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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Motorbike mugger nabbed after late-night bag snatch in Phuket
A late-night ride turned into a nightmare for one Phuket woman after a motorbike-riding thief snatched her shoulder bag in a brazen robbery. But thanks to swift police work, the culprit didn’t get far. At around 10.30pm yesterday, April 1, a 41 year old woman from Village No. 5 in Ratsada subdistrict, Mueang district, was riding pillion on a motorbike…
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Two arrested after 100k baht gold bracelet stolen in Wichit heist
Wichit Police have arrested two suspects involved in a daring gold shop robbery that saw a gold bracelet worth over 100,000 baht snatched from the CP Gold Master store. The theft took place just after 3.20pm on Monday, March 31, when the culprit, disguised in women’s clothing, grabbed the valuable piece of jewellery before fleeing the scene on a motorbike.…
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Phuket set for alcohol-free Songkran festival to boost tourism
Phuket will host its annual alcohol-free Songkran festival next Sunday, April 13, featuring traditional activities, cultural performances, live music, and a family-friendly environment. This event celebrates Songkran’s cultural significance while promoting tourism and local business. Phuket Deputy Governor Samawit Suphanphai recently shared details of the 11th annual Songkran No Alcohol Festival Phuket 2025. The festival involves the Phuket Provincial Administrative…
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Blood and sweat: Phuket red cross urges life-saving donations this Songkran
The Phuket Red Cross and the Blood Bank at Vachira Phuket Hospital are urging locals to consider blood donation as a life-saving gesture this April, coinciding with the Songkran holiday. Special blood donation events are being held to meet the demand for Rh-negative blood, predominantly donated by foreigners due to its rarity among Thai donors. The increase in tourism and…
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Holiday horror: Speedboat explosion off Phuket injures tourists
Holidaymakers were left terrified and injured when a speedboat burst into flames and exploded near Koh Mai Thon off the coast of Phuket this morning, April 1, turning a tropical escape into a scene of chaos and panic. The explosion injured six people, including three foreign tourists, a tour guide, and two crew members, one of them the boat’s captain.…
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Israeli man arrested at Phuket Airport for alleged rape on Koh Samui
Police arrested an Israeli man at Phuket International Airport for allegedly committing rape on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from the Surat Thani Provincial Immigration Bureau sought the cooperation of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Bureau to apprehend the Israeli suspect, a 37 year old man named David. He was accused of raping a…
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Russian man’s body severed in Phuket motorcycle crash
A Russian man died after crashing his motorcycle into an electricity pole on a road in Phuket in the early hours of this morning. His body was tragically cut in half due to the severe impact of the accident. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station investigated the fatal accident on Chaloem Phrakiat Rama 9 Road, also known as Bypass Road,…
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Phuket forum seeks input on draft national policy map
The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning hosted a public forum in Phuket to gather feedback on the draft national policy map. The event engaged over 600 stakeholders from various sectors across southern Thailand. Held at The Pago Design Hotel in Ratsada, participants included government officials, representatives from local administrative organisations, NGOs, private sector leaders, experts, and…
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Phuket stunner snatches Miss Grand Thailand 2025 crown
It was a night of glitz, glamour, and grand victories as Phuket’s own Saranrat “Gotchabell” Pueakpipat dazzled her way to the Miss Grand Thailand 2025 crown. The 7pm showdown on March 29 saw the stunning beauty queen claim the title, marking Phuket’s third win and its first-ever back-to-back victory in the pageant’s history. Saranrat’s poise, elegance, and flawless performance in…
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Quake rumbles Thailand but Phuket stands firm
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat reassured residents and tourists that the island remains untouched by the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked Myanmar and sent tremors through Bangkok. The quake, which struck Mandalay on Friday, March 28, was felt across northern Thailand, but Governor Sophon confirmed that Phuket, nearly 2,000 kilometres away, has seen no impact on its infrastructure or tourism industry.…
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Phuket boosts motorbike safety with 4 million baht funding
Phuket officials have secured over 4 million baht from the road safety fund to bolster accident prevention measures, with an emphasis on motorbike safety. This funding was confirmed during a meeting held at the Phuket Land Transport Office on March 25 to discuss road safety strategies for the 2025 fiscal year. The meeting was presided over by Adcha Buachan, the…
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PM cuts Phuket meeting to respond to Bangkok earthquake
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was forced to cut short a crucial meeting with Phuket officials yesterday after receiving urgent news of the devastating earthquake that struck Bangkok. At 12.30pm, March 28, the 38 year old Thai premier was in the middle of a high-level meeting in Phuket, reviewing the island’s development plans and tourism policies, when she received an emergency…
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Phuket splashes 4 million baht on motorcycle safety blitz
Phuket is gearing up for a major road safety push after receiving more than 4 million baht in funding to combat its deadly traffic problem, with motorcycles firmly in the crosshairs. On March 26, Transport Officer Atcha Buachan chaired a high-level meeting at the Phuket Provincial Transport Office to outline the province’s road safety strategy for the fiscal year 2025.…
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Phuket crackdown: Officials fish for illegal workers, net nothing
In a rigorous two-day operation, Phuket officials targeted communities and camps housing Myanmar workers, aiming to clamp down on illegal immigration and unlawful activities. Despite the intense scrutiny, not a single infraction was found. Phuket officials, including immigration personnel, focused their efforts on a community in front of the bustling Phuket Fishing Pier on Sri Suthat Road. Situated opposite the…
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Phuket goes high-tech with new heart care innovations
Phuket is stepping up as a global medical hub, this time with a focus on matters of the heart. On Tuesday, March 25, Bangkok Hospital Phuket officially launched a suite of high-tech innovations aimed at transforming cardiac care in Thailand, positioning itself as a leader in the advanced diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. The launch event, held at the…
