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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  • Valentine trend: Banknote bouquets outsell roses in Trang | Thaiger

    Valentine trend: Banknote bouquets outsell roses in Trang

    Valentine’s Day in Trang witnessed an innovative gifting trend that has captured the hearts of many: beautifully crafted bouquets made not only with traditional roses but also with chocolate and banknotes. At Ari Flower Shop on Jermpanya Road, in the Thap Thiang district of Trang, the owner and her team are busy preparing these unique bouquets for the season of…

  • South Thailand: Volunteer killed, four injured in Thai insurgent ambush | Thaiger

    South Thailand: Volunteer killed, four injured in Thai insurgent ambush

    In a tragic turn just days after peace negotiations resumed, a roadside explosion in the Janae district of Thailand’s Narathiwat province yesterday killed a defence volunteer and left four others with serious injuries. The volunteers, aboard an armoured pickup truck bound for the Chang Phuek Tambon Administrative Organisation, fell victim to insurgents’ treachery along Road 4217 in Ban Kumoong village.…

  • Search continues for British man missing in southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Search continues for British man missing in southern Thailand

    A 24 year old British man went missing yesterday while kayaking in a canal near the Rajjaprabha Dam, also known as the Cheow Lan Dam, in the southern province of Surat Thani. Supot Juinark, the director of Khao Sok National Park, reported to officers at Ban Ta Khun Police Station around 12:30pm yesterday, February 11, that 24 year old Englishman…

  • Royal Thai Navy busts illegal oil smuggling ring in South Thailand | Thaiger

    Royal Thai Navy busts illegal oil smuggling ring in South Thailand

    The Second Naval Area Command of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) received a report about a boat allegedly involved in illicit oil smuggling to fishing vessels near Songkhla yesterday, February 8. In response, the RTN launched an investigation which uncovered a vessel specifically adapted for clandestine oil transportation, carrying an astonishing 10,000 litres of illicit oil intended for local fishermen…

  • Thailand’s iconic Maya Bay: From Hollywood glamour to environmental struggle | Thaiger

    Thailand’s iconic Maya Bay: From Hollywood glamour to environmental struggle

    Maya Bay, nestled in Thailand’s Phang-Nga province, clinched third place in the world’s beaches, according to the Lonely Planet travel guide. Dubbed “a slip of a beach hidden by limestone cliffs,” Maya Bay skyrocketed to international fame when acclaimed director Danny Boyle handpicked it as the backdrop for his blockbuster hit The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Despite its cinematic allure,…

  • Thai father shoots dead daughter’s boyfriend | Thaiger

    Thai father shoots dead daughter’s boyfriend

    A Thai father shot dead his daughter’s boyfriend whom he disapproved of in the southern province of Krabi yesterday, February 6. Police believe the father objected to their love because the man had a history of drug use. Nua Klong Police Station officers in Krabi province were alerted to the fatal shooting at a house in the Khok Yang sub-district…

  • Thai airports set to soar with billion-baht boost | Thaiger

    Thai airports set to soar with billion-baht boost

    The AOT, eagerly awaiting the green light from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), is on the cusp of obtaining public airport certification for Udon Thani, Buriram, and Krabi airports. According to Police General Wisnu Prasatthong-osot, the visionary chairman of the board, the AOT will begin the development of its airports as planned once the certifications have been received.…

  • Dugongs’ dinner dilemma: Seagrass vanishing act sparks fears for marine giants | Thaiger

    Dugongs’ dinner dilemma: Seagrass vanishing act sparks fears for marine giants

    The disappearance of vital seagrass in the southern province of Trang has marine scientists and conservationists on high alert. The dwindling seagrass, a key food source for dugongs, has raised concerns over the fate of these gentle sea mammals. Seagrass, the culinary delight of dugongs, is vanishing at an alarming rate from the pristine seas off Thailand’s southern province of…

  • Aussie Muay Thai boxer’s career on the ropes after Koh Samui road knockout | Thaiger

    Aussie Muay Thai boxer’s career on the ropes after Koh Samui road knockout

    The promising career of a talented Aussie Muay Thai boxer is on the ropes after a devastating knockout by a man driving on the wrong side of the road while riding his scooter on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand. In keeping with the trend, his insurance company declared that the aspiring martial arts fighter was not covered for…

  • Netizens cry foul: Thai govt accused of stealing bridge-building thunder (video) | Thaiger

    Netizens cry foul: Thai govt accused of stealing bridge-building thunder (video)

    Thai netizens accused the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of stealing the spotlight from two foreigners who raised funds to build a bridge for children to cross in Koh Phayam, an island in the southern province of Ranong. A viral image circulating on social media recently captured the attention of many, showing children in school uniforms wading through a…

