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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  • Chinese man arrested in Bang Lamung warehouse raid

    Chinese man arrested in Bang Lamung warehouse raid

    A dramatic raid in Bang Lamung district uncovered a massive warehouse of illegal goods, including dangerous dietary supplements, counterfeit weapons, and unapproved pharmaceuticals. Yesterday, April 2 at 3pm, a joint operation led by District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchanart of Bang Lamung Police Station, and Pol. Col. Napasphong Khositsuriyamanee of the Chon Buri Immigration Office stormed a facility…

  • Deadly crossing: Locals demand action after Frenchman hit by car

    Deadly crossing: Locals demand action after Frenchman hit by car

    Locals in Kanchanaburi are demanding urgent safety measures after a Frenchman was hit by a car on a poorly lit zebra crossing near JJ Market last night. Emergency responders rushed to the scene in Mueang district after reports of a pedestrian accident. They arrived to find a black Mitsubishi sedan with a shattered front end and cracked windows, evidence of…

  • Eco-friendly boost: Koh Larn waste incinerator 80% complete

    Eco-friendly boost: Koh Larn waste incinerator 80% complete

    Koh Larn’s future as an eco-friendly tourism hotspot looks brighter than ever as Mayor Poramet Ngampichet, accompanied by Pattaya’s Chief Strategic Advisor Sontaya Kunplome, visited the island on April 1 to inspect the progress of the much-anticipated waste incineration project. The inspection focused on the construction of the waste-to-energy incinerator, which is now nearing 80% completion. Officials are confident the…

  • Thailand video news | Drunk Hungarian tourist causes chaos at Bangkok collapse site, Myanmar junta rejects ceasefire amid earthquake crisis

    Thailand video news | Drunk Hungarian tourist causes chaos at Bangkok collapse site, Myanmar junta rejects ceasefire amid earthquake crisis

    In today’s Thailand video news, Alex and Jay bring you the latest headlines from across Thailand and Southeast Asia. A drunken Hungarian tourist caused a scene at a Bangkok disaster site, sparking police intervention. Thai authorities arrested a Hong Kong mafia murder suspect in Pattaya following an Interpol request. In a bizarre crime, an American man was caught robbing a…

  • Thailand sends medical aid to Myanmar after earthquake

    Thailand sends medical aid to Myanmar after earthquake

    In the wake of last week’s devastating earthquake, the Public Health Ministry has launched a series of inspections on hospital buildings across Thailand while preparing to send urgent medical aid to Myanmar, which was hit particularly hard. During an executive meeting yesterday, April 2, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin praised the ministry’s swift response, especially in caring for patients affected…

  • Crash course: Phuket cracks down on deadly Songkran road chaos

    Crash course: Phuket cracks down on deadly Songkran road chaos

    Phuket officials are racing to prevent road carnage ahead of the Songkran festival, launching a major crackdown to curb drink-driving, reckless rentals, and helmet-free bikers. At a high-stakes meeting yesterday, April 2, Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong led a panel of officials, including newly appointed disaster chief Wichit Sutthaso, to hammer out life-saving strategies. With thousands of revellers set to…

  • Pattaya raid: 20 year old arrested for selling kratom to teens

    Pattaya raid: 20 year old arrested for selling kratom to teens

    A dramatic raid in the early hours of April 1 has led to the arrest of a 20 year old woman and the seizure of illegal kratom beverages. The operation, led by Bang Lamung District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, uncovered a shop in Pattaya’s Village 8 selling kratom drinks to minors. The raid followed complaints from locals about a shop, Bak…

  • Grave mistake: 2 million meth pills found buried in cemetery bust

    Grave mistake: 2 million meth pills found buried in cemetery bust

    Nearly 2 million methamphetamine pills were discovered hidden in a cemetery by the Mekong River in Nong Khai province during a military raid on a drug trafficking operation. The raid led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of the narcotics. At 4am yesterday, April 2, military personnel from the Surasak Montri Task Force, led by Ranger Company…

  • Crappy cabbie: Taxi driver flings faeces in parking row meltdown

    Crappy cabbie: Taxi driver flings faeces in parking row meltdown

    A Thai woman took to social media to expose the disgusting and psychotic behaviour of a taxi driver who threw bags of faeces at her and other people’s cars over a parking dispute in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The woman, 40 year old Thitima, shared a picture of her car with a dirty windscreen, as well as a picture of…

