South Thailand News
Southern Thailand news, Phuket news, Koh Samui news, and Krabi updates—stay informed on business, tourism, and local events from Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Southern Thailand news source.
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Researchers uncover new ant species in Trang rubber plantation
A team of Thai researchers has discovered a new species of ant in a rubber plantation near a tourist cave in Trang province. The insect has not been seen again since the area underwent development. Yesterday, January 28, Dr Weeyawat Jaitrong, senior entomologist and researcher with the National Science Museum of Thailand, confirmed the identification of a previously unknown ant…
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Stranded whale dies in Satun despite rescue attempts from locals
A young whale over five metres long died yesterday, January 27, after straying into shallow waters near a fishing community in Satun, despite repeated attempts by locals to guide it back to deeper sea. The incident took place in the coastal area of Baan Puyu, where residents discovered the weakened whale struggling near a boat dock in Moo 3 village.…
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Surat Thani nightclub sparks backlash over contemporary nora dance
A nightclub in Surat Thani province sparked online controversy after featuring a contemporary nora folk dance performance during its New Year celebration last year. A video of the performance circulated widely on Thai social media and was later reposted by the popular news Facebook page Jmoi V+. The footage showed three performers dressed in full traditional nora costumes dancing on…
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Nigerian drug dealer arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after skipping court
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani on Wednesday, January 14, after he skipped court proceedings following an earlier arrest. Officers from the Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off that the suspect, 38 year old Nigerian national Ukoma Jefta Nuzbech, who was wanted in a drug case, was travelling along a road…
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Myanmar man goes on car-smashing rampage in Satun
A Myanmar national was arrested yesterday morning, January 13, after allegedly damaging 19 parked vehicles in Satun’s La-ngu district using stones and a digging tool. The incident occurred around 3am in Moo 6, La-ngu subdistrict, where the suspect, a 45 year old man identified only as Saw, was captured on CCTV picking up a stone and smashing two cars parked…
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Truck crash in Phatthalung reveals suspected Rohingya smuggling
A road crash involving two trucks in Phatthalung yesterday, January 12, left multiple people injured and led police to uncover what they believe was the illegal transport of Rohingya migrants. The accident occurred on the southbound lane of the Asia Highway in Moo 1, Chamong subdistrict, Khuan Khanun district. Officers from Khuan Khanun Police Station responded to the scene alongside…
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Drug suspect escapes after police officer grants ‘farewell’ release
A police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat was dismissed from government service after releasing his friend, a detained drug suspect, who later escaped from custody. The officer claimed the suspect deceived him by saying he wanted to say goodbye to his family before imprisonment. The suspect, Ekkaluck Datepalit, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, for possession of a Category 1…
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Narathiwat imposes curfew after attacks at 11 petrol stations in Deep South
Narathiwat province is under a nightly curfew following a series of bombings and fires at petrol stations across three Deep South provinces on Saturday, January 10. Explosions and fires were reported at 11 petrol stations in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat late on Saturday night. All of the affected petrol stations belong to the same operator, PTT. According…
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Bombings and arson hit 11 petrol stations in southern Thailand
In the early hours of January 11, a series of bombings and arson attacks targeted 11 petrol stations across the southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. These incidents are believed by security forces to be orchestrated by insurgent groups to create unrest in the region. Reports indicate that an explosion and subsequent fire at one petrol station caused…
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Pawnshop officer arrested over multi million baht gold theft in Trang
Police arrested a pawnshop officer today, January 9, for a gold theft at a municipal pawnshop in Trang province, a case that caused estimated losses of more than 5 million baht. The investigation began after an officer from the Mueang Trang Municipality Pawnshop filed a complaint with Mueang Trang Police Station on Tuesday, January 6. The officer reported that more…
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Teen mum and child abandoned in Trat after online meetup
A 19 year old mother and her three year old son were rescued on January 1 after being abandoned at a playground in Trat province, following a meeting with a man she had met online just days earlier. Police in Mueang Trat district were alerted to the incident after reports that a young woman and a small child had…
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Jealous gunman Kills ex-girlfriend and self, critically wounds new partner
New Year’s Eve Tragedy: Jealous Gunman Kills Ex-Girlfriend and Self, Critically Wounds New Partner CHON BURI — At 1:30 AM, Pol. Capt. Pichamon Sata, Deputy Inspector of Bo Thong Police Station, received reports of a shooting at a local gas station. Police arrived at the scene alongside medical personnel from Bo Thong Hospital and rescue volunteers. Officers found the body…
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Thai woman conspires with employee to murder her German husband
Police uncovered a murder plot involving a Thai woman and her male employee who killed a German man and left his body inside a house in Prachuap Khiri Khan province for almost a month before pretending innocent and notifying police about the death. The case came to light on December 19, when the 45 year old Thai woman, Nitthaya, contacted…
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Garbage truck driver shoots neighbour dead in Phatthalung
A long-running dispute turned deadly late last night, December 23, when a garbage truck driver allegedly shot and killed his neighbour outside a home in Bang Kaeo district, Phatthalung, with the victim’s son also injured. The shooting occurred at about 10.20pm in Tha Madua subdistrict, where officers from Bang Kaeo Police Station, forensic specialists, doctors, and rescue workers were…
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Canadian man arrested after stealing car from Krabi police station
A Canadian man was arrested after stealing a car from outside a police station in Krabi, triggering a high-speed chase involving more than 30 officers on Friday, December 19. The Canadian suspect, later identified as 43 year old Michael Jame Parton, stole a car with the registration number กว 5345, which was parked outside Mueang Krabi Police Station, before speeding…