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Fiery inferno: Phuket car audio shop blaze torches vehicles
A car audio shop went up in flames in Phuket this morning, sending thick smoke billowing into the air and reducing several vehicles to charred wrecks in a fiery inferno that brought Thepkrasattri Road to a standstill. The blaze broke out at Sound Technics Sapam, located opposite the Krungsri Bank branch in Ratsada, just after 8.20am today, March 27. Firefighters battled…
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PM Paetongtarn heads to Phuket to boost sustainable tourism
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is bringing her soft power message to the golden sands of Phuket in a bold bid to reshape the future of Thai tourism. The 38 year old Thai premier is set to jet off to the southern island tomorrow, March 28, as part of her push to position Thailand as a global leader in sustainable travel.…
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Police slam brakes on teen biker gang in Chalong crackdown
A gang of 11 teenagers were arrested early yesterday morning for causing a disturbance and loitering in Chalong, with six motorcycles seized during the operation. The arrests were made yesterday, March 26, under the supervision of Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, after officers were alerted to a gathering of youths causing a nuisance near Soi Chao…
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Russian man’s Phuket cannabis empire goes up in smoke
Police in Phuket yesterday arrested a Russian man for illegally distributing dried cannabis flowers and vapes, seizing illegal items worth nearly 1 million baht from his accommodation. Local police officers, in collaboration with administrative officials, launched a crackdown on the illegal sale and use of cannabis and e-cigarettes in Phuket between 21 and 30 March. The arrest of the 24…
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Frenchman wanted for fatal prison break arrested in Phuket
Phuket police officers yesterday arrested a Frenchman wanted for aiding a prisoner’s escape and killing prison guards in France last year. The BBC reported last year that the French prisoner, 30 year old Mohamed Amra, also known as “The Fly,” managed to escape from custody while being transported back to prison after attending a court hearing. Amra had been arrested on…
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Man shoots thief in Phuket shrimp pond, police investigate
A shocking incident unfolded in Phuket late yesterday when a man opened fire on a suspected thief who had broken into his shrimp pond. The suspect, later identified as 28 year old Thana Phanthip, was shot in the ankle after allegedly attempting to steal from the property. Police Lieutenant Colonel Niwat Timket of Thalang Police Station received a call at 11.30pm,…
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Patong police crackdown on drink driving nets multiple arrests
A late-night operation in Patong saw local traffic police set up a checkpoint at Laem Phet Monastery, where they tested drivers for alcohol consumption. The checkpoint, which ran from 12.30am to 2.30am today, March 26, revealed a disturbing number of intoxicated drivers on the road, said Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, Superintendent of Patong Police Station. “The results of the checkpoint…
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Phuket’s ‘Pineapple Eyes’ boosts community security efforts
Phuket is stepping up its security game with a new initiative aimed at strengthening community surveillance against modern threats. The Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 3 branch held a special training session on March 25 to empower residents, airport security staff, and civilian officers to detect and respond to potential risks. The initiative, Community Pineapple Eyes, aims to create…
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Missing Thai man found dead on Phuket mountain
Officials and rescuers yesterday found the dead body of a Thai man who had gone missing on Ket Nee Mountain in Phuket on Sunday, March 23. The missing man’s wife, 56 year old Tararat Payu, sought help from police officers and rescuers after she and her husband, 61 year old Surin Yadee, became separated while walking down Ket Nee Mountain…
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Argentine man found dead, hanging from Phuket hotel balcony
A foreign man was found dead, hanging naked from a balcony in a chilling discovery that has rocked a hotel in Phuket. The 77 year old Argentine man was found naked, with no trousers, and appeared to have taken his own life. The eerie circumstances of the case have left investigators puzzled, especially after CCTV footage revealed no one else was…
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5 Ugandan women arrested in Phuket prostitution bust, deported
Phuket’s tourism industry has been rocked by a scandal involving five foreign women from Uganda, arrested for offering sex services in the heart of the island’s entertainment district. The women, caught engaging in illegal activities in Patong, were swiftly arrested and deported after a thorough investigation by Phuket Immigration officers. On March 23, officers from Phuket Immigration, led by Police…
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Phuket Bar Association denies covering up lawyer’s abuse scandal (video)
The Phuket Provincial Bar Association hit back at accusations that it failed to take action against a local lawyer accused of abusing his former girlfriend, borrowing 1.2 million baht from her, and threatening her when she demanded repayment. The case, which garnered national attention after the victim appeared on the TV programme Hon Krasae to expose the lawyer’s actions, sparked public…
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Thai man phones wife before going missing on Phuket mountain
A Thai man went missing on a mountain in Phuket on Sunday afternoon after calling his wife and saying, “I’m so tired, I feel like I’m going to faint.” The man’s wife, 56 year old Tararat Payu, sought help from Choeng Thale Police Station officers and rescuers after her 61 year old husband, Surin Yadee, went missing on Sunday, March…
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Fake cash chaos: Phuket cops probe tourists over dodgy dollars
Phuket police are on high alert after two foreign women allegedly tried to exchange fake US dollars at a local currency exchange. Officers were called to the exchange near a major Cape Panwa hotel on Saturday, March 22, after staff became suspicious of six US$50 bills. The women, whose nationalities remain undisclosed, handed over the notes in exchange for 9,750…
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Four arrested with AK-47s bound for Phuket
Phang Nga police apprehended four people with AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition in their possession at a checkpoint on Phang Nga-Thap Put Road on Saturday, March 22. The group claimed they were transporting the firearms to Phuket. The arrests took place at the Wang Mo Kaeng checkpoint in Mueang Phang Nga district, led by officers under Police Captain Boonserm Phengkliang,…
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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