Eastern Thailand News

Eastern Thailand news, Pattaya news, Isaan news, Rayong updates, and Chonburi developments—stay informed on local events, business, tourism, and culture, including attractions like the Sanctuary of Truth and Koh Samet. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Eastern Thailand news source.

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    What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?

    The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...

  • Unregistered firearm found during routine weight check on highway in central Thailand | Thaiger

    Unregistered firearm found during routine weight check on highway in central Thailand

    Highway Police officers apprehended a 22-wheel lorry driver on Tuesday during a routine weight check operation on Phra Prathon-Ban Bo Road, Mueang Nakhon Pathom, central Thailand. The driver, a 47 year old man known as Jirapat (surname withheld), was found in possession of an unregistered 9-millimetre firearm and four bullets. Jirapat was arrested, and charged with possession of firearms without…

  • Bogus baht bills bankrupt shopkeeper in costly counterfeit conundrum in northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Bogus baht bills bankrupt shopkeeper in costly counterfeit conundrum in northern Thailand

    A significant financial loss was experienced by a 61 year old shopkeeper from Udon Thani, due to counterfeit banknotes. Buaphan Somsud filed a complaint with the local police station today after discovering someone had used 50 baht counterfeit notes in her shop’s top-up machine. Buaphan, who owns a grocery store in the Ban Lao community, reported the incident to the…

  • Tragedy strikes famous dragon troupe pickup truck: Explosive tyre leaves 3 dead and 15 injured | Thaiger

    Tragedy strikes famous dragon troupe pickup truck: Explosive tyre leaves 3 dead and 15 injured

    The pickup truck of a renowned dragon troupe who were on their way to a Khon Kaen performance suffered a tyre blowout, resulting in a devastating accident. The calamity occurred 70 kilometres before the troupe’s destination, turning Mittraphap Road into a scene of chaos. Police Colonel Peerachat, Superintendent’s Branch, Phon Police Station, and his team rushed to the area, responding…

  • Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand | Thaiger

    Heroic Thai teacher thwarts armed intruder: Calls for improved school safety measures in Thailand

    A heroic teacher, who defended students and faculty from an armed intruder, has drawn praise from the government. Thawatchai Duangtham, a teaching assistant at Ban Nam Phu Hin Lat School in Chaiyaphum in northeast Thailand, bravely fought off an armed intruder, sustaining injuries to his hand and arm in the process. Deputy government spokesperson, Kaenika Unjit, commended his courage and…

  • Northeast Thailand: Knife-wielding man causes chaos at school in Khon Kaen | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Knife-wielding man causes chaos at school in Khon Kaen

    A shocking incident occurred at a school in Khon Kaen when a mentally disturbed man wielding a knife chased teachers and students around the flagpole, leading to injuries. The man was later apprehended by the police. The incident took place at 8.30am, at Ban Namphu Hin Lat School in Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum province. The man, identified as 37 year old…

  • Korat Cat Pants: Thailand’s new cultural symbol takes on Elephant Pants | Thaiger

    Korat Cat Pants: Thailand’s new cultural symbol takes on Elephant Pants

    The Korat Chamber of Commerce is championing the Korat Cat Pants as a new cultural symbol and potential rival to Thailand’s famous Elephant Pants. The product is part of a strategic effort to add value to local goods and services bearing the symbol of Korat, enhancing their recognition among tourists and bolstering their value in the tourism industry. This follows…

  • Insurance company Allianz Ayudhya investigates alleged misuse of student’s homework for telemarketing | Thaiger

    Insurance company Allianz Ayudhya investigates alleged misuse of student’s homework for telemarketing

    Insurance company Allianz Ayudhya is investigating the alleged misuse of students’ homework for telemarketing purposes. The company was alerted to the issue when a parent from a prominent school in Khon Kaen province complained about receiving an unsolicited call from an insurance agent attempting to sell insurance and savings plans for his daughter. The agent claimed to have obtained the parent’s…

  • Chon Buri: Unlawful doctor arrested for practising medicine from home | Thaiger

    Chon Buri: Unlawful doctor arrested for practising medicine from home

    Authorities have apprehended an unlawful doctor, known colloquially as Doctor Gee, who was running an unauthorised medical practice from his residence. Despite only having completed his secondary education, Doctor Gee trained in bone-setting and provided treatment to patients. The activities of the unlawful doctor were discovered today (November 18), when the police, along with Health Support Department and the Chon…

  • Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorbike accident at Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate claims life | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorbike accident at Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate claims life

    A fatal motorbike accident claimed the life of a 25 year old resident from Don Mod Dang, Ubon Ratchathani. The incident occurred at approximately 10.30pm yesterday, November 17, within the Amata City Chon Buri Industrial Estate located in Don Hua Lo, Mueang District. Ratphol Ratchawakarn, the Deputy Inquiry Official of Don Hua Lo Police Station in Chon Buri, received a…

  • Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorcycle accident in Udon Thani caused by poorly lit conditions | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Fatal motorcycle accident in Udon Thani caused by poorly lit conditions

