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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Bystander student hospitalised after Udon Thani Songkran brawl
A university student was seriously injured after a beer bottle struck her face during a Songkran brawl in Mueang district, Udon Thani province, on April 14. The student, who was not involved in the fight, is being treated at a hospital for multiple injuries. The student’s mother, 51 year old Kie, filed a complaint with Mueang Udon Thani Police Station…
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Bangkok tuk tuk driver tries to overcharge influencer during Songkran, faces legal action
A Bangkok tuk tuk driver is facing possible legal action after he allegedly tried to overcharge a beauty blogger 2,000 baht for a journey of about 700 metres, in a trip that took around three minutes in total. The influencer, Chatsak Mahata, better known as Eclair Juepak, posted a video on social media on Tuesday, April 14, describing the incident.…
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Chinese woman stages her own kidnapping to extort money from father
Thai police arrested four Chinese nationals in Samut Prakan after a Chinese woman staged her own kidnapping with her boyfriend and two other men to extort money from her father. The case came to light after the woman’s father filed a complaint with police in China, saying his daughter, identified only as Tong, was kidnapped in Cambodia. He was told…
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ONE Championship launches lawsuit against Thai boxer over contract dispute
ONE Championship launched legal action against Thai boxer Rodtang Jitmueangnon over alleged breaches of contract. In a post published on its Facebook page, ONE Championship Thailand, the promotion said it had started legal proceedings in Thailand, Japan and Singapore against Rodtang, whose real name is 28 year old Tinnakorn Srisawat. ONE said the action followed multiple alleged contract breaches, including…
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2 Frenchmen arrested for assault on Thai motorcyclist in Phuket Songkran celebrations
A Thai man suffered serious injuries after he was attacked by Frenchmen in Phuket on April 13 after refusing to join a Songkran water fight. The victim’s girlfriend, 27 year old Maytinee Sila, went to Patong Police Station on the day of the incident to report the assault on her 29 year old boyfriend, Kunanya Phokham. The incident took place at…
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Thailand video news | Songkran road toll climbs as return travel raises fresh safety concerns, Patong police detain tourists accused of targeting officers with water guns
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover stories from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. The headlines include both the highs and lows of Songkran. ASEAN leaders also respond to rising tensions in the Middle East. Meanwhile, air pollution continues to worsen in northern Thailand. Songkran Road Toll Climbs as Return Travel Raises Fresh Safety Concerns Thailand recorded 191 deaths…
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Phichit man reports sexual assault by women and transwomen during Songkran
A man filed a police complaint after a group of women and transwomen sexually assaulted him during Songkran celebrations in Phichit province, leaving a hickey on his neck. The victim, identified only as Chitsanupong, shared photos of marks on his neck on Facebook yesterday, April 15. Based on the tagged location in the post, the sexual assault took place at…
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Cat bites owner, stops Thai train, gets blamed for seven-hour delay
A cat that attacked its owner and scratched fellow passengers on a southbound train has been blamed online for a seven-hour delay, though passengers say two successive engine failures were the real cause. Rapid Train No.169, travelling from Bangkok Aphiwat to Yala, arrived at Yala station at 6.15pm on Monday, 430 minutes behind schedule. A Facebook post by Kijja Pongpisan,…
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Phuket locals call for tougher action on foreigners with disruptive behaviour during Songkran
A group of foreigners in Phuket is facing public criticism after reports of aggressive behaviour during Songkran Festival, including blocking roads, harassing motorists and inappropriate conduct towards women. Officers from Patong Police Station arrested the group on April 14 after a viral video showed them forcing open a van door and throwing water at the driver and inside the vehicle.…
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Chiang Mai records highest drink driving cases during Songkran
Drunk driving accounted for 3,726 cases recorded during the 2026 Songkran Festival, with Chiang Mai reporting the highest number, according to Thailand’s Department of Probation. Director-General Piya Raksakun said the department instructed probation offices nationwide to enforce strict measures under campaigns promoting road safety, including “safe driving, reduce speed, reduce accidents,” and efforts to reduce road incidents during the holiday…
