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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Missing catamaran found off Phuket, Canadian sailor safe
A solo sailor vanished, a luxury catamaran went silent, and fears of a maritime disaster gripped Phuket, until a dramatic twist yesterday saw the missing boat found bobbing near Koh Racha Noi, with the Canadian sailor alive and well. The search for the catamaran Liliput, which sparked a marine alert across southern Thailand, ended on a high note yesterday, May 5,…
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Condo owner denies keeping deposit after Ukrainian woman trashes room
A condominium owner in Phuket denied accusations of cheating a Ukrainian woman who damaged her property. She clarified that the woman was not her tenant, but the girlfriend of her actual tenant, a Russian man. The Thai woman, Praphaphan Meesomboon, took to her Facebook page last week to share images of her damaged condo unit. The photos showed walls defaced…
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Foreign man slaps Phuket taxi driver and rams van in separate incidents
Local news agencies and residents in Phuket are demanding police action against a foreign man who was caught on a viral video slapping a Thai taxi driver in the face in the middle of the road. A Thai motorist shared dashcam footage of the incident with the Facebook news page Phuket Times, yesterday, May 4. The assault reportedly occurred on…
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Fatal fall: Polish tourist plunges to his death from Phuket condo
A Polish tourist fell to his death from a fifth-floor condo in Kathu district, Phuket, while his wife witnessed the incident. The 34 year old man, identified as Swalomir, lost his balance after standing up and toppled over the balcony. This was confirmed by his wife, who was present at the time. The incident occurred at 12.13am today, May 3.…
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Phuket labour day funds cancer centre amid workers’ struggles
Phuket provincial officials marked National Labour Day 2025 with the event Labourers for the Light on Thursday, raising more than 150,000 baht to support the construction of the province’s first government cancer centre at Vachira Phuket Hospital. The event, which took place at Bang Wad Dam, was presided over by Phuket Vice Governor Suwit Phansengiam and brought together over 900…
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Phuket scammer busted after conning restaurants for drug cash
A 29 year old con artist in Phuket who posed as a food delivery customer to trick restaurant owners out of their cash has been arrested after weeks on the run. The man, known only by his nickname “Knot,” rode around Phuket on a black M-Slash motorcycle, preying on small eateries with a scam that left at least 10 victims…
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Israeli man nabbed for Phuket motorcycle theft after week-long hunt
An Israeli man was finally apprehended on April 30 after stealing a motorcycle from the car park of a hospital in Phuket on April 21 and evading arrest for over a week. The Thai victim, whose identity was not disclosed, filed a complaint at Wichit Police Station on April 24, reporting that his white Honda Click motorcycle was stolen from…
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Phuket honours real-life heroes for lifesaving acts
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has honoured eight everyday heroes with certificates of recognition for their bravery, kindness and unwavering service to others throughout 2024. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, April 28, alongside the 4th meeting of the Phuket Provincial Committee and Department Heads for 2025. Governor Sophon, who presided over the…
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Australian man dies after falling from staircase at Phuket hotel
An Australian man fell to his death from a staircase at a hotel in Phuket on May 1, allegedly due to intoxication, in full view of his wife. Officers from Patong Police Station and rescuers from the Kusontham Foundation rushed to a hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Years Road in the Kathu district of Phuket after being alerted to an…
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Chalong Police arrest youths after motorbike gang clash in Phuket
Chalong Police in Phuket have apprehended several youths following a gang-related incident involving rival members on motorbikes. The altercation, which occurred on Wiset Road in Rawai, included the use of multiple ping pong bombs. CCTV footage from Rawai Municipality captured the event at 12.20am on April 26, showing over 20 youths on at least 10 motorbikes. One group chased a…
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Drug raid in Phuket worker camps leads to three arrests
Raids at two worker camps in central Phuket led to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals and one Thai national after methamphetamine use was detected among six Myanmar workers. The operation took place in Srisoonthorn on April 29, as reported by the Thalang District Office. The coordinated effort aimed at combating drug-related activities involved approximately 150 workers and was carried…
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Phuket police crack down on teen gang with guns and bombs
A dangerous teen gang armed with guns and explosives was swiftly taken down by Phuket police in a high-stakes operation, preventing what could have been a major incident in the city. Yesterday, April 29, at 6pm, Chalong Police Station launched a bold crackdown on a group of teens suspected of disturbing the peace and planning an attack. Under the direction…
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British ambassador issues cannabis warning in Phuket
British tourists lighting up in Thailand have been hit with a harsh reminder—bring cannabis home and you could face serious jail time. During an official visit to Phuket on Monday, April 28, British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Gooding urged Thai officials to continue warning tourists that cannabis remains strictly illegal in the UK. The message was delivered during a meeting…
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Foreign man injured after falling on jet ski while parasailing in Phuket
A foreign man sustained a leg injury after falling onto a jet ski during a parasailing activity off Patong Beach in Phuket. The Kusoltam Patong Rescue Foundation was called to assist the man, whose nationality and identity were not disclosed, at 2.19pm, yesterday, April 29, on Patong Beach. The man reportedly fell while parasailing, although the height from which he…
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Phuket Airport soars as Russians jet in while China jets off
Phuket Airport is flying high despite a sharp drop in Chinese tourists, with Russian and Turkish travellers stepping in to keep the island’s tourism industry cruising toward a record-breaking 18 million passengers this year. Phuket International Airport is on course to welcome a whopping 18 million passengers in 2025, even as the number of Chinese arrivals nosedives, according to airport…
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Drunk tourist walks naked through Phuket, sparks outrage
