Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

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    Where to travel in Thailand in April [2025]

    Travelling in Thailand is peak during April if you are looking for a real taste of summer. With high temperatures, amazing beaches, and exciting events, April is an amazing time to visit the country as a whole. Due to the...

  • Khon Kaen man accused of fatal assault at village event

    Khon Kaen man accused of fatal assault at village event

    A 53 year old man from Khon Kaen province has been accused of assaulting a fellow villager, resulting in the latter’s death. The incident occurred at Wat Pho Ngam on March 30, where Thanin Saenbut allegedly attacked 50 year old Thewa, his neighbour, causing serious injuries that led to his death in hospital. Thida, the daughter of Thewa, recounted that…

  • Holiday horror: Speedboat explosion off Phuket injures tourists

    Holiday horror: Speedboat explosion off Phuket injures tourists

    Holidaymakers were left terrified and injured when a speedboat burst into flames and exploded near Koh Mai Thon off the coast of Phuket this morning, April 1, turning a tropical escape into a scene of chaos and panic. The explosion injured six people, including three foreign tourists, a tour guide, and two crew members, one of them the boat’s captain.…

  • 22-wheel truck crash in Buriram leaves six injured

    22-wheel truck crash in Buriram leaves six injured

    A 22-wheel truck carrying a load of stones experienced brake failure and collided with seven stationary vehicles at a red light, resulting in numerous injuries. The driver suggested the incident could have been more severe if he hadn’t swerved. Yesterday, March 31, at approximately 8.20am, Police Lieutenant Porachat Raksawong, a deputy inspector at Mueang Buriram Police Station, was informed of…

  • Casino bill faces backlash over rushed approval without study

    Casino bill faces backlash over rushed approval without study

    Opponents of the casino-entertainment complex have raised concerns about the government’s approach to advancing the project, suggesting it is being expedited without adequate public examination or a comprehensive feasibility study. Their comments yesterday followed remarks by chief government whip Wisut Chainarun, who indicated that the entertainment complex bill, which received Cabinet approval on March 27, is expected to be reviewed…

  • Street vendor loses bag with 100,000 baht near Mo Chit, Bangkok

    Street vendor loses bag with 100,000 baht near Mo Chit, Bangkok

    A street vendor reported a theft after forgetting a bag containing over 100,000 baht at her shop. Upon realising and returning, the bag was gone. The incident occurred yesterday, March 31, at 3pm, according to 29 year old Jeeranan (surname withheld), who sells fried pork rice. She reported the theft to Police Lieutenant Suphat Hemachinda, an investigator at Bang Sue…

  • Rented and dented: Thai cops put brakes on cross-border car scam

    Rented and dented: Thai cops put brakes on cross-border car scam

    A devious car-rental scam has been brought to a screeching halt after police arrested two suspects accused of stealing a vehicle and smuggling it across the border for sale. In a dramatic takedown, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD) nabbed Sakthanan in front of a house in Soi Khlong Thanon, Nonthaburi, and Khemanan at…

  • Thai police inspector arrested for trafficking two million meth pills

    Thai police inspector arrested for trafficking two million meth pills

    Officers in northeast Thailand arrested a police inspector involved in a drug trafficking operation transporting two million methamphetamine pills. The inspector claimed it was his first offence. He attempted to negotiate his release upon arrest, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Yesterday, March 31, police investigators from Region 3 pursued a drug trafficking gang along Route 24 in Nong Bunnak district, Nakhon…

  • Biker clears road for ambulance during Thailand earthquake (video)

    Biker clears road for ambulance during Thailand earthquake (video)

    In the middle of earthquake chaos and gridlocked traffic, a lone cyclist became an unexpected hero – risking his life to guide a private ambulance through congested streets and potentially saving the life of a critically ill patient. The remarkable act of kindness was shared on Facebook by 23 year old ambulance driver Phasawit Karated, who posted a heartfelt message…

  • Bangkok governor lifts disaster status after quake chaos eases

    Bangkok governor lifts disaster status after quake chaos eases

    Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has officially called off the city’s disaster zone status following last Friday’s quake scare, declaring the situation “back to normal” just days after panic swept through the capital. Yesterday, March 31, the 58 year old city chief signed an order cancelling the March 28 declaration by the Bangkok Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Centre, which had…

  • Pavement pirates spark outrage in Pattaya as officials fail to act

    Pavement pirates spark outrage in Pattaya as officials fail to act

    Fed-up locals are fuming as Pattaya’s pavements vanish beneath a sea of parked cars and motorbikes, with lawbreakers treating footpaths like private driveways and officials doing little to stop it. Residents across the city are slamming the lack of enforcement over illegal parking, which has turned once-walkable pavements into motorbike showrooms and car parks. From zebra crossings to pedestrian walkways, no…

