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.

  • Sponsored

    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...

  • Body found in barrel at reservoir near three Thai provinces

    Body found in barrel at reservoir near three Thai provinces

    A man’s body was discovered concealed in a barrel and dumped in a reservoir bordering three provinces. The 50 year old unidentified man was found with a gunshot wound to the left chest and skull injuries by a local fisherman yesterday, May 18, at 4pm. Police from Takhro Police Station, Nakhon Sawan province, were informed by a local that a…

  • Three dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat shooting tragedy

    Three dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat shooting tragedy

    Three people lost their lives in a tragic shooting incident in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The incident occurred yesterday, May 18, at 2pm, when a man shot two others before fleeing into nearby woods, where he ended his life. The investigation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Sudsakorn Samosorn, along with forensic officers and hospital staff, took place near a resort…

  • Local politician and wife killed in tragic Trang motorcycle crash

    Local politician and wife killed in tragic Trang motorcycle crash

    A tragic incident occurred when a car, reportedly driven under the influence, collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the deaths of 57 year old local politician Adisak or Luangchai and his 35 year old wife, Daojai, in Trang province early today, May 19. The incident took place on the road between Baan Khuan and Khuan Pring intersection, in Baan Khuan…

  • Nonthaburi canal walkway subsidence raises safety concerns

    Nonthaburi canal walkway subsidence raises safety concerns

    Residents have raised concerns over a dangerously tilted walkway near a canal in Nonthaburi province, which had worsened since the March 28 earthquake. The path’s condition is particularly problematic for students, the elderly, and bedbound individuals, prompting local authorities to discuss solutions with contractors. Locals reported significant subsidence of the canal-side walkway, causing the utility poles to tilt. The area…

  • Mysterious blaze engulfs BMW X3 in Chon Buri home

    Mysterious blaze engulfs BMW X3 in Chon Buri home

    At 7.30pm yesterday, May 18, police from Mueang Chon Buri Police Station responded to a report of a mysterious fire engulfing a luxury car within a residence in village 1, Nong Mai Daeng subdistrict, Mueang district, Chon Buri province. Firefighters, along with two fire engines and the Trai Khunatham rescue team, were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, a BMW…

  • Lightning strike in Udon Thani claims two lives

    Lightning strike in Udon Thani claims two lives

    A lightning strike in Baan Chaelae, Kumpawapi district, Udon Thani province, has resulted in the deaths of two men. The incident occurred as they were constructing a fish-trapping raft. Emergency services faced challenging conditions to retrieve the bodies amidst severe rainstorms. On May 17, heavy rain and lightning hit the region, leading to the deaths of 68 year old Wirun…

  • Bangkok taxi driver arrested for indecent act on teen

    Bangkok taxi driver arrested for indecent act on teen

    A 62 year old taxi driver was arrested for allegedly committing an indecent act on a 15 year old girl in Bangkok. He claimed his age made him uninterested in romantic pursuits and insisted his actions were paternal. Yesterday, May 18, Police Major General Witthaya Sriprasertphap directed the arrest operation, with Police Colonel Manoon Kaewkam and Police Lieutenant Colonel Rueangwit Duangjinda…

  • Urgent call for help to remove massive net from coral reef

    Urgent call for help to remove massive net from coral reef

    A post was recently shared online by a Facebook user, Rainan Denben, this past weekend on May 17, seeking assistance in removing fishing nets entangled in coral reefs at a national park in Koh Bulon Le in Satun province. The use of nets in fishing is regulated by laws to prevent ecological imbalance, however, some netting methods still adversely affect…

  • Tragic electrocution claims couple’s lives in Bangkok home

    Tragic electrocution claims couple’s lives in Bangkok home

    A couple was found deceased from electrocution at their home in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district on May 18. Initially thought to be a seizure, the wife attempted to assist her husband, leading to both being electrocuted. At 7.53am, Police Lieutenant Suwat Deepholngam, deputy inspector of Suwinthawong Police Station, received a report of an electrocution incident at a residence in Krathum…

  • Heavy rain forecast across Thailand with risk of flash floods

    Heavy rain forecast across Thailand with risk of flash floods

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for May 19, forecasting heavy rain across 42 provinces in Thailand, including Bangkok. The rain is expected to affect 60% of the area, with risks of flash floods and water runoffs. The Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are predicted to experience high waves. The weather forecast for the next…

