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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Sponsored Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Tourism sector urges Thai government to ensure hotel safety
Private sector organisations are urging the government to issue safety certifications for hotels and lift the disaster area declaration to restore confidence in tourism. Tourism and Sports Minister Suwang Theinthong discussed the impact of recent earthquakes on tourism with various stakeholders, expressing concern over potential declines in tourist numbers. Efforts are underway to communicate that Bangkok is the only truly…
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Thai police suspect foul play in death of missing Austrian man
An Austrian man died in a canal in the northern province of Phitsanulok under mysterious circumstances after disappearing from his home for 11 days. Police suspect murder. Officers from Wang Thong Police Station were called to investigate a foreign man’s body in a canal in the middle of a rice field in the Wang Thong district of Phitsanulok at 2pm…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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4 Chinese nationals suspiciously remove documents from Bangkok collapsed building
Police summoned four Chinese nationals to acknowledge legal offences after they suspiciously removed documents from the collapsed building in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok without permission on March 29. The impact of the earthquake in Myanmar on Friday, March 28, shook multiple buildings and residences in Thailand and continues to spread panic among people in the country. The most affected…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Pee-hole panic: Thai theme park’s two-way mirror toilet flushed
A bizarre two-way mirror in the men’s toilets at a theme park in Thailand has sparked outrage online, with social media users branding it “gross,” misogynistic,” and “a lawsuit waiting to happen.” The controversial installation at Dream World theme park in Pathum Thani, central Thailand, allows men using the urinals to see out while unsuspecting women and children on the…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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British boxer dies after first Muay Thai fight on Koh Samui
A British boxer died last week after his first Muay Thai fight on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Bor Phut Police Station officers were alerted to the death of the British man, 30 year old Joseph Itai Rinomhota, at 12.03pm on March 29. Rinomhota died at Thai International Hospital on Koh Samui after being…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Man arrested for false claim of wife trapped in building collapse
Police apprehended a 50 year old man at Mo Chit Bus Terminal after he fabricated a story about his supposed pregnant wife being trapped under the collapsed State Audit Office building. Somnitch Duangnet had previously claimed that his 23 year old wife, Korwipha Sonbubpha, who was four months pregnant and working as a clerk on the fourth floor, was unreachable…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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Phuket forum seeks input on draft national policy map
The Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning hosted a public forum in Phuket to gather feedback on the draft national policy map. The event engaged over 600 stakeholders from various sectors across southern Thailand. Held at The Pago Design Hotel in Ratsada, participants included government officials, representatives from local administrative organisations, NGOs, private sector leaders, experts, and…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Man dies after convulsions during police restraint in Nonthaburi
A tattooed man unexpectedly passed away after experiencing convulsions when police attempted to restrain him. The incident, which occurred in Nonthaburi province, prompted emergency services to conduct resuscitation efforts, ultimately proving unsuccessful. The body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. In the early hours of today, March 31, officers from Bang Bua Thong Police…
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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.…
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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…
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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.…
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Man found dead in abandoned Chon Buri condo after theft attempt
Police yesterday were alerted to the discovery of a man’s body at an abandoned condominium in Moo 2, Najomtien subdistrict, Sattahip district, Chon Buri province. The body was found after an incident involving two men who allegedly entered the building to steal metal and electrical wires for resale. Police Lieutenant Suphan Sophee, an investigation officer at Najomtien Police Station, along…
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