Central Thailand News
Central Thailand news, Ayutthaya news, Kanchanaburi updates, and business developments—stay informed on local events, tourism, and culture, including landmarks like the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Central Thailand news source.
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Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Major tourist alert: National parks drop e-ticketing system
The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) has pulled the plug on e-ticketing for six of Thailand‘s prized national parks, sparking outrage and concerns as the tourist high season kicks off. The decision to suspend e-ticketing for tourists visiting six national parks in Thailand has triggered a storm of criticism, with many deeming it untimely and poorly planned.…
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Thailand boosts traditional medicine to attract wellness tourism
Thailand‘s Public Health Ministry is elevating its endeavours to showcase traditional wellness and medicine as a tourist attraction, in a bid to boost the nation’s revenue. As voiced by Deputy Health Minister Santi Promphat yesterday, the country is renowned for its superior traditional medical knowledge and herbal plant utilisation. Santi was addressing the subject of traditional and alternative Thai medicine…
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Petrol tanker flips and ignites in Phetchaburi resulting in severe injuries
A petrol tanker overturned and caught fire in Phetchaburi province, severely injuring the driver who was engulfed in flames. The vehicle, completely damaged in the incident, is suspected to have veered off course due to the driver potentially falling asleep. This mishap occurred at 12.24am, as reported by Phetchaburi’s Emergency Response Centre. The ten-wheeler petrol tanker with licence plate number…
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Motorcycle accident: Collision with food delivery truck in central Thailand causes fatality
A tragic motorcycle accident occurred today when a rider crashed into a food delivery truck, leading to the death of an unidentified male. The incident happened at 2.30am on the Bang Khaen-Nong Suea Road, near the TU Dome Plaza, in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani. The deceased had no identification documents on him, but two tablets of methamphetamine were found…
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Thai man steals from drunk woman who parks motorcycle to vomit
CCTV footage yesterday showed a Thai man stealing a bag from a drunk woman who parked her motorcycle to vomit on the roadside near Thewa Sangkaram Temple in the central province of Kanchanaburi. The victim, a 21 year old woman named Jang, urged Channel 3 to show the CCTV footage to the public and urged netizens to notify the police…
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Porked out: Ex-DSI chief gets the chop amid sizzling scandal
Police Colonel Suriya Singhakamol, the now former Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), finds himself ousted and reassigned amid the recent ongoing pork scandal. The Cabinet’s decision to remove Suriya from the DSI’s top post and appoint him as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice has left the public clamouring for answers. No official explanation has been provided,…
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Tragic collision in Lopburi: Pickup truck hits student transport, 1 dead and 29 injured
An accident unfolded at the intersection of Wat Jai when a woman driving a pickup truck collided with a student transport vehicle, resulting in the vehicle flipping over and leaving it severely damaged. The driver, a 66 year old man named Boonjong (surname withheld), lost his life at the scene. The incident also resulted in injuries for 29 others, including…
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Central Thailand: Family demands justice for unexplained death of 17 year old girl at welfare centre
The death of a 17 year old girl while under the care of a welfare centre in Ratchaburi, has left her grandfather and father seeking justice. The family only recently discovered the death of the girl, Nong Not, when contacted by officials last week, despite her passing in October last year. The family is now demanding a clear explanation regarding…
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Central Thailand: Former officer arrested for 700,000 baht embezzlement from disability fund
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) today arrested a former financial and accounting officer for embezzling over 700,000 baht from a fund dedicated to improving and developing the lives of disabled people. The individual in question, identified as Wilaiporn (surname withheld), has been accused of corruption and misconduct under section 1 of the Criminal…
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Bare-necessities: Cheeky antics of naked man shocks locals in central Thailand
A naked man shocked locals by wandering and sleeping in the streets without any clothes on in the Bang Nam Priao district of Chachoengsao. The incident unfolded around dusk yesterday when the man, aged between 35 and 40, was initially seen swimming in a canal near the Suan Fun Dream Market along Suwinthawong Road. Vendors and shoppers, particularly those with children,…
