Petch Petpailin

Petpailin, or Petch, is a Thai translator and writer for The Thaiger who focuses on translating breakingThai news stories into English. With a background in field journalism, Petch brings several years of experience to the English News desk at The Thaiger. Before joining The Thaiger, Petch worked as a content writer for several known blogging sites in Bangkok, including Happio and The Smart Local. Her articles have been syndicated by many big publishers in Thailand and internationally, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Bangkok Post. She is a news writer who stops reading news on the weekends to spend more time cafe hopping and petting dwarf shrimp! But during office hours, you can find Petch on LinkedIn and you can reach her by email at petch@thethaiger.com.
  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 25,456 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 25,456 new cases; provincial totals

    77 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,995 with 2,297 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 25,456 new Covid-19 cases and 22,217 recoveries. There are now 225,134 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Northern Thailand NewsLow-magnitude earthquakes detected in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai | Thaiger

    Low-magnitude earthquakes detected in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai

    Two low-magnitude earthquakes shook two districts in Northern Thailand’s Chiang Rai. The earthquakes were very mild and residents in the areas were not affected, and probably didn’t even feel it, according to Thai media. Earthquake Observation Division reported earthquakes at Chiang Rai’s Wiang Pa Pao and Mae Lao districts. The first 1.3 magnitude quake happened at Wiang Pa Pao district…

  • Thailand NewsAircraft wreckage washes up on Nakhon Si Thammarat beach in Southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Aircraft wreckage washes up on Nakhon Si Thammarat beach in Southern Thailand

    Aircraft wreckage washed up on a beach in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat and provincial officers have called in aircraft specialists to investigate. A local official says locals found similar wreckage six years ago. A 3.16 metre long, 1.80 metre wide metal piece, weighing around 70 to 80 kilograms, was found on Tha Phraya beach. There were two spots…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Health Ministry to propose scrapping pre-departure PCR for Test & Go | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Health Ministry to propose scrapping pre-departure PCR for Test & Go

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is set to make a proposal to scrap the pre-departure PCR for Test & Go travellers, making entering the country more convenient and cost-efficient. The proposal will need to be approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, which will have its general meeting this Friday and is expected to discuss a number of topics, including…

  • Covid-19 NewsWednesday Covid Update: 23,945 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Wednesday Covid Update: 23,945 new cases; provincial totals

    70 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,918 with 2,220 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 23,945 new Covid-19 cases and 23,339 recoveries. There are now 221,972 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Bangkok NewsBar raided in Bangkok’s Nana, woman arrested for alleged child sex trafficking | Thaiger

    Bar raided in Bangkok’s Nana, woman arrested for alleged child sex trafficking

    Police raided a bar in Bangkok’s Nana area and found that at least three teenage girls were offering sexual services. Two are 15 years old, another is 14. A woman at the bar was arrested on child sex trafficking charges. Officers raided 789 Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 7 in the Nana area, a redlight district is known for its go-go…

  • Crime NewsOfficers find suspected hideout for alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list | Thaiger

    Officers find suspected hideout for alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list

    Officers found a camp at a mountain in the southern province Songkhla where they suspect an alleged hitman on Thailand’s most wanted list was hiding. The 45 year old who is wanted on multiple charges involving murder allegedly shot an M16 rifle during a police chase, killing an officer. Following the gunfire exchange, the alleged hitman Chamrat “Chui Chaochan” Rakchan,…

  • Phuket NewsMurderer of Swiss tourist in Phuket sentenced to life imprisonment | Thaiger

    Murderer of Swiss tourist in Phuket sentenced to life imprisonment

    The Thai man who murdered the Swiss tourist at a Phuket waterfall last year has been sentenced to life in prison by the Phuket Court. 28 year old Teerawat Thothip was initially sentenced to death, but it was then reduced to life imprisonment given that Teerawat confessed to investigators. The body of 57 year old victim Nicole Sauvain Weisskopf, the…

  • Thailand NewsBus driver in fatal accident gets licence revoked, Transport Company faces punishment | Thaiger

    Bus driver in fatal accident gets licence revoked, Transport Company faces punishment

    The bus driver in the fatal accident in Saraburi, killing eight passengers after he crashed into a bridge pillar, had his licence revoked by the Department of Land Transport. The department is also considering penalities for the state-run Transport Company, which was operating the Bangkok – Suwannaphum bus carrying more than 30 passengers. The driver, who was later found to…

  • Environment NewsIllegal burning in Northern Thailand contributes harmful levels of air pollutant PM2.5 | Thaiger

