Songkran News
Songkran news, events, travel tips, and festival updates—stay informed on Thailand’s iconic water festival, its traditions, and celebrations. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for Songkran news.
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AOT reports record 2.6 million passengers during Songkran festival
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced impressive air traffic statistics for the Songkran period, highlighting a 4.3% increase in passenger traffic across the six airports it operates, compared to last year. Dr Kerati Kijmanawat, President of AOT, revealed that from April 11 to 17, a total of 2.6 million passengers passed through Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket,…
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Paramilitary volunteer arrested for fatal Songkran stabbing
A Songkran celebration turned deadly in the southern province of Trang after a violent clash led to the fatal stabbing of a teenager — and now a 22 year old paramilitary volunteer is behind bars. Benjaphong, a paramilitary volunteer, was arrested today, April 19, following a dramatic police operation after being accused of fatally stabbing a teenager during a brawl…
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Pattaya ramps up security with 750 cops and drones for Songkran
Pattaya is turning into a high-tech fortress this Songkran, as police brace for massive crowds and potential mayhem at Thailand’s wildest water fight. Yesterday, April 18, Police Lieutenant General Yingyot Thepjamnong, Commander of Provincial Police Region 2, led a full-scale inspection at Pattaya City Police Station to assess security and traffic readiness ahead of the Pattaya Water Festival today, April…
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Deadly ‘Labubu’ drug kills 2 after Songkran party
What looked like innocent fun during Songkran has turned deadly, as Thai police warn of a dangerous new designer drug that has already claimed two lives and left another person fighting for their life. The Ramathibodi Poison Centre has issued an urgent public warning about a street drug known as Labubu or Khanom (Thai for snack), believed to have been…
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Chiang Mai hotels thrive during Songkran with strategic pricing
Hotels in Chiang Mai experienced a strong performance during the Songkran holiday, despite offering lower room rates compared to the previous year. The pricing strategy was aimed at attracting last-minute domestic travellers, whose confidence was affected by last month’s earthquake. Paisarn Sukjarean, President of the Thai Hotels Association’s upper northern chapter, indicated that many Thais remained unsettled by the earthquake…
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Pattaya boosts Songkran safety with drones and freebies
Tourists heading to Koh Larn for Songkran got more than just a splash this year, they were greeted by high-tech patrols, free gifts, and a full force of security personnel as Pattaya rolled out a slick operation to keep visitors safe and smiling. The action unfolded at the Multi-Purpose Hall on Laem Bali Hai Pier, South Pattaya, where senior officials…
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Teen girl’s leg trapped in drainage grate during Songkran festival
What started as a fun-filled Songkran celebration quickly turned into a nightmare for one teenage girl in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district, after her leg got stuck in a drainage grate in the middle of the street. The 14 year old, dressed in traditional Songkran clothing, had been enjoying the water fights in Sattahip market yesterday, April 17, when she accidentally…
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Phuket reports zero road deaths during Songkran so far
Phuket is defying the odds this Songkran, with zero road deaths reported during Thailand’s notorious Seven Days of Danger, despite dozens of accidents involving both locals and foreign tourists. As the annual road and marine safety campaign nears its end, officials gathered today, April 17, at Phuket Provincial Hall to review the province’s performance. The meeting, chaired by Phuket Vice…
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Songkran road death toll rises to 200 on sixth day
Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have once again been marred by tragedy, with the road death toll rising to 200, with over 1,300 injured in just six days of road mayhem. The Road Safety Centre reported that from April 11 to 16, the bulk of the annual Seven Dangerous Days campaign, a staggering 1,377 road accidents occurred across the country. The leading culprits? Speeding…
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Pattaya cracks down on dangerous Songkran water guns
What’s meant to be all fun and games during Songkran has taken a dangerous turn, and Pattaya officials are sounding the alarm. As water fights continue to soak the city, officials have issued a stern warning over the use of high-pressure water guns, which have flooded the streets of Soi 6, Soi Buakhao, and Jomtien. Unlike your typical water blasters,…