  • DJ Tete found dead after abduction in Kanchanaburi

    DJ Tete found dead after abduction in Kanchanaburi

    Forensic officers are conducting an investigation following the discovery of DJ Tete’s body, who was abducted earlier. Warapong Khunsrijaturong, a 33 year old man also known as DJ Tete, was reportedly kidnapped by unidentified people. The incident occurred around 3.53am on May 14 in Pruksa Kan 5 Village, Soi 7, Tha Makham subdistrict, Mueang district, Kanchanaburi province. The police have…

  • Tragic elephant attack claims man’s life in Uthai Thani

    Tragic elephant attack claims man’s life in Uthai Thani

    A tragic incident unfolded today, May 18, when a 59 year old man was found dead in a drainage ditch in the Lan Sak district of Uthai Thani province. The man, named Chalo (surname withheld), was reportedly attacked by a wild elephant while returning home from frog hunting. Police Colonel Phonpaisan Kladfueng and other officials were notified and arrived at…

  • Navy intercepts meth smuggling, seizes over 1 million pills in Bueng Kan

    Navy intercepts meth smuggling, seizes over 1 million pills in Bueng Kan

    Navy forces in Bueng Kan pursued and apprehended a suspect attempting to smuggle one million methamphetamine pills across the Mekong River. This operation ended in a collision, injuring both the police and the suspect. The incident occurred yesterday, May 17, at the Mekong Riverine Unit in Bueng Kan district, Nong Khai province. Captain Suchart Udomnak, deputy commander of the unit,…

  • Chon Buri village in fear after pit bull attacks

    Chon Buri village in fear after pit bull attacks

    Residents of a Chon Buri village are alarmed and have filed a complaint after a foreign national allegedly released two pit bulls that attacked and killed local dogs. Yesterday, May 17, reporters visited the Areeya Village in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, following multiple reports from locals who are living in fear due to the actions of…

  • Tragic van-truck collision in Surat Thani kills three

    Tragic van-truck collision in Surat Thani kills three

    Thirty kilometres from their destination, a family travelling in a van collided with a 10-wheeler truck, resulting in the tragic deaths of three people, including a one year old girl, and injuring four others. The incident occurred on May 18 when police from Tha Chang Police Station received a report of the collision on Asian Highway 41 in the southbound…

  • Insurgents attack Yala security unit, injuring two officers

    Insurgents attack Yala security unit, injuring two officers

    Violence erupted in Yala as unidentified insurgents opened fire with M-16 rifles and shotguns, targeting a security protection unit and injuring two officers during a shift change. Emergency services rushed the injured to the hospital, where they were stabilised. Yesterday, May 17, the radio centre in Lam Mai district, Mueang Yala, reported the shooting incident involving a security protection unit…

  • Chumphon residents protest illegal palm oil harvesting in protected forest

    Chumphon residents protest illegal palm oil harvesting in protected forest

    In Chumphon province, an organised group involving investors, influential figures, and state officials is profiting from palm oil harvesting in a protected forest spanning over 20,000 rai. Locals plan to petition the prime minister to allocate land for community use in line with government policy. Residents and former veterans have been gathering for more than a month at a community…

  • Nonthaburi crackdown on unlicensed bars leads to fines

    Nonthaburi crackdown on unlicensed bars leads to fines

    In Nonthaburi, a rigorous crackdown has been initiated by the provincial excise department targeting unlicensed bars and entertainment venues. Over 100 establishments across the province’s six districts were found operating without proper excise registration, leading to immediate penalties. Yesterday, May 17, Decha Boon-in, the Nonthaburi Excise Department’s director, dispatched a team led by Molichan Chaisaa and Thanawat Anupap, both experienced…

  • Tragic car accident claims lives of two interns in Phetchaburi

    Tragic car accident claims lives of two interns in Phetchaburi

    Two 18 year old female interns tragically lost their lives in a car accident yesterday, May 17, at 5.50pm in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province. Police Lieutenant Suphasin Vittinanon, Deputy Inspector of Cha-am Police Station, received a report of the incident involving a car colliding with pedestrians on Petchkasem Road, inbound to Bangkok. Medical personnel from Cha-am Hospital and rescue teams…

  • Pickup truck driver arrested after Bangkok police chase

    Pickup truck driver arrested after Bangkok police chase

    A pickup truck collided with multiple vehicles during an attempted escape from police in Bangkok, resulting in the driver being detained. Yesterday, May 17, a viral video showed the truck speeding and emitting thick black smoke as it tried to evade capture but was eventually stopped by police. The incident occurred at 1pm on Theparak Road, inbound, near a PTT…

