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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There’s no better way to experience Thailand than through its cuisine. In the rainy season, flavours bloom alongside the landscape, steam rises from market pots, the snap of chilli echoes through alleyways, and rain makes every bite more vivid. “I...
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UNESCO bid: Nakhon Phanom temple set for global recognition
In a move that could catapult one of Thailand’s most revered temples into the global spotlight, Minister of Culture Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol visited Wat Phra That Phanom in Nakhon Phanom province to advance the temple’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status. During her visit yesterday, April 28, Sudawan paid homage at the sacred site, taking part in a ceremonial wrapping of…
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Thunderbolt sets Isaan home ablaze in terrifying storm (video)
A ferocious thunderstorm sent shockwaves through Na Chueak district, Maha Sarakham province, last night after a bolt of lightning struck a house and sparked a raging fire that gutted the entire property. At 7.10pm yesterday, April 28, Police Lieutenant Somwang Prangprakhon, Deputy Inspector at Por Phan Police Station, received an urgent call about a house fire in Baan Por Phan,…
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8-year-old girl drowns in Buriram’s Mun River, mother distraught
An eight year old girl tragically drowned after a boat capsized in the Mun River in Buriram province. Her 45 year old mother was left distraught. Survivors recounted the incident, highlighting attempts to bail water from the boat and the rescue efforts by a seven year old boy. Yesterday, April 25, Phasakorn Phokham, a Police Lieutenant Colonel at Phutthaisong Police…
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Tourism in Mukdahan drops by 50% after Songkran festival
The Mukdahan Hotel Association has highlighted a significant decline in tourism activity following the Songkran festival, with accommodation bookings plummeting by over 50%. The lack of major events in this secondary tourist destination is affecting employment, with thousands at risk of losing their jobs. Pramin Wongpralab, chairman of the Mukdahan Hotel Association, noted that the sluggish economic conditions in April…
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Men caught with more than 600k meth pills in northeast Thailand
Two men were arrested with a staggering 632,360 methamphetamine (meth) pills after a border patrol police chase in Mueang district. The pair, who attempted a brazen getaway, were eventually caught and taken into custody with their stash of illicit drugs. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Boonlert Wisetchart, deputy commander of Border Patrol Police Subdivision 24, the two suspects were identified…
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Motorcycle rider killed in Nakhon Ratchasima road accident
A tragic accident occurred on Mittraphap Road yesterday, April 18 when a motorcycle collided with a pickup truck and was subsequently struck by a trailer truck, resulting in the death of the rider. Police Colonel Anon Sajanthuek, an investigator with the Pho Klang Police Station, received a report of the accident near the entrance to Ther Thai Market in Suranaree…
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Khon Kaen ICU called ‘slaughterhouse’, complaint filed
Mancha Khiri Hospital in Khon Kaen province has requested police intervention after a man expressed his frustration towards nurses in the intensive care unit, referring to the facility as a “slaughterhouse.” The hospital director, Pornpol Laowithaya, stated yesterday, April 18, that a formal complaint had been lodged with Mancha Khiri police against 45 year old Anucha Chuenjai, accusing him of…
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Rayong locals affected by pollution and flood from illegal land filling
Residents in the eastern province of Rayong are seeking justice after a 10-metre-high illegal land filling, allegedly developed by a Chinese investor, caused severe air pollution and flooded their homes with mud during recent rainfall. Locals living in a housing development adjacent to the plot of land in Makham Khu sub-district, Nikhom Phatthana district, Rayong, raised the issue publicly, hoping…
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Thief poses as monk to steal 300k baht from Ubon temple
A thief disguised as a monk targeted the abbot’s quarters at a temple in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, stealing 300,000 baht. The incident, captured on CCTV, marks the second such theft, leading to a manhunt by local police. The footage, shared by the Warin Chamrap Ban Hao Facebook page, shows a man dressed like a monk leaving the…
