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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If urban life has left your skin feeling as stressed as the Friday evening rush hour, there’s no reason to let it dampen your spirits. The answer to your skin's prayers might just involve less commuting and more pampering. Thankfully,...
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Patong Police investigate taxi drivers beating up a tourist – VIDEO
Patong Police are investigating an assault on tourists from a group of Patong taxi drivers. Two video clips of taxi drivers attacking tourist in Patong have gone viral in social media today. The incident happened at Malin Plaza Market at the south end of Patong last night at 11pm. A male middle eastern tourist was attacked by taxi drivers in…
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Event Round-Up – April 2019
by The Sponsorship Experts – Paul Poole (South East Asia) The first ever ASEAN Gastronomy Tourism Fair will kick off on April 9-10 at CW Tower Ratchadapisek Bangkok. Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, it is the first time all 10 member states of ASEAN will come together to build a strong foundation for gastronomy tourism in the…
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Leopard cat found dumped in plastic box in Kathu
A leopard cat has been saved after being found dumped inside a plastic box in Kathu. The head of Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area Study Centre Pongchart Chueahom says he had received the healthy leopard cat kitten from a local. “After that we went to the Thalang Police Station to file a report about the dumping of a protected animal.”…
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Bus driver fined after dropping oil on Patong Hill – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Kathu Police / Law Enforcement 201 / Newshawk Phuket A bus driver has been fined after his bus dropped oil onto the road as it was coming down from Patong Hill. Motorbike drivers had been been injured after slipping on the oil slick. The CCTV footage shows the incident when the bus was going down from Patong Hill, dropping…
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Phuket policeman shoots himself, dies in hospital
A Vichit policeman has shot himself at a house in Rassada early today. Police were notified about the incident just after midnight at a house in Rassada, east of Phuket Town on the island’s east coast. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the man on the floor of his bedroom surrounded by pools of blood. A bullet wound was…
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Motorbike passenger dies in accident with minivan in Thalang
A motorbike passenger has died after a motorbike, he was travelling as pillion, collided with a minivan in Thalang. The Thalang Police were notified of the incident at 5.20am yesterday on Paklok – Mueang Mai Road in Paklok, Thalang. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a motorbike crashed on the road. The motorbike driver, 26 year old Orrachun Kongkaew…
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Patong announces ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ schedule
Patong Municipality has announced details for this year’s ‘Songkran Festival on the Beach’ in Patong which will be held at Bangla Park on April 11-13, at the end of Bangla Road. April 11 Sand pagoda forming contest Miss Songkran Beauty Contest Thai dancing shows April 12 Shows from entertainment operators EDM music show April 13 Food offering to monks on…
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Cement truck company fined after dropping cement on Patong Hill – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Kathu Police A Phuket-based cement truck company has been fined after the truck dropped cement as it was climbing Patong Hill yesterday afternoon. The CCTV footage shows the incident when the cement truck was going up on Patong Hill and dropping cement on the road along the way. The incident was reported by Kathu Police. The cement company manager…
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Emergency crews participate in fire drill at Phuket airport
PHOTOS: The Phuket International Airport Phuket International Airport emergency crews battled fake fires near the main runway today. Firefighters and rescue workers were deployed on the tarmac as part of regular drills aimed at improving response times and emergency response efficiency. This was the first such drill at the airport this year. Observing officials reported that the emergency crews were…
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Power outage in parts of Chalong tomorrow
PHOTO: PEA Residents of Chalong should be aware that there is a scheduled power outage from 9am to 4.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) as the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) continues its work on high power voltage systems in the area. The blackouts will affect the areas from the Shell petrol station on Patak Road to Bayshore law office opposite Chalong Beach Hotel…
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Free water schedules for residents in Patong and Rassada
PHOTOS: PWA Authorities have announced schedules of free water distribution for residents in Patong and Rassada. In Rassada by the Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) Koh Siray, from 8pm to midnight every day at Supitcha housing estate Soi Kingkaew and Soi Honsaithong, from 9am to 3pm every day. Nattakamon housing estate, one time per three days. Thep Buri housing estate, one…
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Alleged Greek murderer of Phuket beautician remains at large
PHOTO: Dimitrios ‘Dim’ Chairopoulo, wanted and believed to be living in Greece Local Phuket police are yet be informed of the latest in an international hunt for a Greek alleged murderer Dimitrios Chairopoulos. He remains wanted as a suspect in the murder of local beautician 43 year old Niramon ‘Bea’ Aewkaew in Phuket during February. Cherng Talay police say they want…
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Guyanese arrested over ‘magic’ bank note scam in Phuket
PHOTOS: Surachete Hakparn A Guyanese man has been arrested in Phuket after the owner of a local language school reported a money scammer with an unusual scam. The Immigration Bureau Chief Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn reports that they have arrested the Guyanese man named Abdul Kalam Azad Sattaur at a mansion in Phuket Town last Friday. The arrest follows a Thai…
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Russian ‘mafia’ suspect arrested in Phuket
PHOTO: Siam Rath/Immigration Bureau / Phuket Immigration A male Russian ‘mafia’ identity has been arrested in Chalong, wanted over a number of alleged offenses in his home country. Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn says, “Officers have arrested a Russian man named Igor Tretiakov (spelt as ‘Ior’ on the Immigration poster), at an apartment in Chalong last Friday.” “We were notified from…
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Hermès opens its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta