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French national and four Myanmar workers arrested in Phangan
Police raided a resort on Koh Phangan yesterday, December 15, arresting a Frenchman and four Myanmar nationals in a crackdown on illegal businesses and nominee company operations on the island. The operation was led by immigration police in coordination with local authorities after they received a tip-off about a resort suspected of operating without proper licences. Upon inspection, officers discovered…
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UAE tourist killed in motorcycle collision with friends in Phang Nga
A tourist from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was killed after a motorcycle collision with his three friends in Phang Nga province on Friday, December 12. Officers from Takua Thung Police Station were notified of the fatal accident at around 6.30pm and arrived at the scene on Phetkasem Road, approximately 1.5 kilometres from the police station. Rescuers from the Wat…
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Wild macaque captured after fatal attack in Yala
After three days, park officials in Yala have captured a wild macaque that attacked and killed a man inside his home in a remote fruit orchard. The male macaque was caught yesterday, December 10, in a trap set by Bang Lang National Park officials in Betong district, near a fruit orchard close to the home where the attack occurred. The…
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Thai man killed by falling rock after entering stone mill zone for video content
A falling rock from a stone mill operation killed a Thai man who had climbed a mountain in Phatthalung with a friend to film social media content on Tuesday, December 9. The victim, 29 year old Ritthikiat, suffered a severe head injury after rocks rained down during a routine explosion at the Run Mountain stone mill site in the Khuan…
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Reward posted as tourist who feeds wristband to sea turtle remains at large
Marine officials expect a sea turtle that swallowed a tourist’s wristband to pass the object naturally within 30 to 40 days, while the suspect responsible remains at large. A video showing an unidentified tourist feeding a yellow wristband to a sea turtle went viral last month. The incident reportedly took place during a diving trip in Mu Ko Similan National…
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Trat woman collapses after 10 months on diet pills
A 22 year old woman collapsed at her workplace in Trat and was rushed to the hospital late last night, December 3, after reportedly taking weight loss pills for over 10 months. Investigators suspect the pills, which she bought from an online shop, contain sibutramine, a banned substance linked to severe health risks. At around 10.30pm yesterday, reporters visited Trat…
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Ten foreigners arrested in Koh Phangan poker raid
Tourist police arrested ten foreign nationals last night, December 2, for gambling during a poker game in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani. The raid took place around 10pm at a private property. Officers from Division 5 of the Tourist Police Bureau acted after receiving information that foreigners had gathered there to gamble. When they arrived, they saw numerous motorbikes parked…
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Thai government denies 1,000-death rumour in southern floods
The Ministry of Public Health updated the flood situation in southern Thailand yesterday, December 1, confirming that the official death toll has risen from 170 to 179 and dismissed rumours claiming fatalities surpassed 1,000. Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Sakda Alapach, addressed the conflicting numbers circulating online, particularly concerning Hat Yai district in Songkhla province, the area…
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Foreign woman wanted for stealing snus from Krabi shop
A foreign woman remains at large after stealing two boxes of snus from a shop at Holiday Beach Walk in the Ao Nang district of Krabi province on Saturday, November 29. Chutchalit Wongwatjanakil, the owner of the snus and kratom shop Term, posted in the Krabi Marketplace Facebook group seeking information about the suspect. He included CCTV images of the…
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6 Hat Yai men arrested for stealing beer from container train amid floods
Police yesterday, November 30, arrested six suspects for stealing beer from a container train at Hat Yai Train Station during the ongoing flood crisis in Songkhla. Officers are still searching for the ringleader and additional suspects. Videos showing several Thai men removing crates of beer from four railway containers and carrying them away went viral on Thai social media on…
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Government confirms 65 deaths in Songkhla floods amid conflicting reports
The Ministry of Public Health announced yesterday, November 30, that 170 people died in the severe flooding across southern Thailand, including 65 deaths in Songkhla province. The figure conflicts with reports from police and rescuers, who claimed that more than 100 bodies were found in Hat Yai district alone. According to the ministry, 170 deaths and 102 injuries were recorded…
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NBTC waives phone and internet charges amid Hat Yai floods
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has directed mobile service providers to waive charges for phone calls, internet, and Wi-Fi for residents in Hat Yai during the flooding. As of now, approximately 85% of all communication signals in the affected area have been successfully restored, with Thaicom’s satellite services stepping in to strengthen coverage and provide additional support to…
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Heartbreaking video turns joyful as Thai man finds dogs left behind in floods
A Thai man reunited with his two pet dogs after a viral video showed him crying when he was forced to leave them behind during the severe floods in Hat Yai district, Songkhla. The video, widely shared across Thai social media, showed the man, believed to be between 65 and 70 years old, sobbing on a rescue boat. According to…
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Body of 4 year old girl found after rescue boat accident in Hat Yai
The body of a four year old girl was found yesterday, November 27, two days after she went missing in floodwaters following a rescue boat accident in Hat Yai district, Songkhla. The girl, Amidala “Padme” Arayawat, disappeared after falling from a rescue boat on Tuesday night, November 25, near Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai. Her family took to social media to…
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Thai minister walks out after question on southern flood mismanagement
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office walked out of a press conference yesterday, November 27, after refusing to answer a reporter’s question on whether slow government management contributed to the losses from the southern floods. Paradon Prissanananthakul, who also serves as Director of the Emergency Flood Crisis Operations Centre, attended the briefing to provide updates on the flood situation…
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