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Air quality in Thailand worsens as pollution levels rise in 42 provinces
Air quality across Thailand has deteriorated significantly, with PM2.5 levels breaching safety thresholds in 42 provinces spanning the north, northeast, and central regions, as forecasters warn of worsening pollution over the coming week. The Air Pollution Resolution Communication Centre reported on Tuesday, April 15, that readings taken at 7am showed unsafe PM2.5 concentrations across a broad swath of the country.…
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Patong tourists arrested for water-throwing chaos during Songkran
Seven foreign tourists were arrested in Patong after forcing open a vehicle door to spray water inside during Songkran celebrations, despite the driver’s clear objections. The group now faces charges of causing a public disturbance and obstructing traffic. Patong police addressed the situation on April 14, following a viral social media clip captioned “Patong chaos: foreign tourists force door open…
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Thailand braces for summer storms with potential hail and lightning
Thailand’s Meteorological Department has issued its second storm warning of the season, alerting residents across upper Thailand to prepare for a spell of severe weather running from Thursday through Monday. The warning follows the arrival of a high-pressure system carrying cold air from China across the South China Sea, which is intensifying southerly and southeasterly winds across the lower Northeast…
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Chiang Rai Songkran festival boosts tourism despite heat
Chiang Rai’s Songkran festival draws crowds to the Mekong River, with tourists cooling off in water activities and celebrating the Thai New Year along the banks in Chiang Saen district. The “Maha Songkran Three Nations” festival officially kicked off on April 13, with visitors braving the northern Thailand heat to join in the festivities. The Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organisation,…
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Man high on meth arrested after attempted assault in Samut Prakan
A man allegedly high on methamphetamine broke into a young woman’s apartment in Samut Prakan during the Songkran holiday and attempted to assault her before being chased down and detained by locals. Police from Bang Phli station received a report of the attempted assault and coordinated with local patrol officers and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation to investigate the incident…
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Man arrested for groping journalist during Songkran festival
Police arrested a man accused of groping a female journalist on Rama 4 Road during Songkran celebrations on Sunday afternoon. Officers from Pathumwan station apprehended Methasit (surname withheld) at 4.30pm on April 13 after he allegedly touched a journalist on her left buttock while she was reporting on the water festival. The journalist said she was walking along the road…
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Four killed in tragic Songkran road accident in Pathum Thani
Four people were killed and several others injured on Sunday after a car returning from Songkran celebrations collided with a motorcycle on the Taling Chan-Suphan Buri Road in Pathum Thani province. A survivor said poor lighting at the scene contributed to the crash. The collision occurred at the entrance of the Na Mai Subdistrict Administration Office on the road heading…
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Swedish man crashes truck on Pattaya beach, injures tourist
An 83 year old Swedish man lost control of his pickup truck at a Pattaya viewpoint on Saturday, sending the vehicle crashing through metal railings and plunging three metres onto the beach below. One tourist was injured in the incident, which took place during the busy Songkran long weekend. The accident occurred at around 4pm at the Yinyom Beach Viewpoint…
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Foreigners cause chaos with fire extinguisher in Pattaya Songkran festivities
Two foreigners caused a disturbance on Walking Street in South Pattaya during Songkran celebrations early on Sunday after using a fire extinguisher to spray at bystanders and motorcycles, leaving a trail of chemical residue and damage. The incident happened at around 5am and was captured on video, which quickly spread across a popular local Facebook group. One post described the…
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Thai man caught smuggling petrol in watermelon truck to Myanmar
A 56 year old Thai man was arrested on April 12 while transporting nearly 400 litres of petrol hidden beneath a load of watermelons in a pickup truck, with plans to sell the fuel across the border into Myanmar at a significant markup. The arrest took place at a joint checkpoint in Nong Lu subdistrict, Sangkhlaburi district, Kanchanaburi province. Soldiers…