  • Police seize 5 million meth pills en route to Bangkok

    Police seize 5 million meth pills en route to Bangkok

    More than 5 million methamphetamine pills en route to Bangkok from Prachin Buri province were seized by police, revealing that the driver was recently wed. Yesterday, May 17, the Metropolitan Police announced the arrest of a significant northeastern narcotics gang member. The man was caught attempting to transport a substantial quantity of meth pills from Amnat Charoen to a waypoint…

  • Thailand braces for severe weather with thunderstorms in 51 provinces

    Thailand braces for severe weather with thunderstorms in 51 provinces

    The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for May 18, predicting thunderstorms across Thailand, with heavy rain expected in 51 provinces, including Bangkok. Residents should be cautious of potential flash floods and forest runoff, especially in regions near mountain slopes and water flow paths. The forecast attributes these conditions to southeasterly and southerly winds covering the lower…

  • Maha Sarakham man nets 12 million baht lottery windfall (video)

    Maha Sarakham man nets 12 million baht lottery windfall (video)

    A man from Mueang Phayakkhaphum Phisai district in Maha Sarakham province recently became a multi-millionaire after winning 12 million baht in the Thai lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, May 16, with the first prize number being 251309. The news quickly spread on social media, with the village head of Khok Lam, Asda Nuek Kaewbutsa, expressing his joy on…

  • Thai women’s early morning fight rocks Pattaya’s Walking Street (video)

    Thai women’s early morning fight rocks Pattaya’s Walking Street (video)

    A brutal street fight between rival groups of Thai women erupted on Pattaya’s famous Walking Street, stunning foreign tourists and sparking social media frenzy. Today, May 17, at around 5am, six women were caught on camera violently clashing amid light rain in South Pattaya’s bustling nightlife district. The 42-second viral video shows the women punching, kicking, and grappling fiercely in the…

  • Viral coffin crash spurs lottery frenzy as number brings big wins (video)

    Viral coffin crash spurs lottery frenzy as number brings big wins (video)

    A coffin falls onto the road, but it’s the vehicle’s registration number that’s causing a stir — and a lucky TikTok user says it made her a winner! A TikTok video capturing a shocking moment went viral after a coffin unexpectedly fell from a moving vehicle and landed in the middle of a road. The clip was shared by user…

  • Chalong wire thieves nabbed in Phuket raid

    Chalong wire thieves nabbed in Phuket raid

    Phuket’s Chalong area has been plagued by a string of bold electrical wire thefts — until police launched a daring night operation that ended with thieves crashing into a squad car and landing behind bars. Earlier this month, police intensified efforts to combat a rising wave of electrical wire thefts in Chalong, tracking suspects and gathering crucial evidence. Their persistence…

  • SRT to test refurbished Japanese diesel trains for suburban routes

    SRT to test refurbished Japanese diesel trains for suburban routes

    The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will start testing on KiHa 40 and 48 diesel trains before next month ends, with plans to deploy these second-hand trains from Japan on suburban feeder routes by the end of the year. SRT Governor Veeris Ammarapala stated that the donated trains have been adapted to suit Thailand’s narrow-gauge tracks. Out of 20 units…

  • Lotto Plus hits big: 4 winners share 60 million baht jackpot

    Lotto Plus hits big: 4 winners share 60 million baht jackpot

    Lotto Plus revealed four new lottery winners across four provinces, with a total of 10 first-prize tickets, amounting to 60 million baht. A particularly fortunate woman from the northern province of Phichit secured 30 million baht by purchasing five tickets, all of which were winning numbers. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) announced the results for yesterday, May 16, with the…

  • Phuket reclaims Surin Beach from illegal occupiers

    Phuket reclaims Surin Beach from illegal occupiers

    Phuket’s popular Surin Beach is finally being reclaimed after days of tense confrontations as officials crack down on illegal occupants blocking public access. On Thursday, May 15, Phuket officials worked tirelessly from 9am to 2pm to remove buildings, belongings, and items from intruders who had illegally occupied public areas at Surin Beach, Village No. 3, Cherng Talay subdistrict. The clearance operation…

  • Bangkok’s Bang Na gridlocked by floods and traffic (video)

    Bangkok’s Bang Na gridlocked by floods and traffic (video)

    Bangkok’s roads turned into rivers yesterday evening, sparking one of the worst traffic nightmares in recent memory, with queues stretching over 31 kilometres and motorists stuck for hours in waist-deep floodwaters. Heavy rainfall yesterday, May 16, caused severe flooding on key routes in Bang Na and surrounding areas, leading to massive traffic congestion that brought parts of the city to a…