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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Dubai student drowns north of Phuket near Phang Nga waterfall
PHUKET: A student from Dubai drowned near a Phang Nga waterfall, north of Phuket, on Valentine’s Day after having left his friends to explore the area.Muhammad Ali, 20, had separated from his friends to “walk around and take photos” in the Ton Pariwat Wildlife Conservation Area after a morning of rafting at Kong Songprak, said the conservation area chief Uthen…
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Swiss man dies allegedly avoiding police checkpoint
PHUKET: A Swiss visitor allegedly trying to avoid a police checkpoint in Chalong died early this morning after his car hit a shelter in Rawai, on Phuket’s south coast, flipped and landed in the sea below.The 46-year-old was driving with a female companion when he hit the shelter at the sea gypsy village in Rawai.“We got the report at about…
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Toilets run dry in Rassada despite well endowed reservoirs
PHUKET: Despite the assurance that water supplies were going to keep taps in Phuket wet (see here), the Phuket Gazette received a report on February 14 that a resident of Baan Rockgarden 5 in Rassada had been without water for three days. The Gazette relayed the information to Mr Pisak and learned that a water pipe had broken, preventing water…
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No shortage of water in Phuket this dry season, officials say
PHUKET: Phuket has enough water on hand to supply the whole province this dry season, said Pisak Chonlayut, Manager of the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority on February 13. At a meeting to discuss Phuket water supplies chaired by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Mr Pisak said that 48.5 millions cubic meters of water are currently in reservoirs in Phuket province, with…
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German tourist on life support after fall from Patong hotel balcony
PHUKET: A German tourist tumbled from a balcony in Patong early this morning and is on life support at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Patong Police received a report at 2:45am that the 35-year-old German had fallen from the 3rd floor balcony of his room at the Kalim Resort. “At the scene we found the man, dressed in a striped shirt and…
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Phuket: Drug store to the world
PHUKET: The recent fining of a pharmacy owner in Chalong Police District (story here) for the illegal sale of prescription drugs is just the tip of an iceberg that needs to be urgently addressed by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and law enforcement agencies in Phuket. The year 2012 was the first ever that death by overdose of prescription…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: FA Cup
United to make changes for Reading FA Cup clash Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Manchester United will ring the changes for their FA Cup fifth-round clash with Reading on Monday (Tuesday morning Phuket time), but manager Alex Ferguson still expects his new-look side to get through against the Premier League strugglers. United came through their midweek Champions League last-16 1-1…
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Image of Chinese Goddess of Mercy moved for Old Town Phuket Festival
PHUKET: An image of the revered Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, and a jade stamp from China made their annual journey from Pud Jor Shrine to Queen Sirikit Park today as the Old Town Festival commences (see story). The white jade stamp is a replica of a 1,000-year-old stamp in a shrine in Suining, China, and was presented to…
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Three beached dolphins treated and released in Phang Nga
PHUKET: The three Spotted dolphins that beached themselves on February 7 in Khao Lak have not returned to land after being treated and released back into the sea, Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “I think they are safe since they have not come back to us,” said Dr Patcharaporn.…
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Six busted with 1.5 million in drugs in Phang Nga, north of Phuket
PHUKET: Police busted a drug ring yesterday, netting drugs with a street value of about 1.5 million baht when they arrested six drug dealers with ya bah (methamphetamine), ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and cough syrup in Phang Nga, north of Phuket. Acting on a tip-off, police went to the home of Chaiyuth Prasanphan, 35, and his brother Somchai Prasanphan, 40,…
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Motorbike with sidecar backslides down hill and flips, killing one
PHUKET: A motorbike with a sidecar carrying six Burmese workers slid down a hill and flipped over in the Blue Canyon Country Club in northern Phuket yesterday, killing one and seriously injuring two. Police received the report of the accident at 6:50 pm and rushed to the scene with Kusoldharm foundation rescue workers. “One of the passengers, Mr Muang, told…
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Myanmar Navy coming to Phuket in historic diplomatic visit
PHUKET: Two warships from the Myanmar Navy are due to arrive in Phuket on February 20 in the navy’s historic first-diplomatic visit to a foreign country. The Myanmar Navy, which currently operates more than 122 vessels, will arrive in Phuket to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations with Thailand, and offers the chance for joint military discussions, Lieutenant Commander Chaloemsak…
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Brake failure on fleeing bus causes second accident
PHUKET: A tour bus fleeing the scene of an accident suffered brake failure and crashed into a utility pole on Patong Hill yesterday, causing a three-hour traffic jam. Patong Police received the accident report at 4pm and arrived at the scene to find that the bus driver had fled. “A bus with a Pegas Touristik company logo heading from Phuket…
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Government stages lottery draw in Phuket to fight rumors of rigging
PHUKET: To dispel rumors of the national lottery being rigged, the Government Lottery Office (GLO) will be staging one of its lucky draw mobile events in Phuket at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket Town (map here) on March 1. “The rumor was started by a scam letter which guaranteed that the numbers people chose would be drawn, for a fee,”…
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DSI Chief launches investigation into Russian-owned businesses in Phuket
PHUKET: Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) launched their own inquiry yesterday into Cherng Talay locals’ complaints that foreigners were stealing their jobs. The visit comes in the immediate wake of the Phuket Employment Office’s crackdown on illegal foreign businesses currently underway (story here). Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3,…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Paralympic Pistorius shoots girlfriend dead – South Africa media