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Nonthaburi: Fatal road accident on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road results in fiery crash
A serious road accident resulted in a fiery crash and a fatality on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, heading towards the Lak Si intersection. The incident took place at 7.45am this morning. Nawin Sonitpon, a police investigator at Don Mueang Police Station, was on the scene to assess the situation alongside Don Mueang Fire Station and Poh Teck Tung Foundation officers.…
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Thailand’s Public Health Ministry finalises Cannabis-Hemp Act draft
The Cannabis-Hemp Act‘s first draft has been completed by the Public Health Ministry, and despite public speculation, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic. According to Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, the new legislation is a refined version of the initial draft, now streamlined from 94 to approximately 70 sections. The updated version addresses public concerns and closes loopholes…
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Global EV trend surges with Thailand joining the race
A surge in the global trend of electric vehicles (EVs) usage has been highlighted by Poonphong Naiyanaphakorn, the director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office. This information was shared with the public on a day not too long ago. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that the total EV sales are set to rise from 10 million units…
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Fueling frustration: Thailand Energy Minister alarmed as petrol prices play a seesaw despite promised relief
Peeraphan Salirathaviphak, Thailand’s Minister of Energy, raised concerns about the constant fluctuations in petrol prices, which have seen a continuous rise over the past two days, despite a recent government announcement of a 2 baht per litre reduction. In a statement made at the Government House at 1pm this afternoon, Peeraphan argued that petrol prices should not fluctuate like stocks…
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Iguana invasion: Wild population surge puts Thai officials on edge, sparks import halt pondering
The increased iguana population in the wild across numerous provinces in Thailand has provoked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to consider halting the importation of the species. Attapon Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, revealed yesterday that the decision comes on the heels of an uptick in iguana sightings in natural habitats and urban areas. “The burgeoning…
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Highway officer murder: Murder charges hit Nok and crew, along with 21 cops in Nakhon Pathom party
Charges were filed against Praween Chankhlai, also known as Nok, seven of his accomplices, and 21 police officers in relation to the murder of a highway police officer during a party at Nok’s residence in Nakhon Pathom on September 6. According to a source from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), investigators concluded their inquiry into Police Major Sivakorn Saibua’s murder,…
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Central Thailand: Prasat Bun Sathan Foundation honours preserved Golden Babies
A ceremony was held today to honour eight Golden Babies and three adult bodies, all remarkably preserved, at the Phitsanulok‘s Prasat Bun Sathan Foundation. This was part of their third ceremony for collecting and cremating unidentified bodies. The bodies were exhumed from 453 graves at the Khao Fah Cemetery. The ceremony attracted many individuals who sought blessings, believed to be…
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Lop Buri residents bite back, seek authority action as iguanas wreaks havoc on farms
Residents in the central province of Lop Buri are urging authorities to intervene as the population of iguanas in the region has surged dramatically. The animals have reportedly bitten a resident and caused significant damage to plantations and agricultural produce. Channel 3 reported that a master’s degree student conducted a study in the Khao Phaya Doen Dong community in Lob…
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Unraveling the mystery: Ancient wooden pillow from Thailand stirs online buzz
The Facebook page Here at 8 Strips sparked a wave of intrigue online after posting an image of an antique wooden object, a common household item in days gone by, but unfamiliar to the current generation. The post rapidly went viral, attracting a flood of guesswork comments from netizens, suggesting it could be anything from a water pot base, book…
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Porky predicament: DSI cracks down on three more shipping companies in illegal pork import saga
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is taking legal action against three additional shipping companies implicated in illegal pork importation. Arrest warrants have been issued for three executives linked to these firms, according to Police Major Suriya Singhakamol, DSI director-general. These latest developments follow the previous arrest of six executives hailing from five different shipping companies, all of whom were…
