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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Salvage operations now fully underway – Surachate Hakparn
Deja Vu from the waters south-west of Phuket this afternoon. Last week it was reported that the sunken vessel Phoenix would be raised to the surface before last Sunday. But the crane for the new salvage operations didn’t arrive until yesterday. But now, with the barge and new crane in full operation off Koh Hei, confident predictions are again being…
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56 gamblers arrested in Kathu gambling den raid
Soldiers raided a gambling den in Kathu last night. More than 56 gamblers were arrested. 50 soldiers and Kathu Police raided the house which was allegedly being used as a gambling den near Tessaban 2 Baan Kathu School in the Kathu district. Officers found that gamblers were playing a card game for money. 17 male and 39 female gamblers have…
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Boats being banned in Phoenix salvage zone
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when navigating around the area where the Phoenix salvage operations are underway of Koh Her, south-west of Phuket. “The Phoenix salvage operations are underway until at least November 15 south off Koh Hei at 7º42’14.6″ North, 98º23’06.9″ East.” The announcement states that, for the best chances of boat recovery and safety,…
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Singapore barge and crane arrive for the rising of Phoenix
Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Tawipat says that the barge which has been making its way from Singapore with a 1,200 tons crane this week, has arrived at ready to help with the recovery of ‘Phoenix’. The Governor is expecting that, if the weather holds, the boat will be brought to the surface before Thursday. Equipment in four containers was also being…
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Two survive after a six wheeler overturns near the Sarasin Bridge
Two people have survived after a six wheeler truck, carrying goods on the way to Patong, has overturned in the far north of the island. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene on Thepkrasattri Road, southbound, near the Phuket Gateway at 1am this morning, to find a six wheeler truck overturned on the side of the road. The truck driver,…
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Burmese man stabbed friend to death in Phuket Town
A Burmese man has stabbed another Myanmar national to death in Phuket Town last night. The Phuket City Police were notified about the incident at a room in Soi Ton Poe in Phuket Town. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the suspect, 56 year old Aung Htoo, a Burmese national, waiting for police. A 13 centimetre knife was also…
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More ‘wind and waves’ – Phoenix still at the bottom of the Andaman Sea
The Phoenix, the boat that sank on July 5 off Phuket’s south west coast, causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists, remains 45 metres underwater as the new salvage team have little more success than the original salvage team who threw in the towel a week ago. A Marine Police diver on site, Pol Lt Passakorn Sirichuchote, is quoted in…
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20 year old sea turtle found in the mangroves near Saphan Hin
A headless green sea turtle, aged more 20 years, has been found dead under a rock at the mangrove forest area behind the Phuket incinerator near Saphan Hin. Officials at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre (PMBC) were notified from locals last night that the sea turtle was found dead amongst the mangroves at the back of Phuket incinerator. Kusoldharm rescue…
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Thai man arrested for sexually assaulting British woman in Nai Harn
Phuket police have arrested a man who sexually assaulted a British female tourist at Nai Harn yesterday. The woman was found crying and distressed as she was running out from a Soi near Naiharn Beach yesterday morning around 8.45am. Read more about the story HERE. Chalong Police found that the suspect lived in the Soi where the tourist ran out from.…
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Hanoi ‘must end eating of dogs before Formula 1’ – Soi Dog Foundation
The Soi Dog Foundation, one of the leading organisations battling the dog meat trade in Asia, has called again for a concerted effort in Vietnam to end the eating of dogs and cats. The renewed call comes after the announcement that Liberty Media, owners of the glamorous Formula One (F1) sport have agreed to a “multi-year” deal to stage Grand…
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Phuket police investigate the alleged sexual assault of a European female in Nai Harn
A female European tourist was found crying and distressed as she was running out from a Soi near Naiharn Beach early this morning. The woman was asking for help from shop owners and passers-by. She claimed that a Thai man had tried to have sex with her. Police are now awaiting the results of a medical examination as they continue…
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Canadian tourist in hospital after falling from an elephant ride
Chalong Police have headed to the scene of an incident at an elephant camp near Nark Kerd Hill in Chalong at 2.15pm yesterday. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a 38 year old female Canadian tourist who has sustained left leg injuries and was taken to the Bangkok Hospital Phuket. Wirawit Pakprom, the elephant’s mahout, told police that the…
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UWC Thailand & Thanyapura host renowned Buddhist scholar Dr. B. Alan Wallace
Seminar Topic: A Fourfold Framework for Optimal Mental Health and Balance Dynamic lecturer, progressive scholar, and one of the most prolific writers and translators of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, B. Alan Wallace, Ph.D., continually seeks innovative ways to integrate Buddhist contemplative practices with Western science to advance the study of the mind. UWC Thailand International School (UWCT) and Thanyapura…
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Cable TV company raided and taken off air in Phuket
National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) officials, together with the Phuket City Police and soldiers, today raided a cable TV company in Phuket Town over illegal operating services. At 10am officers raided KPP Enterprise on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town after it was found that the company had been illegally operating the cable services. The license was revoked on…
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New ‘Phoenix’ salvage team starts operations
PHOTO: Previous attempts of the salvage operations last August A new salvage team has started work to bring the ‘Phoenix’ back to the surface with a one thousand tonne crane from Singapore. Boat salvage operations started again yesterday morning with a specialist crane that had arrived from Singapore. The salvage is expected to be completed in five days according to…
