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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American found with slashed neck in Phuket rental room
PHUKET: An American man was found dead, with deep slashes to his neck, at a rental room in Rawai about 7pm last night. Police suspect he may have taken his own life but have not ruled out other possibilities. “Inside the bathroom, we found the body of the 62-year-old victim (whose name is being withheld) lying face up, with a…
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Three foreigners killed in early morning visa run van crash
PHUKET: Three foreigners died and six others were seriously injured when the van they were travelling in crashed into a house in Phang Nga this morning. The foreigners were on their way from Phuket to Satun for a visa run with KBV Phuket Visa Run company, when the van crashed in Bang Tuey sub-district. Police and emergency responders rushed to…
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New Phang Nga airport plans make headway
A TRANSPORTATION mega-project north of Phuket under development by Bangkok Airways has been tentatively named the Phang Nga-Andaman International Airport. In what is being envisaged as either a public-private-sector partnership or a solely private investment, tourism-industry sources have confirmed that Bangkok Airways is in talks with Phang Nga province for a large-scale land lease for the facility, with the environmental…
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Phuket gambling den raid results in 12 arrests
PHUKET: A dozen people were arrested in a raid on a gambling den located at a house in Wichit yesterday afternoon Most of the gamblers were tour guides, it was reported. The raid by a joint task force comprising 41st Military Circle and Wichit Police officers was carried out after a month of surveillance following complaints by neighbors of illegal…
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Monks, clerics bless Samkong Underpass for tunnel’s official opening
PHUKET: Officials, monks, clerics and guests gathered at Samkong Underpass for the official grand opening ceremony of the traffic tunnel in central Phuket this morning. Phuket Vice Governor Teera Anantaseriwidhya and Highways Department Chief Construction Engineer Parinya Sangsuwan were among those present at the event, for which the underpass was closed off from 10pm last night until noon today (story…
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Demolition execs charged over 4 Bangkok deaths
BANGKOK: Police have charged the managing director and engineer of a demolition firm over the collapse of an eight-storey building in Bangkok that killed four workers on Friday. Boy Ocean Star Company had insisted that it subcontracted the job to another firm, Mega Tools.However, police have charged Boy Ocean Star managing director Mana Kaewmanee and the firm’s engineer Kittipong Yootairomboon…
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One dead, another injured in gruesome Phuket collision
PHUKET: One tourist died and another was severely injured in a horrifying collision with a taxi, while riding their motorbike southbound on Thepkrasattri Road, in front of Baan Jee Teng this afternoon. Part of the deceased’s foot was sliced off and was still attached to the bike, while he also suffered serious injuries to his neck and head. The other…
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Samkong Underpass to be closed for opening ceremony
PHUKET: For the second time since its completion on October 31, the Samkong Underpass will be shut off to the public – this time from 10pm tonight to midday tomorrow for an official grand opening ceremony to be held on-site. The ceremony is scheduled for 7am-9am tomorrow, with Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan and Highways Department Chief Construction Engineer Parinya Sangsuwan…
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Phuket man drowns while diving for clams
PHUKET: A Phuket man drowned while diving for clams in a swamp in Kathu yesterday morning. The incident occurred near a cement factory on Wichitsongkram Road. Police arrived at the scene to find the body of the victim, named only as Wirot, lying on the ground. His friend, Narong, was waiting at the scene. “Mr Narong told us that he…
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German tourist suffers brain hemorrhage after fight over bar tab
PHUKET: A German tourist was knocked unconscious from a severe head injury early yesterday morning, following a noisy brawl with bouncers at a Bangla Road bar. Thomas Rapp, 31, reportedly racked up a 2,000 baht bill following a night of heavy drinking at Dragon Night Bar on Soi Freedom. “Staff and other witnesses told us that Mr Rapp and a…
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Cobra captured in Chalong home
PHUKET: Snake catchers were called out to a house in Chalong yesterday to capture a large adult cobra that had hidden among antique jars in a store room. “We had to be really careful capturing this one, a female cobra, to make sure we didn’t damage the fragile jars, which were Chinese antiques,” said volunteer snake catcher Sayan Thummapan. Mr…
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Edible jellyfish help Krabi fishermen earn extra cash
KRABI: Fishermen in Krabi are earning extra cash by putting jellyfish on the menus in restaurants around the region. About 100 fishermen in Krabi’s Nhongtalay sub-district are cashing in on the unusual marine menu item, which is edible and does not sting, selling the ‘Lodchong’ jellyfish for up to seven baht apiece. Local council member Udon Bootlhee said the Lodchong…
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B20k bounty put on prison breaking teen
PHUKET: Police today announced a 20,000 baht reward to help track down a 19-year-old who escaped police custody after he was apprehended in Phuket Town for a failed robbery attempt on Wednesday. The teen, named Chaiwalan Pennuanong, was arrested after he and an accomplice snatched a bag from a female student. The girl chased them down and crashed into their…
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Krabi village inundated with fly swarms
KRABI: Locals have appealed to authorities for help after thousands of flies infested their homes and neighborhood this week. Villagers in Pru Dindarn sub-district, Khlongthom District say the source of the flies is a chicken farm located about 100 meters from their village. “The flies have caused a lot of trouble for us as they swarm everywhere inside our houses.…
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Trouble makers warned of dire consequences after mysterious luggage causes panic in Phuket
