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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Trash fires cause evacuations on Koh Lanta
PHUKET: Villagers on Koh Lanta, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, have evacuated their homes because of respiratory problems caused by garbage fires at a landfill. Local authorities say they are unable to control the fires. The villagers sought to publicize the trash burning problem about three weeks ago by appealing to the Krabi Press Club, saying that local authorities…
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Phuket pond cleanup uncovers dumped motorbike
PHUKET: Police are looking into whether a motorbike found this morning dumped in a lagoon in Rawai was stolen or had been involved in a crime. Rawai Municipality officials found the red-and-black Yamaha Nouvo after they began dredging the Baan Sai Yuan public pond near the Rawai Palm Beach Resort at about 10am. “The pond was shallow because mud was…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Murray’s win takes him to number 2 in world rankings; Serena sees off Sharapova
Murray goes to number two with Miami tie-break win over Ferrer Reuters/ Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Spain’s David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 in a grueling Sony Open final yesterday to move above Roger Federer to second in the world rankings. Murray was far from at his best against a dogged Ferrer but won the tie-break comfortably 7-1…
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Phuket Russian teen students still in ICU after motorcyclist crash
PHUKET: Two Russian students from Phuket’s British International School are tonight still in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Phuket International Hospital after being involved in a horrific motorbike accident on the bypass road yesterday. Staff at the hospital declined to give details of the students’ condition, but did confirm that both Vlabislan Adrashko and Sevastan Lukashov were still under…
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Phuket Songkran may be drier than usual
PHUKET: Following the ban on “water battles” in trucks recently announced by Deputy Interior Minister Chat Kuldilok for Songkran celebrations (link here), the Gazette has been informed of possible new restrictions being proposed, given the island’s current drought-like conditions. Phuket is facing its driest quarter in 10 years with only about 2.9mn cubic meters at the Bang Wad Dam (story…
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Cyclists head to Phuket
PHUKET: THE final stage of this year’s cycling event, the “Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand”, will be held here in Phuket. Lt Gen Decha Hemkasri, secretary general of the Thai Cycling Association, under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King said: “The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand will be held from April 1-10…
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Phuket Blood Center stocks up for Songkran
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) wants to boost its blood reserves to prepare for higher demand during the Songkran Festival. “We maintain a daily minimum stock of 200 units of A, B and O blood types, and 20 units of Rhesus-negative blood, but during the Songkran Festival we anticipate more accidents and more people needing blood, so we…
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Phuket FC constructing a new complex on Chao Fa West road
PHUKET: THE island’s football club, Phuket FC, are in the process of constructing a new state-of-the-art training facility just south of Phuket Town, en route to Chalong. This complex will afford players badly needed upgrades to equipment and facilities and will include a natural grass football pitch, as well as an artificial grass pitch, swimming pool, fitness center and physical…
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Italians take path less travelled
PHUKET: An Italian couple who lost their way while sight-seeing at the Khao Phra Thaew wildlife sanctuary in Thalang were recovered safely on March 27. Meiko Parisani and Valentina Bolognini entered the park at about 3:30pm, hoping to see the Ton Sai Waterfall, but soon lost their way. “We were very scared. We saw a monkey with big teeth, it…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Messi nets record, United and Bayern march on
Sio shines as Sochaux sink Lyon Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Lionel Messi scored in a 19th successive league match as Barcelona maintained a 13-point lead in La Liga despite being held to a draw by Celta Vigo, while a deflected goal kept Manchester United 15 points clear in England. Claudio Pizarro scored four times as Bayern Munich hammered Hamburg SV…
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Breaking News: Phuket FC inhale victory against Tobacco Monopoly
PHUKET: The dozens of die hard Phuket FC football fans who’ve so far spent 16 hours on the road since yesterday night, have something to celebrate on their 12-hour ride home following their team’s victory away to TTM Lopburi (0-1) tonight in Bangkok. The match’s only goal was scored by Phuket’s Kritsada Sakaeo from a perfectly weighted free kick late…
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Phuket Immigration seeks help in coping with overload of Rohingya arrivals
PHUKET: The arrival of more than 100 Rohingya men, women and children last weekend has left Phuket Immigration overflowing, with no respite on the horizon. The huge influx of refugees fleeing strife-torn Myanmar has forced Phuket Immigration to seek help elsewhere, said Capt Angkarn Yasanop. Of the 102 Rohingya taken into custody last weekend when the refugees sought shelter on…
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Phuket helps turtles break for the waves
PHUKET: The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa hosted the 4th Mai Khao Turtle Release yesterday afternoon. The important annual event is organized to raise funds for, and awareness of, the plight of Phuket’s critically endangered sea turtles. Supported by the Phuket Marine Biological Center and the Royal Thai Navy, the event released rehabilitated…
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Phuket Police on lookout for three drivers in two fatal hit-and-runs
PHUKET: Chalong Police are looking for the drivers of three vehicles involved in two separate hit-and-runs on Thursday night. Just after midnight yesterday morning, police received a report that a man had died in a road accident near the entrance to Soi Pratana on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong (map here). Chalong Police investigator Wuttiwat Liangboonjinda identified the victim…
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Phuket hotels given one month to start reporting foreign guests
PHUKET: Hotels and other guest accommodation establishments across the island have until May 1 to start filing daily reports identifying their guests to Phuket Immigration before officers start raiding – and charging – the hotel operators. The news follows Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykij on Thursday laying down the law to his officers, ordering them to launch a campaign to…
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Truck water fights banned for Thai New Year