Paralympic star Pistorius shoots girlfriend – South Africa media Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: South African paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is being questioned by South African police for shooting dead his girlfriend at his home in Pretoria, domestic media said today. Johannesburg’s Talk Radio 702 said Pistorius was understood to have shot his girlfriend in the head and arm, although…
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Travel-weary Phuket United downed by Lampang in away match
PHUKET: Goals in each half secured a 2-0 victory for Lampang United last night against a travel-weary Phuket United in Lampang city, just south of Chiang Mai. Lampang’s Natee Ji-pon scored half way through the first half, while Naritcha Saengthong solidified his side’s victory with a goal late in the second half. As a result, Phuket dropped down to 10th…
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Russian motorcyclist hit by runaway wheel dies in ICU
PHUKET: The Russian motorcyclist who was hit by a runaway wheel on Thepkrasattri Road on February 6 has died (story here). Alexey Balabko, 26, had been in the ICU at Bangkok Phuket Hospital since February 7. “He was taken off life support on February 12 because he was not responding to stimuli,” a hospital representative told the Phuket Gazette. Mr…
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Phuket Gazette World Sports: Ronaldo rescues draw for Real against gritty United
Ronaldo rescues draw for Real against gritty United Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Cristiano Ronaldo rescued Real Madrid with a brilliant header against former club Manchester United to salvage a 1-1 draw in last night’s heavyweight Champions League last 16 first leg showdown at the Bernabeu. Real gave the Premier League side a torrid time in the early stages but United…
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Murder trial starts for Dokset
PHUKET: Stein Havard Dokset, the retired car dealer from Norway who confessed to accidentally killing his girlfriend and keeping her decomposing body in a trash bin in his house, was in court on Tuesday as his murder trial began (story here).Mr Dokset, 51, could face the death penalty under section 288 of Thai law, which stipulates 15 to 20 years…
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Phuket takes precautionary measures after terrorist threats to US consulate in Chiang Mai
PHUKET: Phuket’s top cop has increased security measures across the island in the wake of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung’s warning of possible Al-Qaeda and Salafist terrorists attacks on the United States consulate in Chiang Mai this month (story here). “Although the information gathered pointed to terrorist plans to target the United States consulate in Chiang Mai, we will not…
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Educational jellyfish signs erected on Phuket’s popular beaches
PHUKET: A collaborative effort between the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office has seen educational signs about jellyfish springing up on beaches across Phuket. “The signs are set up on popular beaches, not because there are many jellyfish in those areas, but because they have so many visitors,” Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Director…
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Phuket Gazette World Sports: Celtic “hell”; Too much English; IOC moves surprises wrestling and Pakistan
Conte amazed to leave Celtic “hell” with handsome win Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Juventus coach Antonio Conte has suffered much in recent months but coming away from the “hell” of a noisy and fervent Celtic Park with a 3-0 win in their Champions League last 16 first leg felt like an enormous relief. The Italian champions, who again lead…
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Phuket migrant with hangover misses first day of work, drowns in abandoned tin mine
PHUKET: A man from Mukdahan province who had just found work in Phuket drowned in an abandoned tin mine in Chalong yesterday. Police received a report around noon that Kamdee Kammoon, 35, had gone missing after entering the water-filled old tin mine on Soi Na Yai in Chalong. “When we arrived we saw his jeans by the side of the…
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Phuket Pharmacy fined for illegally selling prescription drugs
PHUKET: A pharmacy in Chalong faced a lot of brass yesterday as Phuket Vice Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak, Damrongtham Center (Ombudsman’s Office) chief Prapan Kanprasang, Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol and Phuket Public Health officers followed up on allegations that the store was illegally selling prescription drugs without a pharmacist on duty. “A local resident told our staff that the pharmacy was…
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Phuket prisoners don berets for scout training
PHUKET: A group of 60 male and female prisoners at Phuket Provincial Prison donned their green berets and picked up their red sticks (mai ngam) for the opening ceremony of a scout training course yesterday. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut chaired the opening ceremony of the first guide course running from February 11 to February 14. “It is part of the…
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Ireland’s Healy cited; Nadal wants time; Mancini and Lotus under pressure
Ireland’s Healy cited for stamp on England’s Cole Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ireland prop Cian Healy has been cited for stamping on England’s Dan Cole during a maul in the first half of their 12-6 Six Nations championship loss in Dublin on Sunday, tournament organizers said yesterday. Healy contravened Law 10.4 (b), which states that a player “must not…
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Phuket’s Wat Chalong Fair 2013 in full swing
PHUKET: The Wat Chalong Fair 2013, a 7-day extravaganza of performances, food, games and shopping, is now in full swing (map here). Each night starting at 7pm, fair-goers can enjoy performances by Thai country music (luk-thung) stars and traditional Southern Thai Nang Talung shadow puppeteers. The crowd of thousands on opening night enjoyed a performance by Jintara Poonlarb, and the…
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Blaze engulfs abandoned luxury hotel bordering Phuket National Park
PHUKET: Police suspect the fire that engulfed an abandoned luxury hotel near Nai Yang Beach in northern Phuket early this morning was started by thieves searching for copper wire. “The hotel, on the border of the Sirinath Marine National Park, was completely abandoned. Thieves most likely went onto the premises to salvage copper. We suspect they were attempting to burn…
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Oldest football club faces permanent relegation; Sports roundup
World waiting for Real v Man United clash, says Mourinho Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Real Madrid manager José Mourinho ran the rule over Manchester United yesterday before declaring that Wednesday’s Champions League clash between the sides was “the match the world is waiting for”. The last 16 first-leg game at the Bernabeu pits old adversaries Mourinho and Alex Ferguson…
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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