Bangkok News
Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.
-
Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
-
Death toll hits 41 after State Audit Office collapse in Thailand
The discovery of four more bodies, comprising both male and female people, was made under the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building. Identification of some remains is ongoing, with scattered human body parts found in zone C. The death toll has now reached 41, with 53 people still missing. By 10am today, April 14, the site of the…
-
Bangkok raid seizes illicit goods worth over 845 million baht
A joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and the Department of Excise led to the arrest of a 37 year old Chinese national and the seizure of 668,407 packs of illicit cigarettes and 23,721 bottles of illegal liquor. The operation took place across seven locations, with a significant raid conducted at a residence in the Ekkamai-Ram Inthra area of Bangkok on…
-
Bangkok man charged with murder after shooting pregnant wife
At noon yesterday, April 12, a tragic incident occurred in the Thung Khru district of Bangkok, when a 35 year old pregnant woman was shot dead in her home by her husband. The suspect confessed to the police that a heated argument led to the fatal shooting, with charges of intentional murder and firearm violations filed against him. The incident…
-
Vietnamese woman arrested in Bangkok for Songkran thefts
A 42 year old Vietnamese woman was apprehended in Bangkok for allegedly cutting open bags of people praying during Songkran festivities. The arrest, made today, April 13, at 2.30am, followed surveillance footage capturing the act. The operation involved multiple high-ranking police officers, including Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom. Nguyen, charged with theft and disguising herself to avoid detection, was arrested in…
-
Bangkok building collapse death toll rises to 32
The ongoing rescue operation at the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok revealed five additional fatalities, raising the death toll to 32. Suriyachai Raviwan, director of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported that emergency services have been working tirelessly to locate the missing. Information indicated that the area with flashing light signals was under a beam tilted…
-
Thaksin hospitalisation ethics probe to conclude by May
An ethics investigation into the doctors involved in the hospitalisation of Thaksin Shinawatra at Police General Hospital is progressing on schedule, according to the Medical Council of Thailand. Professor Doctor Prasit Watanapa, Vice President of the Medical Council, addressed the media yesterday, April 11, clarifying that there has been no delay in the proceedings. He noted that a subcommittee is…
-
Chinese steel factory raided over Bangkok building collapse
The factory at the centre of Thailand’s latest construction scandal was raided today as investigators ramped up scrutiny into the supplier linked to the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The Department of Industrial Works’ “Sud Soi” team, under the Industry Ministry, stormed the Xin Ke Yuan (SKY) Steel Ltd facility in Rayong’s…
-
Bangkok unites in mass prayer for quake victims
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt led a solemn Buddhist chanting ceremony today in memory of the victims of the devastating building collapse in Chatuchak district, which was triggered by the powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28. The collapse of the under-construction SAO building on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road has left the city shaken. As of today, April 11,…
-
Digging for hope: 4 more bodies found at Bangkok audit office ruins
Rescue workers uncovered four more bodies buried beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok, as desperate efforts to reach possible survivors ramped up. At noon today, April 11, the scene on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, in the capital was a flurry of action, with officials deploying more than half a dozen backhoes to dig…
-
Thai girl left blind and disabled after overdose at Bangkok hospital
A nine year old Thai girl visited a hospital in Bangkok for treatment of diarrhoea but disaster struck when the medical team allegedly administered an overdose of medication, resulting in blindness and cerebral palsy (CP). Renowned lawyer Ananchai Chaiyadej shared details of the case on his Facebook account on April 9. He began his post by stating, “#WrongMedicineChangeLife. A doctor…
-
Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang fly high in global airport rankings
Thailand’s major airports are flying high on the global stage, with Suvarnabhumi International Airport breaking into the top 40 of the world’s best airports for 2025 and Don Mueang International Airport landing in the top 10 for low-cost travel hubs. Yesterday, April 10, Airports of Thailand (AOT) Chief Executive Officer Keerati Kitimanawat announced the impressive leap in global rankings, attributing…
-
Bangkok ramps up Songkran safety with AI and ‘Five-No’ rule
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has extended an invitation to the public for Songkran celebrations on Silom and Khao San roads from tomorrow, April 12, to Monday, April 14, with assurances of safety measures implemented throughout the city. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has established thorough safety protocols for all Songkran venues, including entrance checkpoints and CCTV installations, to ensure public…
-
Glimmer of hope as phone light found in Bangkok quake rubble
Phetkasem Foundation rescue team is hoping for a miracle after spotting what could be a survivor’s mobile phone light blinking deep beneath the rubble of the collapsed State Audit Office building, two weeks after the deadly earthquake hit Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Rescuers from the Phetkasem Foundation reported a potential breakthrough in the search for survivors after detecting what they believe…
-
Pheu Thai pushes bill to repeal 23 NCPO orders
Pheu Thai Party list member of Parliament Chaturon Chaisang advocates for a bill to revoke 23 orders issued by the disbanded National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). This proposed legislation is set to be introduced in the forthcoming Parliamentary session. As the chairperson of the Parliamentary committee responsible for reviewing outdated NCPO directives, Chaturon provided an update on the…
-
Thailand EC launches voter turnout campaign for May 11 elections
Thailand’s Election Commission (EC) kicked off a nationwide campaign to rally voters ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, scheduled for May 11. The elections will determine new mayors and councillors across 2,121 municipalities, except Bangkok. EC chairman Ittiporn Boonprakong announced yesterday, April 10, that the commission expects a voter turnout of 70%, up from February’s 66%. Some provinces have already…
