News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Flaming fury: Unpaid worker sets Pattaya resort ablaze in protest
In a blaze of fury, an unpaid building worker unleashed havoc by setting fire to a luxury resort home in Na Jomtien. The dramatic showdown ended as the arsonist handed himself over to the police. At 9.30am on April 5, Na Jomtien Police sprang into action after receiving reports of a roaring fire at a plush three-storey residence. Firefighters dashed…
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Former temple secretary arrested for child assault in Thailand
A former secretary of a well-known temple’s abbot was apprehended while hiding on a boat, evading charges of assaulting young temple boys and novices. The case emerged after a victim contracted a sexually transmitted disease, prompting the parents to report the incident. Today, April 6, Police Major General Thirachat Theerachatthamrong directed Police Colonel Phaitoon Khusantia, chief of Division 1, and…
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German tourist arrested in Phuket for assault and theft spree
A 20 year old German tourist has been apprehended in Phuket, accused of assaulting a Thai man to steal his motorcycle and subsequently stealing a mobile phone from a department store, as confirmed by local police. Ryan Leo Akam was detained by officers from Chalong Police Station following two incidents that were reported on April 4. The first incident took…
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Scottish tourist arrested after allegedly attacking teen, vandalising motorcycle in Phuket (video)
A 40 year old Scottish tourist was arrested in Phuket after allegedly attacking a teenage boy in front of his mother and a shopkeeper. George Paterson, from Glasgow, reportedly went on a rampage in the early hours of the morning on April 4, first vandalising a motorcycle outside a local store before turning violent. CCTV footage showed Paterson attempting to…
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Chinese fugitive arrested in Bangkok after two decades on the run
Thai police have apprehended a 52 year old Chinese national, owner of a popular mala restaurant in Bangkok, for allegedly shooting a compatriot in 2003. The suspect, Zhang Lao Er, had been evading police for over two decades before being captured. Yesterday, April 5, Police Major General Witaya Sriprasertphap directed the arrest of Zhang in connection with an outstanding warrant…
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Phatthalung man burns thief’s motorcycle after banana theft
A 45 year old man from Phatthalung set a motorcycle ablaze after catching a thief stealing bananas from his garden. The incident occurred at 9.30pm yesterday, April 5, when Bunrin (surname withheld) discovered the thief in his banana plantation in Mueang district’s Na Nod subdistrict. Bunrin, who cultivates namwa, egg, and cavendish bananas on his four rai plot, has faced…
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Woman claims doctor urged her to die in Udon Thani hospital
A 24 year old woman, from Nong Han district in Udon Thani province, reported a distressing encounter with a doctor at a local hospital’s emergency room. Chompoo claims the doctor used harsh language, telling her to die, which left her in tears. The incident occurred on April 3, when she sought medical attention for depression and bipolar disorder. Chompoo explained…
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Thai man brandishes knife over pad Thai order blunder
A 32 year old man became agitated and wielded a knife at a convenience store in Chon Buri after ordering pad Thai without Chinese chives, only to find them included. The incident occurred yesterday, April 5. Officers from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station received a report of the man, Thakorn, entering a convenience store at Mueang district’s Na Pa subdistrict, with…
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Woman arrested after cutting painter’s rope in high-rise incident
A woman charged with cutting a rope used by a painter in a high-profile 2021 incident has been apprehended. She had evaded a court summons after being convicted of attempted murder and property damage. Known for her reclusive behaviour, she was finally captured by police. In 2021, a painter working on a 32-storey building in Pak Kret was forced to…
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Bangkok street cleaner attacked in viral video, governor vows action (video)
A video shared on the Red Skull XXX page has sparked significant public discussion. The clip shows a Bangkok street cleaner being violently struck by a man, culminating in a blow from behind that causes the cleaner to fall to the ground. The accompanying post noted, “Influential person hits street cleaner in Samphanthawong district. This is all the information available…
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Tragedy in Bangkok: Fatalities rise in building collapse
A spokesperson from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration confirmed an increase in fatalities within Zone B, beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building. Efforts to penetrate Zone C continue, as it is believed more people may be trapped there, a location where many fled during the incident. At 5pm yesterday, April 5, T the new State Audit Office…
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ASEAN nations swiftly react to US tariffs, Thailand faces criticism
Several ASEAN and Asian countries swiftly responded to US tariff challenges, drawing criticism of aloofness and confusion from a government critic. Sirikanya Tansakun, a member of the opposition People’s Party, yesterday, April 5, highlighted how nations within the ASEAN bloc and Asia, affected by varying tariff rates, have reacted. Vietnam has initiated dialogue with Washington to address trade imbalances, gaining…
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51 Thai provinces brace for storms and severe heat
Weather forecasts indicate that 51 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok, are experiencing thunderstorms, strong winds, and some hail. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of severe heat in parts of the region, with a 20% chance of thunderstorms in Bangkok as of today, April 6. The weather forecast for the next 24 hours reveals that a moderate high-pressure system from…
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Chon Buri hospital simulates mass crash ahead of Songkran chaos
With the deadly Songkran road rush just around the corner, one hospital in Chon Buri isn’t taking any chances—staging a mass casualty drill to brace for the holiday’s inevitable accident surge. Samitivej Sriracha Hospital recently ran a full-scale emergency exercise simulating a horrific collision between a passenger truck and a motorcycle that left 15 people “injured.” The high-intensity drill, though staged,…
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Steel firm faces axe over Bangkok quake collapse
A steel manufacturer under fire for producing substandard materials linked to the collapse of a Bangkok government building is now facing the axe—Industry Minister Akanat Promphan demands that their investment privileges be revoked. In a fiery Facebook post yesterday, April 4, Akanat announced he had signed a letter seeking the removal of benefits granted to Xin Ke Yuan Steel, accusing…