Hermès has opened of its first store in Phuket at Central Floresta, the newly opened lifestyle shopping destination in the heart of the island, opposite Central Festival. As Hermès’ first venture outside the Thai capital, the new Hermès Phuket store makes a significant statement of expansion and confidence in the market. The new address in this world-renowned island will allow the…
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Red car ‘gun flasher’ arrested in Phuket
Phuket police have arrested and are questioning the driver of a red sedan following Friday’s incident on Thepkasattri Road in Srisoonthorn where he appeared to wave a gun out of his driver’s window (video in the link below). Manop Sangpal was tracked down by police but they’ve confirmed that Mr Manop’s ‘gun’ was just a BB gun, not a firearm.…
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Motorbike driver smashes through glass window after accelerator malfunctions
A female motorbike driver has sustained injuries after her motorbike’s hand grip malfunctioned and she collided with a glass wall. Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an air conditioning shop at 6pm yesterday on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong. Police and emergency responders arrived and found the shattered glass wall and a damaged motorbike. The injured 40…
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Police hunting for driver who threatened others with a gun on Phuket road – VIDEO
PHOTO: Tiw Tiw The Thalang Police are hunting for the driver who was threatening other motorists on Thepkrasattri Road by waving a gun around out of the driver’s window of his red sedan in Thalang this morning. A Facebook user ‘Tiw Tiw’ has posted the video with a message reading “where are the police, please follow him. The incident happened…
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Phuket’s hotel and property players look north
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com One of Greater Phuket’s real estate and hotel market’s that has a decided buzz of late is the area north of Phuket over the Sarasin bridge in Phang Nga. In Natai Beach, the entry of the Baba Beach Club and nearby Akyra has created renewed visibility for the broad West Coast stretch of white sand beach,…
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Motorbike rider dies after colliding with ten wheeler truck in Thalang
A male motorbike rider has died after colliding into the back of a ten wheeler truck in Thalang early this morning. Thalang Police were notified of the accident along Thepkrasattri Road in the southbound lane through Thalang at 2am this morning. The conditions were dry and road was clear of traffic. Emergency responders arrived to find the ten wheelers truck…
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UPDATE: Water truck driver presents himself to police after motorcycle death on Kata hill
A water truck driver has presented himself to Karon Police after yesterday’s road accident on Kata Hill that killed a female motorcycle rider. She died after skidding on oil spilled on the road, falling off the motorbike and being crushed by a water truck in Kata last night. Two others motorists following being also crashed and sustained injuries. Read more…
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68 Ridley’s sea turtles hatched on Phang Nga beach – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand 68 Ridley’s baby sea turtles have hatched on Tha Sai Beach in Thai Muang, Phang Nga and made their way to the sea last night. Ridley’s sea turtles, a protected species in Thailand, have returned recently to Phang Nga beaches to breed over the past few months following a 23 year absence.…
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Motorbike driver dies, another person injured after car driver slams into them
A female motorbike driver has died while a male car driver has sustained injuries after a second car driver fell asleep at the wheel in Thalang crashing into them. The incident happened on Srisoonthorn Road in Thalang at 2pm yesterday (Wednesday). Police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged motorbike and two damaged cars. Police report that the car…
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Baby flying lemur and injured slow loris rescued in Phuket
PHOTOS: Pongchart Chueahom/DNP The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reports that the head of Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, Pongchart Chueahom, has checked in to see the progress of a baby flying lemur and injured slow loris which are being treated at the Department’s wildlife facility. “They are both healthy and the Loris is recovering well. They…
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Dead dugong washed up on Trang Beach
PHOTOS: DNP A dead dugong which was washed up on a beach in Trang today has been sent to Phuket Marine Biological Centre for further examination. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reports that Chaiyapruek Weerapong, the head of Mu Koh Libong Non-Hunting Area in Trang was notified that the dugong was washed up on the beach…
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Indian tourist rescued from a near-drowning at Patong Beach
PHOTOS: Patong Surf Life Saving An Indian tourist has been rescued from drowning after getting into difficulty while swimming at Patong beach yesterday. Patong Surf Life Saving report that around 1.30pm at Patong Beach an Indian tourist was spotted in the water, choking and fighting to stay afloat. Lifeguards dived in and brought him back to the beach. He was…
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Polish man charged after threatening people with a gun in Patong
PHOTOS: Patong Police A Polish man has been charged with carrying a gun in public in Patong, Phuket. Patong Police report that at 6.20pm last night (Tuesday) they were notified that a man was using a gun to threaten others at a hotel on Pisit Koranee Road in Patong. Police headed to the hotel to find the Polish man. He…
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Phuket kratom-cooker robs pharmacies – VIDEO
Phuket police yesterday have arrested a thief while he was cooking up a batch of kratom. He had earlier robbed pharmacies in Chalong, Phuket. Chief Investigator of the Phuket Provincial Police Col Prawit Engchuan says, “Yesterday we have arrested 25 year old Rattaphon Pales at a house in Chalong. Police seized 0.45 litres of liquid kratom.” “On Monday night Chalong…
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Phuket Town Beauty spa shooter kills himself in Saphan Hin
UPDATE: The suspect in this morning’s shootings, 53 year old Chana Rodket from Songkhla, has shot and killed himself in Saphan His this afternoon. He was a housekeeper a the beauty spa where the shooting took place. Earlier, a South Korean man and Thai woman were injured in a shooting at a beauty spa near Naka Market in Phuket Town.…
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Two shot in Phuket Town beauty spa this morning
A South Korean man and Thai woman have been injured in spa shooting in Phuket Town. The two sustained serious injuries from bullet wounds after having been shot at the spa in Wichit today. Wichit Police reports that they was notified of an incident at ‘The Beauty Spa’ in Wichit at 10.30am this morning. Police and emergency responders arrived at…
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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