Phuket News
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Tiger Muaythai instructor dies from an apparent electric shock
Last night (September 13), Chalong police found 37 year old Nipon Jaiwangchana (Taweesak Sit-O) dead in his room in Soi Nakok on Chaofa West Road. He was found laying down next to a small rice cooker wearing black and orange Muaythai pants with the Tiger Muaythai logo. Police initially checked his body and assumed that he had died at least…
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Patong tunnel to start April/May next year
Looks like the island’s long-awaited tunnel through Patong Hill might actually be becoming a reality. Authorities say it will be the first of its kind in Thailand. The Daily News is reporting on the progress of the Patong tunnel project which, it is hoped, will eliminate much of the carnage and delays experienced by drivers on the hill everyday. Sutthisak…
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1200 athletes heading to the Laguna Phuket Triathlon
During the Governor’s Meet Press event yesterday (September 13), the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon race updated its progress before the big race day on November 19. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Laguna Phuket this year, Laguna Phuket has arranged the 1st Laguna Phuket Tri Charity Fun Run on the day before the triathlon. The charity run will feature a…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 14
New eco-tourism area for Phuket | AMLO chasing ex-PM Thaksin’s son | Bangkok ATM exploded opened with TNT | Radio Free Asia silenced in Cambodia | Tropical storm Doksuri heading our way affecting our weather this weekend.
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Kalasin man arrested over hotel room robbery
Patong police have arrested 28 year old Aekkapan Ketna from Kalasin province (north east Thailand) yesterday (September 13) after he stole a room keycard from 50 year old Australian Donna Lee and used it to sneak in and steal valuables from her hotel room on Patong’s beach front. Her keycard was stolen on Patong Beach while she was swimming in…
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Khao Phra Theao – Phuket’s new eco-tourism destination
Phuket’s Governor, Noraphat Plodthong, has announced today (September 13), that after surveying the non-hunting area of Khao Phra Theao, he has planned to make it a destination for eco-tourism and a nature study route. The 22.28 square kilometers of lush rainforest mountain features a long list of wildlife such as gibbons, mouse deer, wild boar, wild fowl, green pit viper…
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Share-bike comes to Phuket Town
Phuket’s Governor chaired a meeting with Phuket City Development (PKCD), the Phuket Municipality and two bicycle companies who are sponsoring the initiative, aiming to launch the bicycle sharing project on September 20. The project hopes to help reduce the crowded traffic and parking space issues around Phuket Town. “The project is organised by PKCD, a joint venture between government and…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, September 13
Share-bike scheme launched for Phuket Town | Dramatic video of the Fresno County rescue | Two cars were used in former PM Yingluck escape | NCPO use Article 44 in four cases | National drug sting results in 734 arrests.
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17 year old using BB gun to rob locals and tourists
Last night (September 11), Phuket police arrested a 17 year old from Had Yai, Songkhla, in Soi Hongyok-Utit, Phuket Town. He’d already committed 4 or 5 robberies and claimed that he robbed people after taking drugs. At the scene police found a black BB gun, a red plate, green and grey Yamaha motorcycle, a helmet, two mobile phones, a shoulder…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, September 12
32 year old in custody after seizure of 200 Kg of Kratom in Had Yai | ‘Fight of God’ video game ‘disrespectful’ | UN claim ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Rohingya crisis | 6,000 chicken dead in Krabi | 500 students protest in Phuket Town.
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27 gamblers arrested with 8,000 Baht cash
Early this morning (September 12), military and police teams searched a 2-storey house in Soi Sansuk 1 in Phuket Town and arrested 27 gamblers, including 11 men and 16 women. The place was used as a gambling house. 70 Wooden chips, used as money, cards and a gambling table were also found at the scene with 8,810 Baht in cash.…
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Waterspout spotted near Krabi’s Ao Nang
A waterspout was spotted near Ao Nang beach, in Krabi yesterday (September 11). The impressive, yet relatively harmless mini-tornado, lasted for about 20 minutes before it disappeared. The 15 second video of the waterspout was shared by Warakorn Chamnanpoom. He says that it happened about 5 kilometers offshore. It is more likely to see such event during the rainy season…
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Ironman 70.3 Thailand returns to Phuket
Triathletes from around the world are heading to Phuket for a weekend of swim-bike-run where 1,500 competitors from more than 60 countries are expected to compete in the Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand on November 26, and up to 300 youngsters in the Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand. Built on the belief that Anything is Possible®, IRONMAN – the original triathlon brand –…
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Chicken deaths make Krabi villagers nervous
Krabi locals are scared of an epidemic after finding 6,000 chickens dead. The villagers of Klong Kamao sub-district reported the incident to the Krabi Livestock Office before the officers were able to get rid of the remaining chickens that could possibly be infected. However, the cause of death of such a large amount of chickens hasn’t yet been ascertained, making…
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Countdown to the big clean-up
The countdown is on for this Saturday’s mega beach clean-up around the island of Phuket. The activities kick off at 8am at different venues around the island. The Phuket Hotels Association have been active in investing in the island’s future. They have developed long-term environmental and educational programs to provide the foundation for ongoing development and sustainable success. The PHA…
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Students protest at Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School
About 500 students alongside some teachers and parents of Srinagarindra the Princess Mother School in Phuket, gathered this morning (September 11) to call for the School Director to resign following several criticisms about his work. The signs written by students were presented at the protest showing many issues such as “Megalomaniac, get out!”, “Go use your power somewhere else. We…
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Seven turned themselves in, five detained – Phang Nga Rape Case.
