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.

  • Rabies alert: Cat sparks animal epidemic zone in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Rabies alert: Cat sparks animal epidemic zone in Bangkok

    A rabid cat found in a Bangkok suburb has prompted officials to declare multiple areas epidemic zones to stop the spread of the deadly virus. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared multiple areas in and around the capital as temporary animal epidemic zones after a cat tested positive for rabies in Lam Luk Ka, Pathum Thani. The announcement, made…

  • Thailand video news | Russian man arrested amid outcry over viral Phuket pickup “sex” video, Thai actor accuses police of lax response after major home theft | Thaiger

    Thailand video news | Russian man arrested amid outcry over viral Phuket pickup “sex” video, Thai actor accuses police of lax response after major home theft

    Thailand saw a turbulent week of headlines spanning crime, public safety, and politics. Authorities arrested two Russian nationals in separate high-profile cases — one linked to a viral Phuket “pickup sex” video and another for running an illegal motorbike rental on Koh Pha Ngan — while Bangkok officials scrambled to fix a leaking pipe near Samsen Road amid public fears.…

  • Drug addict found dead in Chon Buri police station cell | Thaiger

    Drug addict found dead in Chon Buri police station cell

    A drug suspect was found dead in a Chon Buri police cell after being arrested following his mother’s plea for help over his increasingly violent behaviour. The 26 year old suspect, Thorntep Kaewsee, allegedly took his own life using a T-shirt, hanging himself from the iron bars inside his solitary confinement cell at Bowin Police Station. His mother, 61 year…

  • Thai woman sues police for shooting and killing her mentally ill father | Thaiger

    Thai woman sues police for shooting and killing her mentally ill father

    A Thai woman is suing police in Ratchaburi province for abusing their authority after officers fatally shot her mentally ill father. Police defended their actions, citing the man’s repeated violent behaviour in the community. On September 24, officers from Mueang Ratchaburi Police Station responded to complaints from residents in Tha Rarb sub-district. Locals reported that 60 year old Suraphon, who…

  • Naked tourist dances on Soi Bangla, sparks online backlash | Thaiger

    Naked tourist dances on Soi Bangla, sparks online backlash

    A foreign tourist shocked partygoers after stripping naked and dancing on a busy Phuket nightlife street, drawing criticism and concern from netizens. A video, lasting just 21 seconds, was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral. It shows a man undressing and dancing to loud music, completely oblivious to the stunned onlookers around him. He is later seen picking up…

  • Chinese woman accuses Phuket taxi driver of sexual assault attempt | Thaiger

    Chinese woman accuses Phuket taxi driver of sexual assault attempt

    A Chinese woman sought help from locals on a roadside in Phuket after accusing a Thai app-based taxi driver of attempting to sexually assault her yesterday, September 25. Residents who assisted the woman shared details of the incident on the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday. The incident reportedly occurred at around 2am in the Patong area of Phuket. According to…

  • Giant monitor lizard crashes dinner plans at Thai restaurant | Thaiger

    Giant monitor lizard crashes dinner plans at Thai restaurant

    A large monitor lizard wandered into a restaurant in Thailand, prompting staff to call rescue workers as startled customers fled the unexpected visitor. A large monitor lizard caused a stir at a restaurant in Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday, September 24, after it unexpectedly scaled a wall and entered the premises, prompting panic among early diners and staff. The reptile was spotted…

  • Unidentified foreigner drowns at sunset off Karon Beach | Thaiger

    Unidentified foreigner drowns at sunset off Karon Beach

    A foreign man drowned while swimming off a Phuket beach at sunset, prompting police to investigate his identity and the circumstances surrounding his death. A foreign man, believed to be around 60 years old, was pronounced dead last night after being pulled from the water off Karon Beach. His identity and nationality remain unknown. The incident occurred around sunset yesterday,…

  • Phuket pickup truck sex: Russian man banned and Thai woman arrested | Thaiger

    Phuket pickup truck sex: Russian man banned and Thai woman arrested

    Police yesterday, September 25, arrested a Thai woman who was caught having sex with a Russian man in the back of a moving pickup truck on a road in Phuket. She claimed the foreign man threatened her into making the video and paid her 1,000 baht. An explicit video of the Russian national, 23 year old Georgii, and the 42…

  • Pattaya bike thief found asleep next to stolen motorcycle | Thaiger

    Pattaya bike thief found asleep next to stolen motorcycle

    A man was caught sleeping next to a stolen motorcycle in Pattaya after it was taken from a repair shop, prompting the owner to alert local police. A brazen motorcycle theft in Pattaya ended with the suspect being found fast asleep next to the stolen vehicle, still clutching the keys. Bunsit Chinnawattraprapha, a 30 year old motorcycle repair shop owner,…

