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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Narathiwat mayor fatally gunned down at garment factory
In a shocking daylight assassination, the popular two-time mayor of the Rueso subdistrict in the southern province of Narathiwat was brutally shot dead at his garment factory. The 55 year old mayor, Wichet Thaithongnum, known by locals as Mayor Arm, was gunned down by a group of men wielding war weapons in an audacious attack that has left the community…
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Locals reel in Thai man stranded at sea for 2-hours near Koh Samui (video)
Locals on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, came to the aid of a Thai man who accidentally fell into the sea yesterday and was stranded, treading water for two hours. Samui Association Rescue Volunteers were alerted by locals at around 9am yesterday, November 6, that the Thai man, later identified as 34 year old Sanadate,…
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Dugong numbers in Andaman Sea may drop 70% in four years
Dugong populations in the Andaman Sea face a potential 70% decline within the next four years, primarily due to a shrinking supply of seagrass, their main food source. This alarming prediction was made by a marine biologist, emphasising the urgent need for conservation efforts to save this vulnerable marine mammal. Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the crisis in seagrass reserves, stressing the…
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Fire at Surat Thani car dealership damages five vehicles
The early hours of yesterday saw a fire engulf the Siam Charoen Yont car dealership located in Surat Thani, causing significant damage to five vehicles. The blaze was reported to the police, who promptly responded to the emergency. Police Lieutenant Phumiphat Jaiyen from the Surat Thani City Police Station, in collaboration with Police Colonel Nipon Chatri and local disaster relief…
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Pattani police officer survives ambush after brave retaliation
Gunmen ambushed and shot a 52 year old police officer from Mayo Police Station in Pattani while he was riding his motorcycle home after prayers. The attack occurred in the evening but Abdulhadi, despite sustaining injuries, managed to return fire, causing the assailants to flee. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 4 around 8.30pm on a village road in Moo 1,…
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Malaysian singer arrested in southern Thailand with 6,060 Yaba pills
Thai police officers arrested a well-known Malaysian singer and five other suspects in a hotel room in the Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat in the early hours of November 1, with 6,060 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, in their possession. The arrests were made by officers from Su-ngai Kolok Police Station at around 3.30am in room number 814 of…
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Thai woman endures 18 years pain after nurse leaves needle in vagina
A Thai woman in the southern province of Narathiwat contacted the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women after a nurse accidentally left a needle in her vagina while stitching her up following childbirth. A community leader in the Cho-airong district of Narathiwat brought the case of the 36 year old victim to the foundation yesterday, November 4. The leader explained…
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Trang Airport terminal to open by late 2025 amid project delays
The Transport Ministry directed an expedited effort to complete the new passenger terminal at Trang Airport, aiming for its operation by the close of next year. This directive comes from Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri, following a petition from a civic group in the southern province urging the government to resume the 1.6-billion-baht project, halted by the contractor about six…
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Hat Yai backpack scare leads to four-hour road closure
A suspicious bag left outside the house of Hat Yai’s mayor prompted a four-hour road closure as police and bomb squads moved to neutralise the potential threat. This incident follows a series of violent events in the southern border provinces, including a recent car bomb attack in Pattani. Security agencies issued warnings to bolster protective measures at government offices and…
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M16 rifle linked to over 25 deaths in southern Thailand
A deadly weapon, an M16 rifle, used in the fatal shooting of former police officer Phu-at Rasaming, has been linked to over 25 deaths in a series of violent incidents in southern Thailand. The Supreme Court sentenced Amir Dotae to 35 years and 13 months in prison for related terrorism charges. The tragic event unfolded when Phu-at Rasaming, the imam…
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Phatthalung plans airport to become Thailand’s logistics hub
Officials in Phatthalung are gearing up to transform the province into a bustling logistics hub in southern Thailand with plans to construct a new airport. This ambitious initiative, aimed at elevating the province’s economic profile, is anticipated to be presented to the Cabinet soon. A major step forward was taken when the Phatthalung governor submitted a formal request to the…
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School scandal: Education official in hot water for midday snooze
The Office of the Basic Education Commission is investigating an educational official in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan who was allegedly sleeping at work and finishing her duties early after lunch. The Facebook pages ปฏิบัติการหมาเฝ้าบ้าน (Watchdog Anti-corruption Organisation of Thailand) and ร้ายกาจ (Wicked!) shared pictures and videos of the official, identified only as “Aunty Fon,” sleeping on duty…
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Trang Airport terminal’s delay spikes airfares, tourism at risk
Rath Pooklang, head of the Trang People’s Voice Network, met with Deputy Minister of Transport, Manop Charoensri, urging immediate action on the stalled construction of the new passenger terminal at Trang International Airport, alongside addressing exorbitant airfares affecting tourism. Rath and his civic team travelled to Bangkok to present a letter to the deputy minister, highlighting the need for an…
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German man dies in Koh Phayam resort, candy found during CPR
A German man died at a resort on Koh Phayam, an island in the southern province of Ranong. A piece of candy may have been spat out of his mouth during CPR but officers concluded that the cause of death was a pre-existing medical condition. Officers from Pak Nam Ranong Police Station were alerted to the death of the German national, 57…
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Insurgent threats in deep South as Tak Bai massacre case passes
Security measures have been increased in Thailand’s deep South amidst intelligence reports suggesting insurgent groups are planning to instigate violence from today, October 26, until October 28, following the expiration of the statute of limitations for the Tak Bai massacre case. Reports indicate that these groups aim to incite violence across four provinces to mark the 20th anniversary of the…