Seven men have now turned themselves into police in Phang Nga to deny any wrongdoing in the alleged gang rapes of a 15 year old schoolgirl over a period of six months on 2016. Five were immediately detained because the Phang Nga Provincial Court had approved arrest warrants for them. Previously, three other suspects have been arrested. Their trials will…
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Cleaning up Patong. 12 arrested for drug possession in Phuket
12 drug dealers have been arrested and charged with possession of 8,000 amphetamine pills , 500 grams of meth amphetamine and 40 kilograms of Kratom leaves. Nine of the them were initially arrested on September 6 by Patong police including 5 men and 4 women who were found in possession of meth amphetamine and Kratom leaves. Three of the men…
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Laypang gets measured up for new home
A big team from Bangkok consisting the Deputy Director of Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) – Dr. Pinsak Surasawadee, alongside Marine Specialist and Deputy Dean of Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University – Thon Thamrongnawasawad, and other specialists visited the 200 kilogram crocodile today (September 8) to verify the exact species in order to find a proper…
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Two students allege being hit by school director
Baan Bomuang School Director, Opat Kongpakdee, is to be investigated and possibly sacked from the school after harming 2 students. Anusorn Samart and Rittidech Mas-Osot, two students from grade 5, were accompanied by their parents and village chief, Sittichai Bomuang, to Krabi Damrongtham Center to complain about the case. The students were found with bruises on their heads which they…
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Baby green turtle born at Koh Racha
A green turtle was born at 2 am this morning (September 8) after the 20 year old mother laid 87 eggs on Koh Racha on August 15. The eggs were kept in the safe place by villagers as this is the first group of turtle found around Racha Island in the past 14 years. Initially, the mother laid the eggs…
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The tide is low but it has been lower in the past
It’s been drier in the past. Bang Wad dam May 2015 Bang Wad dam is low for this time of the year but Richard Rognard reminds us with photos from May 2015, the driest the dam has ever been. Of course this was immediately following a very dry ‘dry season’ when there was almost no rain for over four months.…
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Phang Nga rape victim and her mother meet psychologist
The victim and her mother from Baan Koh Raed, Phang Nga, have been brought by officers from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to see a psychologist after facing severe depression from case and the pressure from their neighbours. They also claim they have been facing ongoing harassment from other villagers. The 34 year old mother and 15…
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Is Phuket’s Bang Wad dam running dry?
Last year’s dry season, the traditional December to April period when there is little rain in Phuket, was very wet. So after four months of this year’s wet season you’d think the dams would be getting close to full. Right? The Bang Wad dam in Kathu, one of the island’s main fresh water sources, is at a low point that…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, September 7
11 suspects identified over Phang Nga rape case | The ‘Dowry Scammer’ has netted 2 – 3 million Baht | ‘Persecution of Muslims in Burma’ report released in Bangkok | High-speed railway starting next month | ‘Run 2 Gether’ route around Phuket Town announced | Sea Turtles saved from trawler nets
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Urban push is on in Phuket’s Cherngtalay area
Phuket tourism is no longer just about the beach and the urban push is ‘game on’. One leading example is Cherngtalay which is near to the destination resort Laguna Phuket and Bangtao Beach. Upcoming in the fourth quarter of this year will be the X2 Vibe Bangtao that is set to usher in a rush of new ‘off beach’ properties. Within…
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A girl denies having been raped – Phang Nga Rape Case
Another girl who was mentioned by the 14 year old from Baan Koh Raed village is denying ever being raped while villagers maintain they are very stressed about the case. Drugs utensils were found in the shack described as the rape scene in front of the beach. The 17 year old girl has denied being involved in the rape case…
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Dolphin found on Bang Tao beach
Bang Tao beach lifeguards found the body of a 1.2-meter long dolphin on the beach today (September 6). Phuket Marine Biological Center took the body from the beach and kept it frozen while waiting for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The dolphin is 1.2-meter long with a width of about 20 cm and weighs 20 kilograms. It…
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Hawksbill Sea Turtles saved from trawler nets
The crew from the Nikorn Marine 824 speed boat have saved two Hawksbill Sea Turtles near Racha Island yesterday (September 5). They were both injured from trawler nets. The turtles were found on the way from Racha Island back to Chalong Pier. After a veterinarian’s inspection, the turtles were found to be injured from the netting wrapped around their flippers.…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, September 6
Terrorist plot thwarted in KL | Gender imbalance report for Asian countries | Following Yingluck’s CCTV trail | 13 grounded airlines named | 15 year old rape victim’s family ‘harassed’.
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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