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Rak Chart Party submits UNESCO letter urging tighter review
Representatives of the Rak Chart Party travelled to Paris, France, to submit a letter to UNESCO headquarters today, April 12, expressing appreciation for its recognition of Thai cultural heritage while also calling for careful evaluation of world heritage registrations. The delegation, led by party director Chanin Pinthong and spokesperson Chaiporn Jirawinijnan, said the visit aimed to thank UNESCO for acknowledging…
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Indian tourist reports 25k baht theft by transgender in Pattaya
An Indian tourist filed a police report after allegedly being robbed by a transgender woman in a hotel room in Pattaya, Chon Buri, early yesterday, April 11. The incident was reported at 1.06am to Mueang Pattaya Police Station. The victim, identified as 59 year old Chandra, said cash totalling about 25,000 baht was taken from his room. The amount included…
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Fatal collision claims two lives during Phatthalung’s dangerous period
Two people died after a high-speed motorcycle collision on April 11 in Phatthalung, raising the province’s death toll during the annual Songkran seven-day dangerous period to two. The incident took place at 6.50pm on Phetkasem Road along the Phatthalung-Trang route, in Khok Chai Ngai subdistrict, Mueang district, Phatthalung province. A BMW S1000RR motorcycle with a Bangkok registration was found at…
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Bedridden Swiss man dies in Pattaya room fire
A 79 year old Swiss man died in a room fire at a rental property in Pong subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, yesterday, April 11, with police suspecting a cigarette butt may have caused the blaze. Police were alerted to the fire at 6.06am in Soi Huai Yai Muk, Moo 6, and responded with firefighters from Pong Municipality and…
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18-wheeler crash in Lampang leaves two dead, eight injured
A fatal multi-vehicle collision involving an 18-wheeler in Lampang left two people dead and eight injured on the Tak–Lampang road in Thoen district yesterday, April 11. Police were alerted to the incident at 2.45pm on Phahonyothin Road, on the inbound lane opposite the entrance to Mae Wa National Park in Thoen district. Officers from Thoen Police Station attended the scene…
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Thai police report 2,617 drink-driving cases as Songkran begins
Thai police recorded 2,617 drink-driving cases on the first day of the Songkran festival holiday, as millions of Thais hit the road to travel home and visit tourist destinations. Police General Samran Nuanma, deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, and Police General Somprasong Yentuam, a special expert of the Royal Thai Police, gave details on the situation as the…
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Foreign tourists spray fire extinguisher on Pattaya Walking Street
A video posted on social media at 5.16am today, April 12, drew criticism after foreign tourists were seen causing disruption to people nearby by spraying a fire extinguisher along Walking Street in South Pattaya, Chon Buri. The clip showed a tall foreign man wearing a white shirt and black shorts using a dry chemical fire extinguisher and spraying white powder…
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Rama 2 Road construction paused for Songkran, easing traffic
Rama 2 Road clear for Songkran travellers as construction halts Traffic on Rama 2 Road was flowing smoothly in both directions as of 7pm on April 11, with vehicles moving at speeds of 80 to 100 kilometres per hour. The Department of Highways confirmed the update after temporarily halting all construction work on the road, reopening main lanes to ease…
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Man found dead in remote Phatthalung forest with bullet wound
A 29 year old man was found dead in a remote forest above Khlong Hua Chang Reservoir in Phatthalung province on Thursday, April 10, after rescue workers endured a gruelling journey by boat and on foot to reach the scene. At 4pm, rescue workers from Khao Hua Chang Municipality were alerted to a man who had lost consciousness deep in…
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Thailand’s oil reserves secure for 110 days, ministry confirms
Thailand has enough oil to last 110 days, the Ministry of Energy has confirmed, with daily diesel production averaging 83.2 million litres against daily sales of approximately 64.7 million litres. The ministry broke down the total reserves into four components: 25 days of statutory reserves, 23 days of commercial reserves, 31 days of oil in transit, and 31 days of…
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