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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Thailand video news | Thai ranger drowns retrieving tourist’s phone in flooded cave, Landslide injures two Filipinas on Khao Yai waterfall trail
Today’s regional headlines highlight a mix of tragedy, controversy, and progress across Southeast Asia. From a heroic ranger’s death in Thailand and a landslide at a national park, to viral clashes in Pattaya and heated cultural debates during Songkran, the country has seen both celebration and chaos. Meanwhile, regional developments include a major diplomatic visit by China’s president to…
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Phi Phi Islands reopen snorkelling and diving after coral recovery
Tourists can once again dive into the crystal-clear waters of the Phi Phi Islands and this time, with a mission to protect paradise. After a year-long ban due to severe coral bleaching, snorkelling and scuba diving have officially resumed at 10 designated sites within the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi. The decision comes after promising…
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Body of wanted gunman who kills police found floating in river
Police officers discovered the lifeless body of a wanted gunman floating in the river along the Thai-Lao border yesterday. The now dead gunman fatally shot a policeman in the Isaan province of Loei. Police Sub-Lieutenant Pairoj Prom-in was shot and killed by the drug suspect Boonkird on April 10, when he and his team attempted to arrest the suspect at a…
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Meth fiend’s brutal pork heist leaves vendor fighting for life
A twisted robbery turned violent and left a grilled pork vendor fighting for her life — all for a few thousand baht and a methamphetamine (meth) binge. A 21 year old man has been arrested after launching a savage attack on a 55 year old street vendor in Chon Buri, striking her in the head with a brick before fleeing…
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Booze, bruises & bottle blues: Pattaya beach bum clobbers tourist
A booze-soaked beach bum with a rap sheet as long as Pattaya Beach punched a Pakistani tourist in the face for no reason, before sheepishly saying sorry and begging not to be nicked… again. The Pakistani tourist’s early morning stroll turned into a bloody mess after the drunk Thai jailbird randomly punched him in the mouth at Pattaya Klang Beach,…
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Trash island no more! Koh Larn’s rubbish crisis nears fiery end
A long-awaited solution to Koh Larn’s mountain of rubbish is finally on the horizon, and it’s going up in smoke. The waste incineration plant on the popular tourist island near Pattaya is now 70% complete and expected to be operational within six months, according to Kiatsak Sriwongchai, the permanent secretary of Pattaya City. Construction of the plant began on May…
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Motorcyclist dies in tragic hit-and-run on Bangkok overpass
A motorcyclist tragically died yesterday after being hit by a car and falling from the Bang Prakaew overpass in Bangkok. The collision involved a BMW, which fled the scene, leaving debris behind. Police Lieutenant Colonel Suvijak Noisri of Bang Mod Police Station received a report of a road accident at 7.30am, yesterday, April 16, involving a motorcycle and a car on…
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Drunk Chinese tourist crashes, pukes, passes out in Pattaya
A drunk Chinese tourist turned a quiet Pattaya street into a late-night demolition derby after ploughing his pickup into parked vehicles, before vomiting out the window and passing out behind the wheel. Pattaya police were called to the boozy crash scene in the early hours of this morning, after the Chinese man smashed his black pickup truck into multiple parked vehicles,…
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DSI digs deeper into deadly ‘pancake’ Bangkok building collapse
Investigators are piling pressure on firms behind the deadly State Audit Office building collapse, as the case takes a darker turn with forgery claims, phantom contractors, and a “pancake” tragedy that’s left dozens dead and scores missing. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is ramping up its probe into the catastrophic collapse of the State Audit Office building in Chatuchak,…
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Weather alert: April showers to batter Bangkok and beyond
Brace yourselves, Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has sounded the alarm for today, as severe weather is set to ravage 40 provinces across the nation, including the bustling capital of Bangkok. Expect intense thunderstorms, howling winds, and the shocking possibility of lightning strikes. Southern Thailand is in the line of fire, with a whopping 70% of the region bracing…
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Phuket’s buffalo orange gets GI push to juice up global fame
The beautiful resort island of Phuket is hoping its native fruit, the Garcinia or som khwai (buffalo orange), will peel into prestige as a Geographical Indication (GI) product, adding some serious juice to the province’s agricultural and food industries. In a recent workshop led by deputy governor Suwit Pansa-ngiam, local producers were schooled on the ins and outs of GI…
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Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna’s expat health plans forever
Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can turn into major stress. To help expats feel more secure, Cigna is now offering a special deal. New customers who…
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Man stabbed during Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom
A 20 year old man was stabbed in the back during a Songkran celebration in Nakhon Phanom on April 14, after being chased by a group of unknown assailants. The incident occurred around 8pm in Mueang district. The victim, identified only as Vach, had been celebrating the last night of Songkran with around 10 friends at a riverside concert venue…
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Khao Yai landslide injures 2 Filipinas, waterfall trail closed
Two female tourists from the Philippines were injured after part of a cliff near Haew Narok Waterfall in Khao Yai National Park collapsed today, April 16, prompting an immediate closure of the area for safety inspections. The incident occurred near a high cliff section by the bridge walkway leading down to the popular Haew Narok Waterfall. Large volumes of soil…
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Thailand records 171 road deaths in 5 days of Songkran
Thailand’s Road Safety Centre reported 171 deaths and 1,208 injuries from 1,216 road accidents during the first five days of the 7 Dangerous Days Songkran safety campaign. Data released yesterday, April 15, shows that speeding, drink-driving, and poor visibility remain the top causes of accidents. Motorcycles were involved in over 85% of crashes. Just yesterday alone, 214 accidents were recorded,…
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Park ranger dies retrieving tourist’s phone in Kanchanaburi cave
