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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Sponsored 9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
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Monkey update: Rassada locals say returned monkeys happy to be home
Tha Chin locals in Rassada say they’re satisfied with the way the monkeys were captured last Friday (June 15) while locals say sterilised monkeys at Soi King Kaew in Rassada can get back into their groups now that they’re been released into their area. Yesterday (June 19) Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao…
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French expat rescued off Phuket, jet-ski and parasail ban remains in force today
A French expat on a dinghy has been rescued in Ao Yon, Wichit yesterday (June 19) while the Phuket Marine Office has announced that jet-skis and parasails will remain beached until today (June 20). Maj Eakkachai Siri of the Phuket Tourist Police was notified at 1.30pm yesterday that a French man, 78 year old Claude Gasca, had been rescued off…
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Phuket marine chief warns operators about boat safety during severe weather
The chief of the Phuket Marine Office has ordered authorities at all ports and piers, as well as the boat operators, to be careful heading out to sea, including today (June 20). Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyat, says “according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Office, strong winds and waves are still affecting the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand…
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Kratom use on the rise in Phuket
Drug arrest statistics have shown that the use kratom is on the rise in Phuket followed closely by methamphetamine pills and crystal methamphetamine. Phuket’s Vice Governor Snith says, “We have found that kratom is the number one drug seized in Phuket. Even though our officers are strictly enforcing the law, arresting suspects and seizing this drug in large quantities, kratom…
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52 monkeys captured in Koh Sirey, 42 sterilised monkeys released in Rassada
52 monkeys have been captured at Koh Sirey for sterilisation while 42 sterilised monkeys have been released back to Soi King Kaew in Rassada yesterday (June 18). Meanwhile the monkey sterilisations continued, as they have since June 12. So far there are 216 monkeys captured as part of the capture-neuter-rehome program for some of Phuket more mischievous monkeys. 42 monkeys that…
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Phuket: Areas to have water shut off for one week
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Patong, Kata and Karon will be shut off from 9am to 5pm on June 25 to July 2. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out conducting maintenance on the Reverse Osmosis (RO) water pumping station in Karon. Areas to be affected are…
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Chao Fah West road closure for Chalong Underpass construction
Parts of Chao Fa West Road will close at night from June 29 to July 28 as the the Chalong Underpass construction staggers along. A meeting was held yesterday (June 18) at the Phuket Highway Office hosted by Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok and Phuket Highway Office Chief Somwang Lohanut. Vice Governor Snith says, “Traffic problems during the peak hours…
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Ride4Kids – Interview with Darren Scherbain
Tim Newton speaks to Darren Scherbain at the welcome home dinner at Mezzos.
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90 houses damaged, power cables down on main roads – Phuket storm
There have been about 90 houses across Phuket that have been damaged from storms whilst eight power cables have been brought down in Thalang today (June 18). This is the latest in our coverage of the unusually wet and windy storms to hit the island. Officials have surveyed all the districts and found that there are about 90 houses which…
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Monkey move to islands postponed due to inclement weather
The task to move some of the migrating monkeys to Koh Payu in Paklok has been postponed due to strong wind and waves while the monkey sterilisations continue. Some sterilised monkeys will be released in Rassada today (June 18). 38 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi Tha Chin in Rassada last Friday (June 15). Water tanks were also installed on…
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Phuket lifeguards warn about Portuguese man-o-war
Phuket Lifeguards are warning swimmers after Portuguese man-o-war have been spotted on Phuket’s west coast beaches today (June 18). “Warning to all beach swimmers that a Portuguese man-o-war was found on Nai Yang beach, Mai Khao Beach and Patong Beach. If you feel pain on your skin it may caused by their sting. Please contact a lifeguard on your beach…
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Jungceylon Patong issues urgent safety order following Phuket storm
Jungceylon department store executives have issued a safety order after storms hit Phuket yesterday (June 17). The storm has damaged the front part of the shopping centre on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road. No injuries were reported. The notice says, “two safety orders for customers and pedestrians nearby are” The entrance of the store on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road has been…
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Police hunting for arsonist who allegedly torched ex-girlfriend’s car
Police are hunting for an arsonist who set a Mitsubishi Mirage on fire in Chalong yesterday morning (June 17). Chalong Police were notified of the incident at Baan Nakok in Chalong. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find a black Mitsubishi Mirage completely gutted by fire. It took about 20 minutes to put out the fire. The car…
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Phuket storm tears down trees and power poles
“This is the strongest wind he has ever seen.” Heavy rains and strong wind across Phuket yesterday (June 17) have caused trees and power cables to be torn down across the island. At about noon, a big banyan tree, aged around 100 years, fell down and blocked Narisorn Road in Phuket Town. 56 year old Wuttichart Na Pangchang says, “While…
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Two escape serious injuries in Phuket storm
Two people have escaped injures after a big tree toppled by high winds landed on their moving car as they were travelling through Thalang on Saturday (June 16). Thalang Police were notified of the incident on Pru Sompan Road at the entrance of Soi Baan Ja in Thapkrasattri, Thalang at 8.30pm. The fallen tree had blocked the road with the…
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Monkey chase in Chalong