    Illegal burning in Northern Thailand contributes harmful levels of air pollutant PM2.5

    Illegal burning in more than 135 areas in the northern province Mae Hong Son has contributed to the rise of the air pollutant PM2.5 to levels considered to be harmful to human health. Authorities are also concerned that the poor air quality could also worsen the condition of Covid-19 patients in the area. Today, the air quality in Mae Hong…

  • Thailand NewsFire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported | Thaiger

    Fire breaks out at luxury hotel in Bangkok, no injuries reported

    A fire broke out at the 18-storey luxury hotel in Bangkok early this morning. There were no reports of deaths and injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but firefighters say it may have started at a pile of trash outside the hotel and moved up the electricity pole to the wires connected to the eighth floor…

  • Covid-19 NewsTuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Tuesday Covid Update: 19,742 new cases; provincial totals

    70 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,848 with 2,150 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 19,742 new Covid-19 cases and 24,125 recoveries. There are now 221,436 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze | Thaiger

    Bangkok eases alcohol restrictions, large events and shopping centres allowed to serve booze

    Bangkok is loosening its rules on alcohol sales. Starting today, shopping centres and event venues can serve alcoholic beverages until 11pm, according to a document signed yesterday by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang. The venues serving beer, wine, and cocktails will also need to be certified through SHA+ and Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus, which are both safety and health standards…

  • Chiang Mai NewsElephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic | Thaiger

    Elephant camp in Chiang Mai put up for sale due to drop in tourists during pandemic

    Elephant parks and sanctuaries relying on foreign tourists for an income and funds to feed the animals have been hit hard during the pandemic. One elephant park in Chiang Mai is now up for sale due to the drastic drop in the number of visitors over the past two years. The owner says she’s been unable to afford the 2…

  • Crime NewsFood delivery riders arrested for allegedly transporting ketamine, methamphetamine | Thaiger

    Food delivery riders arrested for allegedly transporting ketamine, methamphetamine

    Two food delivery drivers were arrested in Bangkok for allegedly transporting ketamine and methamphetamine to customers. The suspects allegedly confessed to trafficking the drugs for two years. Prior to the arrest, officers from the Children and Woman Protection Sub-Division arrested nine people, allegedly while they were getting high off benzodiazepines. Officers seized over 420 pills of the benzodiazepine Flunitrazepam. During…

  • Thailand NewsThai officials suspect 4 patients are infected with new Omicron strain found in Hong Kong | Thaiger

    Thai officials suspect 4 patients are infected with new Omicron strain found in Hong Kong

    Four new Covid-19 cases appear to be the new mutated Omicron BA.2.2 subvariant that was first found in Hong Kong, according to the Department of Medical Sciences. Authorities have insisted that the public should not worry about the spread of the new subvariant as there has been no confirmation of any severe symptoms and the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Bus driver in fatal accident tests positive for methamphetamine | Thaiger

    UPDATE: Bus driver in fatal accident tests positive for methamphetamine

    The bus driver in the fatal accident where eight passengers died was reportedly high on methamphetamine, also known as “ya ba” meaning “crazy drug.” Dashcam footage from a nearby vehicle shows the double-decker bus crashing into a concrete supporting pillar of an overhead bridge, ripping the right side of the bus. More than 20 people were injured. Drug tests for…

  • Covid-19 NewsMonday Covid Update: 22,130 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Monday Covid Update: 22,130 new cases; provincial totals

    69 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,778 with 2,080 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 22,130 new Covid-19 cases and 23,508 recoveries. There are now 225,889 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Thailand News8 passengers killed, 20 injured after bus headed to Bangkok crashes into bridge pillar | Thaiger

    8 passengers killed, 20 injured after bus headed to Bangkok crashes into bridge pillar

    Eight bus passengers were killed and more than 20 injured after a double-decker bus crashed into the concrete pillar for the overhead bridge. A total of 32 passengers were on the Bangkok – Suwannaphum bus operated by the state-run Transport Company. Five people died immediately at the scene and three later died at the hospital. 22 people, including the driver,…

  • Thailand NewsPattaya opens hotline to support stranded Ukrainian and Russian tourists | Thaiger

    Pattaya opens hotline to support stranded Ukrainian and Russian tourists

    The Pattaya Tourist Police have launched a hotline to help Ukrainians and Russians facing financial issues or cancelled flights due to the conflict in Ukraine. Tourists and expats in Pattaya can call the hotline number at 1155 or use the application Tourist Police i lert u. Thousands of Russian tourists are stranded in Thailand due to flight cancellations and sanctions…

