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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PVC warehouse blaze in Phuket Town
At about 11 pm last night (October 13), officers from the Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office received a report about a fire at a one story warehouse that belongs to the Modern PVC Co. and the K P Modern Group. The facilities are located on Soi Saensuk 1, Phuket Road. The 3 fire trucks took about 30 minutes to…
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The 60 million Baht scam. Police make arrests in Bangkok.
A 45 year old Taiwanese man wanted for a high-profile electronic card information theft linked to a “call centre scam” has been arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima. Suspect Chi Min, wanted on a Sikhiu Court-issued arrest warrant since September, was arrested at a Muang Nakhon Ratchasima restaurant late on Thursday afternoon. Police also seized 270,000 Baht in cash, five bank account…
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Patong shooter surrenders – assisting Police with investigation
34 year old Manas Pongsuppakij, who lives in Patong, surrendered himself to Patong police today (October 13) after getting pressure from the police to report to them as soon as possible. Following a shooting at Hollywood nightclub in Bangla Road, injuring the victim 27 year old Pongwarit Thiptara, to his leg and back, the police were able to track down…
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Baggage handler caught stealing from luggage
Airport baggage handler, 27 year old Abdullah Hayee Mayeh, was arrested with a bluetooth speaker on October 12 after his robbery was recorded on video. CCTV cameras caught him trying to open the luggage of a passenger of Jetstar Airways flight on October 10 at Bay 15 at Phuket International Airport while loading luggage onto the aircraft parked on the…
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Shooting at a Patong nightclub
At 3 am this morning, a shooting took place in a famous nightclub in the middle of Bangla Road, Patong. One Thai man was injured. The incident happened when the nightclub was closing down. 27 year old Pongwarit Thiptara was walking past a man when the two accidentally collided inside the club and the man, who he has never seen…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, October 12
Pheu Thai and investors welcome election date confirmation | Owners with drones have 90 days to register, or else | Soi Cowboy in BKK told to close down | More flights from Thai Airways | An 84 year old academic being indicted over a famous Thai 16th century battle.
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Chalong police arrest two with 100 kilograms of Kratom leaves
Two men, 28 year old Thanachai Ngakaew and 18 year old Ratthapong Tingnui, have been arrested with 42 kilograms of Kratom plants and 60 kilograms of fresh Kratom leaves on October 10. The two were arrested at their rented house in Chalong area after police tracked them for a while after they had allegedly traded the drugs to local…
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Injured turtle found at Nai Harn Beach
Yesterday at 4pm, swimmers at Nai Harn Beach found an Olive Ridley sea turtle near the shore. Its front left leg was severely injured from a trawler or motorboat propeller and its right front leg was mildly cut as well. The lifeguards at Nai Harn Beach contacted Rawai Municipality and the Rare Sea Animal Division of Phuket Marine Biological Centre…
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Vegetable contamination check for the Vegetarian Festival
Phuket’s Governor, together with the Phuket Mayor, visited Banzan fresh market in Patong today (October 11) to check for any contamination of fresh vegetable and fruits before this year’s Vegetarian Festival. “The Vegetarian Festival starts from October 20 – 28 and there will be a lot more people consuming vegetables and fruits during the festival. These products can be contaminated…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, October 11
No buts, no butts on beaches | Prayut confirms election date | Thailand’s most profitable national parks | Ofo wants its share-bikes back | Four tonne drug haul in Thai/Australian sting.
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PM Prayut clarifies election date
PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday announced firmly that the election would be held in November next year, following a previous indication that it would be in June 2019. “For this [election] part, it was said that it would be around June 2018 that there will be the announcement of the election date, and then in November, there will be the…
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Phuket’s cremation ceremony rehearsal set for October 22
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, announced during his press conference “Governor Meets Media” that the cremation ceremony rehearsal for King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Phuket will take place at Sapan Hin Park on October 22. He explained that the ceremony will be set in 3 zones; the closest zone inside is where the wooden flowers and pyre model are placed, the second…
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Koh Phi Phi – Thailand’s most profitable national park
Phi Phi Islands is the most profitable national park in the nation for 2 years in a row. Had Nopparat Thara – Phi Phi Island National Park has officially reached the highest income among the national parks across the country this year with 669 million Baht. The statistic were revealed by the Department of Nature, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP)…
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Banning the butt – cigarette ban on Phuket’s beaches
What is the most numerous item found at the many beach cleans organised by groups around the island? Plastic bottle? Straws? Flip-flops? plastic bags? No. It’s cigarette butts. People smoking on the beach and leaving their butts in the sand are a major contributor to the island’s beach rubbish problem. And it’s not just Phuket. Beaches around the kingdom have…
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Hundreds of share-bikes taken home by renters
Despite excellent feedback on the share-bike initiative and more than a thousand users per day, the share-bike project is suffering from renters who think that the bikes are “giveaways from the government”. Many users have taken the bike back home and using it as a personal belonging. Some of them have even brought their pick-ups and motor-tricycle (samlor) to take…