    A fatal motorcycle accident in the dark claimed the life of a 25 year old man from Udon Thani province. The incident occurred near a concrete factory situated on the Na Kha-Sum Sao Road, in the large Thon district of Na Kha. The accident scene was attended to by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ratchapol Morarat, an investigative officer of Na Kha…

  • Rayong: Help needed to make Christmas special for HIV-affected children | Thaiger

    Rayong: Help needed to make Christmas special for HIV-affected children

    In a heartfelt appeal from the Camillian Social Centre in Rayong, they shed light on the lives of the 45 children under their care who are either living with HIV or affected by it. The centre has been organising a cherished annual tradition since 2006, where these children are taken to Big C Rayong for a special Christmas shopping trip.…

  • Northeast Thailand: Villagers flock to Ya Kok shrine for lottery luck | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Villagers flock to Ya Kok shrine for lottery luck

    Residents of the village of Mab Krad, Khok Krachai, Khon Buri, and Nakhon Ratchasima, are gathering at the Ya Kok shrine to seek good fortune for the upcoming lottery draw. This follows the appearance of the second-prize lottery number. Residents offer worship items including savoury and sweet food like pork heads, boiled chicken, and beverages. They lay their purchased lottery…

  • Northeast Thailand: Monsoon season wrecks havoc on paddy fields, farmers scramble | Thaiger

    Northeast Thailand: Monsoon season wrecks havoc on paddy fields, farmers scramble

    A dramatic shift in weather patterns during the late monsoon season has wreaked havoc on the paddy fields in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. Heavy rainfall coupled with strong winds, which are typical of the monsoon season in Thailand, has resulted in the collapse of rice crops, causing significant damage to farmers in the Khorat Plateau region. The extreme conditions have…

  • Northeastern Thailand: Violent unrest at juvenile training centre leads to multiple injuries | Thaiger

    Northeastern Thailand: Violent unrest at juvenile training centre leads to multiple injuries

    A tumultuous incident occurred at the Korat Juvenile Training Centre, when 27 juveniles turned violent, injuring four others. The upheaval started with demands to release a gang leader, who was isolated following an interrogation today. Local authorities from Pho Klang Police Station and Huak 31 Rescue Unit were called in by officials from the Training and Youth Centre, Zone 3,…

  • Roi Et: Thai teacher under investigation for assaulting toddler with metal tray | Thaiger

    Roi Et: Thai teacher under investigation for assaulting toddler with metal tray

    A teacher in Selaphum district, Roi Et province, is under investigation after being accused of assaulting a two year old boy with a metal food tray, leaving the child with multiple bruises. The incident came to light when the Facebook page Pen Neung posted images of the child’s injuries and the metal tray. The boy’s father reported the assault to…

  • Former special forces soldier and notorious hitman captured in Surin province | Thaiger

    Former special forces soldier and notorious hitman captured in Surin province

    A former special forces soldier and notorious hitman was apprehended today by Police Captain Phadet Ngam Lamom, together with Police Lieutenant Colonel Detwit Utharasat. The arrest of 38 year old Methrit (surname withheld), also known as Suea Oi, took place in Soi Village Uncle Pung, Surin Province, under a warrant issued by Lamphun Provincial Court. Methrit, ranked 105th on the…

  • Four arrested for possession of 140,000 amphetamine pills in northern Thailand | Thaiger

    Four arrested for possession of 140,000 amphetamine pills in northern Thailand

    A drug bust operation in Phon Thong, Roi Et, led by Police Lieutenant General Sarayut Sa-nguanphokai, the Commander-in-Chief, resulted in the arrest of four suspects on November 8. The suspects, 34 year old Suthat (surname withheld), 55 year old Thanattha, 46 year old Wisava, and 41 year old Prapanich, were apprehended with over 140,000 amphetamine pills. The operation was the…

  • Bloody confrontation on dusty road: Fatal stabbing rocks peaceful village in Nakhon Phanom | Thaiger

    Bloody confrontation on dusty road: Fatal stabbing rocks peaceful village in Nakhon Phanom

    A tragic incident unfolded in the village of Phathai, Tha Uthen, Nakhon Phanom, where a 48 year old local man was fatally stabbed multiple times by a 56 year old man from Loei province. The killing took place on a dusty road near the perpetrator’s residence at around 5.30pm yesterday. Police Lieutenant Colonel Saewang Khonklong, station chief of Tha Uthen…

  • Tiny trumpeter: Lost wild Thai elephant calf finds a voice and milk refuge | Thaiger

    Tiny trumpeter: Lost wild Thai elephant calf finds a voice and milk refuge

    A one-month-old wild Thai elephant calf discovered alone and in a weakened state has begun making some noise and consuming milk regularly. Despite the absence of a wild elephant herd in the nearby vicinity, Thap Lan National Park and its veterinary team have been assisting the lost calf. The calf was found wandering near a cassava farm belonging to villagers in Talingshan…

  • Thai keyboard player’s final note: Musician found dead days after disappearance | Thaiger

    Thai keyboard player’s final note: Musician found dead days after disappearance

    A 30 year old Thai keyboard player was found dead in a roadside ditch in the Nong Ki district, Buriram province, alongside his black PCX motorcycle, six to seven days after he disappeared. His body was discovered today, following a report by his relatives who had reported him missing on November 4. The musician, Anusorn (no surname given), who lived…