PHUKET: The Explosive Ordnance Unit (EoD) responded to a bomb scare at Phuket’s old bus terminal in Talad Yai District yesterday evening. Phuket City Police officers received reports of an incident at about 6pm, regarding a blue suitcase that had been left next to a power pole opposite the CN Restaurant. Police Lt Apichart Musikasang arrived at the scene with…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Aiming your feet at Thais
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Deputy PM pushes to implement Thailand 4.0
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasia met with the governors of Phuket, Phang Nga, Ranong, Krabi and Trang last week to push for the implementation of the Prime Minister’s ‘Thailand 4.0’ policy to bolster the economy in the Andaman region. At the meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall, Admiral Narong said that the nationwide plan initiated by Prime Minister…
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Opinion: Change Phuket’s tired old safety script
PHUKET: The high season is well upon us and the Marine Department and related agencies are working hard to ensure tourist safety at sea. Despite relatively calm conditions at this time of year, the highly-seasonal ‘feast or famine’ nature of Phuket tourism makes this a stressful period for those responsible for public safety offshore. This is due primarily to the…
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Phuket Gov slashes accidental death target by more than half
PHUKET: Safety on the roads and waterways in and around Phuket is a “top priority” for the high season, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan has declared, as is customary at provincial hall this time of year. In a meeting with police, disaster prevention officials and public health department heads on December 7, Governor Chokchai set a target of less than 50…
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French tourists robbed in Phuket
PHUKET: A man was arrested for robbing a French couple in Cherng Talay last night. The tourists (whose names have been withheld by police request) flew back to France this morning after being reunited with their belongings shortly after the incident occurred. “According to the couple’s statement and witnesses’ accounts, they were walking near Zscape Condo, between Cherng Talay and…
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Thailand Yacht Show sets sail today at Ao Por Grand Marina
PHUKET: The second edition of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) officially opens today at Phuket’s Ao Po Grand Marina, showcasing superyachts, marine toys, sailing accessories and exclusive lifestyles. The four-day event (December 15-18), aimed at promoting Phuket as a world-class yachting and marine leisure hub, officially launches at 3pm with an opening show and tours of some of the superyachts…
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Two injured as truck crashes into utility pole in Phuket
PHUKET: Two people were injured when a trailer truck carrying a backhoe crashed into an electric pole in Phuket’s Thalang yesterday afternoon. Thalang Police received news of the crash on Thepkrasattri Road northbound at about 3:45pm. Officials and rescue workers rushed to the scene where they found the truck trapped in a jumble of wires. “The front side of the…
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Teen robbery suspect on the run after bag snatch arrest
PHUKET: A suspected 19-year-old thief is on the run after escaping from police custody today while he was being questioned about his involvement in a failed ride-by robbery attempt on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town yesterday (story here) The teen was arrested after he and an accomplice allegedly snatched a bag from a female student on a motorbike, who…
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Kazakhstani tourist dies after falling from Phuket hotel
PHUKET: A Kazakhstani tourist died after falling from the balcony of a 5th floor hotel room in Patong early this morning. Patong Police Chief Lt Col Weerapong Rakhito received reports of the incident at about 4am from the D1 Hotel on Phra Metta Road. “We arrived to find the 42-year-old man still alive, lying face up on the asphalt with…
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Two more Chinese tourists badly injured in Phuket taxi crash
PHUKET: Two Chinese tourists on their way to Phuket airport in a taxi this morning were severely injured when their driver slammed into the back of a parked 18-wheel truck on the bypass road at 5:40am. The taxi driver was attempting to overtake another car on the inside lane when he hit the parked truck an eye witness told police.…
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Phuket’s new marine chief talks safety
PHUKET: Surat Siriasaiyas is currently the chief of the Phuket Marine Office. He was appointed to the post after six months of Phuket having only an acting head, since ex-chief Phuriphat Theerakulpisut was transferred to Nonthaburi in February. Here, he talks about his major concerns regarding marine safety and management in Phuket. The hot issues in the marine industry in…
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Phuket officials warn locals against eagle attacks
PHUKET: Officials have issued a warning to Kamala locals to beware of an eagle that has attacked four people since Sunday. Details of the incidents were shared on social media by Seree Lapmak, deputy president of the Kamala OrBorTor. “I believe that the eagle was either released or escaped from somewhere. There have been four injuries so far, with some…
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Parked car bursts into flames
PHUKET: A car parked outside an apartment in Talad Nua spontaneously caught fire yesterday afternoon. The vehicle’s owner, Nathanan Ubonkun, had parked the car in a space behind Poopara Apartment in the morning and left it there, returning at 12:40, after being told by locals that her car was on fire. The inside of the car on the driver’s side…
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Another Korean couple’s honeymoon ends in tragedy
PHUKET: A newly-married Korean couple’s honeymoon came to a tragic end when the man drowned while snorkeling at Koh Hei this morning. The 33-year-old tourist, named as Jeong Yong Soo, had arrived in Phuket with his wife on Saturday after their wedding. The tourist police received reports of the incident from Vachira Phuket Hospital representatives at about 10am. “The tour…
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True breeze brings King’s Cup Regatta to a close on high note
PHUKET: The final day of racing off Kata Beach for the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta on Saturday saw all classes of boats competing in only one race each, making the most of good winds in the afternoon after light conditions earlier in the day. A royal award ceremony presided over by HE Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pukbhasuk, personal representative of…
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