South Thailand News
Stay updated with the latest Southern Thailand news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for regional information. Keep informed on local events, business developments, and lifestyle stories in popular locations beyond Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi. We’ve got reports of the latest goings on in Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and more.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, The Thaiger’s Southern Thailand news page is your essential guide to exploring this stunning tropical region. Dive into the vibrant community and rich culture with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Sponsored Why is Bangkok's air quality so bad?
Imagine waking up early in Bangkok and you see all the beautiful morning fog from your balcony, but as you sip your coffee you realise it's just Bangkok's air pollution that's making the sun rise aesthetic. Ranked as the 36th...
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Highways Department’s tree-mendous tribute for king’s birthday
The Department of Highways, District 16, recently launched a tree-planting initiative in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday. The event took place at Highway 44, between the kilometre markers 132+700, in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani. The event saw the participation of over 700 individuals, including executives, highway department officials, employees, and contractors. Led by Paijit Saengthong, Director…
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Phuket leads in dengue crisis: Kids worst hit in southern Thailand
Phuket has emerged as the hotspot for dengue fever in upper southern Thailand, with the highest infection rates among seven provinces, according to the Department of Disease Control’s regional office. Dr Darinda Rosa, acting Director of Health Region 11’s Disease Control Office, highlighted a significant surge in dengue cases from January 1 to yesterday, totalling 5,853. Children aged 10-14 are…
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Monk leaves monkhood after slapping novice in Trang province
A monk in Trang province quietly left the monkhood following a viral video showing him slapping a young novice. The incident, which occurred on July 13, sparked widespread online outrage, with many calling for severe punishment. Sukpichai Chaowakul, director of the Trang Provincial Office of Buddhism, along with Phra Khru Maha Kettarak, the district monk head of Wang Wiset, and…
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Koh Panyi vendors slammed for fleecing South Korean YouTubers
Thai netizens condemned local vendors on Koh Panyi, an island in the southern province of Phang Nga, for overcharging two South Korean YouTubers. Some netizens claimed that the island locals also overcharged domestic tourists. The drama emerged after the YouTube channel Cullen HateBerry released a video in which Paek Ki Deuk, better known as Cullen, and his friend Jung visited…
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Thai woman visits 2 jailed ex-boyfriends who stab her over jealousy
A Thai woman stabbed in the chest by two of her ex-boyfriends visited Phetchaburi Provincial Court to visit them after their arrest, admitting she still loved them. Her current boyfriend, who was cut on his ear, was not aware of the visit. Three injured victims, a Thai woman named Wassana, her boyfriend Dream, and her older sister Salaiporn, were admitted to…
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2 Thai men attack ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend with knives
Two unhinged jealous ex-boyfriends managed to evade arrest following a vicious knife attack on their ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at her home in the southern province of Phetchaburi. A medical team at Cha-am Hospital reported the stabbing to Cha-am Police Station after three victims were admitted to surgery on Sunday night, July 21. The Thai man, Dream, was cut…
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Roadside bomb injures six police officers in southern Thailand
A roadside bomb detonated in Pattani yesterday, injuring six police officers and prompting the army to urge motorists to exercise caution. The explosion occurred on Road 42 in Nong Chik district as an armoured pickup truck carrying the officers was returning to base from a checkpoint. The Internal Security Operations Command’s (ISOC) southern frontline office reported that the blast caused…
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Bingo! Gambian arrested for 7-year illegal stay on Koh Pha Ngan
Tourist Police arrested a Gambian man on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, on Friday, July 19, for illegally entering Thailand and staying on the island for more than seven years. He reportedly shouted “Bingo!” after being caught. Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police were conducting a crackdown on illegal foreigners when they encountered the…
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Boy drowns in Hat Yai canal despite rescue efforts
