Phuket News
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
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Big budget to fix Patong’s floods
PHUKET: A 420-million-baht budget has been approved by the Public Works Department to help alleviate flooding in Patong. “Four flood-protection methods will be put into place from 2016 through 2018,” Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsub told the Phuket Gazette. The department is now working with municipality officials on surveying, planning and designing the new systems that include a retaining wall, man-made…
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Movie museum to break ground in November
PHUKET: The island’s first-ever “movie museum” is expected to break ground in November, according to local officials. “The Department of Tourism will be leading the project,” Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette today. “The contract has been signed and the work is expected to start in November and be completed…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Lifeguards issue warning against marine activities
PHUKET: Lifeguards issued a marine activities warning to tourists and island residence following the death of a teen fisherman whose body was recovered yesterday evening (story here). “Rough seas claimed another life this year. I urge everyone to avoid marine activities of any type, especially swimming and fishing, during these current weather conditions,” said Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom. Mr…
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Video Report: Shores awash with injured sea turtles
PHUKET: Four olive ridley sea turtles were found injured on Kamala and Bang Tao Beaches within a 48 hour period this week. All four turtles were in very weak condition, confirmed Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “Three of the turtles had severed flippers,” Ms Patcharaporn said. Experts believe that the turtles were caught in fishing nets…
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Phuket lifeguards recover missing teen’s body
PHUKET: Lifeguards have recovered the body of a missing teen off Kata Beach yesterday evening. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laem Fa‘ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea Wednesday afternoon (story here). “His body was brought to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where relatives identified him,” confirmed…
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Teen goes missing in Kata waves
PHUKET: Rough weather continues to hamper search efforts for an 18-year-old man who went missing from Kata Beach yesterday afternoon, the Phuket Marine Police have admitted. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laew Fa’ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea. “We started our search yesterday, but…
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Lessons from AMCHAM: Waking the Sleeping Dragon’s FIT market
PHUKET: Few, if any, of those in the hospitality industry are unaware of the importance of high-end free independent travellers (FIT) from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’. In order to better understand the Chinese market and adjust marketing strategies sufficiently, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand will host an event tomorrow at the JW Marriott Mai Khao Ballroom. “It is all…
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Plastic bag possibly killed dolphin, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: A striped dolphin found washed up on Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday most likely died from the consumption of a plastic bag, explained marine experts today. “It was about 15 years old, 2.45 meters long and approximately 90 kilograms. It had a wound near its eye,” said Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “The results from…
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Deputy PM launches Thailand Yacht Show
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister General Thanasak Patimaprakorn officially launched the much-anticipated Thailand Yacht Show yesterday. The marine festivities will run for seven days from February 8 to 14 at Ao Po Grand Marina, the event organizers, Singapore Yacht Events Pte Ltd (SYE), announced earlier this month (story here). Activities will range from recreational sailing, paddle boarding and water sports to…
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Two killed in head-on motorbike crash
PHUKET: A head-on motorbike collision early this morning killed two men and put two others in hospital as one of the drivers attempted to navigate around roadworks in Rassada, Phuket City Police confirmed. Rescue workers rushed the two Indonesian survivors, named only as Lain, 23, and Dusoe, 24, to Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital. “When we arrived at the…
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Kiwis off the hook after paying ‘dine and dash’ tab
PHUKET: Police yesterday released two New Zealanders who were arrested upon arrival at Phuket International Airport on Monday after the pair settled their 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill with Blue Marine Resort and Spa in Patong (story here). “The settlement was made yesterday evening,” Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his…
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Thai-Malaysia border remains open for visa runs
PHUKET: Amid a flurry of concern about the Thai-Cambodian border being closed to ‘visa runs’ (story here), a high ranking Immigration officer has confirmed that there are no changes to procedures at the popular Phuket visa-run checkpoint in Sadao. “We have yet to receive any special orders to change how we process people needing visa exemptions on arrival or those…
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Weather: Small Phuket boats prohibited from accessing Phi Phi, Racha
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office has issued a warning for all boats headed to Phi Phi archipelago and Racha Island that are less than 10-meters long to stay ashore, effective tomorrow. “We expect to see waves between two and four meters in the Andaman Sea, boats less than 10-meters are prohibited from leaving shore,” said Phuket Marine Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut.…
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Missing Phuket fishing crew all safely rescued
