Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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Giant king cobra caught in fish trap excites Songkhla locals
A giant king cobra was unexpectedly caught in a fish trap in Songkhla province, sparking a mix of excitement and tension. Residents eagerly gathered, hoping to use the incident as inspiration for the upcoming lottery draw. The event began when 28 year old Phadungsak, from Na Thawi, Songkhla, visited his rubber plantation to check on fish traps he had set.…
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Thailand imposes stricter penalties for unpaid tolls
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is set to enforce stricter penalties for unpaid tolls starting January 1, 2025. Drivers who fail to pay tolls will face fines up to ten times the toll fee, with a maximum of 2,000 baht per incident. This new regulation is part of the enforcement of Section 63 of the EXAT Act of 2007,…
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Five killed in Prachinburi factory concrete slab collapse
A tragic incident unfolded in Prachinburi province when a concrete slab collapsed in a factory located in the 304 Industrial Park, resulting in the loss of five lives with no survivors. The collapse occurred today, December 30, causing widespread alarm among workers and residents in the area. Rescue teams and relevant officials swiftly arrived on the scene to assess the…
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Man dies in motorcycle crash with roadside bin, daughter devastated
A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded when a man died after his motorcycle collided with a roadside bin. The incident, which occurred at 1pm yesterday, December 29, left his daughter devastated. Earlier that morning, he had made a seemingly ominous comment about buying something for her if he survived the day. Police officers from Klong Ha Police Station, led by Police Lieutenant…
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Young man arrested in Bangkok with modified gun after police chase
A young man found himself in hot water after leading police on a chase, ultimately being apprehended with a firearm in his possession. The incident occurred today, December 30, when officers from Bang Khen Police Station, led by Anan Warasart, apprehended 20 year old Tawan in the Ram Inthra 5 area of Bangkok. Tawan was found with a modified blank…
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Security guard in Ayutthaya injures colleagues in knife attack
A security guard, in a frenzied state, attacked his colleagues with a knife, leaving two seriously injured before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. The incident happened today, December 30, at the Bueng Phra Ram pétanque field in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The police are now on the hunt for the suspect. The police received an alert about the chaotic…
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3 foreigners killed in fire at Khao San Road hotel in Bangkok
A fire broke out at a hotel on Thani Road near the Khao San Road neighbourhood of Bangkok last night, December 29, resulting in three fatalities and seven injuries. The fire started on the fifth floor of the six-storey Ember Hotel, at around 9.20pm. ThaiRath reported today, December 30, that the blaze originated in room 511, which was completely burned down…
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Endangered animal smuggling ring busted at Chatuchak Market
A clandestine network involved in the smuggling of endangered animals has been exposed at Chatuchak Market, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). Director-General Atthapol Charoenchansa revealed that a millionaire businessman, who collects exotic animals, attempted to import a baby gorilla from Türkiye. Details about the businessman remain undisclosed as investigations continue. Police have initiated…
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Teen dies in tragic gun accident in Samut Prakan
A tragic accident unfolded when an 18 year old mechanical student from a well-known school accidentally shot himself in the groin while handling a gun, leading to his untimely death. The incident occurred when he attempted to pull the weapon from his trousers, according to a younger friend present at the scene. At around 3.30am yesterday, December 29, officers from…
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Monk killed, driver injured in Rayong lorry-car collision
A devastating accident at a notorious intersection in Rayong has resulted in the death of a monk and left a driver critically injured. The collision involved a lorry and a car, with the lorry crashing the car into a roadside house wall. This incident occurred at an intersection lacking traffic signals, a factor that has contributed to numerous accidents in…
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Jeju Air plane crash death toll rises to 179, including 2 Thai women
The death toll from the Jeju Air plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea yesterday, December 29, has risen to 179, including two Thai women. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, which departed from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok bound for Muan Airport in South Korea, reportedly crashed into a wall at the destination airport at around 9am yesterday. The…
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Passenger bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai catches fire, no injuries
A dramatic incident unfolded when a passenger bus travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai caught fire, engulfing the vehicle in flames. Fortunately, all passengers escaped unharmed. The fire occurred around 9pm yesterday, December 29, when the Lampang Province’s 191 Radio Centre reported the blaze near kilometres 671-672 on Phahonyothin Road in Sop Prap district, Lampang. Immediate assistance was requested from…
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Fire at Lopburi hospital ICU leads to 81 patient evacuation
A blaze erupted at Ananda Mahidol Hospital, specifically in the basement ICU, prompting the swift evacuation of 81 patients. The governor of Lopburi led the emergency response team on site to manage the situation efficiently. Yesterday, December 28, an intense fire broke out late at night in the ICU section of Ananda Mahidol Hospital, located in Lopburi’s Mueang District. This…
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Japanese man killed in Pattaya stabbing after intervening in dispute
A Japanese man tragically lost his life following a stabbing incident in Pattaya, with the alleged perpetrator being a Thai-English man embroiled in a dispute with his girlfriend. The incident escalated when the Japanese victim intervened, resulting in his untimely death. The confrontation occurred early this morning, December 29, on Pattaya Third Road, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.…
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Tourist boat capsizes off Koh Phangan, Korean national missing
A long-tail boat carrying passengers from Koh Phangan capsized after being struck by massive waves, leaving 13 passengers adrift in the sea and one Korean national missing. The incident, which occurred today, December 29, has raised serious concerns about safety regulations, as it was revealed that the boat’s captain was under the influence of drugs, and none of the passengers…
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Police investigate call centre gang at Thai-Cambodian border