  • Phuket boat captain dies in 500kg meth bust at sea | Thaiger

    Phuket boat captain dies in 500kg meth bust at sea

    A massive haul of meth was seized from a tourist boat in Phuket after a late-night raid, leaving one crew member dead while trying to escape arrest. More than 500 kilogrammes of crystal meth were seized from a tourist dive boat anchored in Chalong Bay, Phuket, during a late-night police operation. The vessel’s captain, a 61 year old Myanmar national…

  • Lights out: Bangkok power cuts to hit Sukhumvit, Charan today | Thaiger

    Lights out: Bangkok power cuts to hit Sukhumvit, Charan today

    Parts of Bangkok and Samut Prakan will experience a scheduled power outage today as the electricity authority conducts essential maintenance work to enhance safety. The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) stated that the temporary blackouts are necessary to enhance the reliability and safety of the electricity distribution system. Affected areas include some of the capital’s busiest districts, such as Sukhumvit and…

  • Russian man arrested over viral Phuket pickup sex video | Thaiger

    Russian man arrested over viral Phuket pickup sex video

    Police arrested a Russian man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok after he was caught in a viral video having sex on a moving pickup truck in Phuket. A Thai motorist who witnessed the explicit act filmed the couple and shared the footage on social media. The pair were seen engaging in sexual activity on the back of the pickup…

  • Phuket Thai-Chinese Association ushers in new president | Thaiger

    Phuket Thai-Chinese Association ushers in new president

    Phuket’s Thai-Chinese community held a ceremony to appoint a new leader and honour historic ties between Thailand and China through a cultural celebration. The Phuket Thai-Chinese Association marked a significant chapter this week, commemorating both the 76th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China and its own 37th year of service to the island’s community, all while welcoming a new…

  • Thai mother accused of pimping out 12 year old daughter to old men in Loei | Thaiger

    Thai mother accused of pimping out 12 year old daughter to old men in Loei

    A Thai mother is accused of allegedly forcing her 12 year old daughter, who has cerebral palsy, into prostitution, selling services to more than 10 elderly men in Loei province. The young victim was rescued and is currently being cared for by local officials. Residents of the same community in Loei’s Phu Kradueng district reported the child sex abuse to…

  • Faulty phone charger sparks blaze, razes Na Jomtien home | Thaiger

    Faulty phone charger sparks blaze, razes Na Jomtien home

    A fire broke out at a single-storey wooden house in Na Jomtien, injuring the homeowner and prompting a swift response from local firefighters and police. A single-storey wooden home in Na Jomtien was destroyed by fire yesterday afternoon, September 24, with investigators pointing to a faulty phone charger as the likely cause. Police Colonel Patthana Robroo, chief of Na Jomtien…

  • Gold necklace swiped in late-night burglary in Phuket’s Wichit | Thaiger

    Gold necklace swiped in late-night burglary in Phuket’s Wichit

    Police are investigating a burglary at a housing estate in Wichit, where a gold necklace worth over 170,000 baht was reported stolen during the early hours. The break-in occurred during the early hours of today, September 25, prompting a call to Wichit Police Station at 1.37am. The report was made by Sujittra Phummuang, the homeowner, who discovered signs of forced…

  • British family swap classrooms for tuk tuks in Asia adventure (video) | Thaiger

    British family swap classrooms for tuk tuks in Asia adventure (video)

    A British couple and their two young children have begun a year-long journey across Southeast Asia, choosing world travel over traditional schooling. Parents, 38 year old James Humphries-Stone and 42 year old Hayley Griffiths from Derbyshire, have embarked on a year-long journey across Southeast Asia with their two young children, five year old Stanley and three year old Margot. Swapping…

  • Bangkok officials ease fears over Samsen Road water leak | Thaiger

    Bangkok officials ease fears over Samsen Road water leak

    Officials used radar to investigate a suspected water leak on Samsen Road in Bangkok, where residents raised concerns about possible road subsidence. Bangkok officials have reassured residents that a water leak on Samsen Road is not dangerous and is being urgently repaired, following public concerns sparked by surface swelling and the proximity to a road collapse yesterday, September 24, near…

  • Russian man arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for illegal motorcycle rental business | Thaiger

    Russian man arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for illegal motorcycle rental business

    Police arrested a Russian man on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in Surat Thani province, today, September 25, for illegally offering a motorcycle rental service. Officers from Koh Pha Ngan Police Station, the Immigration Bureau, and the Surat Thani Special Taskforce received a complaint from a local that a foreign man was illegally operating a motorcycle rental business on the…

  • Thai girl commits suicide amid alleged expectations from parents | Thaiger

    Thai girl commits suicide amid alleged expectations from parents

    A 16 year old Thai girl committed suicide at her home in Phattalung province yesterday, September 24, allegedly due to the stress of disappointing her parents. Officers from Pa Bon Police Station were called to a house in the Tung Naree sub-district, Pa Bon district, to investigate the death of the teenage girl, known as Look Mod. She was found in…