Whilst mischievous monkeys are being rounded up and sent to uninhabited islands around Phuket, one has found its way into a Chalong residential area. A monkey was found running around homes in Chalong yesterday (June 16). Officers of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) stationed at Chalong Municipality were notified at 10.05am that a monkey was searching for…
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Five days of wind and rain for the south
The forecast over the next five days in Phuket and southern provinces is not good, if you’re a tourist. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, “The southwest monsoon across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf becomes stronger leading to rough sea continuing between June 16-20. 2-4 metre waves will be likely in the Andaman Sea and 2-3 metres in the…
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Brand Andaman ready to start promoting the region
A meeting held at the Phuket City Hall, and hosted by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat, announced that southern provinces are planning to boost tourism with the ‘Andaman’ branding. Governor Norraphat says, “A research paper has been submitted on the creation of a tourism brand to develop Andaman tourism, related to Phuket tourism infrastructure. The brand will focus on tourist locations and…
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New Phuket estate projects get the green light
Phuket housing estates continue to grow as investors are putting their money into the construction of townhouses and single storey housing around the island. The Board of Land Allocation has approved four projects which cost many hundred thousand Baht. Phuket Land Officer Amnouy Pitsuwan says, “Four housing estate projects have been approved for commencement including ‘The Rich 3 @ Paklok’…
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Futsal charity to raise money for light aircraft crash victim
Friends of a male student, who was one of the passenger victims in the light aircraft crash in Paklok on March 10, are planning a futsal charity match this Sunday (June 10) to raise money for him to assist in his recovery. A small plane crashed in a field in front of the Phuket Air Park, in Paklok last March.…
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Phuket marks World Blood Donor Day
The Phuket Red Cross is continuing its donation promotion under the slogan ‘Be there for someone else. Give Blood, Share Life.’ The event, held at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra in Phuket Town, was led by the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and his wife who is President of the Phuket Red Cross, Sudarat Plodthong. Mrs Sudarat says, ‘The International Federation of Red Cross and…
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Great Phuket Monkey Exodus of 2018: 37 more monkeys captured in Rassada
In the Great Phuket Monkey Exodus of 2018, water tanks are now being installed on Monkey Island and 37 monkeys have been captured in Rassada for sterilisation and then re-location. Yesterday (June 15), water tank were being installed on Koh Payu while 37 long-tailed macaques were caught at Soi King Kaew in Rassada. Pongchart Chouehorm, the Director of the Natural…
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Three arrested with drugs and firearms
A team of Phuket Provincial Police this week arrested have two more drug suspects and another suspect over the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition in a separate incident. Police arrested 29 year old Chaiyachet ‘Chet’ Pollata. Police seized 1,970 methamphetamine pills, 2.8 kilograms of marijuana and eight bottles liquid kratom. Chaiyachet has been charged with possession of Category…
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Two charged over Chinese tourist assault
Two men have been charged with assault after they attacked two Chinese tourists following an argument on a speed boat yesterday (June 13). The arrests come after a video clip went viral in social along with a headline ‘Yunnan tour guide hit Chinese tourists at Nontasak Pier.’ The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Tipjaroen has ordered an investigation…
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48 long-tailed macaques caught for sterilisation in Paklok
Some of Phuket’s monkeys are on their way to new homes off the island. But first a quick vet-check and a ‘snip’ before they continue their journey. 14 long-tailed macaques have been captured at Bang Rong Pier while another 34 long-tailed macaques have been caught in Baan Yamu, both in Paklok, central east in Phuket. The capture is the first…
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Phuket police chat to students about illegal World Cup football gambling
The World Cup starts today. So do the gambling crackdowns. The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen says, “the World Cup football is started today (June 14) so Phuket police are strictly keeping an eye on illegal world cup gambling. “We have arrested 12 cases already involving illegal football gambling while the Phuket Tourist Police have arrested three…
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Laguna to host Phuket Real Estate Charity Golf event on June 23
The Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA) is holding a charity golf tournament on Saturday June 23 at Laguna Golf Phuket to raise money to support Thalang Hospital. A press conference was held by the P-REA today (June 13) at Central Festival Phuket where P-REA president Boon Yongsakul told the media about the objectives of the ‘P-REA Charity Golf Tournament 2018′. “The…
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Driver found dead at the back of his bus
A Phuket-Pattalung bus driver has been found dead in a parked bus at a gas station in Phuket Town today (June 13). Phuket City Police were notified about the sad discovery at a gas station on Damrong Road in Phuket Town at 11am. Police and rescue workers arrived to find a body of 52 year old Surat Nooklin lying on…
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Chinese tour bus crash on Kata hill
A Chinese tour bus has collided with a pickup truck then ended up dangling precariously down the hill. 33 Chinese tourists have luckily escaped from serious injury. Karon Police were notified about the incident on Patak Road in front of the Kata power plant at 11.05pm last night (June 12). Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a white…
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Female van driver, Chinese tourists injured in Phuket van crash
Ten people were in a passenger van when it slammed into a power pole yesterday afternoon (June 12). The female van driver has sustained serious injuries. Thalang Police were notified of the accident at 3.30pm on the Thepkrasattri – Nai Yang Road north of Thalang. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a damaged Toyota van smashed into a power…
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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