Phuket News
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American tourist rammed off bike and robbed in Phuket attack
An American tourist was attacked on a Phuket road when two men rammed his motorbike with an SUV before robbing him of a luxury watch and fleeing the scene. The assault happened at about 4.20pm yesterday, September 18, on Soi Layan Soi 7, heading towards Ban Phru Somphan, when a blue Ford Everest SUV struck the tourist’s red Honda motorbike…
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Taxi turf war erupts as Phuket drivers block cruise cab
Police intervened at Phuket’s main cruise port after local taxi drivers blocked an outside cab from collecting tourists, sparking a tense standoff. The confrontation erupted at about 3pm at Phuket Deep Sea Port in Wichit, shortly after the Genting Dream cruise liner arrived with 4,200 foreign tourists. According to police, around 60 community taxi drivers gathered at the pier and…
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Phuket cracks down on illegal restaurants in protected park
Officials in Phuket inspected Mai Khao Beach and confirmed that restaurants are operating illegally inside Sirinat National Park, prompting a renewed crackdown. The joint inspection took place yesterday, September 17, in Villages 3 and 4 of Mai Khao, where officers confirmed that several operators continue to run beachfront businesses despite the area being legally designated as part of the national…
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Hunt on for driver after car smashes Phuket U-turn barrier
Police in Phuket are searching for a driver who fled after crashing into a newly built U-turn barrier in Thalang, an incident caught on video and shared online. The crash happened late on Tuesday, September 16, near the Thalang power station in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn. The impact, captured on video and widely shared on social media, shows a sedan slamming…
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Patong lifeguards warn as venomous bluebottles wash up
Lifeguards at Patong Beach have issued a warning after venomous Portuguese man o’ war jellyfish washed ashore, urging tourists to stay cautious in the water. Lifeguards raised the alarm after several of the creatures were found along the sand. Patong Surf Life Saving urged beachgoers not to touch or play with them, stressing that anyone stung should immediately seek assistance…
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Foreign biker crashes head-on into Phuket showroom steps
A foreign motorcyclist in Phuket was caught on CCTV riding against traffic before crashing into a showroom, leaving him with minor injuries and viral fame. The incident occurred at around 5.15pm on Monday, September 15, on the northbound lanes of Thepkasattri Road in Koh Kaew. The rider, travelling against oncoming traffic, appeared to swerve to avoid a collision with another…
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Phuket airport skips memorial for deadly One-Two-Go crash
Eighteen years after the One-Two-Go crash killed 90 people in Phuket, no memorial was held again, as Phuket International Airport instead staged dance shows. The crash of One-Two-Go flight OG269 on September 16, 2007, claimed 90 lives, yet Airports of Thailand (AoT) and its staff at Phuket airport have never held a memorial. No service was held in the days…
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Phuket hotel mystery: Young woman found dead in room
A 26 year old woman was found dead in her hotel room in Phuket, prompting police and forensic teams to investigate the cause of her unexplained death. Police in Cherng Talay are investigating the death of a young woman who was found lifeless in her hotel room within a resort complex yesterday afternoon. Cherng Talay Police received notification of the…
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Justice Minister vows tougher anti-drug measures in Phuket’s Sea Gypsy Village
Justice Minister Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong has pledged stronger action to tackle persistent drug problems in the Sea Gypsy Village in Rawai, Phuket, while also addressing broader community challenges such as land disputes, flooding, and youth vulnerability. Pol. Col. Thawee visited the village on September 13, joined by officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Corrections Department, Phuket…
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Phuket officials clash over Bang Tao building permit dispute
A legal battle has erupted in Phuket as two local administrations clash over who holds the authority to issue building permits in the Bang Tao area. A jurisdictional dispute between two local administrations in Phuket has reached the Administrative Court, as Cherng Talay Municipality and Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) battle over authority in Bang Tao. The legal case,…
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Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
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Man found dead in Phuket dorm after family argument
A man was found dead in a Phuket dormitory bathroom after a family dispute, prompting police and medical teams to investigate the cause of death. Police in Kathu, Phuket, were alerted to the incident at 8.40am yesterday, September 11. Officers from Kathu Police Station, accompanied by a forensic doctor from Vachira Phuket Hospital and Phuket Kusontham Foundation responders, arrived promptly…
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U-turn project slashes road deaths to zero in Phuket
A road safety project in Phuket has transformed a dangerous highway, cutting fatalities to zero in a key area through joint efforts by local and international partners. The dramatic turnaround stems from the Safe & Seamless U-Turn initiative launched on Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402), Phuket’s busiest and most notorious thoroughfare, renowned for its deadly crashes and congestion. Formally handed over…
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Tourist rescued after ignoring red flags at Karon Beach
A reckless tourist nearly paid the ultimate price after ignoring red flags at Phuket’s Karon Beach, only to be dragged out by powerful monsoon waves. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, September 10, when lifeguards raised red flags to warn beachgoers against swimming due to strong waves and dangerous currents. Despite the clear warning signs, a foreign man decided to swim…
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Indian man caught masturbating in front of Thai woman in Phuket
An Indian man allegedly stalked a Thai woman in the Kamala district of Phuket and masturbated in front of her, leading local administrative officers to send him to the police. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The news Facebook page เจ๊ม้à¸à¸¢ v+ (Jmoi v+) shared video footage of the incident along with…
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Patong cops save stranded driver who ran out of petrol
Police in Patong rushed to help a stranded motorist whose car had broken down on a busy road late at night, stepping in to manage traffic and get him moving again. At 11.15pm yesterday, September 10, Patong Police received a call about a broken-down vehicle blocking the outbound road from Patong near the well-known shrine on Khao Patong. Senior officers,…
