Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
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When it comes to preventing breast cancer, many of us focus on regular screenings and medical treatments. But there’s something simple and natural that can also play a role in the fight against breast cancer: the food on your plate....
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht tourism boost with new initiatives
Phuket aims to boost its tourism revenue to 500 billion baht in the latter half of this year by implementing policies targeted at high-end tourists. Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), announced the revised revenue goal, which had previously been set at 420 billion baht (US$12.6 billion). He emphasised that the new target underscores Phuket’s potential…
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Phuket police crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides ahead of High Season
Phuket Tourist Police initiated a crackdown on illegal Chinese tour guides in preparation for the upcoming tourism High Season. Yesterday, October 14, Phuket Tourist Police, in line with orders from Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueak-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, began efforts to combat illegal activities threatening the tourism industry. This directive was shared in a report posted by…
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Love triangle turns deadly in Phuket with fatal point-blank shooting
A fatal shooting over a love triangle occurred outside Katu Police Station in Phuket on Sunday, October 13, when two men and one woman arranged a meeting to resolve the matter. Officers at Katu Police Station followed a white pickup belonging to the gunman, later identified as 32 year old Thitipong, who fled the scene after the shooting. Police managed…
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German tourist nabbed for drugs and overstaying in Phuket
Patong police yesterday dramatically swooped on a 29 year old German tourist, arresting him on charges of drug use and overstaying his visa in Thailand. The bust went down at 2.30pm, yesterday, October 13, right in the comfort of his hotel room on Prachanukroh Road. According to insider info from the boys in blue, the unnamed German traveller was whisked…
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Confrontation at Phuket restaurant turns deadly, man gunned down
A man in Phuket was fatally shot while attempting to flee his attacker near Kathu Police Station yesterday, October 13 following a dispute between the two which had escalated to deadly levels. The victim, identified as 38 year old Suwit “Lek” Nokket, was shot twice before trying to escape across the street towards the police station. Despite being rushed to…
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Phuket faces fire risk from unspent firecrackers after festival
Phuket City Municipality officials are addressing the fire hazard posed by unspent firecrackers at the landfill in Saphan Hin following this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Large quantities of firecracker waste were collected after daily street processions and shrine activities during the festival, according to Phuket City Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet. When strips of firecrackers were ignited, not all detonated, leaving…
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Thousands of dead fish wash ashore in Patong, alarming locals
Beachgoers in Patong were met with a shocking scene yesterday, October 11, as thousands of dead fish washed ashore, prompting immediate concern among locals, tourists, and officials. Various species of fish were scattered along the beach, driven in by strong winds and waves. The sudden die-off has left officials scrambling to identify the cause of this marine disaster. Locals quickly…
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Phuket to hold ceremonies for mudslide victims next week
Phuket will collaborate with local agencies to host ritual ceremonies next week, aiming to build morale and honour those who perished in the recent mudslide tragedy. Sophon Thongsai, director of the Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, stated that the event is set to commemorate the victims of the catastrophic mudslide that struck on August 23 at 5am in…
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Veggie tales: Phuket festival wraps up with street processions
The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is winding down, with the Lor Rong Shrine, also known as Sui Boon Tong Shrine, staging its street procession through Phuket Town today. This event, known as Iu Keng, showcased numerous spirit mediums and attracted large crowds of locals as well as Thai and foreign tourists. Locals along the procession route set up altars and…
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Overdrawn: Bungling burglar caught cracking into bank in Phuket
Police yesterday apprehended a man after he attempted to break into a bank branch and managed to forcibly open a passbook updating machine in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn, Phuket. An automatic security alarm alerted the police to the break-in at the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives in Baan Lipon, Moo 7, Srisoonthorn, at 11pm. Thalang police responded promptly, arriving to…
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South Korean TikToker alleges sexual harassment by Phuket man
A South Korean TikToker is seeking justice, claiming that a Thai man sexually harassed her while she and her friend were working in Phuket. The Phuket Times shared the story of the South Korean TikToker, known as DD, today, October 11. The page stated in the caption… “Another scandal! Foreign TikToker sexually harassed in Phuket.” In the comment section, the…
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Phuket employer charged for illegal hire of Sri Lankan worker
Phuket Immigration officers charged the employer of a Sri Lankan man for illegal employment at a construction site in Wichit. The Sri Lankan national, identified by police as K. Piyaralala, was apprehended while working on a house extension project at Ao Kham Beach in Wichit on Wednesday, October 9. Piyaralala faces charges for being an alien working without permission, a…
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Thai maid discovers body of Japanese man in Phuket hotel room
A Thai maid discovered the body of a Japanese man in a hotel in the Sakhu district of Phuket yesterday, October 10. A suicide note written in Japanese was found at the scene. Officers from Sakhu Police Station were alerted to the man’s death by a hotel maid and rushed to investigate. The deceased, later identified as 45 year old…
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Dam full: Phuket’s reservoirs overflow as Bang Niew hits 103%
Phuket’s reservoirs are bursting at the seams, with Bang Niew Dam in Srisoonthorn now at a staggering 103% capacity. The island is bracing for more rain and potential flash floods through to Saturday, as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of continued downpours. Bang Niew Dam currently holds a whopping 7.39 million cubic metres of water, surpassing its official capacity…
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Big Buddha Phuket charged with encroachment after deadly landslide
Police have charged the Big Buddha Phuket Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation and its president, Suporn Wanichakul, with forest encroachment and unauthorised construction following a deadly landslide at the site. Karon police announced the charges related to forest destruction and have referred the case to public prosecutors. The landslide, which occurred after heavy rain on August 23, struck Nak Koet Hill,…