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Woman shot dead by boyfriend in Yasothon, northeast Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded in Yasothon province yesterday when a 24 year old woman was fatally shot by her boyfriend following an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile. The woman had previously returned to her home in Samakkhi subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha district, unable to endure his jealousy-fuelled violence. Officers from Loeng Nok Tha Police Station responded to the scene yesterday, on…
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Kind act turns Buriram woman into lottery millionaire
What started as a moment of pity turned into a life-changing windfall for one lucky woman from Buriram — all thanks to a persistent lottery vendor and a single ticket. Kamplaeng Singkulang, a 53 year old resident of Buriram province, is now 6 million baht richer after unexpectedly winning the top prize in the April 16 lottery draw. The twist?…
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Chon Buri vendor wins 12 million baht in lottery
A vegetable vendor from Bo Win market in Chon Buri has become a millionaire after winning the first prize in the Thai government lottery, amounting to 12 million baht. The vendor, identified as Daeng, and her husband, bought their winning tickets after performing a religious merit-making visit to a temple. The lottery draw yesterday, April 16, revealed the winning number…
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Foreigner killed in high-speed SUV crash in Rayong (video)
A foreigner drove his SUV at high speed and collided with a six-wheel truck and a motorcycle in the eastern province of Rayong. The foreign driver was killed, while the two Thai nationals involved sustained injuries. Dashcam footage from the six-wheel truck, which was shared on a news Facebook page, showed the black Ford Everest SUV travelling at high speed…
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New four-lane highway to boost eastern Thailand connectivity
The Songkran holiday season might be chaotic with traffic jams, but a major four-lane highway upgrade in eastern Thailand promises to ease congestion in the future. Highways 3486 and 348 are set to undergo a significant transformation with the construction of a 48-kilometre, 4-lane highway, designed to improve traffic flow and protect local wildlife. The Department of Highways (DOH) has…
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3 Colombians arrested in Nong Khai for luxury home thefts
Immigration officers in Nong Khai province arrested three Colombians suspected of theft from luxury homes in Pathum Thani. The arrests occurred yesterday, April 7, at 10.30am as the suspects were preparing to flee the country. The suspects were identified as 46 year old Nelson Andres Malo Rojas, 64 year old Raul Ferney, and 65 year old Luis Guillermo. They were…
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Bhumjaithai denies tension with Pheu Thai amid PM’s Buriram visit
The Bhumjaithai Party has denied any tensions with coalition leader Pheu Thai, asserting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Buriram province, a stronghold of the Bhumjaithai Party, was not politically motivated. Chaichanok Chidchob, the party’s secretary-general, emphasised the coalition’s unity. Newin Chidchob, the party’s co-founder, welcomed the prime minister and guided her around Chang International Circuit without any political…
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Miracle escape: Electrician survives Khon Kaen earthquake
A young man has shared his terrifying experience of narrowly escaping a collapsed building during a deadly earthquake, recounting how he fled from the 27th floor with his employer’s daughter. The dramatic escape involved breaking through a corrugated iron fence to safety. Yesterday, April 1, reporters visited the home of 62 year old Seng Mo Wiang and 56 year old…
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Udon Thani mother’s plea for missing son after earthquake tragedy
In the village of Na Si Nuan, Talanlian subdistrict, Kudjab district, Udon Thani province, a 59 year old mother is waiting anxiously for news of her son, who is among those missing following the collapse of a building under construction. The incident occurred after an earthquake in Chanthaburi province. Anekpong Kongsa-ya, a 23 year old electrician, was last seen running…
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Buriram man wins 6 million baht lottery with nephew’s help
A 56 year old local government official from Buriram province has become an overnight millionaire after his infant nephew picked a winning lottery ticket. Kanthar Sirisamran, from Mueang subdistrict in Krasang district, Surin province, claimed a massive 6 million baht prize following the lottery draw yesterday, April 1. The lucky number, 669687, was announced by the Government Lottery Office, sparking…
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Deadly crash horror: Sedan ploughs into pickup in fiery Loei smash
A routine midday drive turned into a devastating tragedy when a sedan lost control and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck in Loei province, leaving one woman dead and two men fighting for their lives. The gruesome crash occurred at 12.50pm yesterday, March 27, along the Wang Saphung–Udon Thani Road (Highway 210), directly opposite Phain In Plang Witthaya School in…
