News

Police in Phuket are investigating the fatal shooting of a motorcyclist on Thepkrasattri Road after the incident was initially mistaken for a road accident. The emergency call came at around 8:10pm on September 17, reporting that a motorcyclist had fallen near the tunnel and the turn-off toward Phuket Airport. Rescue workers arrived at the airport tunnel junction and began resuscitation efforts, initially treating the incident as a traffic accident. The situation changed when

Emergency services across Phuket have been placed on heightened alert as the province prepares for heavy rain, possible flash floods, landslides and dangerous sea conditions in the Andaman Sea. The Phuket provincial office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued an urgent order to district authorities, municipalities and relevant agencies to prepare for deteriorating weather conditions. The document, marked “maximum urgency”, was dated September

Thailand is moving forward with the first phase of the Phuket Expressway, a major infrastructure project designed to improve the connection between Kathu and Patong and provide an alternative to the existing road. The Kathu–Patong route is expected to reduce travel time between the two areas from around 30 minutes to approximately five minutes. The project is also intended to ease congestion and improve access to key tourism and economic areas of Phuket. Deputy Government Spo

Authorities in Phuket have launched an urgent inquiry following allegations that officials operating a late-night drug-testing checkpoint in Thalang demanded money from detainees in exchange for their release. Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit instructed the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and Phuket authorities to establish what happened, identify those involved and examine evidence related to the allegations. Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom was

A fire broke out at an Arab restaurant in central Patong on the evening of September 14. No one was injured, while authorities continue to investigate what caused the incident. According to Patong Police, an emergency call was received at around 8:55pm. Fire crews from the local municipality were dispatched to Al Yemen Al Saeed restaurant on Soi Sansabai, across the road from Bangla Road. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before it could spread to other parts of th

A suspected burglar in Rawai, Phuket, was captured on CCTV after allegedly breaking into a home, searching through the property, taking valuables and behaving unusually before leaving the scene. The incident reportedly took place at around 3:04am on September 3. CCTV images were not published until September 15, when the Phuket Times Facebook page shared four still photographs in an apparent effort to warn local residents and help identify the man. According to the report, th

An Australian tourist has received a refund after a Phuket taxi driver reportedly charged him 3,500 baht for a journey that should have cost around 800 baht. The case has sparked criticism from Thai residents, who questioned whether returning the excess fare should be enough to resolve a possible legal violation. The incident was reported by several local news outlets over the weekend. The 26-year-old Australian was visiting Phuket for the first time and arrived through Phuke

Thailand’s Commerce Ministry has rejected claims that a new regulation allows foreigners to operate hotels, restaurants and tour businesses without a licence, describing the reports circulating online as fake news. The regulation removes the licensing requirement under the Foreign Business Act of 1999 for eight specific services divided into three groups. Online posts had incorrectly claimed that the measure covered seven businesses closely linked to Thai livelihoods, includi