  • Udon Thani residents seek lucky numbers at Kham Chanod

    Udon Thani residents seek lucky numbers at Kham Chanod

    Residents of Udon Thani are eagerly eyeing the last-minute lucky numbers from Kham Chanod, with numbers appearing prominently on the golden Bodhi tree trunk, the Naga statue, and the holy water bowl. Locals are hoping for a lucky draw today, potentially bringing prosperity. Yesterday, March 31, reporters noted that at Wat Pa Nong Chao Khao in Kon Sai subdistrict, Ku…

  • Steel samples fail tests after building collapse in Thailand

    Steel samples fail tests after building collapse in Thailand

    The investigation into the collapsed State Audit Office building revealed that two steel samples did not meet the required standards, leading to discrepancies in other measurements. Thitiphats Chotidechachainan, head of the working group, yesterday, March 31, announced that the examination of steel samples from the collapsed building identified two non-compliant samples. The first was a 32-millimetre deformed bar from one…

  • Four Thai government buildings closed after earthquake damage

    Four Thai government buildings closed after earthquake damage

    The use of four governmental buildings has been suspended due to dangerous cracks found, following the earthquake that sent tremors through Thailand last week, awaiting expert engineering inspection and repair before reopening. Yesterday, March 31, Pongnara Yenying, Director General of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, provided updates on the inspection of buildings impacted by the…

  • Thailand video news | Thailand’s digital arrival card sparks confusion, Myanmar groups warn of military aid misuse

    Thailand video news | Thailand’s digital arrival card sparks confusion, Myanmar groups warn of military aid misuse

    In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring the latest updates from Thailand and Southeast Asia, covering major developments that impact travellers, residents, and businesses. This week’s top stories include confusion over Thailand’s new digital arrival card, the fallout from a powerful earthquake shaking Thai tourism, and new claims surrounding Shane Warne’s death. In other news, a British man tragically…

  • Death toll rises to 14 in Bangkok building collapse

    Death toll rises to 14 in Bangkok building collapse

    The grim scene continues to unfold in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district as rescue workers recover more bodies from the rubble of a collapsed government office building, three days after a deadly earthquake triggered the disaster. What began as a desperate race against time has now become a painstaking recovery operation, as the death toll climbed to 14 following Friday’s structural collapse of…

  • Thai life: British expat swears she’s never going back to Blighty

    Thai life: British expat swears she’s never going back to Blighty

    A British expat who swapped the dreary UK for Thailand swears she’s never looking back, insisting life in paradise is just too good to leave. Claudia, originally from the UK, packed her bags for the sun-drenched shores of Koh Samui in 2023, and now she’s telling her thousands of TikTok followers why she’ll never return. The social media strategist, who…

  • Israeli man arrested at Phuket Airport for alleged rape on Koh Samui

    Israeli man arrested at Phuket Airport for alleged rape on Koh Samui

    Police arrested an Israeli man at Phuket International Airport for allegedly committing rape on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from the Surat Thani Provincial Immigration Bureau sought the cooperation of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Bureau to apprehend the Israeli suspect, a 37 year old man named David. He was accused of raping a…

  • Teen loses finger in Pattaya crash with foreign biker

    Teen loses finger in Pattaya crash with foreign biker

    A late-night joyride turned into a nightmare when a foreign biker allegedly cut off a teenager’s scooter, resulting in a violent crash in East Pattaya that left both riders seriously injured, and one boy missing a finger. The accident unfolded on Sunday, March 30 in Soi Khao Noi (Boon Samphan), just outside Chokchai Village 7. Emergency responders arrived to find two…

  • Thailand advises on managing ‘earthquake drunk’ symptoms

    Thailand advises on managing ‘earthquake drunk’ symptoms

    The Ministry of Public Health has swung into into action with top tips for those battling a bout of the “earthquake drunk” symptoms. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak unveiled guidelines for those left swaying and staggering by the seismic shock. Scores of Thai residents have reported feeling off-kilter, thanks to a disruption in their balance systems. While symptoms are usually…

  • Russian man’s body severed in Phuket motorcycle crash

    Russian man’s body severed in Phuket motorcycle crash

    A Russian man died after crashing his motorcycle into an electricity pole on a road in Phuket in the early hours of this morning. His body was tragically cut in half due to the severe impact of the accident. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station investigated the fatal accident on Chaloem Phrakiat Rama 9 Road, also known as Bypass Road,…