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Thailand rolls out AI police cyborg in Nakhon Pathom
Thailand has unveiled its very own Robocop — and it made its debut at the country’s wildest water fight. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) proudly revealed photos of AI Police Cyborg 1.0, the nation’s first artificial intelligence-powered police robot, as it patrolled the Songkran festivities on Tonson Road in Nakhon Pathom province. Locals and tourists alike were stunned to see…
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Pattaya cops stop Chinese tourists in Songkran truck chaos
A splash of fun turned into a safety scare in Pattaya as police cracked down on reckless Songkran celebrations involving water trucks, and three Chinese tourists found themselves at the centre of the drama. During the city’s famous water-soaked festivities, several water trucks were spotted cruising through town and parking along busy roads, obstructing traffic and creating chaos for both…
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Cops hunt suspects in Songkran shooting at Nakhon Sawan temple
Police are actively pursuing two people involved in a shooting at a Songkran festival at a well-known temple in Nakhon Sawan, resulting in three injuries, with one person critically wounded after bullets were lodged in eight places on their body. The incident occurred on Monday, April 14, at Wat Krok Phra Nuea, Krok Phra district. Initial investigations revealed that the…
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Songkran 2025 boosts Thai tourism revenue by 26.5 billion baht
Thailand’s tourism and sports minister, Suwong Thienthong, announced that the Songkran festival in 2025 generated an estimated revenue of 26.5 billion baht, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. The festival attracted approximately 470,000 foreign tourists, a 6.5% rise from last year, with visitors hailing from Malaysia, China, India, Russia, Taiwan, Europe, and South Korea. Social media buzz surrounding…
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Foreign man criticized for bad behaviour at Songkran party (video)
A TikTok user shared a video of an incident involving a foreign man displaying inappropriate behaviour during the Songkran festival in Thailand. The man is accused of deliberately splashing water on women’s faces and chests during the Thai New Year celebration, then smiling with satisfaction. He allegedly also spat at people and threw ice yesterday, April 15. In the video,…
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70 year old woman told to leave concert due to leg pain (video)
A 70 year old woman attended a Lamyai Haithongkham concert at Sanam Luang but was unexpectedly asked to leave by security after requesting a brief sit down due to leg pain. A young woman intervened to assist her. The incident, yesterday, April 15, captured by TikTok user @mamprapa, led to numerous discussions online. In the shared video, the elderly woman,…
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Teenagers criticised for disrespecting Luang Phor To statue during Songkran
Two teenagers sparked controversy after a video of them dancing and touching the head and face of a revered Luang Phor To statue circulated online. The incident, which occurred during the Songkran festival yesterday, April 15, has drawn significant criticism on social media, with many questioning the appropriateness of their actions. The video, capturing the teenagers’ disrespectful behaviour beside a…
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Bikinis, booty and backlash: Saucy Songkran stirs splash of outrage
Bum-shaking, boob-taping and beachside booty Songkran shows in Bangsaen and Nakhon Ratchasima has exploded into an online firestorm, with Thai police now investigating viral clips of scantily-clad influencers and topless dancers accused of going way too far. Songkran’s wet and wild reputation may have just crossed the line and now police are considering indecency charges after viral videos showed an…
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Transgender woman’s topless dance at Songkran festival sparks backlash
A video showing a transgender woman dancing topless during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Ratchasima sparked criticism for damaging Thai cultural values. The incident occurred yesterday, April 15, during the festivities’ final day, with crowds of locals and tourists participating in water fights on main roads. In Nakhon Ratchasima, people celebrated Songkran by riding in pickup trucks loaded with water…
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Pattaya police target water trucks causing Songkran traffic chaos
Pattaya police announced a crackdown on water trucks that obstruct traffic and pose safety risks during Songkran festivities. Yesterday, April 15, at 7.36pm, reporters in Chon Buri observed water trucks spraying people and causing traffic jams in Pattaya, creating potential hazards for those on and around the vehicles. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanuphong Nimsuwan, a traffic inspector at Pattaya City Police…