  • Teen rescued from call centre gang demanding 500,000 ransom

    Teen rescued from call centre gang demanding 500,000 ransom

    A 17 year old girl was rescued by police after being forced into hiding by a call centre gang that attempted to extort 500,000 baht from her grandmother in exchange for her freedom. They threatened to sell the girl at the border if the money was not paid. On April 1, Banjong (surname withheld) reported that her granddaughter, Chompoo, had…

  • Thailand to train 20,000 masseurs as medicine assistants

    Thailand to train 20,000 masseurs as medicine assistants

    The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine announced an initiative to train 20,000 traditional Thai masseurs as certified Thai traditional doctors’ assistants. This will enable them to address seven specific muscle-related conditions. Doctor Somruek Chungsaman, the department’s chief, highlighted yesterday, April 2, the effectiveness of traditional Thai massage in treating various muscle-related conditions. The upskilling programmes will focus on…

  • Poachers kill two wild gaurs in Nakhon Ratchasima

    Poachers kill two wild gaurs in Nakhon Ratchasima

    Two wild gaur were found shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khiao district, suspected to have been killed by poachers for their meat. Local police are intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrators. Yesterday, April 2, after locals discovered the carcasses of male gaurs at the rear of Yub E Pun village, Wang Mee subdistrict, Som Sak Jotklang, the…

  • Trump’s tariff tantrum: US slaps huge levies on world as trade war erupts

    Trump’s tariff tantrum: US slaps huge levies on world as trade war erupts

    Donald Trump has thrown the world into economic turmoil, launching a full-scale trade war by slapping sweeping new tariffs on imports, including crippling levies on key allies. Thailand has been caught in the tariff crossfire too, with officials claiming the nation could suffer an US$8 billion hit if the US were to even up levies between the two countries. Semiconductor…

  • 9 year old Thai boy killed after picking up bomb on Phichit road

    9 year old Thai boy killed after picking up bomb on Phichit road

    A nine year old Thai boy lost his life after picking up a bomb on a road in the Isaan province of Phichit. More bombs were later found in the area. The fatal explosion occurred on March 23 but only gained public attention yesterday, April 2, after a post from the Facebook page ตลาดล่างอัพเกรด. The page shared a picture of…

  • Young woman dies in Chon Buri motorcycle accident after night out

    Young woman dies in Chon Buri motorcycle accident after night out

    In the early hours of this morning, a tragic accident occurred involving a young woman who had recently returned from working abroad. After a night out at an entertainment venue, she lost control of her motorcycle and collided with a utility pole, resulting in her death. Police from Don Hua Lo Police Station responded to the incident today, April 3,…

  • American nurse’s face shattered in moped crash in Krabi, Thailand

    American nurse’s face shattered in moped crash in Krabi, Thailand

    An American woman has become the latest in a long line of road victims after a horrific moped crash while on holiday in Thailand. The crash has left the Massachusetts ICU nurse with severe facial injuries Sierra Fairhurst was enjoying a trip with friends in March when the accident happened. One moment, she was riding a rented moped, then everything…

  • Wet and wild: Heavy rain set to drench Thailand

    Wet and wild: Heavy rain set to drench Thailand

    Weather woes are on the horizon as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issues an urgent heavy rain warning for April 3. With a deluge expected to sweep across 28 provinces, a staggering 80% of these areas are bracing for severe rainfall. Residents are urged to stay vigilant as strong winds threaten to whip up chaos, alongside the looming danger of…

  • Holiday horror: Australian teen killed in Thai motorbike crash

    Holiday horror: Australian teen killed in Thai motorbike crash

    In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, an Australian teenager’s Thai getaway has ended in tragedy. Known for his “beautiful soul,” Carlos Guirguis, of Melbourne, tragically lost his life in a motorbike crash on the holiday hotspot of Koh Samui. The apprentice plumber was riding without a helmet when he attempted to overtake a local motorist in the early hours of…

  • Bangkok motor show sees 29% rise in car reservations

    Bangkok motor show sees 29% rise in car reservations

    The 46th Bangkok International Motor Show has revved up excitement, attracting a wave of car enthusiasts and driving a major spike in vehicle reservations, especially for new xEV (electric) models. With the show now at its midway point, organisers are reporting impressive results, particularly from eco-conscious consumers keen on the future of electric vehicles (EVs). Jaturon Komolmit, deputy chairman and…