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Thai military official stripped of rank and dismissed for severe disciplinary violation
A severe disciplinary violation today led to the termination of service and revocation of military rank for a military official. The Royal Gazette announced the dismissal, relieving the military official of duty and stripping him of his military honour medals. The decision was made by sections 9 and 15 of the 2017 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, in tandem…
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Central Thailand: Teenager’s firearm malfunction leads to near-fatal confrontation with coconut gatherer
A near-fatal incident occurred when an armed teenager confronted a coconut gatherer, only to have his firearm malfunction, sparing the victim‘s life. The incident was caught on video and shared on social media by a local shop owner. The victim and witnesses have reported the incident to the local police, but claim that the authorities have shown little interest, leading…
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Thai news influencer sparks controversy with news copyright claim
Renowned news influencer Chainon Harnkirirat, better known as Off, sparked controversy today when he posted on his Facebook page, Off Chainon, followed by over 490,000 individuals, asserting that his page was not about copying news but summarising it. This statement provoked a strong response from Thapanee Eadsrichai, or Yam, a prominent journalist from The Reporters, who accused Chainon of misinterpreting the…
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Vape escape: Thai ATP’s contraband crackdown sparks cloud of justice in Ayutthaya
The bustling province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was the scene of a significant crackdown on illegal goods on November 8. Thai Anti Trafficking In Persons (ATP) officers swooped in on a private distribution centre in Bang Pa-in, seizing a massive haul of E-cigarettes, E-liquids, and associated equipment. This operation led to the confiscation of 60,500 units of contraband, with…
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First coalition party dinner signals unity and relaxed political discourse
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reported a warm atmosphere at the first coalition party dinner held on November 8, with no bargaining for political gains witnessed among the government parties. The dinner, hosted by the leading Pheu Thai Party, was attended by leaders of coalition parties and was deemed successful enough to warrant monthly repeats, as reported by Deputy Prime Minister…
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Prominent Thai officials arrested over alleged 2.3 million baht bribe
Samut Prakan‘s Bang Phli district saw the arrest of prominent figures within the Bang Pla subdistrict administrative organisation (TAO), including the chairman, 61 year old Chanin Ruenroeng, and his 44 year old personal secretary, Pornmanee (surname withheld). These arrests were initiated by the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) who acted on a complaint from a local firm alleging that the officials demanded…
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Two men arrested in major drug bust by MPB worth millions of baht
A recent crackdown by the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) led to a drug bust and the arrest of two 25 year old men. The duo, identified as Ton from Chiang Rai province, and Narongkiet from Suphanburi province, were apprehended today at their rental residence in Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom province, with an assortment of illegal drugs worth millions of baht. The…
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District chief’s death by drowning not gunshot wound
Autopsy results revealed that the demise of a district chief from Sanam Chai Khet, Chachoengsao, was due to suffocation from drowning, not a bullet wound as initially suspected. The incident occurred when the pick-up truck Khomsan Suranattakul was driving, guided by a GPS, fell into a water spillway. His co-passenger, Gregchai Photithong, another district chief from Sanam Chai Khet, managed…
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Thai mother confesses to physical abuse on child amidst stress and domestic issues
A distressing case unfolded in Pathum Thani province, where a mother confessed to physically abusing her three year old child due to accumulated stress from menstrual pain after a quarrel with her new husband. The 24 year old mother, Piyaporn Pongchan, admitted to hitting her child twice during an interrogation that lasted over seven hours. Authorities have charged her and…
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Soapy king takes a bubbly detour: Chuwit’s suds-n-cancer-seek in Scotland
Former soapy king Chuwit Kamolvisit, a controversial Thai businessman and politician, has embarked on a journey to Scotland, via England, to receive treatment for terminal cancer. Accompanied by his daughter, who is providing care, the news has sparked an outpouring of support on social media. Earlier today, close relatives shared Chuwit’s departure from Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The 62 year old is…
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