  • 415 test positive for drugs in Suphan Buri nightclub raid (video) | Thaiger

    415 test positive for drugs in Suphan Buri nightclub raid (video)

    More than 400 people tested positive for drugs during a police raid on a crowded nightclub in Suphan Buri, following complaints of illegal activity. The operation took place at around 1.30am yesterday, September 24, when the Department of Provincial Administration’s (DOPA) special operations team, alongside local officials, stormed 24 Bar in Sanam Chai subdistrict, Mueang district. Inside, more than 1,000…

  • Thai officials probed over bribes in citizenship scandal | Thaiger

    Thai officials probed over bribes in citizenship scandal

    A House committee is investigating bribery allegations involving officials accused of demanding cash from applicants during the Thai citizenship registration process.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The House Committee on Local Administration, chaired by Korrawee Prissananantakul of the Bhumjaithai Party, is currently reviewing at least five cases involving alleged misconduct by…

  • Water seepage raises concerns of repeat road collapse in Bangkok | Thaiger

    Water seepage raises concerns of repeat road collapse in Bangkok

    Officials are inspecting water seepage on Samsen Road in Bangkok, two kilometres from the site of a recent collapse, raising fears among locals of a repeat incident. The road collapsed outside Vajira Hospital and Samsen Police Station yesterday morning, September 24, forcing residents in the area to evacuate for safety. The collapse is suspected to have been caused by a…

  • Veteran cop delivers 11th baby in Udon Thani tuk tuk drama | Thaiger

    Veteran cop delivers 11th baby in Udon Thani tuk tuk drama

    A traffic police officer in Udon Thani assisted a woman who gave birth in a tuk tuk near a busy intersection, marking his eleventh delivery on duty. At 7am yesterday, September 24, Police Lance Corporal Charern Chantharaks sprang into action after emergency services received a call about a woman in labour near the Pracharaksa-Srisuk intersection, just a few hundred metres…

  • Foreign driver flees after crashing into 2 vehicles and 3 restaurants in Rayong | Thaiger

    Foreign driver flees after crashing into 2 vehicles and 3 restaurants in Rayong

    A foreign driver fled the scene after crashing his sedan into a motorcycle, a parked car, and three roadside restaurants in the Ban Chang district of Rayong. Two people were injured in the incident. The owner of one of the restaurants, 44 year old Thipsuda Wayruwanarak, lodged a complaint at Ban Chang Police Station after her store was damaged and…

  • Pattaya sees tourist boom with over 18 million visits | Thaiger

    Pattaya sees tourist boom with over 18 million visits

    Pattaya has reported a sharp rise in tourism, with millions visiting the city as local officials credit safety measures and major events for the growing numbers. Mayor Poramet Ngampichet announced the figures this week, revealing that from January to August, the city welcomed more than 18 million tourists. Of those, over 11.38 million were domestic travellers, a year-on-year increase of…

  • Lucky firecracker numbers spark lotto frenzy in Suphan Buri | Thaiger

    Lucky firecracker numbers spark lotto frenzy in Suphan Buri

    Villagers in Suphan Buri, central Thailand, are scrambling for lottery tickets after lucky numbers appeared in the smoke and sparks of firecrackers during a local spirit ceremony. The numbers 34 and 117, revealed from firecracker tails, have become the talk of the town after being spotted during a merit-making ritual at Wat Then Phlai in Si Prachan district yesterday, September…

  • PM Anutin pledges to dissolve Parliament by January 2026 | Thaiger

    PM Anutin pledges to dissolve Parliament by January 2026

    The Prime Minister (PM) of Thailand and Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, confirmed yesterday, September 24, that Parliament will be dissolved at the end of January 2026, with a new election expected between March and April, alongside a referendum on constitutional amendments. Anutin, joined by the Cabinet, held a press conference following a special Cabinet meeting. He began by clarifying government…

  • Thailand video news Hotel Raid in Pattaya Leads to Arrests of Ugandan Women in Sex Work, Bangkok Sinkhole Deepens, Puts Adjacent Buildings at Risk | Thaiger

    Thailand video news Hotel Raid in Pattaya Leads to Arrests of Ugandan Women in Sex Work, Bangkok Sinkhole Deepens, Puts Adjacent Buildings at Risk

    Thailand is facing a week of high-stakes developments, from the Senate rejecting a controversial casino-complex bill over social and financial risks to a deepening Bangkok sinkhole threatening nearby buildings and utilities. New ride-hailing rules set for October promise tougher safety and compliance standards, while Pattaya authorities crack down on child exploitation and foreign sex work. In Phuket, a drunken Norwegian…