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Blood Donations in Honour of King Bhumibol Adulyadej
More than 200 Phuketians joined a blood donation drive in honour of the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX. The blood donation booth was set up at the Metropol Hotel in Phuket Town from 9am – 3pm yesterday with an exhibition of the past King working on blood donation projects. The exhibition also provided knowledge about donating and…
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Jail terms for three officials in Phuket land encroachment case
The Criminal Court on Monday handed down prison sentences to all three surviving offenders in the Phuket land-corruption case, while the Land Department was ordered to revoke the land deed at issue in the case. The court sentenced the first defendant, Narong Ounseam, the land surveyor, to five years in jail; the second defendant, Sommit Suebsin, the kamnan of Tambon…
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Orca Whale spotted in the seas off Phuket
The Orca aka “Killer Whale” has been spotted in the sea on the west coast of Phuket. The VDO and picture were captured by the Facebook user named “Phairot Kong.” For this impressive discovery, Dr. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine activist, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Fishery at Kasetsart University and an official advisor to the Department of Marine…
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Phuket International Airport domestic terminal ready for high season
The first phase of the renovated domestic terminal of Phuket International Airport will be ready on November 28, just in time for the tourism high season. During the press conference celebrating the 29th anniversary of the airport, Phuket International Airport General Manager, Petch Chancharoen, revealed that the first phase of the domestic terminal renovations will open its door to welcome…
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3,200 runners turn up for the annual Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run
There was a huge turnout for the 13th Mai Khao Marine Turtle Fun Run and Mini Marathon 2017, with 3,200 people taking part in the annual event. The opening ceremony was presided by Phuket’s Governor Noraphat Plodthong alongside Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok, Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew, Uthit Limsakul, Deputy Director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Oriol Montal, GM…
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Taking the bang out of this year’s Vegetarian Festival
This year’s Vegetarian Festival will still be taking place between October 20 – 28. But organisers have been asked to ‘tone it down’ (how do you tone down the Vegetarian Festival?!) and restrict parades until the last day only in respect of the funeral for the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok. Whilst the festival is meant to be about…
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Fake immigration officer trying to extort foreigners around Phuket
Phuket Immigration are warning of a fake officer who is trying to extort money from foreigners around the island. After gathering information, Phuket Immigration say that a person has been impersonating an officer from the local Immigration Office and been asking for money from foreigners saying they have problems with their visas. Phuket Immigration Police are now investigating the situation to…
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Illegal lottery operator arrested in Phang Nga
Phang Nga police have arrested 47 year old Pramote Jiaranai, 30 year old Omthip Padtae and 33 year old Achiwan Janthadom for illegal lottery trading yesterday (October 6). At the scene, a house in Taimuang District, Phang Nga, police seized the lottery notes, 55,445 Baht in cash, a notebook computer and a calculator. The three are charged for hosting a…
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6 share-bikes found dumped in Bangyai canal
6 Ofo bicycles from the share-bike project launched in Phuket Town in September, have been found dumped in a canal. Some of them have also been stolen by the renters in the first few days as well. The sharing bike project had been launched on September 20 and announced free rides for a month from October 1. Apart from the…
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150 temporary lifeguards being trained
The Phuket OrBorJor (Phuket Provincial Organisation) is setting up a training course for 150 new lifeguards in readiness to step in if no one bids in the new auction. A meeting at the OrBorJor office today (October 6) chaired by Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew, along with many local authorities, discussed about more possible solutions for Phuket lifeguard duties. There have…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, October 6
Election delayed until 2019 | Laypang won’t be released to the wild | Kasikorn Bank has revised it’s predictions for Thai economy | Big drug haul in Phuket Town | Janitor gets special surprise from students.
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Phuket father and son set off on a special journey for a special King
A local disabled person is heading north to Bangkok to attend King Bhumibhol’s Cremation – by road in his wheelchair. The representative of Phuket disabled people is 49 year old Sompong Juiplub and his 15 year old ‘abled’ son, Thanawut Juiplub, who will be assisting during the journey. The pair are scheduled to leave from Phuket on route to Bangkok…
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Drugs, guns and bullets – 2 men arrested
Today (October 5), Phuket police announced the arrest of 2 men with 10,760 amphetamine pills, 1 kilogram of meth amphetamine and guns and bullets valued at 1.4 million Baht. The arrest follows a 7-kilogram amphetamine crackdown that happened 2 months ago. The police tracked down the other drug dealers involved in the network by investigating the people arrested. Police discovered…
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Laypang won’t be released back to the wild
The DNA results for Laypang, Phuket’s celebrity crocodile, has been revealed it is a mix between saltwater and freshwater crocodile which was possibly born through a human breeder, not naturally. Phuket’s Governor says that the Fisheries Department will be responsible for the next step in the Laypang saga. The authorities are now checking for possible locations where the crocodile comes…
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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