  • Heavy rainfall set to drench 25 Thai provinces including Bangkok

    Heavy rainfall set to drench 25 Thai provinces including Bangkok

    Thailand is set for a drenching as the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) warns of heavy rainfall battering 25 provinces, including Bangkok. Forecasters say up to 30% of the affected regions will be hit by severe weather, with strong winds, hail, and flash floods posing a serious threat. Residents are urged to stay on high alert as the storm rolls…

  • Families receive bodies of three from Bangkok building collapse

    Families receive bodies of three from Bangkok building collapse

    The shattered remains of three victims, tragically caught in the devastating collapse of the State Audit Office in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, were returned to grieving relatives in Nong Khai. The horrific incident occurred last Friday, reducing the site to rubble. The victims have been identified as 47 year old Khamsaen Matra, her 26 year old son Natdanai Namburi, and 23…

  • Soldier dies in Lop Buri car crash after collision

    Soldier dies in Lop Buri car crash after collision

    A tragic car accident occurred today involving a 32 year old soldier, Nattdanai, from the Army Aviation Centre. His pickup truck today, March 31, at 5am, veered off the road, hitting a guardrail and plummeting into a 5-metre-deep dry irrigation canal in Mueang district, Lop Buri province. Rescuers attempted to save him, but he succumbed to his injuries before reaching…

  • Thailand fast-tracks factory rooftop solar panel revolution

    Thailand fast-tracks factory rooftop solar panel revolution

    Thailand’s solar industry is set to shine brighter as the government launches a one-stop service centre aimed at slashing red tape and supercharging solar panel sales, according to suppliers. With the Cabinet greenlighting the initiative on March 27, the Energy, Interior, and Industry ministries will team up to streamline the approval process for factory rooftop solar installations, eliminating the frustrating…

  • On-job connection: Thai telecom firm cut off in fraud scandal

    On-job connection: Thai telecom firm cut off in fraud scandal

    Thailand’s telecom watchdog has reportedly pulled the plug on K4 Communication Company Ltd, revoking its licence over a multi-million-baht fraud scandal that allegedly left investors high and dry. K4, which operated as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) using National Telecom’s (NT) network, was shut down after its executives were hit with arrest warrants for joint fraud, Bangkok Post reported.…

  • Minor Myanmar aftershock causes evacuations in Bangkok

    Minor Myanmar aftershock causes evacuations in Bangkok

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) today confirmed that a minor aftershock from an earthquake in Myanmar will not affect Thailand. Today, March 31, at 11.08am, tremors were felt in several tall buildings across Bangkok, causing temporary evacuations. The TMD reported that the aftershock was minor and would not impact Thailand. Earlier that day, residents in various parts of Bangkok experienced…

  • Thai me down: Bangkok opens new visa expat and investor hub

    Thai me down: Bangkok opens new visa expat and investor hub

    Thailand is making moves to woo foreign investors and expats, rolling out a brand-new one-stop shop for investment and visa services in the heart of Bangkok. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra cut the ribbon on Monday at the grand opening of the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Centre (TIESC), housed in the sleek One Bangkok building in Pathum Wan. Located on…

  • MRT Pink Line resumes partial service after Myanmar quake impact

    MRT Pink Line resumes partial service after Myanmar quake impact

    The MRT Pink Line in Bangkok resumed services between Government Complex Station (PK01) and Talad Minburi Station (PK29) following temporary repairs. Trains will not stop at Minburi Station (PK30) due to ongoing repairs needed after an inspection revealed damage to the joint cover of the running beam. Operational hours are from 6am to midnight, with trains running every 10 minutes.…

  • Phuket eyes jackpot as entertainment complex bill hits Parliament

    Phuket eyes jackpot as entertainment complex bill hits Parliament

    Thailand’s long-debated entertainment complex bill is finally on the table, with Parliament expected to deliberate the high-stakes proposal by April 9, according to chief government whip Wisut Chainarun. The bill, greenlit by the Cabinet on March 27, is awaiting a confirmed submission date. If not ready for April 3, it will almost certainly be up for debate on April 9.…

  • Pickup hit by train in Surat Thani, two dead, three injured

    Pickup hit by train in Surat Thani, two dead, three injured

    A tragic accident occurred when a pickup truck was hit by a train at an unauthorised crossing between Ban Thung Pho Junction and Maluan in Phunphin district, Surat Thani, resulting in two fatalities and three injuries. The incident took place yesterday, March 30, at 6.43pm. Officers from Phunphin Police Station, along with rescue teams and medical personnel, arrived at the…