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Patong cops swoop on dodgy kerbside parking setups
Police launched a street operation in Patong to remove illegal objects placed on roads and pavements to reserve parking, following complaints from locals. At 10.30am today, September 10, officers from Patong Police Station launched a crackdown on unauthorised parking space blockades in a busy Phuket district. Led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, the operation targeted makeshift barriers placed along Rat…
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Phuket stages full-scale fire drill to boost city safety
Phuket officials are preparing a full-scale fire drill at City Hall to train government agencies, volunteers, and the public in emergency response and safety. The exercise will see government agencies, volunteers, and private-sector partners join forces to simulate disaster response and enhance fire safety knowledge across the province. The drill is scheduled for today, September 10, at 1.30pm, with the…
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Foreign couple survives unharmed after SUV crashes into Phuket sea
A foreign couple miraculously escaped unharmed after driving their SUV into the sea at a yacht marina in Phuket on Sunday, September 7. Footage of the incident went viral on Thai social media after being shared in several boat operator chat groups in Phuket. Multiple Facebook news pages later reposted the clip today. The video caption read… “A foreign couple…
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Scholarships awarded to 119 disabled children in Phuket
A total of 119 children with disabilities in Phuket received scholarships to support their education and personal development, aimed at fostering inclusion and opportunity. The ceremony, held yesterday, September 8, at Phibun Sawatdi Municipality School, was organised by the Khun Phum Foundation in collaboration with the Phuket Special Education Centre. Governor Sophon Suwannarat attended the event alongside representatives from the…
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Patong man arrested with methamphetamine in pre-dawn drug raid
A Thai man was arrested in Patong during a pre-dawn raid when district officers discovered methamphetamine, part of an ongoing anti-drug campaign. Officials in Kathu district launched a pre-dawn operation in Patong this week, arresting a Thai man for possession of meth as part of the ongoing No Drugs, No Dealers campaign. The raid, carried out at 1.30am on Tuesday,…
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Phuket eatery raided for using all-Myanmar staff illegally
A Myanmar national was arrested in Phuket after officials raided a restaurant found to be illegally operated and staffed entirely by foreign workers. The venue, named Thu Nge Chin Sine, is located behind Public Market 1 on Bangkok Road in Phuket Town. It was raided following complaints from residents about its operations, according to the Bangkok Post. A team of…
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Phuket ramps up drug-free drive with workplace testing push
Phuket officials are stepping up their campaign to make workplaces drug-free, with more than 2,500 employees screened, several companies certified, and dozens of staff referred for treatment. At a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam at the Phuket Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office, officials reviewed progress on the province’s drug-free labour initiative this year. The scheme is designed…
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Phuket shop seeks foreign woman caught swapping price tags
A clothes shop owner in Phuket is offering a reward of 6,000 baht to anyone with information about a foreign woman who secretly swapped a price tag in order to pay less for an item. The shop owner shared CCTV footage of the incident with the Newshawk Phuket Facebook page yesterday, September 4, seeking help from the online community to…
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Phuket taxi drivers face threats in clash over illegal ride-hailing service
A group of taxi drivers in Phuket reported receiving threats from an alleged illegal taxi driver after one of them photographed the suspect in an attempt to expose his violation of the law. The taxi drivers, who operate in the Kata Beach area, shared details of the threat with local news outlet Neshawk Phuket yesterday, September 4. They also released…
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Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport
A Scottish holidaymaker’s dream trip to Thailand turned into a nightmare when his ex-partner cancelled his passport, leading to his detention at the airport and subsequent deportation back to the UK. William Barr, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was detained by immigration officers as soon as he arrived in Phuket, and ultimately deported back to the UK before his holiday even began. “I…
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Phuket tackles high fees at Deep Sea Port after complaints
Phuket’s provincial officials convened an urgent meeting yesterday to address growing complaints from transport operators regarding the high entrance fees being charged at Phuket Deep Sea Port. The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai, took place at the Damrongtham Centre (Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) in Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, September 3. The discussions were deemed crucial enough to involve…
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Thailand and Malaysia boost cooperation on border security issues
Thailand and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing border security and regional stability at the 117th Thai-Malaysian Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting, held yesterday at the Angsana Laguna Phuket Hotel. The high-level meeting yesterday, September 3, co-chaired by Major General Apinan Chaemchaeng, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division, and Maj. Gen. Dato’ Hj Fazal bin Hj Abdul Rahman, Commander…
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Phuket’s Patong Tunnel greenlit with 11-billion-baht budget
Phuket’s much-anticipated Patong Tunnel project has been given the green light, but with a hefty price tag of 11 billion baht and a new set of roadblocks ahead. On August 26, the Cabinet approved a major shift in the project’s investment model, paving the way for the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to take direct control of the construction. The…
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Phuket tuk tuks set to go electric in new pilot project
Phuket’s famous tuk tuks are about to get a green makeover as the island becomes the testing ground for Thailand’s first project to switch small passenger vehicles from petrol to electric power. Akaradej Wongpitakroj, MP for Ratchaburi and chairman of the House Industrial Committee, confirmed on a recent visit that Phuket will spearhead the conversion drive. The lessons learned here…
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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