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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Iraqi national arrested for allegedly stealing 60,000 baht from tourist
PHUKET: An Iraqi national was yesterday arrested for allegedly stealing 60,000 baht from a tourist at a Phuket hotel last week. The suspect, Ouday Kadim Rashek, 27, was arrested at a housing estate in Vichit. “The victim, a tourist from Qatar, told us that he came to Phuket with a friend on June 26 and was initially scheduled to go…
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New labor laws see hundreds of migrant workers fired, sent home
PHUKET: At least 400 Burmese migrant workers in Phuket were sent back home yesterday morning after their employers terminated them as a consequence of draconian new labor laws. Phuket Governor Norrphat Plodthong and other relevant officers oversaw the exodus. The workers gathered at the Tha Rua shrine near the Heroines Monument in Si Sunthon. They were then transported to Ranong…
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Dead whale washes up at Phuket beach
PHUKET: Another dead marine creature, this time a bryde whale rarely seen in these parts, washed ashore at a Phuket beach yesterday. The 10-meter-long animal was missing its tail. It was stinking and its skin was falling apart. Officials from the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), National Park Preservation Unit 4 and Cherng Talay Police arrived at the scene at…
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Phang Nga airport plans shrouded in controversy
PHANG NGA: The proposal for a full-scale commercial airport in Phang Nga, first revealed by the Phuket Gazette a year ago, has a long way to travel before it can hand a prospectus to more potential investors. Enthusiasm from its lead drivers, however, Bangkok Airways and the Phang Nga provincial governor, continues unabated. Governor Pakkapong Tawiphat told the Phuket Gazette…
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Man survives road crash by jumping out of moving truck
PHUKET:A truck driver survived an early morning crash after he jumped out of his truck before it ran into a roadside barrier and trees on the Bypass Road yesterday morning. The incident took place in front of the Premium Outlet. “The driver, 24-year-old Bunlung Issara, told us that he was on his way back to Surat Thani after making a…
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One killed, several Chinese tourists injured in bus crash on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A motorbike driver died instantly last night when her head was crushed by a ‘broken down’ tour bus. The incident, which also sent more than 30 “shocked and moaning” Chinese passengers aboard the bus to hospital, occurred as the two vehicles descended Patong Hill westbound. The fatality, Ms Rattana Sukpisal, 44, had a passenger with her on the bike.…
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Chinese tourists, mahout injured in falls from elephants
PHUKET: Two Elephants went wild over a barking dog in Phuket yesterday, injuring three Chinese tourists and a mahout (elephant tender). Vachira Hospital received a report of the incident at about 9:30am, then asked rescue workers to send three ambulances to the elephant camp in Chalong. A total of five people were hurt, four tourists and the mahout leading the…
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Phuket hosts tropical fruit festival
PHUKET: Central Festival Phuket yesterday hosted the launch of ‘Thailand Amazing Durian & Fruit Festival’ which is to be held in Phuket till July 4. Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad presided over the opening ceremony. “Following successful feedback in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, we launched the festival in Phuket to support Thailand as a choice destination for tropical fruits, and…
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Deputy PM kicks off tourist safety drill in Phuket
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Third Area Command held its annual rescue and safety drill for tourists at the Marine National Park Operations Center yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thanasak Patimaprakorn and Vice Admiral Surapol Koobtapun from RTN 3 presided over the ceremony. The drill was held in coordination with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation…
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American tourist badly injured in rock climbing fall
KRABI: Another tourist, this time an American, has been seriously injured while rock climbing in Phuket’s neighboring Krabi province. At about 2pm, a rescue team and the Krabi Tourist Police received a report from the ‘Railay Rock Climbing Club’ that American tourist Eduardo Keane had fallen off a viewpoint from the near-vertical cliff face at Railay Bay. “Mr Keane is…
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ATM skimming: Two more Chinese tourists arrested
PHUKET: Two Chinese ATM skimmers were arrested in the act of installing their equipment at an ATM in Thalang yesterday afternoon. “The suspects, Chaopeng Zhou, 30, and Qihong Zhou, 24, were nabbed in front of a 7/11 in Baan Lipon on Thepkrasattri Road northbound,” says Lt Col Natthaphop Phongsapan of Thalang Police. Officers seized two pieces of skimming equipment, four…
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Masked robbers with a shotgun and an M16 foiled by a single man in Phang-nga
PHANG NGA: Police are hunting for two men who used an M16 machine gun in a failed attempt to rob a snooker hall in Phang-nga on Monday night. The 35-year-old owner, who refuses to be named, filed a complaint about the attempted robbery with the police in Phang-nga Town yesterday morning, along with evidence from CCTV footage. The footage shows…
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Army soldiers and Phuket police raid 16 massage parlors at Poonpol Night Plaza
PHUKET: Following an order by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, a ‘task force’ of 100 police and soldiers raided 16 massage venues in and near Poonpol Night Plaza last night. The raids were led by Capt Bhavorn Promkeawngam. The purpose of the operation was to suppress illicit behavior, including possession of drugs, working without a permit and human trafficking. Police say…
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Phuket International airport under fire for filthy, stinking toilets
PHUKET: Well known Thai actor Krirkphol Masayavanich has taken to Facebook to tell airport management that he’s not happy their toilets. Translated from Thai, the complaint reads: “The toilets [at the airport] are in serious need of attention. So dirty and stink terribly. I can’t even take a [xxit]!” Many comments under the post agree with him. Recently appointed Airport…
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Rape escape: Phone call aborts rape of Phuket woman two months pregnant
PHUKET: A chance incoming phone call saved a two-month pregnant woman from being raped yesterday afternoon in her rental room in Phuket. The loud ring panicked the rapist who then fled. “After receiving a report from the victim’s boyfriend, we arrived at the scene at about 4pm. It was a rental room in Soi Pracha in Wichit district. The girl,…