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Earthquake fears rattle Songkran hotel bookings by 25%
Thailand’s most festive time of year is shaping up to be a major letdown—hotel bookings for Songkran have taken a nosedive, thanks to shaky nerves over last month’s earthquake. The Thai Hotels Association (THA) revealed on Thursday, April 3 that reservations across seven major tourist destinations have dropped by 25% compared to last year’s festival, spelling bad news for the…
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Retiree surrenders after fatal shooting over dog dispute in Lamphun
A 62 year old retiree surrendered to the police after fatally shooting the owner of a dog that allegedly caused him to suffer an accident. The incident occurred yesterday, April 4 in a field located in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanupong Songsuwan, from Ban Thi Police Station, reported a shooting at Ban Chae Son, Village 1,…
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Mass grave unearthed at Bangkok train station site
Construction workers got more than they bargained for while digging near Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital—a chilling discovery of dozens of human skeletons beneath the ground, believed to be victims of a mass execution over two centuries ago. The remains were found during a survey at the future site of the MRT Orange Line’s Siriraj Station, which will link Bang Khun Non…
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Mild earthquake shakes Pai as Myanmar tremors surge nearby
Tourists in Thailand’s popular northern getaway Pai woke up to an unexpected jolt after a mild earthquake struck the area early this morning, April 5—part of a cluster of tremors shaking nearby Myanmar. At around 6am, a 2.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was…
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Mo Chit 2 gets flashy facelift ahead of Songkran holiday rush
Travellers heading out of Bangkok this Songkran are in for a big surprise—Mo Chit 2 just got a multimillion-baht makeover, and it’s looking slicker than ever. Chatchawan Prommoratham, Acting President of Transport Company Limited (BorKorSor), announced a major renovation to the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak), popularly known as Mo Chit 2, aimed at improving passenger convenience, safety, and service speed.…
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Phuket lawyer arrested over harassment and multiple marriages
Police in Phuket apprehended a well-known lawyer following allegations of harassment and multiple marriages. An arrest warrant was executed yesterday, April 4, as the Phuket Provincial Investigation Unit detained Anantarak, a social media-famous lawyer, at a local car park. This comes after previous revelations on a television show regarding claims of harassment and his admission of being involved with over…
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Fugitive thief and hit-and-run suspect captured in Pattaya
A sleepy fugitive’s midday snooze turned into a rude awakening after Pattaya police busted a 23 year old man wanted for theft and a fatal hit-and-run. The arrest unfolded while the suspect was dozing off beside a motorcycle repair shop. At 1pm on Thursday, April 3, officers from Pattaya Police Station arrested Mintada, who had been on the run from…
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Trat city opposes Koh Chang expressway, fears economic impact
Residents and business owners in Trat city have expressed strong opposition to a proposed 5.9-kilometre expressway connecting Laem Ngob district to Koh Chang. They contend that this new route, which bypasses the city, could adversely affect the local economy. A second public consultation for the expressway project took place at Trat City Hotel in Mueang district on Wednesday, April 2.…
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Slippery crash: Oil spill causes 7-vehicle collision in Pathum Thani
An oil spill on Phahon Yothin Road led to a seven-vehicle collision, resulting in injuries to six people, comprising three men and three women. Emergency personnel promptly responded to the scene to manage the cleanup and transport the injured to nearby hospitals. At 3am today, April 5, Police Lieutenant Warut Phumipak received a report of a multi-vehicle collision on the…
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Thailand heatwave hits 28 provinces with summer storms
Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for today, April 5, highlighting intense heat in some areas and storms affecting 28 provinces, including Bangkok. Strong gusty winds and high waves in the sea are also expected, urging residents to exercise caution. In Thailand’s upper regions, low pressure from heat is causing overall hot weather, with extreme heat in…
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Barking mad! Thai woman finds dog heartworm wriggling inside her
A Thai doctor issued a public warning after a patient discovered a dog heartworm in her body, believed to have been transmitted from pets to humans via mosquito bites. The doctor from FMC Thailand Clinic in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima shared a video of a white worm moving on a tissue on the clinic’s official Facebook page. The…
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Phuket trials emergency alert system after earthquake failures
In the wake of the March 28 earthquake that rocked Thailand, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has swiftly rolled out a trial run of a new Cell Broadcast alert system in Phuket, aiming to overhaul the country’s emergency alert infrastructure. During the trial, the system showed promising results on Android devices, providing real-time alerts without delays. However,…
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Pattaya hotels surge as Hua Hin struggles for tourists
Last weekend, local travellers flocked to Pattaya in the aftermath of the earthquake, causing hotel occupancy rates to soar to full capacity. However, the impact of the quake had a very different effect on Hua Hin, where concerns over road safety led to a sharp decline in bookings. “Travellers seeking refuge from the tremors in Bangkok drove a spike in…
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Dorm inspected in Phuket after quake sparks safety fears
In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake in Myanmar, scrutiny has intensified on a Chinese contractor linked to multiple construction projects across Thailand, including a long-delayed female student dormitory at Phuket Rajabhat University. On April 3, officials from the Phuket branch of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT Phuket) carried out an urgent inspection…
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Thailand goes shadowless: Sun overhead phenomenon begins
Get ready to look up because Thailand is about to go shadowless. The rare and dazzling astronomical event known as the sun overhead phenomenon is sweeping across the country, starting today in Yala’s Betong district and continuing through to May 22 in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) confirmed that this solar spectacle…
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