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Thai woman loses 1.7 million baht in scam, says police only help celebrities
A Thai woman in the eastern province of Rayong accused police officers of working only for famous people after she lost 1.7 million baht to a scammer after officers ignored her case. The 50 year old victim, Kanlayaphat, filed a complaint with Huay Pong Police Station after money was withdrawn from her bank account four times by a scammer posing…
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Heroic officer saves drowning girl with CPR in Chon Buri
The regional police chief hailed a heroic patrol officer from Ban Bueng Police Station for successfully performing CPR on a 12 year old girl who nearly drowned. The officer’s prompt and skilled response saved the child’s life. Police Lieutenant General Yingyos Thepjamnong, Commander of Provincial Police Region 2, reported that on March 23, a team including Police Sub-Lieutenant Prawat Singhphadungsak…
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Officer surrenders after assault and firearm theft in Chon Buri
A police officer has surrendered after assaulting his ex-girlfriend, attacking a police officer who intervened, and fleeing with the officer’s firearm. The 37 year old Kittisak, affiliated with the Immigration Police, kicked down the door of a house in Sattahip district, Chon Buri province, and assaulted his ex-girlfriend. Police Sub-Lieutenant Pasakorn Phachurabiabna, who attempted to assist the woman, was severely…
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German dentist attacker found dead with throat slit
A notorious German man accused of attacking female dentists across Korat has been found dead with his throat slashed – his body eerily guarded by two snarling Rottweilers. The grim discovery was made around 5.20pm yesterday, March 21, in a single-storey house near Wat Don Chomphu in the Don Chomphu subdistrict, Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima. The lifeless body of…
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Thai man slapped with jail time for hitting Rayong hospital nurse
The Rayong Kwaeng Court sentenced a Thai man to one month and 15 days in jail for slapping a nurse at a hospital in the eastern province of Rayong last month. The victim’s older sister brought the physical assault at Rayong Hospital to public attention to seek justice. She explained that her sister had warned a patient’s family members not…
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Neighbour attacks Buriram couple with machete over noise
A 37 year old woman reported to Mueang Buriram Police Station after a neighbour allegedly assaulted her husband with a machete. The incident took place on March 15, resulting in injuries to both the woman’s husband and herself. Following the attack, the husband was hospitalised at Buriram Hospital. The incident occurred while the couple was playing online slots at their…
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Arrested Thai woman laughs after brutal murder of transwoman
Police arrested a Thai woman at the weekend, suspected of having a mental illness, for the brutal murder of a transwoman in the eastern province of Rayong. A 29 year old Thai man, Prasit Yeesunhom, filed a complaint at Pluak Daeng Police Station on Friday, March 14, stating that his friend had stumbled upon the dead body of a woman…
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Hailstorms batter northeast Thailand, hundreds of homes damaged
A ferocious hailstorm battered villages across Surin, Yasothon, and Nong Bua Lamphu yesterday, March 12, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Residents were left reeling as golf ball-sized hailstones and powerful winds ripped roofs off homes, destroyed rice barns, and flattened animal shelters in what locals are calling the worst hailstorm in years. In Surin’s Sri Narong district, more than 36 households suffered damage, with trees…
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Udon Thani police recover 13 stolen motorcycles, lottery win follows
Police in Udon Thani successfully apprehended a motorcycle thief, recovering 13 stolen motorcycles. Among the owners, one woman expressed her joy by hugging her recovered vehicle, while another expressed gratitude by gifting 10,000 baht to the investigation team and winning the lottery using the vehicle’s registration number. On March 7, Police Major General Suwan Chiaonavinthawat, the Udon Thani Provincial Police…
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Buriram infant’s body found with drugs from breastfeeding mother
In Buriram’s Nang Rong district, a shocking discovery revealed a three month old infant with drugs in his system, likely due to breastfeeding from a mother using illicit substances and vaping. Police are taking urgent action to ensure the child’s safety by prohibiting the mother from breastfeeding until she ceases all drug use. Local administrative officials, police, and village leaders…
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