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Foreigner’s body found near Patong Beach, police investigate
Police are scrambling to identify the body of a foreign man found floating in the water south of Patong Beach early this morning. Officers were alerted to the scene, located in front of a hotel on Muen Ngern Road, at 9.10am, today, October 10, after a guest spotted the body and raised the alarm. A team from the police force,…
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Man dies in motorbike crash on Wiset Road in Phuket
A tragic accident claimed the life of a man this morning on Wiset Road in Rawai, Phuket. The incident occurred around 1am, today, October 9, when Sarayut lost control of his motorcycle and drifted into the central reservation, resulting in a fatal head injury. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, located in front of the Baan Bang Kontee…
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Bedroom horror: Phuket woman attacked in home, suspect at large
In a shocking home invasion that has left a woman traumatised and police on high alert, a 40 year old man forced his way into a bedroom in Moo 3, Ratsada, launching a terrifying attack that included attempted sexual assault and robbery. The horrifying incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday, October 7. The 34 year old woman bravely…
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South Korean man rescued from drowning near Koh Racha, Phuket
The Phuket Tourist Assistance Centre rescued a South Korean man from drowning off Koh Racha, an island in Phuket, on Monday, October 7. The news was reported by the Phuket Hotnews, yesterday, October 8, detailing the successful rescue by Thai officials. The victim was identified as a 63 year old South Korean man, though his name was not disclosed. The…
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Phuket veggie festival gets a ‘clean plate’ in food hygiene check
As the vibrant Phuket Vegetarian Festival unfolds, a team from Vachira Phuket Hospital is cracking down on unsanitary practices among street market food vendors and shrine kitchens. Last Friday, October 4, Dr Thiraphong Aramruang, Head of the Social Medicine Group at Vachira Phuket Hospital, led an inspection mission at the Sui Boon Tong Shrine (Lor Rong) and the Tao Bo…
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Tuk tuk parking in Patong’s red and white zones sparks outrage (video)
A viral video showing tuk tuks parked along the red and white kerbside in Patong, Phuket sparked outrage on social media. The clip, shared on the โหดจัง-จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page, questions whether tuk tuks are permitted to park in these restricted areas, leading to a flurry of comments from netizens. The footage, lasting one minute and one second, was posted with…
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Phuket cries out for fireboats as cruise ship inferno threat looms
A former top naval commander sounded the alarm over the desperate need for fireboats in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi, as the spectre of cruise ship fires haunts these popular holiday hotspots. Rear Admiral Amornchote Sujirat has drawn attention to the glaring absence of firefighting vessels in these bustling maritime provinces, which welcome hordes of marine traffic each year. Fires…
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Jet-ski joyrider in deep water after Patong Beach hit-and-run injures Israeli
Police are in hot pursuit of a reckless jet-ski rider responsible for a shocking hit-and-run incident at Patong Beach that left an Israeli tourist battered and bruised. The drama unfolded around 6.21pm yesterday, October 6, when the unidentified foreigner, piloting a white-and-blue jet-ski, smashed into swimmer Nimrod Filip Solomon before vanishing into the sunset. Reports say the jet-ski collided with…
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Revved up: Phuket police crackdown on illegal street racing
Phuket City police swooped on illegal street racers in the early hours of this morning, targeting the notorious Saphan Hin area and seizing five motorcycles in a swift crackdown. The high-octane drama unfolded at 12.45am, today, October 7, after eagle-eyed officers spotted online chatter about the underground racing scene on local social media channels. Their prompt action led to the…
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Foreign tourist’s gold necklace stolen in Patong alley
Patong Police are currently investigating the theft of a gold necklace from a foreign tourist in Soi Sea Dragon, off Bangla Road, which took place early yesterday morning, October 4. The incident, which occurred around 12.20am in front of a bar, was reported by the victim, Guilherme Rodrigues e Almeida Fernandes, to the police. Fernandes, whose nationality was not disclosed,…
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Phuket cracks down on illegal busking during Vegetarian Festival
Police in Phuket have issued a stern warning against begging and busking in key public areas during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. This comes after several individuals were apprehended at Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town on Thursday, October 3. A team of officers, led by officials from the Phuket Provincial Office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security…
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Phang Nga governor pushes for Phuket rail link
Plans for a game-changing rail link to Phuket are gathering steam—but officials are staying tight-lipped. Phang Nga Governor Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai has just held a high-level meeting to review the ambitious project connecting Tha Noon in Takua Thung district to Phuket International Airport. The proposed 18-kilometre railway, expected to feature four stations—Khok Kloi, Tha Noon, Mai Khao, and Phuket…
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Firecracker folly: Phuket driver’s explosive secret sparks car blaze
A Thai driver yesterday admitted to storing an assortment of firecrackers in his car, which led to a blaze that engulfed his vehicle and another nearby in Phuket. A witness lodged a complaint with Mueang Phuket Police Station around 8.30pm, Yesterday, October 3, reporting the fire that erupted on two vehicles in Soi Shopping, right in the heart of Phuket…
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Phuket’s veggie fest: A taste of tradition that’s un-beet-able
The enchanting atmosphere of Phuket’s iconic Vegetarian Festival has officially started. Yesterday evening, October 2, the ceremonial raising of the Go Teng poles took centre stage at Chinese shrines across the island, heralding a nine-day celebration that promises to captivate both locals and visitors alike. At the heart of the festivities, thousands flocked to the Jui Tui Tao Bokeung Shrine…
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Chalong cops stage ‘active gunman’ drill amid festival fears
Shoppers at Chalong’s popular Robinson Lifestyle mall were left in shock as police staged a dramatic active gunman drill, simulating a gunman on the loose. A video, posted by Chalong Police on Tuesday, October 1, shows a man pulling up on a motorbike, wielding what looks like an assault rifle, before storming the mall in a mock mass shooting. As…
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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