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Motorbike in Phuket worker’s kitchen explodes, reaps big damage in Thalang
PHUKET: A motorbike explosion caused a worker’s quarters in Phuket to catch fire last night, resulting in more than 100,000 baht in damages. Police have yet to learn why the bike exploded. Thalang police station received a report of the incident at about 10:30pm from the quarters in Baan Manik and dispatched fire fighters from the Phuket Disaster Prevention and…
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Forestry and Wildlife officers on Koh Lanta seize 100 rai of violated land
KRABI: Department of Forestry and allied officials yesterday seized about 100 rai of Koh Lanta land that had been encroached upon by parties they characterized as ‘too powerful, unfazed by law and willing to threaten authorities with death’. More than 30 officials from several departments participated in the take-back, led by Wildlife Conservation Department head Sawat Suksiri. “Locals reported to…
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Good Thai-Myanmar relations highlighted at border management meeting in Phuket
PHUKET: The 31st meeting of the Thai Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC) was held at Patong Resort & Spa this morning to solve border problems and strengthen relationships. “In the past, Thailand and Myanmar have always helped each other to deal with border problems, and the purpose of this meeting today was to ensure continued cooperation for stability. Most importantly,…
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Phuket Crime: French tourist latest victim of ladyboy theft at Patong Beach
PHUKET: Patong police yesterday arrested a ladyboy who stole an iPhone from a French tourist on Patong beach. “Mr Montree Srijantra, 24, was arrested near the Paris Star guesthouse in Patong following a complaint by the tourist,” said Capt Jarun Jaisuntud of Patong Police. “On June 19, we received a report from Mr Marcel Sawcho that his iPhone 6 was…
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Driver leaped from truck moments before explosion, flip-over
PHUKET: A truck driver narrowly escaped death or serious injury by scrambling out of his truck before a wheel explosion flipped it over on the bypass road yesterday evening, causing a major traffic jam. “The incident occurred on the northbound side of the road near the Pornthip souvenir shop at about 7:30pm. We found the truck flipped over with a…
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Phuket soldier killed yesterday by bomb in Pattani honored, buried here this morning
PHUKET: At 11:30am yesterday (June 19), a car bomb in Pattani province killed 6 soldiers, including a Phuket man whose body arrived here late last night. Phuket Vice Governor Sanit Sriwihok and related officials honored the arrival of the body of Pvt Kittipong Bornar, 23, which traveled by car in a parade to honor the hero. “I feel deep sorrow…
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Phuket’s Mai Khao Beach disgraced in social media
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong is demanding fast action from officials in Sirinat National Park over a stream of complaints from tourists and local villagers about an accumulation of ‘huge’ amounts of trash on the beach at the threshold to the runway at Phuket International Airport. Access to that stretch of beach is through Soi Mai Khao 4, next to the…
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Erection of fence angers Phuket market vendors on Koh Siray
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad held a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday over an erection on Koh Siray of a fence that is alleged to have damaged the income of vendors in a local market. At the meeting, among others, were concerned officials, vendor leader Sontaya Chulpum, and a representative of Siam Dock Yard Co (SDYC) who had installed…
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Cause of Phuket volunteer diver’s death continues under investigation
PHUKET: A volunteer diver died on duty while planting coral off Racha Yai island yesterday. Police are not sure about the cause of her death but are looking into personal health issues and the possibility that her tank ran out of air. The diver, Lakkana Sakunpong, 40, was on a volunteer job arranged by the Department of Marine and Coastal…
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Half a million baht worth of goods confiscated in Phuket raid
PHUKET: A Patong raid led to half a million baht’s worth of pirated goods being seized from 19 shops this morning. “After learning from our source that there were many shops selling pirated goods in Patong, we took teams of officers to the area for inspection. The shop owners managed to escape the scene as soon as we arrived,” said…
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Officials try to curb growing numbers of beggars in Phuket
PHUKET: Officials are trying to counter the increasing numbers of beggars in Phuket, particularly in Rawai. Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad yesterday held a meeting with concerned officials and sea gypsy representatives to discuss ideas and solutions after a growing number of sea gypsy children were seen pestering tourists for money. “We have been informed by Rawai residents that a…
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King Cobra rescued and released
PHUKET: A king cobra was captured after it was found underneath the hood of a car parked at the ‘Nature and Wildlife Education Center’ at Khao Phra Thaew yesterday. The cobra was just over two meters long and weighed about 3kgs. It was released into a jungle near the center. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene after locals…
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Thailand receives ranking upgrade for combating IUU fishing
PHUKET: The European Commission has formally upgraded Thailand’s fisheries ranking, citing the Kingdom’s efforts to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing over the past two years. Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news during a ‘Point of Contact’ marine resources conference with Andaman officials at Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.…
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Phuket police issue warning against ‘belt guns’
PHUKET: Police have issued a warning about ‘belt guns’ after another drug dealer was caught in possession of one last week. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police yesterday held a press conference to display the weapon and warn against its potential dangers. The gun and bullets were seized from Bundit Chaiwandud, 38, who was charged with possession of category 5…
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Phuket gov announces improvement plans at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has announced plans to boost security protocols at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint to ensure that no illegal substances are being smuggled in or out of Phuket. The governor unveiled his plans during a meeting with relevant officers at the Mai Khao OrBorTor office yesterday. “The final improvement plans have already been laid out. Some of…
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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