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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Samak’s out, but PAD protests to continue in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Despite the Constitution Court today ordering Samak Sundaravej to resign his post as prime minister, the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in Phuket will continue to protest at Saphan Hin to add pressure on the coalition government to step down.PAD Phuket leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “The PAD will not leave Saphan Hin. Although Samak and his…
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PM Samak forced to step down
Bangkok (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has lost his post and his cabinet will function as a caretaker cabinet following this afternoon’s Constitution Court verdict that the PM is guilty of violating the nation’s charter. Six judges considered Samak to be the “employee” while three others considered him a “business partner” of a TV studio, a constitutional offence in…
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Major blackouts announced
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has announced scheduled blackouts in order to continue its work on high-voltage power lines. The blackouts, which will occur from 9 am to 5 pm, will affect the following populated areas: September 10, Rawai: from Rawai Pier to Moo Baan Promthep, including all along Rawai Beach, Rawai Happy Home and Soi Ya Nui.…
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7-Eleven robbers make a clean getaway
PHUKET CITY: Police are still searching for reliable leads that may result in the arrest of two men who held up the 7-Eleven store opposite Prompan shopping center on Chao Fa West Rd on Sunday. Phuket City Police received a call reporting the robbery around 2 am. The caller told police that two armed men in full-face helmets had stolen…
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Students take to the streets
PHUKET: Thousands of flag-waving students led by about 100 youths on motorcycles began an anti-government protest march from Provincial Hall to Sapan Hin at about 9:30 this morning. Traffic delays are expected as the kilometer-long procession marches along Narisorn Rd towards Phuket City center. The protest is expected to be peaceful. The mood among the protesters is upbeat and police…
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Met warns of floods, landslides
BANGKOK (Nation, Gazette): Phuket is among seven provinces for which warnings of heavy rains and possible flash flooding today and tomorrow were issued by the Meteorological Department earlier this morning. In its forecast, issued at 4 am, the department said a low-pressure ridge over the central, eastern and lower northeastern regions coupled with the influence of the southwest monsoon would…
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Deadly corner claims speeding Brit
RAWAI: An Englishman has died of injuries sustained in a high-speed crash on a curve on Wiset Rd early this morning. Capt Tienchai Duangsuwan of Chalong Police identified the victim as Mark Anthony Crosby, age 43. Mr Crosby had been drinking with his father in Rawai earlier that night, Capt Tienchai said, adding that the accident occurred after Mr Crosby drove…
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Ya bah busts: 5 arrested, 1,453 pills of ya bah seized
PHUKET CITY: Police arrested five men and seized 1,453 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills and two firearms in a series of arrests starting early Thursday morning. Seeing two men busy repairing motorcycles in front of their home in Srisuchart Grandview Village in Rassada at 3:30 am, traffic police searched Theerawat Toh-Mad, 26, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, and Surasak Anantakan, 25, from…
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Floods in Chalong and Patong
PHUKET: Heavy rains since this morning have caused flooding at many locales around the island, causing long tailbacks along major roads and damage to shops inundated with water. Patong suffered minor floods this morning before the rain stopped to give the resort town a midday reprieve, but the skies opened again this afternoon and brought more flooding. Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi…
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Park chiefs hamper Navy plans for emergency helipads
PHUKET CITY: The Royal Thai Navy’s Third Fleet wants to build a network of helicopter landing pads on outlying islands so that tourists needing emergency medical treatment can be brought back to Phuket faster. Rear-Admiral Supot Pruksa of the Third Naval Area Command announced the initiative yesterday following his opening address at a two-day maritime safety meeting attended by 60 naval officers…
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AirAsia CEO aims to set up base in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: AirAsia would like to establish Phuket as a regional operations base, but efforts to do so have thus far been hampered by Thai bureaucracy, the company’s founder has told the Gazette.In an exclusive interview, AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes also said that one of three new 164-seat Airbus A320 aircraft the airline has on order will be earmarked for…
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All quiet at Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: The scene at Phuket Provincial Hall remained quiet late this morning, despite Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s announcement earlier that he would not step down – as many had expected – to ease political tensions throughout the country.Just before noon there were only about 10 members of the Phuket Watch group, a local affiliate of the Peoples’ Alliance for…
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PM Samak still stonewalling
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej insisted in an address to the nation on Radio Thailand this morning that he would not step down, quashing widespread expectations that he would finally resign.Samak has been driven into a tight corner, suffering two blows in a row yesterday. The first came when Army chief Anupong Paochinda told him that the military would not…
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PAD to leave Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: Encouraged by recent developments in the capital, local members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) say they will end their protest at Phuket Provincial Hall today. Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup told the Gazette, “The government ordered a state of emergency in Bangkok, but the Thai military refused to disperse the protesters. This refusal of the military…
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Phuket PAD protests continue; government utilities threatened