  • Thailand NewsColumbia Pictures Aquaverse water park to open in Chon Buri next month | Thaiger

    Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park to open in Chon Buri next month

    The new Columbia Pictures Aquaverse water park in Chon Buri is officially opening to the public next month after plans were delayed due to Covid-19. The themes for attractions are based on popular movies and animations like Jumanji, Ghostbusters, and Hotel Transylvania. The water park also offers the world’s first wave pool cinema, allowing guests to watch movies on a…

  • Thailand NewsMan arrested for kidnapping a 6 year old boy, forcing the child to beg on the streets | Thaiger

    Man arrested for kidnapping a 6 year old boy, forcing the child to beg on the streets

    A man was arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 6 year old Cambodian child in Bangkok and forcing the boy to beg for money on the streets. The Mirror Foundation, a Thai non-governmental organisation, says the man has been forcing children to beg on the streets for more than two years in various provinces. The child was abducted from a convenience…

  • Thailand NewsTwo officers accused of stealing motorbikes from police station’s evidence department | Thaiger

    Two officers accused of stealing motorbikes from police station’s evidence department

    Two police officers in southern Thailand are being accused of stealing 36 motorbikes, which had been confiscated from suspects. The motorbikes had been seized from suspects and were being kept at the police station in Songkhla as evidence. The officers allegedly sold the stolen motorbikes to other police officers. A former police station superintendent accused the two officers of stealing…

  • Covid-19 NewsFriday Covid Update: 24,792 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Friday Covid Update: 24,792 new cases; provincial totals

    63 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,575 with 1,877 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 24,792 new Covid-19 cases and 22,065 recoveries. There are now 222,998 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: 22,984 new cases; provincial totals | Thaiger

    Thursday Covid Update: 22,984 new cases; provincial totals

    74 coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA today, raising the pandemic’s death toll in Thailand to 23,512 with 1,814 of those fatalities since the start of this year. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 22,984 new Covid-19 cases and 24,161 recoveries. There are now 220,334 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. Out of…

  • Covid-19 NewsHospital accidentally mistakes bedridden patients, sends body to the wrong family | Thaiger

    Hospital accidentally mistakes bedridden patients, sends body to the wrong family

    A woman went to visit her father at a hospital, but when she came by, she found that the patient the hospital had identified as her father was not him. She found out later that the hospital accidentally switched the identification information for two Covid-19 patients. Her father had died back in January and his body may have been sent…

  • Thailand News1 killed, 3 injured in oil tanker fire at Chao Phraya River pier in Samut Prakan | Thaiger

    1 killed, 3 injured in oil tanker fire at Chao Phraya River pier in Samut Prakan

    One person was killed and three were injured when an oil tanker caught fire following an explosion on the vessel. The tanker was docked at a pier on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan, just southeast of Bangkok, when there was a sudden explosion. Three people were able to escape while another person was reported missing. Human remains were…

  • Thailand NewsJapanese gangster arrested for allegedly stealing 2 million baht in gold from Bangkok shop | Thaiger

    Japanese gangster arrested for allegedly stealing 2 million baht in gold from Bangkok shop

    A Japanese man allegedly robbed a gold shop at Bangkok shopping centre, taking off with 975 grams of gold valued at around 2 million baht. Police say the suspect is involved with Japanese “Yakuza” crime syndicates. The Royal Palace Police Station received a report on Monday from a gold shop Thong Suay at The Old Siam Shopping Plaza, claiming that…

  • Pattaya NewsMother files complaint with Pattaya police after son gets hit, bruised by teacher | Thaiger

    Mother files complaint with Pattaya police after son gets hit, bruised by teacher

    A Thai teacher in Pattaya is being accused of hitting a 10 year old student because he was asking too many questions during an examination. The boy’s mother says he came home with a bruise on his back. The 28 year old mother, Suwanna Phasuk, made a report to the police at the Nong Prue station and says she wants…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket welcomes first group of Test & Go tourists travelling by sea | Thaiger

    Phuket welcomes first group of Test & Go tourists travelling by sea

    Phuket welcomed its first group of Test & Go travellers entering the island province by sea and tourism officials say more visitors travelling on cruise ships and yachts will be entering under the quarantine exemption scheme. On March 1, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration eased travel restrictions, allowing Test & Go travellers to enter Thailand by land and sea,…