PHUKET: Deputy Interior Minister Chat Kuldilok yesterday announced that people engaging in running water battles from the backs of trucks and pickups during the upcoming Thai New Year Songkran festival will be subject to criminal charges. The news follows a meeting of the national Road Safety Center on Thursday to draw up road-safety measures to be enforced during Songkran, Lt…
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Phuket job fair offering more than 6,000 jobs
PHUKET: More than 6,000 jobs are up for grabs at the two-day “e-jobs@Phuket 2013” employment fair, which started today at Phuket Rajabhat University (map here). “The fair offers prospective employers and employees the opportunity to meet directly and increase their chances of finding a ‘best match’ for the work and the people they are seeking,” Phuket Provincial Employment Office chief…
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Murder fugitive’s 10-year run ends with drug-fuelled road frenzy
PHUKET: A murder fugitive on the run for a decade was arrested yesterday in Phang Nga, just north of Phuket, after an armed drug binge ended with police shooting out his tyres.Phonchai “Bao” Phetrit, from Trang, wanted by Ladprao Police in Bangkok on a murder warrant issued in 2003, was finally placed under arrest after he rammed through three checkpoints,…
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Spate of Phuket parking lot robberies prompts security boost
PHUKET: Five car burglaries in two months at the Bang Maruan lagoon in Srisoonthorn has prompted Deputy Mayor Sakchai Mulikabutr to boost the number of security guards patrolling the area in the evenings. “Chonnakarn Puttharuksa, 34, parked her car near the lagoon and went to exercise there at about 6pm on Thursday evening,” Thalang Police officer Narong Muangdoung told the…
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Phuket sea gypsies fight forced relocation
SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Fearing they will have nowhere to go if court-ordered evictions are carried out, villagers at the southern Phuket sea gypsy community in Rawai have steadfastly resolved to stay put.“Our people have been living here for more than 200 years. Our homes once lined the length of the beach, but now we have only 19 rai to live…
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Phuket drought set to continue, driest early quarter in 10 years
PHUKET: The forecast for isolated, scattered showers across Phuket in the coming days will offer little reprieve to the island’s ongoing dry spell, which is Phuket’s driest January-to-March period in a decade, experts have warned. “The average rainfall during January to March over the past 10 years is 277.71mm, but this year we received only 63.3mm,” said Phuket Meteorological Officer…
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Phuket marine chief floats Airport-Patong sea taxi idea
PHUKET: To offer tourists another option in getting from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach, the chief of the Phuket Marine Office yesterday proposed launching a “sea taxi” to ferry passengers down the island’s west coast. The project is called “From the boat to the plane”, Chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut told a meeting at the Phuket Treasury Office yesterday. “Many tourists visit…
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New 20-baht banknote to launch in Phuket on April 1
PHUKET: The new 20-baht banknote will be available for exchange at commercial banks in Phuket and nationwide from April 1, staff at the Bank of Thailand told the Phuket Gazette this morning.Bank of Thailand Deputy Governor Tongurai Limpiti publicly announced the April 1 launch date yesterday.“The new design incorporates a range of advanced anti-counterfeit features to facilitate authentication by banknote…
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Phuket to stage annual turtle release
PHUKET: The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa will stage the 4th Mai Khao Turtle Release at Mai Khao Beach tomorrow from 3 to 6 pm. The important annual event is organized to raise funds for and awareness of the plight of Phuket’s critically endangered sea turtles. Supported by the Phuket Marine Biological Center…
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Phuket security guard denies B500k ATM theft
PHUKET: A guard working for a Phuket security firm was arrested today for allegedly topping up his own pockets with 500,000 baht instead of topping up an ATM at a gas station near Wat Chalong. The arrest follows Progress Gunpai Co Ltd filing a police complaint against one of their own security guards, Samphan In-Auksorn, 33, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat,…
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Phuket crackdown on Russians heads north
PHUKET: Local officials will start conducting raids across Phuket’s Thalang District, which covers the northern third of the island, targeting any businesses involving foreigners. The raids will first target businesses involving Russians, a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall was told yesterday. As have other recent immigration crackdowns, the Thalang operation will specifically target foreigners either working illegally in Thailand or…
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Patrons and staff of Phuket bars, nightclubs subjected to drug tests
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has launched a campaign to conduct random drug tests at bars and nightclubs across the island.“Police will conduct random urine drug tests of venue staff and customers,” Governor Maitri said during raids on eight nightlife venues in Phuket Town on Monday night.“We will also check that the entertainment venues are legally registered as well,” he…
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Governor orders justice in Phuket arson attack over land dispute
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has ordered the Chalong Police to take swift action in bringing to justice the three men seen setting homes ablaze in Chalong early yesterday morning. With the aid of windy conditions, it took just 30 minutes for the fire to destroy three wooden homes in Soi Palai (map here). Sombat Suwit told the Phuket Gazette…
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Phuket Immigration calls for Rohingya aid
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration is calling for donations of essentials for the 67 Rohingya currently under detention. “We are requesting donations of food, toiletries and clothes for the Rohingya because we do not know how long they will be detained here, as other shelters are full,” said Capt Angkarn Yasanop of the Immigration office on Phuket Road. Two groups of Rohingya…
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Marked Phuket grave gone to the dogs
PHUKET: Following a report from local villagers that they feared a foreign expat was buried at a grave near the Big Buddha image in the Nakkerd Hills, Karon Police today trooped up the hill and exhumed the remains – only to find the body of a buried dog.“At about 10:40am today, we received a report from a local plantation owner…
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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