An eight year old boy tragically drowned while playing in a canal with his friends in Hat Yai, Songkhla. Despite efforts to rescue him, it took two hours to locate his body after his grandfather performed a ritual. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm yesterday, July 20, when police from Koh Hong Police Station in Songkhla received a report of…
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Samui journalist threatened with violence over luxury villa report
A journalist from Channel 7 filed a complaint against the owner of some luxury villas in Koh Samui after the owner issued a violent threat against him for reporting a suspicious construction permit for the villas. Officers from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Division 4 are investigating the construction permit for 53 luxury villas of the Samui Green Cottages…
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Missile attack on Naypyidaw Airport kills 16 soldiers
Armed groups launched a missile attack on Naypyidaw International Airport in Myanmar, resulting in significant damage to three aircraft and the deaths of 16 soldiers. This marks the fifth attack on this airport since the start of the year. High-ranking officials from the Karenni Army (KA) reported on July 16, at 9am, that armed groups MKCDF, MRF, and BWM reportedly…
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Similan Islands national park’s plea for hermit crab homes
Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province is sounding the alarm and calling on the public to donate shells to provide new homes for hermit crabs. This urgent campaign aims to boost the crab population and enhance marine biodiversity. Hermit crabs are vital beach cleaners, eliminating bacteria and disease to maintain the park’s ecosystem. Due to their soft…
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Thai woman seeks justice over hermit’s naked massage cancer cure claim
A Thai woman is seeking help after a hermit in the southern province of Surat Thani sexually assaulted her by tricking her parents into taking her to his compound for a naked massage, claiming she had breast and cervical cancer. The 20 year old victim, identified only as Or, told a Thai news agency yesterday, July 14, that she had…
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Thai man arrested for raping Ukrainian woman in Koh Samui
A Thai man denied raping a Ukrainian woman at Thongson Beach on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, claiming that the victim consented. The 32 year old Ukrainian victim filed a rape complaint at Bor Phud Police Station on July 13 after the incident took place on Thongson Beach in the Bor Phud sub-district at…
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Thai police bust major illegal alcohol and cigarette ring in Hat Yai
Police in Songkhla have successfully dismantled a major illegal alcohol and cigarette operation in Hat Yai, following complaints from local businesses about unfair competition. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the operation’s success, which took place yesterday at 2pm. The crackdown came after legal businesses reported significant losses due to vendors selling illicit products at lower…
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Songkhla police seize over 30 million baht in meth and ice
Police in Songkhla seized more than 1 million methamphetamine (meth) pills and 400 grammes of crystal meth (Ice), valued at over 30 million baht. The suspects, previously involved in multiple serious crimes, are linked to a significant drug distribution network. Police in Songkhla province announced the major drug bust, which took place at the provincial police headquarters yesterday. The press…
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Thai man arrested for special needs girl sexual abuse
A 25 year old Thai man was arrested for allegedly luring an 18 year old special needs girl onto his motorcycle and taking her to a secluded area where he committed indecent acts. The police caught him at his grandfather’s house following a warrant issued earlier. The Songkhla Provincial Police, together with Hat Yai Police and the Anti-Human Trafficking Division,…
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Woman arrested for illegal online wildlife trade in southern Thailand
Police apprehended a Thai woman involved in illegal online wildlife trading, seizing 34 rare birds. The suspect admitted to buying the birds from locals and reselling them online for profit. Arune Wachirasrisukanya, Deputy Commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED), along with Wanpichit Watthanasakmonta, Chief of Police Station 6, and Somphop Trongtokit, Inspector of Police Station 6,…
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Nine arrested in Songkhla drug raid, crystal meth seized
A police raid on a house in Songkhla’s Mueang district led to the arrest of nine people for alleged drug use, along with the seizure of crystal methamphetamine (Ice). Border Patrol Police executed the raid in Thung Wang subdistrict yesterday, July 10, discovering six men and three women partaking in a drug-fuelled party. The suspects attempted to escape upon seeing…
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Lorry crash in Surat Thani leaves two hospitalised