  • Southern Thailand to acquire new Andaman Airport | Thaiger

    Southern Thailand to acquire new Andaman Airport

    Envisioned as a direct long-haul flight hub, Airports of Thailand (AOT) is fast-tracking the construction of the much-anticipated Andaman International Airport. In a recent visit, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit inspected the airport’s progress in Phang Nga province, initiating transformative steps to bolster local transport infrastructure. The Andaman International Airport, currently in its second stage of development, is strategically crafted to…

  • Thai food vendor sparks debate after giving free food to foreign backpacker (video) | Thaiger

    Thai food vendor sparks debate after giving free food to foreign backpacker (video)

    A Thai food vendor sparked a debate on social media after giving free food to a foreign backpacker in the southern province of Surat Thani. Many netizens hailed the vendor’s gesture while others said the foreign woman just took advantage of Thais’ kindness. The food vendor shared a video of the foreign backpacker eating food at her restaurant on her…

  • Thai police apprehend call centre scam gang in Sungai Kolok district | Thaiger

    Thai police apprehend call centre scam gang in Sungai Kolok district

    A call centre scam gang was apprehended by the police in the district of Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat province yesterday, January 27. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Chief, Jirabhop Bhuridej, disclosed that the operation was executed in collaboration with the Crime Suppression Division Subdivision 6 and local police. They raided a house located in the border district with Malaysia. The arrested…

  • Love across borders: Malaysian women flock to southern Thailand for forbidden unions | Thaiger

    Love across borders: Malaysian women flock to southern Thailand for forbidden unions

    In a surprising trend, Malaysian women, primarily from the East Coast states, are crossing borders to tie the knot with foreign nationals in southern Thailand. The Narathiwat Islamic Council revealed that 90% of these brides were widows, seeking love and legality beyond their homeland. Vice-president Abdul Aziz Che Mamat unveiled the reasons behind this cross-border love affair. “The most common…

  • Thai father attacks suspect who sexually assaulted his daughter | Thaiger

    Thai father attacks suspect who sexually assaulted his daughter

    A Thai father in the southern province of Chumphon tied up and brutally attacked an alleged pedophile who reportedly sexually assaulted his 11 year old daughter. Police said they could not arrest the pervert until they got results from the victim’s medical examination. The physical assault against the 42 year old Thai man was reported to the Phutta Phratheep Lang…

  • Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat | Thaiger

    Tourists survive speedboat crash in Trat

    A tourist speedboat crashed into a reef 16 miles off the Laem Thian area on Koh Kut, Trat on January 24. The Trat Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Center (CARDC) dispatched three marine rescue speedboats at 2.30pm to the island with the aid of 12 tourists and three crew members who were stranded. However, at one point the rescue teams…

  • Chinese man searches for missing friend, only to find her on trip to Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Chinese man searches for missing friend, only to find her on trip to Koh Pha Ngan

    A Chinese man filed a missing person’s report with the Thai police to find a missing friend, only for her to turn up in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. The 32 year old Chinese man, Sui Mingyang, filed a missing person’s report with Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat…

  • Sea blooms: Underwater magic in Trang Sea as marine Sakura wows tourists | Thaiger

    Sea blooms: Underwater magic in Trang Sea as marine Sakura wows tourists

    The underwater world of Koh Waen in the Trang Sea has become an awe-inspiring spectacle, drawing tourists to its depths for a glimpse of the marine Sakura blossoms, a phenomenon so unique it’s likened to witnessing cherry blossoms beneath the waves. It’s here that adventurers and romantics alike converge, as the area hosted the world’s first underwater wedding ceremony, cementing its…

  • Cyber cops collar loan shark for high-interest loans with sex repayment | Thaiger

    Cyber cops collar loan shark for high-interest loans with sex repayment

    Cyber police arrested a Thai man in the southern province of Trang yesterday for offering high-interest loans and allegedly forcing debtors to repay debts with sex. “loan-shark love: Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officers came across videos posted by the 38 year old loan shark, Thaweesak, on social media where he publicly shamed debtors unable to repay his loans. Further investigation…

  • Mobile Cabinet headquarters in Ranong ready for meeting | Thaiger

    Mobile Cabinet headquarters in Ranong ready for meeting

    Prime Minister’s Office Minister Puangpet Chunlaiad and Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke took a firsthand look at the cutting-edge Press Centre set to host the inaugural mobile Cabinet meeting of the year in Ranong province. Accompanied by Teerapong Wongsiwawilas, Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Sudruetai Lertkasem, acting Director-General of the Public Relations Department (PRD), and Supaphong Chaolaen, Director of PRD…

  • Thai health minister unveils emergency airlift project to save tourists | Thaiger

