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos received complaints from locals on Saturday, claiming that they suffered itchy eyes and sore noses after a strong ammonia smell was allegedly coming from The Crystal Drinking Water plant. “By the…
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Owner yet to come forward in Thalang bovicide
PHUKET: A woman escaped serious injury after her car collided with a cow in Thalang this morning. Thanyaluck Plongnirat, 26, was heading to the airport at about 5am when the accident occurred, Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “I was on my way to catch a flight when I saw a shadow try to pass…
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Andara’s new project bags 4 awards
PHUKET: Further entrenching the Andara brand on the island is the sweeping of four awards for the developer’s latest entry in Kamala, Andara Signature Resorts and Villas, at the Thailand Property Awards 2015 last week. Building up on the huge success of the 26 Andara Villas and 37 Andara Residences, the new phase was named Best Villa Development (Phuket); Best…
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Local cycling team takes top honors
PHUKET: The Phuket-based cycling group Team Fourteen won the 40 kilometer Team Time Trial held in Surat Thani on Sunday. Daniel Amby, Greg Dick, Sunny Teerasak and Jonathan Fowler completed the out-and-back flat course in a time of 54:40 with an average speed of 44.23km/h. A total of 29 teams from throughout Thailand competed in the event, which was sponsored…
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Officials reveal plans for Surin beachfront makeover
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran has revealed his dream project for Surin’s beachfront after the current land encroachment cases have been settled. “Originally I planned to have a public park, activity space and a walkway, as well as a stadium,” Mr Ma-ann said. “The plan was submitted to the governor several months ago with an estimated…
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Philippines’ ‘most wanted’ arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Former Palawan Governor Joel T Reyes and his brother Mario Reyes were arrested in Phuket on Sunday, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer police source. The source, an official of Task Force Usig, the tracker group assigned to catch big-name fugitives from the Philippines, said that the Reyes brothers had long been wanted for the slaying of Palawan environmentalist…
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Video Report: Phuket guides demand action
PHUKET: About one hundred tour guides descended upon Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong today, demanding that they be allowed to partake in the investigation into illegal tour guides and that the governor evaluate the performance of the current director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office. “We are following up on promises made last year about foreign tour…
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A Decade Ago: Water woes, camel toes
PHUKET: Water woes – how many times has the Gazette used that headline in the last ten years? Well, it soaked through page one again as Phuket’s sole public reservoir in 2005 was ‘down to [its] last few drops’. Not too long ago, when those of us currently on the island were knee deep in flood waters, we found out…
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New 3D smartphone app aims to help tourists – but not in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s Tourist Police launched a new smartphone application last week in hopes of improving service and convenience for tourists – but not for those on the tourist island of Phuket. The augmented reality application, ‘Thailand Tourist Trips and Tips AR Book’, enables tourists to use their smartphones to learn about the basics of Thai culture; to get tips on…
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Chinese tourists saved from sinking boat
PHUKET: More than a dozen Chinese tourists and a speedboat crew were safely rescued after their boat sank near Koh Kai this weekend. The 16 tourists were on their way to Phi Phi from Phuket when their speedboat, Papangkorn, struck an unknown object causing the boat to take on water, Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Phuket air pollution warning lifted
PHUKET: Officials have lifted an air quality health warning for the island after the haze caused by Indonesian wildfires decreased yesterday. “Air pollution levels dropped to an average of 94 micrograms per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. On Saturday, air pollution on the island maintained levels…
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The killing cove: ‘Cove monitoring’ in Taiji
PHUKET: On September 11 this year at about 9.35am, Japan time, a young Risso’s dolphin under severe shock and distress tried to escape the hunters by swimming under the enclosing net, only to find itself nearer to the shore instead of out at sea. Swimming straight to where Ric O’Barry stood documenting this horrifying turn of events, the Risso’s pushed…
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Illegal Phuket gun dealing conducted in closed Facebook groups
PHUKET: Closed groups on social media platforms are facilitating a boom in illegal factory built and homemade firearms, confirmed the head of the Phuket City Police this week. “A decade ago, people would need the know-how or a special connection to get their hands on a firearm. But now, with Google and YouTube, as well as social media, such as…
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Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Big budget to fix Patong’s floods
PHUKET: A 420-million-baht budget has been approved by the Public Works Department to help alleviate flooding in Patong. “Four flood-protection methods will be put into place from 2016 through 2018,” Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub told the Phuket Gazette. The department is now working with municipality officials on surveying, planning and designing the new systems that include a retaining wall, man-made…
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Movie museum to break ground in November
PHUKET: The island’s first-ever “movie museum” is expected to break ground in November, according to local officials. “The Department of Tourism will be leading the project,” Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette today. “The contract has been signed and the work is expected to start in November and be completed…
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Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Video Report: Shores awash with injured sea turtles
PHUKET: Four olive ridley sea turtles were found injured on Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches within a 48 hour period this week. All four turtles were in very weak condition, confirmed Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “Three of the turtles had severed flippers,” Ms Patcharaporn said. Experts believe that the turtles were caught in fishing nets…
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Phuket lifeguards recover missing teen’s body
PHUKET: Lifeguards have recovered the body of a missing teen off Kata Beach yesterday evening. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laem Fa‘ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea Wednesday afternoon (story here). “His body was brought to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where relatives identified him,” confirmed…
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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