PHUKET CITY: About 1,000 protesters marched on Provincial Hall this afternoon in support of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrations in Bangkok. The PAD wants Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.The large crowd was bolstered by many people who had turned out to rally against the violence in Bangkok last night that left one PAD member dead and several others…
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Pian keeps digging for Patong tunnel
PATONG: Pian Keesin, the recently re-elected Mayor of Patong, yesterday announced he will continue with his plan to build a tunnel under the hills separating the popular beach resort town from Phuket City.“We plan to set up a budget to study and research the impact of building a tunnel, in the hope that – if there are no objections –…
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Phuket ICT a “no show” at Chinese expo
PHUKET: The project to have representatives from Phuket businesses and other organizations promote Phuket’s information and communications technology (ICT) prowess at the 5th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in Nanning City, Guangxi, China, next month has failed due to lack of interest. The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) aimed to run 69 presentation booths at the event (click here for earlier report).…
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Japanese tourists cancel trips to Phuket
PHUKET: More than half of the Japanese tourists who planned to visit Phuket over the next week have canceled their bookings due to concerns over political unrest in Thailand.Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Somboon Chirayus yesterday told the Gazette that despite the reopening of Phuket International Airport on Sunday, there have been many cancellations among foreign tour groups. Cancellation rates…
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Phuket PAD assembling at Provincial Hall
PHUKET CITY: People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters began gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall (Sala Klaang) at 8 am this morning, their numbers increasing all morning to reach about 500 by 11:30 am. The protesters, taking cover from the sun under six tents, plan to board five tour buses to Bangkok to join fellow PAD protesters in the capital. The…
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State of Emergency announced in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej this morning announced a state of emergency in Bangkok, following a clash between the pro and anti-government supporters at about 1:30 am.Reasoning that some groups of people caused disturbances in Bangkok that affect peace and security, Samak announced the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.The prime minister’s order…
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“Bang Hem’ wins Pa Khlok OrBorTor presidency
PA KHLOK: In unofficial results of balloting held yesterday, Athipong Khongnam defeated incumbent Panya Samphaorat by 261 votes to win the presidency of the Pa Khlok Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor). Turnout saw 6,307 of the sub-district’s 8,131 eligible voters (77.6 %) making it to the six polling stations, which were open from 8 am to 3 pm. Voters also cast…
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Airport closure work of infiltrators: Phuket PAD
PHUKET CITY: In a stunning development, the Phuket chapter of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its affiliate Phuket Watch have denied involvement in the violence and forced closure of Phuket International Airport that left thousands of tourists stranded over the weekend. At a press conference at the Phuket office of Manager newspaper today, Phuket PAD leader Natjarong Ekpermsup…
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Thousands head home as airport re-opens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport re-opened yesterday, with thousands of tourists crowding the departures hall while arrivals started to trickle in. Marking the return of inbound flights at about 3:30 pm was the arrival of a THAI Airways 777 from Bangkok with more than two hundred tourists aboard, the first plane to land on the island since Peoples Alliance for Democracy protesters forced…
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Phuket Airport reopens
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket International Airport has re-opened, two days after protesters stormed the facility, forcing it to close.Although there are still protestors at the gate to the facility, the first flight is expected to land within the next 15 minutes. More than 1,000 People’s Alliance for Democracy protesters on Friday overran the main gate. Some parts of the main terminal were damaged,…
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Phuket Airport remains shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as the People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that…
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Phuket International Airport still shut
PHUKET AIRPORT (Nation and Gazette reporters): Phuket and Krabi airports remained closed yesterday as People’s Alliance for Democracy [PAD] protesters occupying them insisted they would continue to do so until the prime minister resigned or PAD leaders said otherwise.In Phuket, some 400 police and volunteers were on hand to ensure security and safety. Deputy Phuket Governor Worapoj Ratthasima affirmed that no…
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PAD PROTEST: Gov calls emergency meeting
PHUKET AIRPORT: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has called an emergency meeting of his top staff, including Vice-Governors Smith Palawatwichai, Worapoj Ratthasima and Tri Augkaradacha.
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PAD PROTEST: Airport runway clear, but still no flights
PHUKET AIRPORT: Police have persuaded protesters to leave the runway at Phuket International Airport, the Gazette has learned.Protesters left the landing strip on the agreement from airport officials that flights would not resume until their demands had been met.
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Police gear up for Veggiefest 2008
PHUKET CITY: With the start of the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival just a month away, Phuket City Police met representatives of all participating Chinese shrines to ask for their co-operation in keeping this year’s event as safe and orderly as possible. Attending the meeting on August 25 were Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Chalit Tinthanee, Phuket City Police Superintendent Nos…
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Spaniard falls to his death in Patong
PATONG: Police are treating the death of a Spanish man who this morning fell from the balcony of his room on the seventh floor of the Club Andaman Beach Resort as a likely suicide.He fell from the same floor where a female US marine fell to her death in June.Kathu Police Duty Officer Patak Khwunna told the Gazette that he…
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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