  • Shaky ground: Thailand in world’s top 60 earthquake-hit countries

    Shaky ground: Thailand in world’s top 60 earthquake-hit countries

    Thailand ranks 59th among the top 100 countries with the most earthquakes, recording 59 quakes so far this year, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.9. While the country may not be in the top 10, it still experiences a noticeable number of seismic events. According to earthquakelist.org, which uses data from the US Geological Survey and the European-Mediterranean…

  • Thailand’s tourism strategy to restore confidence after earthquake

    Thailand’s tourism strategy to restore confidence after earthquake

    In the wake of the recent earthquake, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has called a crucial meeting with government officials and private sector leaders to tackle the impact on the country’s tourism industry. The primary focus? Restoring both domestic and international tourist confidence while ensuring the continued safety of visitors. The meeting, chaired by Minister of Tourism and Sports…

  • Taps off: Phuket prepares for water supply disruptions tomorrow

    Taps off: Phuket prepares for water supply disruptions tomorrow

    Phuket residents, take note: water supply disruptions are set to affect parts of the island tomorrow, April 3, as the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA Phuket) carries out vital maintenance work. Two separate outages will hit areas in Srisoonthorn and Kathu, with residents urged to prepare for the disruption. The first outage will affect the Botanica Modern Loft housing estate in…

  • Dog chooses nap over escape during Bangkok earthquake (video)

    Dog chooses nap over escape during Bangkok earthquake (video)

    While many animals are believed to have a sixth sense for impending natural disasters, one dog in Thailand hilariously defied that notion during the recent Bangkok earthquake. As her owner frantically attempted to evacuate during the quake, Echo, a fluffy Samoyed, had different plans — choosing to nap peacefully instead of fleeing to safety. A TikTok video of the comical…

  • Thailand waives toll fees on major roads for Songkran travel

    Thailand waives toll fees on major roads for Songkran travel

    Thailand is easing the burden on travellers this Songkran, with the government announcing that tolls on two major motorways and two expressways will be waived, allowing motorists to travel for free during the long holiday. The toll exemption is part of a plan to reduce congestion as millions of Thais head home to celebrate the Thai New Year with family.…

  • More than 3,000 Thai govt buildings damaged in earthquake

    More than 3,000 Thai govt buildings damaged in earthquake

    The powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 has left a trail of destruction across Thailand, with over 3,000 government buildings affected, according to the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT). As of today, April 2, the DPT reported that 3,375 government buildings had been inspected following the quake, with 34 deemed severely damaged…

  • Protesters rally against entertainment complex and gambling bills

    Protesters rally against entertainment complex and gambling bills

    Demonstrators gathered outside the prime minister’s residence yesterday to protest against the government’s proposed entertainment complex bill and the online gambling bill, which was under Cabinet review the same day. A few hundred people converged at the Phitsanulok Mansion residence yesterday, April 1, intensifying their opposition to the draft bills, which they argued would destroy the country by undermining societal…

  • Crime doesn’t pray: American nabbed nicking from Pattaya donation box

    Crime doesn’t pray: American nabbed nicking from Pattaya donation box

    A shocking robbery unfolded early this morning in Pattaya, when a 62 year old American man was caught stealing from a donation box outside the local police station. The bizarre crime was driven by the man’s claim of desperation after losing his ATM card and being unable to buy food. At around 2.30am today, April 2, Pattaya police received an…

  • Thailand to refurbish Japanese diesel trains for suburban services

    Thailand to refurbish Japanese diesel trains for suburban services

    The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to introduce 20 second-hand Japanese KiHa diesel trains for suburban passenger services. A systems test is set for June, before the refurbishment of the KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 trains, with six trains expected to be operational by the end of the year. SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala mentioned that these diesel trains were…

  • Chiang Mai struggles with severe air pollution from wildfires

    Chiang Mai struggles with severe air pollution from wildfires

    Chiang Mai is currently grappling with severe air pollution due to ongoing wildfires across various districts, with over 150 hotspots identified. Yesterday, April 1, wildfires persisted in mountainous regions of the northern province, with 150 active hotspots reported in 15 districts. The most affected areas include Hot with 34 hotspots, Chiang Dao with 26, and Phrao with 23. Thick smoke…

  • Chinese embassy pledges cooperation in SAO building probe

    Chinese embassy pledges cooperation in SAO building probe

    The Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued a statement addressing media concerns regarding the involvement of China Railway No.10 Engineering Group in the construction of the Office of the Auditor-General (SAO) building, which tragically collapsed during the March 28 earthquake. In a statement released late yesterday, April 1, the embassy expressed its commitment to fully cooperate with the Thai authorities and…