Police and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) have conducted a thorough investigation at the Aranyaprathet border, focusing on a 25-storey building suspected to be the base of a call centre gang, following information provided by Thaksin Shinawatra, a former Prime Minister. At noon yesterday, December 28, Thachchai Pitaneelabutr, the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, along with Natthathorn…
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Khao Kheow Zoo to expand with new Hippo Village project
Khao Kheow Open Zoo is set to expand with a new project called Hippo Village, dedicated to the popular pygmy hippopotamus family, including the beloved Moo Deng, at the zoo in Chon Buri Province. The announcement was made by Ataporn Sriherun, Director of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand, alongside Narongwit Chadchoi, Director of Khao Kheow Open Zoo. They discussed…
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Drink-driving cases drop in 2025 New Year campaign
The Department of Probation reported 344 drink-driving cases on the first day of the 2025 new year campaign, with Chiang Mai leading and Nonthaburi in second place. The statistics show a decrease from the previous year. Yesterday, December 28, the Department of Probation, led by Suriyah Singhakamon, revealed statistics from December 27, the first day of the 2025 new year…
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Pattaya bust dismantles South Korean online gambling network
A major bust took place in Pattaya as police dismantled a South Korean-operated online gambling network using the city as a server base. This operation, with transactions exceeding 5 billion won, catered to over 20,000 users worldwide. Police descended on the property in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri, yesterday, December 28, at 10am. The raid was led by Thawatchai…
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Bangkok airports offer free parking for new year travellers
Bangkok is preparing for the upcoming new year holiday with special travel measures to facilitate passenger movement. Deputy Government Spokesperson Sasikarn Wattanachan shared that Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports are set to provide free parking and continuous shuttle services. This initiative runs from today until January 1 to ease holiday travel. At Don Mueang Airport, free parking is offered at…
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Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Surat Thani, Koh Phangan hit hard (video)
Torrential rain drenched several districts in Surat Thani, a southern province of Thailand, leading to a significant runoff on the tourist hotspot of Koh Phangan yesterday, December 28. The deluge resulted in substantial disruptions, including a dramatic incident in Ban Thong Nai Pan, Ban Tai subdistrict, where a pickup truck belonging to Atsawin Busaba, a hotel worker, was carried away…
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Lucky escape: Lives and gold spared in Lopburi house fire
A devastating fire consumed a family home, destroying over 100,000 baht in cash but miraculously sparing five baht of gold. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, December 27, resulting in damages estimated at over 1 million baht. Police from the Ban Mi Police Station received reports of the fire at 1.45pm near the entrance to Wat Wongthep in Maha Son subdistrict,…
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Police pickup truck crashes into lamppost in Cha-Am
A police pickup truck crashed into a lamppost, snapping it in two, resulting in injuries to a police lieutenant colonel and two passengers. The incident occurred on a roadside in Cha-Am province, prompting police to investigate the cause. Thawatchai Khun-aem, an investigator from Cha-Am Police Station in Phetchaburi province, received a report yesterday, December 27 at approximately 4.30pm of a…
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New damselfly species discovered in Thai wildlife sanctuary
Researchers from Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP) and Duy Tan University in Vietnam have made a significant discovery, identifying a new species of damselfly named Prodasineura sangkhla in the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi. The announcement was made at a press conference led by Veera Khunchaicharak, DNP deputy director-general. Joining him were Kaewphawika Jitthamma, a specialist entomologist from…
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Gridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action
Provincial officials have vowed to tackle Phuket’s surging traffic chaos as the island’s tourism industry hits record-breaking highs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat chaired a high-stakes Zoom meeting with key stakeholders on Thursday, December 26, to address infrastructure challenges threatening the paradise’s reputation. With over 10 million visitors in 2023 generating a staggering 388 billion baht in revenue—an astounding 100.38% increase from…
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Thai health ministry warns against fake medical certificates
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has issued a stern warning to medical facilities against issuing fake medical certificates to foreign workers. Such actions could result in severe penalties, including a maximum two-year prison sentence and a 40,000 baht fine. Phanuwat Panket, Director-General of the Department of Health Service Support (HSS), expressed concerns about potential malpractice by hospitals in issuing…
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Thai police to manage new year traffic with drones
Real-time traffic management is a priority for the Police Region 2 during the new year festive period, utilising drone technology to monitor and address traffic issues. The focus is on two major routes connecting to the northeastern region, with measures including vehicle dispersal and law enforcement to reduce accidents. Within the CCTV operations control room of Police Region 2, Yingyot…
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Motorcyclist fatally shot in Chon Buri, police search for suspect
A young man was fatally shot whilst riding a motorcycle in Chon Buri, leaving him dead on the spot. Initially, locals mistook the accident for a collision with a dog due to the loud noise. However, their suspicions were confirmed when they heard gunfire and witnessed a pickup truck speed away from the scene. The incident took place at approximately…
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Phuket’s Freedom Beach embroiled in land encroachment dispute
Phuket’s scenic Freedom Beach, a favourite among tourists, finds itself at the centre of a legal tussle as allegations of land encroachment surface. The head of the Forest Protection Unit, Sorasak Rananan, has reported 15 alleged incidents of encroachment onto the protected grounds within the Khao Nakkerd National Forest Reserve. This complaint was lodged with the Karon Police following an…
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Chinese call centre scam: Bangkok police arrest 4 more men
A coordinated crackdown on a suspected call centre scam network culminated in the arrest of four Chinese men in Bangkok. Police carried out raids across eight locations in the city yesterday, December 27, targeting areas in Bang Na, Makkasan, Lumpini, Huai Khwang, Hua Mak, and Din Daeng. Metropolitan Police Bureau chief investigator, Theeradej Thamsuthee, spearheaded the operation. During the raids,…
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