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Man escapes after killing ex-girlfriend in Mai Khao
PHOTOS: Tha Chatchai Police Police are now hunting for a man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death in Mai Khao yesterday before escaping. Police believe the violent act was over jealousy. The two had been together for three months. Tha Chatchai Police were notified of the incident at Soi 1 in front of Tha Chatchai Temple in Maikhao at 4.30pm…
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“Phoenix to be raised in five days” – says Surachate Hakparn
For now, the Phoenix sits 45 meters underwater in the Andaman Sea, south west of Phuket, off Koh Racha After the contracted salvage team threw in the towel trying to recover the Phoenix, the Marine Office says the police have taken over the project to bring the sunken vessel back to the surface. The police say it’s a necessary piece…
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Rawai Mayor confirms lifeguards patrolling Nai Harn Beach everyday
Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has confirmed that Nai Harn Beach has lifeguards to keep an eye on beachgoers every day. The Mayor claims that some news agencies have stated that four famous Phuket beaches, including Nai Harn Beach, don’t have lifeguards. “This news has damaged Phuket tourism a lot. All 12 beaches have lifeguards every day.” Mayor Aroon says, “We…
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Meliá Hotels International signs up Meliá Phuket Karon
Meliá Hotels International, a leading Spanish hotel company, has announced the signing of Meliá Phuket Karon, the second property in Thailand, followed by Meliá Phuket Mai Khao. Meliá Phuket Karon will be the group’s sixth property in Thailand, continuing their dedication in providing exceptional hospitality with a Spanish touch, to the island’s thriving accommodation market. Scheduled to open in 2021,…
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Legal action taken against yacht helmsman and Thai crew
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket Legal action has been taken against a Scottish helmsman and a Thai yacht charter ‘caretaker’ in Saturday’s luxury yacht fire. The Phuket PR Office reports that the the fire started by ‘natural causes’ after the 51 foot yacht was hit by lightning just after 4pm on Saturday afternoon. Police have already taken legal action against the helmsman…
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Central Floresta and overpass officially opened
The ‘soft’ opening for the new Central Floresta was on September 10. Now the new shopping centre has had its official endorsement. The Thai Minister of Transport yesterday officially opened the Central Floresta and walkway, linking Central Festival and Floresta. The opening ceremony was lheaded up by the Minister of Transport Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, the Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat and Wallaya Chirathivat,…
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Chinese tourists escape serious injury in Karon minivan incident
PHOTOS: Nok Rai Rang / Newshawk Phuket Four Chinese tourists and a minivan driver have escaped serious injury in an accident in Karon this morning. The Karon Police were notified of the incident at a curve on Patak Road in front of Hilton Hotel entrance in Karon around 2.30am. The Karon Police reported that the minivan driver, 25 year old…
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Boats warned to avoid the area of the burnt out yacht
The Phuket Marine office is warning boats to be careful when going near the area where the ‘Emmjay’ yacht was destroyed after burins to its waterline on Saturday. The announcement states that, due to the ‘Emmjay’ yacht catching fire on Saturday afternoon while traveling between Koh Ngam and Koh Payu in Paklok, and later sinking, boats should be very careful…
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Cash for sea turtle eggs
by Pratch Rujivanrom Cash for spotting sea turtle nests. That’s the promise from national parks officers along the Andaman coast who are offering cash rewards for anyone who discovers sea turtle nests and notifies park officers. The innovative scheme is another attempt to protect the local endangered species from extinction. Marine National Park Operation Centre 2 in Phuket has announced…
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Nine British passengers escape luxury yacht fire
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket / The Phuket PR Office. VIDEO: ออส สมทิพย์ A luxury yacht has been completely destroyed after catching fire north off Koh Ngam in Phang Nga Bay yesterday. Nine Bristish passengers were saved and unhurt in the incident. The Phuket Marine Police were notified by rescue workers that a boat had caught fire after being hit by lightning.…
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Luxury yacht completely destroyed by fire in Phang Nga Bay
VIDEOS: ออส สมทิพย์ / Newshawk Phuket A luxury yacht caught fire yesterday afternoon (Saturday) off Koh Ngam, near Laem Sai in Paklok on the north-east coast of Phuket in Phang Nga Bay. The white sloop, called ‘Emmjay’, was 51 feet in length. The fire started around 4.45pm. At this stage investigators believe it was hit by lightening, setting off the…
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Patong Carnival schedule
For those interested in getting involved in the Patong Carnival festivities, here is the latest schedule released by Patong Municipality for this year’s events.. November 2 9am – 6pm Kite show 3pm – 4pm Puppet (Marionette) show 6pm – midnight Performance from Pida Dance Academy, Yamaha music contest, shows from Hotels Patong Association, shows from Cowboy group. November 3 9am…
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Welcome to Patong Carnival 2018 – PHOTOS
Our photographer Kritsada was hard at work last night. Here’s a bit of the atmosphere from last night’s Patong Carnival annual opening night parade…
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9 years of providing Phuket’s lifeguards comes to an end
PHOTO: Constant training and up-skilling was at the core of the Phuket Lifeguard Service The nine year relationship between the Phuket Lifeguard Service and the Phuket provincial and Thesaban administrators is over. The contract for providing professional lifesavers at Patong beach, the final beach under their watchful eye, finished yesterday. Speaking to the MD of the Phuket Lifeguard Service Company,…
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Phuket Carnival 2018 kicks off in a blaze of colour
More Than 30,000 oThai and foreign tourists, as well as Phuket residents lined the streets of Patong last night to usher in the annual Patong Carnival, held each year to mark the beginning of the tourism high season. Titled “Colorful of Patong Beach”, the grand opening parade was a lot better than the Organiser’s grammar. Joining in the opening ceremony…
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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