A Thai park ranger tragically lost his life after diving into a rain-swollen stream to retrieve a tourist’s dropped phone inside a cave in Kanchanaburi province. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon, April 15, at Tham Sao Hin, also known as the Stone Pillar Cave, located in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park in Thong Pha Phum district. At around 1pm, 43…
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PM Paetongtarn named Young Global Leader 2025
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL) for 2025, crediting her as one of the top changemakers under 40 on the global stage. Government advisor Jirayu Huangsap confirmed the honour today, April 16, noting that the 38 year old PM is among 114 individuals selected worldwide for their leadership and…
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Meatball mayhem: Pattaya vendor slices ex’s ear in street bust-up
A fiery feud turned bloody in the early hours of this morning when a Pattaya meatball vendor slashed her ex-husband’s ear during a jealous booze-fuelled bust-up, right in front of her food stall. It all kicked off at 2.36am, today, April 16, when emergency crews and police were scrambled to Soi Kor Pai after reports of a stabbing outside a…
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Bangkok handshake: PM duo set to strengthen Thai-Anwar ties
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will welcome Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to Bangkok tomorrow, April 17, for talks focused on strengthening bilateral relations and boosting regional cooperation between the two Southeast Asian nations. The visit marks a continuation of diplomatic dialogue between the two leaders, who first met during Paetongtarn’s official visit to Kuala Lumpur on December 16. They also…
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Strong winds cause glass collapse at Thai Air Force canteen
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) spokesperson has explained the recent incident where strong winds caused a glass partition to collapse in a Bangkok canteen. The event, involving an elderly woman with a cane, occurred at the Jantharubeksa Sports Stadium canteen on April 13. She fell backwards when a sudden storm with strong winds blew through, causing the glass partition…
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Songkran festival turns sour as woman drenched by teens (video)
A young woman was left frustrated during the Songkran festival after being unexpectedly drenched with water by a group of teenagers, causing her to be knocked off balance. The water’s suspicious yellowish hue further added to her concern. Celebrated annually, the Songkran festival is eagerly awaited by many for its water festivities. However, participants are reminded to prioritise safety, as…
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Traffic toll: Thailand ranks 4th in global road accident fatalities
A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Statista highlights Thailand as one of the countries with the highest road accident fatality rates globally. The country records a death rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people annually, significantly surpassing the global average. According to data from Statista, Thailand’s roads are alarmingly dangerous for users, placing the country among the…
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Thailand investigates construction firms in collapsed building case
Thailand’s Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) visited the collapsed site of the new State Audit Office. The visit today, April 16, aimed to gather further evidence related to nominee cases involving four contracts with two major construction companies. The DSI is coordinating with the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate potential collusion, and the commerce…
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Nakhon Ratchasima waste crisis worsens as military halts disposal
In Nakhon Ratchasima, 34 local administrative organisations face a growing waste crisis, as the military orders halt waste disposal due to excessive accumulation. The rubbish disposal facility in Mueang district has been overwhelmed, with the Second Army Area prohibiting waste dumping in the temporary 50-rai landfill in Zone C from April 11. The backlog has reached over 334,863 tonnes, surpassing…
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Thailand boosts green industry with World Bank project
Efforts are underway to enhance carbon data management in Thailand’s industry to boost investment in the Map Ta Phut sandbox, a collaborative project between the World Bank and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT). This initiative aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and support factory operators in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in transitioning to businesses based on…
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Shooting in Sisaket leaves one dead, suspect in custody
A shooting incident in Sisaket has left one man dead and another critically injured. The violent event occurred at a community pavilion in Ban Khon, Mueang district, Sisaket province, when a group of young men opened fire. The assailant has since surrendered to the police. The incident transpired just after midnight yesterday, April 15. Yailak Jantho, the village headman of…
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Myanmar earthquake rattles northern Thailand border towns
Northern Thailand was rattled awake in the early hours of this morning as tremors from a Myanmar earthquake crept across the border, stirring fears of more seismic shocks to come. The 4.1-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar just after midnight today, April 16, sending tremors rippling across the Thai-Myanmar border and unsettling residents in the north, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.…
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Songkran 2025 boosts Thai tourism revenue by 26.5 billion baht
Thailand’s tourism and sports minister, Suwong Thienthong, announced that the Songkran festival in 2025 generated an estimated revenue of 26.5 billion baht, marking an 8% increase from the previous year. The festival attracted approximately 470,000 foreign tourists, a 6.5% rise from last year, with visitors hailing from Malaysia, China, India, Russia, Taiwan, Europe, and South Korea. Social media buzz surrounding…
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Pickup truck crash in Ayutthaya claims one life, injures four
A pickup truck returning from Songkran celebrations lost control and veered off the road, plunging into an irrigation canal. The accident resulted in one fatality and four injuries. A survivor expressed uncertainty about the cause of the accident. Today, April 16, Police Lieutenant Colonel Damrongsak Saeng-ngen of Bang Ban Police Station reported that at 11pm yesterday, April 15, a pickup…
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Soaked: Flash floods fury leaves Phuket in deep water
Phuket woke up underwater yesterday as torrential overnight downpours triggered flash floods, swamped roads and sparked fresh fears of landslides, turning paradise into panic. Parts of of the popular holiday resort resembled rivers rather than roads yesterday morning, April 15, after relentless rain pummelled the island overnight, flooding key areas and prompting landslide warnings across southern Thailand. Among the hardest-hit…
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