-
Bangkok State Audit Office to be rebuilt but not on the deadly ruins
The Deputy Auditor General has confirmed plans to push ahead with building a new State Audit Office but it will be moved away from the exact spot where tragedy struck when an unfinished government complex came crashing down during a powerful earthquake last month, killing 23 workers and trapping dozens more beneath the rubble. The Auditor General’s Office, still under…
-
Man arrested at Bangkok bus terminal with firearm in backpack
Police arrested a 44 year old man after he was found carrying a firearm and ammunition in his backpack inside the Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok. The incident unfolded at around 11am, yesterday, April 9, after security staff alerted police to a suspicious individual loitering near a metal detector. Police Colonel Sanong Saengmanee, Superintendent of Bang Sue Police Station, quickly…
-
Thai police arrest foreigners with illegal cannabis and ketamine
Thai police successfully apprehended three foreign nationals accused of selling illegal processed cannabis and ketamine, seizing over 300 kilogrammes of evidence. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Police Major General Noppasil Poolasawat, Deputy Commander, yesterday, April 9, instructed Police Colonel Santi Kornkasem and the crime suppression officers to carry out the arrest. The suspects,…
-
British drug dealer loses 19 million baht after Bangkok stash found
A British drug dealer caught with class A gear on the M6 motorway in England had a hidden haul of cash stashed in a Thai bank account. Now, the drug runner is paying the price after been hit by a 19 million baht bill (£426,000) alongside some prison time. Gary Boone, from West Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, was brought to justice…
-
Thai police seize 1.9 billion baht in e-cigarette crackdown
In the past six months, a money-laundering crackdown has resulted in the seizure of over 1.9 billion baht and the arrest of more than 2,300 people involved in offences related to e-cigarettes and laughing gas. This information comes from the Royal Thai Police. Deputy national police chief Prachuap Wongsuk, who serves as the director of the Anti-Money Laundering Centre, recently…
-
Air India in hot water again after Bangkok in-flight pee incident
Business class on an Air India flight to Bangkok turned into a piddle palace after a sozzled passenger allegedly whipped it out to pee on a fellow traveller mid-flight, despite the loos being in full working order. The Air India high-flyer is now being probed by police after taking the pee, literally, on a fellow business class passenger just before…
-
Thai commuters must register for 20-baht electric rail fare in August
Big news for Bangkok commuters! Starting September 30, Thai residents will be able to travel on the electric rail system for just 20 baht per trip. But don’t expect to pay cash or get the discount if you’re a tourist—here’s what you need to know. Thai commuters in Bangkok and surrounding provinces will soon be able to enjoy a massive…
-
Don Mueang Airport sees 10% rise in Songkran passenger numbers
Don Mueang International Airport is anticipating around 700,000 passengers during the Songkran holiday, marking a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) President Kerati Kijmanawat confirmed today, April 9, that Don Mueang Airport is prepared to accommodate the expected surge in travellers. Wichit Kaewsaitiam, the director of Don Mueang Airport, noted that April 11 is…
-
Earthquake assessment reveals 60 buildings closed in Bangkok
Over the past 12 days, the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning assessed 7,649 buildings affected by the recent earthquake that hit Bangkok. Of these, 7,200 are safe for use, 389 have moderate damage, and 60 have been closed due to significant structural issues. Today, April 9, the Department’s Damage Assessment Centre, in conjunction with engineering organisations and…
-
Burmese woman finds husband’s mistress after building collapse
A heartbroken Burmese woman walked for four days from Myanmar to Bangkok in a desperate search for her missing husband and son, following the collapse of a government building, only to discover her husband’s secret relationship with a Thai mistress. Locals said the woman was left “stunned and speechless” after discovering her husband had secretly started a new life behind…
-
It was a glitch: AirAsia explains price hike on Songkran flights
AirAsia has addressed the recent uproar over skyrocketing ticket prices on flights from Don International Mueang to Sakon Nakhon during the Songkran festival. AirAsia responded to concerns over unusually high ticket prices on its Don Mueang-Sakon Nakhon route during the Songkran period, explaining that the issue was caused by a temporary glitch in its ticket booking system. The airline has…
-
Couple arrested in Bangkok for selling drug-laced vape liquids
Police arrested a couple caught selling electronic cigarettes mixed with illicit drugs from their residence. The operation yesterday, April 8, led by Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and his team, uncovered a significant quantity of drugs and related items at their home in Sai Mai, Bangkok. The arrested suspects, 35 year old Theeraporn and 33 year old Tawiphop, were found…
-
Luxury village theft ring busted, assets worth 5 million baht seized
Four foreign nationals from Colombia and Peru were apprehended for orchestrating a theft ring targeting luxury villages without security guards, stealing assets worth 5 million baht. Police suspect an organised operation with possible accomplices behind the scenes. The arrest took place at 7pm yesterday, April 8 at the Mueang Pathum Thani Police Station. Police Lieutenant General Surapol Prembutra, Police Major…
-
Warning: Deadly mushrooms on the rise this rainy season
Health officials in Thailand have issued an urgent warning about the lethal dangers of wild mushrooms, as the rainy season spurs their rapid growth across the country. With both edible and toxic varieties sprouting, officials urge the public to exercise extreme caution when foraging, as misidentification could result in deadly consequences. Thailand’s recent rainy season has caused an explosion of…
-
Fowl play: Bangkok woman ruffled by cyber cops in cockfighting bust
Thai cyber police arrested a 41 year old woman suspected of running an illegal online cockfighting gambling operation with daily transactions reaching hundreds of thousands of baht. The arrest followed an investigation and search at her residence in Sai Mai, Bangkok yesterday, April 8. According to Police Lieutenant General Trairong Phiewphun of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, the operation was…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.