A drunk foreign tourist was filmed walking naked through the streets of Phuket Town, prompting locals to voice concerns about the growing problem of unruly visa-free tourists. The Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต shared a shocking video of a foreign man stumbling down Rattanakosin 200 Years Road in Talat Nuea subdistrict, Mueang district, completely naked. The man, visibly intoxicated, appeared to…
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Heartless taxi blocks Phuket ambulance rushing patient to hospital
A green taxi is at the centre of an incident in Phuket after blocking an ambulance with a 62 year old man suffering from heart failure onboard. The patient died in the ambulance, just moments away from receiving life-saving treatment. On the morning of Sunday, April 27, a 62 year old man with a history of heart disease began feeling…
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Wheely reckless: Aussie tourist pops stunts on Phuket streets
A thrill-seeking Aussie tourist landed himself in hot water after being caught on camera pulling dangerous wheelies down a busy Phuket road, prompting furious locals to demand action. The 32 year old Australian man has been arrested after a viral clip showed him performing motorcycle stunts along Witsanu Road in Rawai, causing mayhem and putting lives at risk. The reckless…
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Hot mess! Phuket nightclub and Patong market go up in smoke
Phuket was lit up for all the wrong reasons in the early hours of this morning as two separate fires broke out just hours apart, one at a buzzing nightclub and the other at a popular beachfront food market. Firefighters dashed to the Hua Pan X5 nightclub in the Phoonpon area of Phuket Town after flames erupted on the club’s…
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Crash and sweep: Phuket cops hailed heroes after three-car pile-up
It was brushes and bravery on the streets of Phuket yesterday as quick-thinking cops cleaned up a nasty smash and kept traffic moving, with one officer even grabbing a broom to sweep the road clear. Four Phuket City Police officers have won a wave of public praise after their swift response to a three-car collision on Thepkrasattri Road on Sunday,…
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Foreign Lamborghini driver condemned for dangerous driving
Thai netizens condemned a foreigner in a Lamborghini caught driving dangerously through Phuket. Accusations are flying, with locals alleging that police allow wealthy foreigners to dodge justice by flashing cash. A Thai driver captured the heated exchange with the foreign man and his Thai wife, sharing the explosive video on the Phuket Times Facebook page. The page subsequently shared the…
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Purr-fect excuse: British driver blames cat for crashing BMW into Phuket restaurant
A British man yesterday claimed that he swerved to avoid hitting a cat, causing him to crash his BMW into a house and a restaurant on Kwang Road in Phuket. A Thai owner of a som tum stall on the Kwang Road in the Wichit sub-district of Phuket called officers from Wichit Police Station and rescuers from the Ruam Jai…
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Phuket seeks special local government organisation status
Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, who leads the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, has submitted a proposal urging for Phuket to be designated as a special local government organisation. This occurred during a visit from a Senate subcommittee. The Senate Subcommittee on Decentralisation, Transfer of Missions and Governance for Local Administrative Organisations and Special Forms of Local Administration visited Phuket on April 23 to…
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Man arrested after sword-wielding altercation in Phuket
A man was apprehended in Phuket after wielding a sword during a roadside altercation on Chao Fa Suan Luang Road in Wichit previously on April 25. The incident stemmed from a dispute over a construction contract fee. Video footage widely circulated on social media depicted the victim, 46 year old Chatchai Sae-Ku, leaving his vehicle after it was rear-ended by…
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Phuket police bust Russian woman in prostitution crackdown
Police in Phuket have arrested a Russian national involved in a prostitution ring in a latest crackdown. On Thursday, April 24, officers working under the command of Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, Commander of the Tourist Police, arrested a 28 year old Russian woman at a hotel in Phuket Town. The arrest was made under the Prevention and Suppression of…
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Man killed in high-speed crash into parked truck in Phuket
A 55 year old man was killed in a horrifying crash early this morning when his sedan slammed into a stationary trailer truck on the bypass road in Phuket. The tragic accident unfolded at around 1.50am today, April 25, in front of the Kee Hin outlet. “At the scene, officers found a 22-wheeled trailer truck, registered in Chumphon, parked on…
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French fugitive busted at Phuket Airport over assault charge
A wanted French national thought he could slip into Thailand unnoticed but Phuket’s sharp-eyed immigration and police officers had other plans. In a dramatic early morning arrest, a 31 year old Frenchman was apprehended at Phuket International Airport yesterday, April 24 at around 7.40am. The arrest was made inside the international arrivals hall, where officers were waiting to intercept him…
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Phuket seafront restaurant busted for land grab
A popular Phuket restaurant with stunning sea views is under fire after police swooped in and seized over 4 rai of land, citing illegal forest encroachment and unlicensed construction. The high-profile raid has rocked the east side of Phuket Town, exposing serious environmental violations hidden behind a picturesque dining experience. Yesterday, April 24, officials from the Phuket Provincial Forestry Office,…
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Phuket flyer dodges tornado terror as storm grounds landing (video)
A Thai tourist got more turbulence than he bargained for today on a family getaway to Phuket, when a tornado ripped through the skies, forcing his flight to abort landing mid-descent. Gripped by fear, the shaken passenger admitted he chanted prayers as the plane circled the island for half an hour waiting for the skies to clear. Holiday plans turned…
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20 test positive for meth in surprise Phuket drug screening
Thalang district officials uncovered a disturbing 20 cases of methamphetamine (meth) use during a surprise drug screening operation in Pa Khlok. The operation on Wednesday, April 23, part of a wider crackdown on drug abuse, involved a special operations team from the Thalang district administration, village headmen, public health volunteers, and Thalang Police. “Officers set up checkpoints in three key…
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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