Phuket News
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Racing teens arrested as police sweep Phuket festival hotspot
Police in Phuket detained dozens of youths and seized modified motorbikes during late-night patrols aimed at ensuring safety during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. The crackdown saw 45 young people detained and 13 illegally modified motorbikes seized during a late-night sweep at Saphan Hin. The operation began yesterday evening, October 22, and continued into the early hours of today, October 23.…
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Thai teen couple caught in motorbike romp near Phuket tourist site
A teenage couple caused public outrage after being filmed engaging in intimate behaviour on a parked motorbike along a popular tourist road in Phuket. The incident, which took place yesterday evening, October 22, quickly drew widespread criticism after a bystander recorded the duo engaging in what appeared to be an intimate moment on a parked motorcycle. The footage, later shared…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival vendors told to clean up and price up
Officials in Phuket inspected food vendors to ensure fair pricing and food safety during the Vegetarian Festival. The Phuket Provincial Commerce Office and local health officials have launched a series of inspections on vendors taking part in the annual festival, urging them to display clear prices and maintain proper hygiene standards. Officers visited stalls at Kathu Shrine on October 21,…
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Patong Hill landslide shuts road as Phuket hit by flash floods
Phuket was battered by torrential rain yesterday, triggering flash floods, flight chaos and a landslide that has shut a major road for days. The island was lashed by uninterrupted downpours from the early hours of yesterday morning, October 22, causing widespread flooding across Cherng Talay, Kathu, and Mueang districts. The rain finally eased around 7am but not before wreaking havoc…
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival processions light up the streets
Devotees from local shrines took part in vibrant street processions across Phuket as part of a major annual festival aimed at promoting spiritual cleansing. Phuket erupted in colour, firecrackers and ritual yesterday, October 21, as the island launched the second day of its annual Vegetarian Festival with sacred street processions, despite rain. Devotees from 39 Chinese shrines are participating in…
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Poolside tragedy: Worker electrocuted at Phuket hotel
A construction worker was fatally electrocuted while using a jackhammer near a hotel pool in Karon, Phuket, prompting an ongoing police investigation. The 46 year old victim, identified as Kwanchai Phonsari from Udon Thani province, was working on concrete removal around the pool area when the fatal incident occurred at approximately 10.45am on Sunday, October 19. Witnesses told police they…
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Foreign man caught on CCTV stealing liquor from Phuket restaurant
A CCTV camera captured a foreign man stealing a bottle of liquor from a restaurant in the Patong area of Phuket on Sunday, October 19. Footage of the theft was shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page today, October 21. In the video, the foreign suspect is seen wearing black shorts and a red shirt covered with a black jacket.…
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Hackers hijack Phuket ride-hailing apps in taxi scam chaos
Phuket officials vowed to crack down after hackers scammed ride-hailing drivers by hijacking app accounts and demanding ransom for registration unlocks. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra has vowed a sweeping crackdown after dozens of ride-hailing drivers reported falling victim to a sophisticated hacking scam. The revelation came during a crisis meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, where Governor Saransak and local MP…
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Myanmar crewman dies in boat accident off Phuket coast
A 36 year old Myanmar national has died after suffering a fatal head injury while working aboard a fishing vessel caught in rough seas off Koh Racha Yai. The tragic accident occurred yesterday morning, October 20, while the crewman, identified as Tin Maung Htwe, was on duty as a mechanic aboard the Kiang Chai 3 fishing boat. He reportedly slipped…
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Phuket’s 2.3 billion baht underpass shelved over flood, chaos fears
A major underpass project in Phuket has been scrapped after residents raised concerns about traffic disruption and flooding during construction. The Department of Highways has scrapped its 2.38-billion baht bidding process for the Heroines Monument underpass project in Thalang, following growing concerns about its impact on traffic and the potential for worsening flooding. The decision comes after strong local opposition,…
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Foreign man criticised for dangerously filming video on Phuket road
Thai netizens questioned a foreign driver’s awareness of Thai traffic laws after a man was caught on a viral TikTok video performing push-ups in the middle of a Phuket road. The Thai TikToker shared the video on his account, @abudawut, yesterday, October 19, with a caption reading, “Everybody is crazy. A thousand strange things are possible in Phuket.” In the…
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Foreign driver sparks outrage with dangerous speeding on Phuket road
A foreign man was caught on a viral video driving his luxury car dangerously on a crowded road in Phuket on Saturday, October 18. The video circulated on Thai social media yesterday, October 19, after a local motorist witnessed the incident and shared it with news agencies. The road in the video was reported to be located in the Patong…
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Danish boxer stopped from jumping off Phuket building
Police intervened to prevent a Danish boxer from jumping off the roof of an accommodation building in the Kata area of Phuket on Saturday, October 18. Several local media outlets shared pictures and videos of the foreign man, later identified as a Danish national. The man was seen on the roof of a building in Soi Green Drinking Water, Kata,…
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Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image
Phuket’s authorities are advocating for more stringent cannabis regulations after a rise in incidents involving foreign tourists displaying erratic behaviour has negatively impacted the island’s tourism image. Sarayut Mallum, vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, highlighted that many instances of foreign visitors behaving unusually have been linked to excessive cannabis consumption. He noted, ‘Some tourists smoked multiple joints consecutively, resulting…
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Water woes: Phuket MP calls for urgent fix as crisis worsens
Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee has called on the government to urgently tackle the island’s chronic water shortage, warning that the issue could spiral out of control during the upcoming High Season if action isn’t taken immediately. Speaking in Parliament, Chalermpong, who represents Phuket District 2, said water demand has surged due to a booming tourism industry and a population now…