PHUKET: Phuket rescue teams saved two missing fishermen today who were on board a boat that sunk while hunting for lost fishing gear near Koh Mai Thon yesterday. All four men have now been safely brought back to Phuket. However, the boat is gone, confirmed Marine Police Division Chief Maj Gen Kritapol Yeesakorn. “I didn’t think we would make it.…
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Phuket on alert for Enterovirus 71
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several provinces on alert for Enterovirus 71, which has killed three children in Thailand so far this year, confirmed the Department of Disease Control (DDC). Enterovirus 71 can cause outbreaks of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in children. Additionally, it has the potential to cause severe neurological diseases. Other provinces flagged as at risk…
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ICT considers developing ‘smart’ Phuket
PHUKET: The Information and Communication Technology Ministry (ICT) is eyeing Phuket and Chiang Mai as ‘smart cities’ that focus on tech start-ups as part of a move to turn Thailand into the digital hub of Asean. ICT Minister Uttama Savanayana said that under the policy the ministry planned to roll out pilot projects to drive the country forward, with the…
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Video Report: Asian Weightlifting Championships wrap up
PHUKET: Between September 6 and 11, 162 athletes from 29 countries flexed their muscles as they battled against gravity at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat Indoor Sports Complex for the 26th Senior Women’s and 45th Senior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships . The event’s opening ceremony was chaired by National Olympic Committee of Thailand President Yuthasak Sasiprapha. Fifteen athletes from Thailand, seven females…
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Private sector may join light rail project
PHUKET: The private sector might be asked to join forces with the government to push through the more than 23-billion-baht light rail project slated for Phuket. “When it comes time to propose the budget to the government, we will see if it is willing to take on the whole cost or if it will invest only a portion, giving the…
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Nai Harn soi dogs under control, says mayor
PHUKET: The Nai Harn Beach dog situation is under control without officials having to take any drastic measures, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos told the Phuket Gazette. “We will not be banning pets at worker camps. However, we have dispatched municipality officers to ask that the residents take proper care of them and sterilize the dogs,” Mr Aroon said. “We’ve also…
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Phuket marina wishes boat-fire victims speedy recovery
PHUKET: Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) issued a statement wishing the speedy recovery of the two men seriously injured after a speedboat engine exploded near the marina’s fuel dock yesterday morning. “Royal Phuket Marina staff acted quickly and professionally,” the statement said, noting that safety precautions were followed. “[RPM staff used] on-site fire safety equipment, doused the blaze, assisted the speedboat…
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Weather warning issued for Phuket
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a heavy rain warning from today to September 19 due to Tropical Storm Vamco, which is bound for Vietnam. “It is not a serious warning,” said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the DDPM Phuket. “There will be rain everyday, some of which will be very heavy.…
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Freshly fueled boat bursts into flames at marina, two seriously injured
PHUKET: Five men were injured when a resort’s transfer boat burst into flames while refueling at the Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) at 9am yesterday. “Two of the victims were seriously burned, with one having burns to more than 50 per cent of his body and the other with burns to about 40-50 per cent of his body. The other three…
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Maroon 5 takes to Thanyapura’s tennis courts
PHUKET: Superstars from the American pop rock band Maroon 5 took to the tennis courts of Thanyapura last week for a bit of downtime between concerts. James Valentine, the band’s lead guitarist, took advantage of the world-class Phuket facility for some practice and a few friendly matches with the Spin and Slice Team. “It was such a surprise to see…
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German expat found dead in home
PHUKET: A German woman died yesterday after what police believe was an accidental fall from a ladder while changing a light bulb. Thalang Police were alerted at about 12:15pm. Upon arrival, officers found the body of Irmgard Helga Hein, 71, on the floor of her Dream Village home. “Ms Hein had a plaster cast on her left arm and nearby…
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Police unravel multi-million baht drug network run from prison
PHUKET: Krabi Police arrested four men last night who are part of a criminal network allegedly headed by an inmate in Bang Kwang Prison in Nonthaburi, just outside of Bangkok. Among the four was more than 28 million baht’s worth of ya ba pills (methamphetamine). “Ya ba delivery agent Boworn Phetkuha, 28, was caught en-route to dropping off drugs for…
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Road-raging truckers crash in Phuket
PHUKET: Two road-raging truck drivers were in an intentional crash on Thepkasattri Road, the north-south artery of the island, causing long tailbacks for about an hour this morning. “Suriya Kuiyoksui, a 35-year-old driver of an 18-wheeled-truck, flung open his door to ensure a minor crash with the driver of a six-wheeled crane truck. The men immediately exited their vehicles and…
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Phuket nightlife venues to push ministry for 4am close
PHUKET: Patong nightlife operators will send a letter to the Ministry of Interior asking for opening times in the party town to be extended to 4am, revealed Weerawit Kurasombat, head of the Patong Entertainment Business Association. The announcement comes after a meeting yesterday that reiterated the rules and regulations of the current ‘nightlife zone management plan’ for Patong. “We talked…
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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