A lorry carrying palm oil waste experienced brake failure and crashed into a car, dragged it for 100 metres, and collided with a pickup truck, causing severe damage. Rescue teams extracted two individuals from the wreckage and transported them to the hospital. The incident occurred at 5.50pm yesterday, July 10 when police from Chaiya Police Station in Surat Thani were…
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Russian man arrested for illegal business, bribe attempt
A Russian man attempted to secure his freedom by offering a 1 million baht bribe to Thai police after being arrested for illegally operating a motorcycle rental service in Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off about a foreigner working illegally in Thailand. Following further investigation, the man…
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No plastics allowed: Koh Nang Yuan protects coral reefs
Visitors to the stunning island of Koh Nang Yuan in southern Thailand are facing a surprising restriction: no plastic items or styrofoam boxes are allowed. Koh Nang Yuan, renowned for its three interconnected islets with pristine white sands, has long upheld a strict no-plastic policy. This rule extends to the thousands of tourists who flock to its shores each day,…
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Armed men disguised as soldiers raid Yala villages, steal firearms
Armed men disguised as soldiers and rangers executed a series of robberies targeting village headmen and defence volunteers in Yala‘s southern border province last night, making off with several firearms. Around 8.30pm, July 9, approximately 10 armed men with covered faces, dressed like soldiers, stormed a defence volunteer station in Ban Krong Pinang, Krong Pinang district. They seized a shotgun…
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PM Srettha to meet Malaysian PM for peace talks
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a high-stakes meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a southern border province on August 3, though the exact location remains undecided. The Thai premier hinted that Yala, Pattani, or Narathiwat could be the chosen venue. “My team is making arrangements.” While the specifics of the agenda are under wraps, the Bangkok-born PM…
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New Malaysian mediator appointed for Thai peace talks
The Malaysian government has appointed a new mediator for the peace process in southern Thailand. This comes amid urgent calls for a reassessment of the peace roadmap following a surge in violence that has shattered public confidence. A devastating car bomb exploded outside a police flat in Yala on June 30, claiming the life of a school teacher and injuring…
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Sleepy driver kills 3 and injures 2 in Songkhla accident
A Thai woman, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, crashed her pickup into another vehicle on the Songkhla-Natawee Road in southern Thailand. The tragic incident resulted in her death, along with two others, while two more sustained serious injuries. Officers from Khuanmeed Police Station and rescuers from the Chanong Sub-district and Nitimittaparb Rescue Foundations arrived at the scene at…
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Minibus crash in Surat Thani injures ten foreign tourists
A minibus carrying foreign tourists overturned yesterday, injuring ten passengers. The accident occurred around 6.30am, yesterday, July 7, on Phunphin-Mueang Road in the Tha Lon sub-district, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province. Police and rescue workers promptly arrived at the scene where they found the minibus overturned on the roadside. The ten foreign tourists, who sustained minor injuries, were swiftly transported…
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Parcel worker shot dead in Ranong over alleged affair
A shooting incident occurred yesterday evening, July 5, behind a market in Ranong, leaving a private parcel delivery employee dead and his family in mourning. Witnesses reported a physical altercation between the victim and a man in black before shots were fired. Police received the distress call around 6.42pm and immediately dispatched officers and medical personnel to the scene. The…
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Police reshuffle in Yala after car bomb kills one, injures 34
A significant reshuffling of police personnel followed a devastating car bomb attack on the Bannang Sata police flats in Yala province, which resulted in one fatality and injured 34 others. This incident occurred yesterday and led to a series of transfers within the police force. Police Colonel Ranon Surawit has been reassigned to the Southern Border Provinces Investigation Division as…
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Vietnamese trawler detained for illegal fishing in Thai waters
A Vietnamese trawler with four crewmen was detained yesterday for illegally fishing in Thai territorial waters, according to the Thai navy. The incident took place south of Koh Kra, yesterday, July 4, where the Second Naval Area Command, led by deputy commander Phichit Srirungruang, ordered the HTMS Sattahip to conduct a patrol following intelligence reports of unauthorised fishing activities. The…
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