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Late-night blaze guts Phuket home in suspected power fault
A fire tore through a two-storey home in Kathu, Phuket, late on Thursday night, causing extensive damage but fortunately no injuries, as three residents managed to escape just in time. The blaze broke out around 11.45pm on Thursday, October 16, at a property in Soi 8, Anuphas Golf Ville, Kathu subdistrict. Police Lieutenant Colonel Natthaya Suphanphong from Kathu Police Station…
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Cargo ship and foreign yacht collide off Phuket coast, no injuries
A cargo boat collided with a foreign yacht in open waters near Phuket during a routine journey, prompting an official investigation into the cause. The incident occurred at approximately 8am today, October 17, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the cargo vessel’s captain, the sailboat appeared to be drifting unusually close, with no one visibly steering. “I sounded…
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Brave parasailing assistant jumps into sea to save tourist off Phuket beach
A brave parasailing assistant made a split-second decision to drop into the sea off Phuket to save a tourist after a parasailing boat capsized near Kata Beach yesterday, October 16. A sudden storm hit Kata Beach in Phuket’s Karon district at around 3pm, overturning a parasailing boat. The tourist, along with the parasailing staff member controlling the parachute, was still…
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Ex-con stabbed to death in early morning Phuket attack
A man with a history of criminal offences was fatally stabbed on a major road in Phuket, prompting a police investigation into the motive and possible suspects. Police have launched a full investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 33 year old man found injured on the side of Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang early this morning, October 16. The victim,…
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Snail-paced start for Phuket’s new co-payment scheme
Phuket officials have launched a new co-payment scheme to support small businesses, though early registration numbers remain lower than expected. The scheme, also known as Khon La Khrueng Plus, or half-half payment scheme, designed to support small businesses and ease the cost of living through 50% government subsidies on purchases, opened registration via the Tung Ngern system yesterday, October 15.…
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Thai man arrested for stealing speedboat from Phuket pier
Police arrested a Thai man for stealing a speedboat belonging to a travel agency from the Asia Marina Pier on Sire Island, Phuket, on October 7. The travel agency, Phuket New Generation Travel (PNT), sought help from online communities and local media outlets to locate the missing speedboat, named Kantee. CCTV footage showed that the vessel was stolen at around…
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Phuket marks Austrian consul handover with honour and ceremony
Phuket hosted a diplomatic ceremony where Austria honoured a former consul and appointed a successor to strengthen ties in tourism, trade, and culture. Phuket marked a major milestone in Thai-Austrian relations on Tuesday, October 14, as long-serving diplomat Wanida Hongyok was honoured for her service, and Montawee Hongyok was officially appointed as Austria’s new Honorary Consul on the island. The…
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Jealous ex beats love rival to death in Phuket flat bust-up
A man was arrested in Phuket after fatally assaulting his ex-wife’s new partner during a violent confrontation at her apartment, driven by jealousy. The suspect, 43 year old Prapan Chukaew from Phatthalung province was apprehended yesterday afternoon, October 15, near a rest area beside Phuket City Police Station on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. His arrest followed a warrant issued…
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Phuket pushes ahead with AI traffic lights to ease jams
Phuket is moving forward with plans to use AI-powered traffic lights to manage congestion at busy intersections as part of a major transport upgrade. Artificial intelligence will soon take the wheel in managing Phuket’s chaotic traffic, as part of a major two-phase overhaul aimed at tackling congestion ahead of the tourist High Season. The Phuket Highways Department has unveiled a…
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2 foreign teens condemned for spray-painting Phuket building
Thai netizens condemned two foreign teenagers after they were caught in a viral video spray-painting the wall of a roadside accommodation in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the teenagers today, October 15, with a caption that read… “Foreign teenagers climbed onto the roof to spray-paint the wall for video content. This happened last…
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Patong gets safety boost with new traffic barriers
Police in Patong partnered with a local foundation to provide new traffic barriers, aiming to improve safety and city image ahead of peak tourism season. In a joint effort to boost public safety and improve Patong’s image ahead of the High Season, the Patong Development Foundation has donated new traffic barriers to Patong Police. The handover ceremony took place yesterday,…
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Helmet row sparks blockade at Phuket company gate
Villagers staged a blockade at a company site in Phuket after a local was denied entry for not wearing a helmet, prompting swift police mediation. A brief but tense confrontation between villagers and a private firm in Phuket came to a peaceful end after police intervened and cleared up a safety regulation dispute. Yesterday morning, October 14, residents from a…
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Phuket’s shortest-serving governor axed after just 14 days
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket’s newly appointed governor, just weeks after he began his term, sparking public scrutiny. The Thai Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra after only two weeks in office. Saransak, who began his term on October 2, is now officially Phuket’s shortest-serving governor. His shock exit was confirmed…
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Russian man allegedly stalks Phuket woman after being rejected
A Thai woman accused a Russian man in Phuket of stalking, harassing, and threatening to harm her after she rejected his romantic advances. The woman, who works at a café in Patong, said she felt unsafe and decided to share her story with the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, October 14. She insisted that she had never encouraged the Russian…
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Indian man wanted for attacking Phuket transwoman and stealing 10,000 baht
An Indian man remains at large after attacking a Thai transwoman in her rented room in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht in cash from her yesterday, October 13. The Thai transgender victim took to social media and shared her story with local news outlets to warn others and help locate the Indian suspect. In an interview with the Phuket Times…
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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