    Thai health minister unveils emergency airlift project to save tourists

    In a move set to revolutionise emergency medical services, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew declared the expansion of Thailand’s Sky Doctor project during an emergency airlift rehearsal in Phang Nga. The rehearsal unfolded at Koh Yao Witthaya School, where the minister, accompanied by permanent secretary Opas Karnkawinpong, showcased their commitment to elevating the nation’s healthcare services to international standards. Addressing…

  • Rawai rescue team saves lost tourists at Laem Krating | Thaiger

    Rawai rescue team saves lost tourists at Laem Krating

    Two female tourists, who had lost their way as darkness fell near Laem Krating, were located and ushered to safety by the Rawai Municipality rescue team last night (January 21). The women had gone for a walk on the popular trail along the cape, well-known for its Black Rock Viewpoint. The trail, which measures just 1.8 kilometres, became a labyrinth…

  • 2 armed robbers remain at large after stealing 1.2 million baht gold in Surat Thani (video) | Thaiger

    2 armed robbers remain at large after stealing 1.2 million baht gold in Surat Thani (video)

    Two armed robbers remain at large after stealing gold bracelets worth at least 1.2 million baht from a gold shop in a Lotus’s supermarket on Number 41 Road in the Chaiya district of the southern province of Surat Thani. Chaiya Police Station officers were alerted to the gold robbery at the Yaowarat Krungthep gold shop in the Lotus’s at around…

  • New tiger discovery in Chumphon province’s forests sparks transboundary patrol theory | Thaiger

    New tiger discovery in Chumphon province’s forests sparks transboundary patrol theory

    Three tigers, believed to traverse between Thailand and Myanmar, have been discovered in Chumphon province’s forests. The big cats were detected last Friday in the Tanao Sri Mountain Range, which forms the border between the two countries. The tigers are suspected of patrolling the forests of Duang Charoen, Nern Thong, and Chong Kamew in the Ta Sae district’s Song Pee…

  • Teenager brandishes firearm in public, fears mother poisoning him for insurance | Thaiger

    Teenager brandishes firearm in public, fears mother poisoning him for insurance

    A 19 year old man was taken into custody by Surat Thani City police after he was spotted brandishing a firearm at a busy road intersection. The youth claimed he was scared of his mother, who he believed was trying to poison him to claim life insurance money. The incident occurred at 2.15am today, January 18 at the intersection of…

  • Teen girl found drowned in Pak Pha Ying Canal after distressing messages | Thaiger

    Teen girl found drowned in Pak Pha Ying Canal after distressing messages

    The body of a 15 year old girl was discovered drowned in the Pak Phing Canal after a two-day search by authorities. The girl, identified as Neem, had been missing since the evening of January 16. The teenager had previously sent distressing audio and video messages to a friend at 1am on January 16 before her disappearance. Neem, who was…

  • Nakhon Si Thammarat emerges as tranquil tourism haven amidst chaos in hotspots like Phuket | Thaiger

    Nakhon Si Thammarat emerges as tranquil tourism haven amidst chaos in hotspots like Phuket

    As Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin battle with over-tourism, Nakhon Si Thammarat emerges as a tranquil one of Thailand’s favourite getaways. In the throes of over-tourism, Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin are becoming synonymous with congestion, noise, and chaos. The serenity seekers are abandoning the ship, flocking towards the promise of silent travel, as revealed by Condé Nast Traveler. Amidst…

  • Cop’s gunshot drama: Thai police officer faints in car after marital gunfire misfire | Thaiger

    Cop’s gunshot drama: Thai police officer faints in car after marital gunfire misfire

    A Thai police officer reportedly fainted in her car after discharging a firearm in an attempt to threaten her husband, only to be startled by the recoil of the gunfire, in the southern province of Surat Thani. A Thai rescuer, Somwang Sang-ngam, told Channel 3 that his team received a report of a shooting from the Mueang Surat Thani Police…

  • South Thailand: Intharam Temple gives away over 1,000 gift items for National Children’s Day | Thaiger

    South Thailand: Intharam Temple gives away over 1,000 gift items for National Children’s Day

    Inthraram Temple in the Mueang Mai Subdistrict of Amphawa District, Samut Songkhram province, is going all out for National Children’s Day, giving away gold rings, laptops, and smartphones. Over 1,000 gift items are up for grabs, including one bag of rice for each person. Phra Metheewatcharaprachathorn, better known as Assistant Professor Dr Luang Phor Daeng Nanthiyo, Advisor to the Abbot…

  • Thai man kills cheating girlfriend’s father and commits suicide in jail | Thaiger

    Thai man kills cheating girlfriend’s father and commits suicide in jail

    A Thai man killed his girlfriend’s father after discovering she had a husband and two children. The killer later committed suicide while in custody at Khok Pho Police Station in the southern province of Pattani. Khok Pho Police Station officers rushed to a house in the Khok Pho district of Pattani at 9.50pm on Wednesday, January 10 after receiving a…