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Explosion outside Panare District Office sparks urgent probe
An explosion occurred outside the Panare District Office in Pattani, igniting a horrifying fire and prompting an urgent investigation by police. Yesterday, October 23, the อาสาสมัครกู้ชีพสันติ ปัตตานี Facebook page reported a dramatic incident outside the Panare district office in Pattani province. The post detailed that an explosion had taken place just after midnight, causing a fire to break out at…
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Thai woman surrenders to police after slitting debtor’s throat
A Thai woman turned herself in after slitting the throat of a female debtor during a funeral at a temple in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday. The shocking attack occurred in front of many locals attending the funeral at Jating Phra Temple in the Sathing Phra district of Songkhla at about 12.15am on Sunday, October 20. The victim was…
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Time’s up: House Speaker warns of ticking tensions in Tak Bai turmoil
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sounded the alarm over the simmering unrest in Thailand’s volatile Deep South. With the clock ticking down to the looming deadline for the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case, police are under pressure to seize suspects or risk letting them slip away forever. Wan Muhamad has thrown down the gauntlet, insisting security forces must snag…
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Human trafficking in Chumphon leads to three Burmese deaths
Police in Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, responded to a distress call from monks at Wat Sek Tharam at 11.30am on October 17, leading them to a tragic scene involving Burmese migrants. Found in a forest approximately 2 kilometres from Phetkasem Road, 12 Burmese migrants were discovered in dire conditions, covered in dirt and visibly weakened. Two men, aged between…
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Rare Malayan tapir spotted near Thai-Malaysian border
A rare sighting of a Malayan tapir near the Thai-Malaysian border in Narathiwat province has caught the attention of Thai officials from the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary. Local villagers alerted officials yesterday, October 18, after spotting the tapir on October 16 at around 7pm, feeding on fallen rambutans for about an hour before retreating towards the border. Residents in the Waeng…
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Bomb blitz rocks southern Thailand: Seven injured
A series of bomb blasts sent shockwaves through Sungai Padi district, in the southern province of Narathiwat province this morning, leaving seven security personnel injured and sparking concerns about the region’s escalating unrest. The attacks began just before dawn, with bombs planted strategically near power poles outside a gas factory in Kuwa Village, according to Ranger Task Force 4810. The…
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Get ready to sea it all: Trang opens for snorkeling with marine life
Trang province is now ready to welcome tourists to admire the stunning beauty of the sea at Lao Liang Island. Visitors can snorkel to see schools of anchovy swimming around coral reefs and spot dozens of clownfish among vibrant sea anemones, showcasing the richness of natural marine life. Anan Gingkoyao, also known as Bang Daad, a 36 year old local…
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Thai woman calls foul after man defecates outside her home (video)
A Thai woman demanded accountability from a man who defecated outside her home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The 48 year old woman, Mew, took to a local Udon Thani Facebook group to share CCTV footage of the man defecating outside her house. In her post, she stated, “Is this too much? If the post violates group rules,…
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Search continues for 12 year old Thai girl missing for 12 days
A Thai mother and aunt in the southern province of Phang Nga are searching for her 12 year old girl, who has been missing for 12 days since October 5, when the family left the girl alone at home to attend a vegetarian festival. Wandee Hanhuan, the aunt of the 12 year old missing girl, Poonyanut “Sompoy” Kayankhai, took to…
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Man arrested for abusing disabled sister and children in Chumphon
A distressing incident unfolded in Chumphon province yesterday, where a man was arrested for allegedly abusing his disabled sister and three children. The man, Chai (pseudonym), was reported to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the abuse. Village head Somphun Suwan received a call for help from a desperate older brother, who could…
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Former politician caught with meth in underwear in South Thailand
A former local politician was arrested at a checkpoint after attempting to hide methamphetamine (meth) in his underwear. A subsequent search of his home revealed a firearm. Local police set up the checkpoint to maintain order. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sawat Niyomdecha of Koh Thuat Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, in coordination with local administrative officials, established the checkpoint in…
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Pattani: Border patrol officer killed in dual insurgent attacks
Tensions erupted late last night when insurgents launched coordinated attacks on two security outposts in a southern border province, resulting in the tragic death of a border patrol officer. The assailants, armed with military-grade weapons, carried out the strikes within minutes of each other, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. The first attack occurred at around 11.45pm, yesterday, October 9, when…
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Southern Thailand braces for torrential rains and flash floods
Southern Thailand is urged to prepare for torrential rains that began yesterday, October 9 and are expected to continue until Saturday, potentially causing flash floods. This warning concerns the provinces of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as stated by Surasri Kidtimonton, secretary-general…
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Phatthalung villagers scammed out of 5 million baht by neighbour
Nearly 30 villagers in Phatthalung province filed police reports after being scammed out of 5 million baht by a neighbour they had trusted. The incident involved daily savings schemes, gold savings plans, and land brokerage deals. The chief of Khao Krasai subdistrict in Pa Bon district, Komjak Saengsio, led the villagers in reporting the case. The accused, Sattaya Boonladee, a…
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Murder-suicide suspected after family of 4 found dead in Songkhla
Police suspect a Thai woman of committing a murder-suicide involving her family members at her home in the southern province of Songkhla after four bodies with gunshot wounds were discovered yesterday, October 7. Officers from Mueang Songkhla Police Station were called to investigate the fatal shooting at a two-storey house belonging to a former member of the Songkhla Municipality Council,…
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