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Man attacks woman, damages cars during Songkran in Nakhon Ratchasima
A man wielding a baseball bat attacked a woman and damaged two cars, stealing car keys in the process, during the Songkran festival in Nakhon Ratchasima. The incident, which occurred today, April 15, left several people injured and has prompted a public call for the man’s capture. Facebook user จรรยาพร เสาโร shared photos and videos of the assault, describing how…
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Bangkok Songkran draws 360,000, 10 killed in traffic accidents
Songkran festivities in Bangkok attracted a global audience, with over 360,000 people attending events on Silom and Khao San roads during the opening two days of the holiday, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). From April 12 to April 13, Silom Road hosted 165,239 visitors at celebrations held from noon until 10pm, while Khao San Road saw 197,314 people…
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PM Paetongtarn invites tourists to Chiang Mai’s vibrant cultural fest
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has encouraged both Thais and tourists to partake in the Pee Mai Mueang San Kamphaeng event, highlighting the enchanting Lhong Him Khao community in Chiang Mai. Lhong Him Khao, located in the San Kamphaeng district, is a vibrant community celebrated for its traditional Lanna arts, crafts, and cultural expressions. Residents have transformed their homes into cafes,…
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Car overturns in Phayao, killing driver during Songkran festival
A car accident on the Phaholyothin Road in Phayao province resulted in the death of a 33 year old man today, April 14. The car overturned on the rain-slicked road, marking the third fatality in the region during the Songkran festival period. Officers from Mueang Phayao Police Station received a report of a vehicle accident involving an overturned car on…
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Child rescued from flip-flop mishap during Songkran in Phayao
On April 13, a young child experienced distress during Songkran festivities in Phayao province when a flip-flop shoe became stuck on their foot. The incident occurred near a water tunnel behind a concert stage, where the child was enjoying the water play among tourists, including both teenagers and children. Attempts were made to remove the shoe by pouring water over…
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Songkran boosts Thai regional airport traffic with celebrations
Regional airports across Thailand are experiencing a surge in both domestic and international travellers as the nation celebrates the Songkran festival. Yesterday, April 13, the first day of Songkran, cities like Phuket, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla, and Khon Kaen hosted their events, attracting thousands eager to join the annual celebrations. In Phuket, Patong Beach became a hub of activity…
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Thailand waives park fees for Family Day celebration
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will waive entrance fees to all national parks, botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation sites in Thailand today in celebration of Family Day, observed annually on April 14. According to Attapol Charoenshunsa, the director-general of the department, this initiative is part of an effort to promote visits to the country’s lesser-known…
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Songkran drink-driving cases top 1,300 in two days
The Department of Probation has released statistics revealing that drink-driving cases remain high during the Songkran festival, accumulating over 1,300 cases in two days. Today, April 13, Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, Director-General of the Department of Probation, reported on cases entering probation yesterday, marking the second day of stringent measures. A total of 1,037 cases were recorded, with six…
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Tourists protest inflated water prices at Hat Yai Songkran festival
Tourists at the Hat Yai Midnight Songkran festival in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, today raised concerns over the inflated prices of water sold for the event, with costs reaching 1,000 baht for 200 litres. Many Malaysian tourists participated in the festival, attracting vendors who charged significantly higher prices for water, claiming it included ice. The Songkhla governor, Chotinrin Kerdsom,…
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Songkran 2025 triggers travel surge across Thailand
Songkran 2025 kicked off yesterday, April 12, marked by extensive travel as thousands journeyed to their home provinces or holiday destinations across Thailand. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) governor, Veeris Ammarapala, reported that Krungthep Apiwat Station was bustling with activity. The passenger count was anticipated to exceed 117,000 on the first day, with over 81,000 departures. To manage the…
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