  • Minivan driver’s alleged sexual assault of teenage girl sparks investigations | Thaiger

    Minivan driver’s alleged sexual assault of teenage girl sparks investigations

    Authorities are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl by a minivan driver. The victim is currently hospitalised and unable to provide a statement due to her condition. The police are urgently examining a red liquid substance found in the vehicle. The incident took place today as reported by Police Lieutenant Colonel Sommat Mueangthaisong, the station chief of Waeng…

  • Viral TikTok video sparks discussion on Thai teacher’s multifaceted roles | Thaiger

    Viral TikTok video sparks discussion on Thai teacher’s multifaceted roles

    A popular TikTok video posted by a school teacher in Nong Bua Lam Phu went viral for her candid review of her teaching experience. Celebrating one year in office, the science specialist has found herself teaching all subjects, performing administrative duties, painting classrooms, fixing computers, and even doing makeup for students, a reality far from what she initially anticipated. Rungthiwa Banthao’s…

  • Wild ‘elephant migration’ causes a trunk-load of trouble in Khon Kaen | Thaiger

    Wild ‘elephant migration’ causes a trunk-load of trouble in Khon Kaen

    Khon Kaen, a northeastern province in Thailand, is currently experiencing an invasion of wild elephants from the neighbouring province of Loei. The elephants, in search of food, have descended from the mountains of Phu Kradueng district, causing widespread destruction in two subdistricts – Boribun and Dong Lan in Si Chomphu district – of the province. Images of five wild elephants…

  • Thai schoolboy’s erratic behaviour sparks concerns over past drug abuse in Buriram | Thaiger

    Thai schoolboy’s erratic behaviour sparks concerns over past drug abuse in Buriram

    A 13 year old student from a school in Buriram was rushed to Huai Rat Hospital after displaying unusual behaviour including confusion, fear, and sometimes screaming, causing classmates to fear. The schoolboy, known only as A, admitted to having used drugs since primary school, encouraged by older peers to join in illicit activities in the local sugarcane fields. However, recent…

  • Teenagers posing as junior police threaten resident with knives and a bomb | Thaiger

    Teenagers posing as junior police threaten resident with knives and a bomb

    Two teenagers narrowly escaped a violent confrontation after falsely claiming they were junior police officers. Armed with knives and a ping-pong bomb, they threatened a resident before fleeing the scene on a motorcycle. The quick response of local police prevented any further escalation. The incident occurred last night at around 11.30pm local time, according to Thanit Thapakdi, Deputy Investigating Officer…

  • Buddhist Lent aka Ok Phansa Festival celebrations end October 30 | Thaiger

    Buddhist Lent aka Ok Phansa Festival celebrations end October 30

    The Ok Phansa Festival, a significant event marking the culmination of the Buddhist Lent, is celebrated with great fervour across Thailand today. This time of festivity and merit-making is observed in different styles and on various dates, depending on the regions and their unique traditions. From October 20 to 30, the Mekong River in the Mueang District will be the…

  • Surin: More than 300 shops destroyed by massive fire at Chong Chom border market | Thaiger

    Surin: More than 300 shops destroyed by massive fire at Chong Chom border market

    A massive fire engulfed the Chong Chom border market in Surin’s Kap Choeng district late last night, destroying over 300 shops. The fire thankfully claimed no lives. In response to the emergency, over 10 fire trucks, along with numerous firemen and rescue teams from the district and surrounding areas, were dispatched to quell the fire at the Chong Chom border market…

  • Bus crash in Khon Kaen: Injured passengers taken to hospital | Thaiger

    Bus crash in Khon Kaen: Injured passengers taken to hospital

    A bus crash occurred yesterday at 6.30am when a Sri Mongkol Transport Co. Ltd bus lost control and collided with an electrical pole on the bypass road in Khon Kaen. The bus, travelling from Kanchanaburi to Nong Khai, careered off the road and onto its side. There were several injured passengers. The bus had the registration number 10-8613 Nakhon Ratchasima,…

  • Thai music composer in serious condition following fire accident | Thaiger

    Thai music composer in serious condition following fire accident

    Sujin Kulchanarong, also known as Teacher Jinnie Phutai, a renowned Thai country music composer and arranger, has been hospitalised following a severe fire accident at his home in Mueang district, Khon Kaen. The incident has resulted in serious burns to his face and neck, affecting his windpipe. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bangkok Hospital, Khon…

  • Knife-wielding man sparks chaos: Teacher’s husband fires warning shots southeast Thailand | Thaiger

    Knife-wielding man sparks chaos: Teacher’s husband fires warning shots southeast Thailand

    A mentally unstable man caused chaos in a Thai neighbourhood when he brandished a knife, injuring a resident before threatening a female teacher. The teacher’s husband, a police officer, fired warning shots to subdue the man. The incident happened this morning at 7am local time, at a side street near Prasert petrol station, Pattawee sub-district, Makham district, Chanthaburi province. After…