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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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No ruff times for rescue dogs: Thailand muzzles donation rumours
The Government of Thailand has slammed false claims circulating online that donations are needed to support military working dogs (K-9s) involved in earthquake rescue efforts. Government officials have made it clear, these highly trained dogs are well cared for, and no public funding is required. Karom Phonphlang, deputy government spokesperson, set the record straight on yesterday, March 30, urging the…
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Thailand hosts 6th BIMSTEC Summit, fostering regional ties
Thailand is set to host the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit from April 3 to 4, according to reports from the Thai government. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced yesterday, March 30, that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is preparing to welcome leaders and representatives from six member countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal,…
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Storm warning: Thailand braces for wild weather chaos
Thailand is in for a wild ride today as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of severe summer storms set to batter 34 provinces. Expect torrential rain, howling winds, hailstorms, and even lightning strikes in some areas. The extreme weather is being fuelled by a moderate high-pressure system sweeping in from China, hitting northeastern Thailand and the South China Sea.…
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Thai Board of Trade caught in tariff crossfire over Uyghur issue
Thailand’s business leaders are urging firms to stay agile amid fears that the ongoing Uyghur issue could disrupt trade talks. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Board of Trade, warned it’s too early to predict the fallout but said businesses must adapt to survive. Companies are being urged to make the most of Thailand’s 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) with…
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Eight Thai state banks offer earthquake relief measures
Eight state-owned banks have announced a range of relief initiatives to support individuals and businesses affected by the recent earthquake. These measures include suspending debt repayments and offering low-interest loans. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak stated that the aim is to offer immediate relief and assist in sustaining livelihoods and business operations. The involved financial institutions are: The Government Housing…
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Bangkok building collapse rescue mission continues amid structural challenges
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Industry Minister Ekanat Prompan visited the site of the Office of the Auditor General building collapse, which was caused by an earthquake on January 28. Approximately 50 people are still trapped under the debris. A committee has been established to investigate the cause of the collapse, with a deadline of seven days for their…
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Thai minister demands building collapse answers from Chinese firm
Thailand’s interior minister has demanded answers within seven days after the shocking collapse of the State Audit Office building in Bangkok, constructed by a Chinese company, during last week’s earthquake. Rescuers are still working at the disaster site in Chatuchak district, with at least 12 confirmed dead, 33 injured, and 78 people still unaccounted for. Four Chinese workers have already…
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Thai military aids Myanmar after deadly 7.7-magnitude quake
Thai military personnel are set to aid Myanmar in rescue and recovery efforts following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that caused extensive damage. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra directed Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to consider deploying military resources to assist earthquake relief operations in Myanmar, as stated by Deputy Defence Minister Nattapol Nakpanich yesterday. A team comprising 49 search and rescue members, medical…
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Myanmar earthquake affects Bangkok, 17 dead, 83 missing
An earthquake centred in Myanmar on Friday, which wreaked havoc in Thailand too, has resulted in significant damage and casualties. The tremors were strong enough to rock Thailand, causing the collapse of a 30-storey building under construction on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Many condominiums in the city also sustained damage. According to the Erawan Centre’s report…
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Secret drug discovery raises questions over Shane Warne’s death in Thailand
New revelations have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne, with claims that a powerful sex drug was discovered at the scene but later removed by police. Fifty-two-year old Warne passed away in March 2022 while on vacation with friends on the Thai island of Koh Samui. A postmortem concluded that the former cricketer,…
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Family demands answers after woman’s fatal fall during earthquake
A 24 year old woman has raised concerns following her sister’s mysterious death after falling from a condominium during Friday’s earthquake, which rocked Thailand and Myanmar. The incident involved 28 year old spa manager, Mon, who fell from the 13th floor to the 5th floor. Her sister, Rin, has questioned the absence of using the fire escape, suspecting foul play…
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Thai Airways offers free date changes after Thailand earthquake
Thai Airways has announced ticket refunds and travel date changes for domestic and international flights due to an earthquake in Thailand on March 28. Passengers with Thai Airways tickets issued globally before March 29 and with bookings for travel between March 28 and April 10 can take the following actions: Passengers can change their travel dates without incurring change fees.…
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Earthquake chaos exploited for drug trade, 2.5m pills seized
Drug traffickers exploited the chaos following an earthquake to transport illegal substances, resulting in the seizure of over 2.5 million methamphetamine pills. Police apprehended 42 year old Ekalak Krataijun when his pickup truck was found without a registration plate on March 29. The arrest was reported by the superintendent of Highway Police Station 1, Subdivision 8, of the Highway Police…
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Debt dispute leads to fatal shooting at Samut Prakan factory
A dispute over a debt yesterday led to a fatal shooting at a factory in Samut Prakan. CCTV footage captured 53 year old Kan, a creditor, arriving on a motorcycle with his friend Toy, a 48 year old, to retrieve a debt of over 1,000 baht from Man, an employee at the factory. Present with Man were his friends, including…
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Traffic police officer dies in Phetchabun truck accident
A traffic police officer tragically lost his life after being hit by an 18-wheel truck while on duty in Phetchabun province. The officer, 41 year old Chawinnathat Phadungthammasanti, was recognised for his exemplary service by the Royal Thai Police. The incident, which occurred yesterday, March 29, has deeply saddened the community. The accident took place on the Saraburi-Lomsak Road near…
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Eleven arrested for illegal gold mining in Kanchanaburi
Officials from the Department of Conservation Area 3, led by Chutidet Kamnonchanut, collaborated with Thong Pha Phum National Park officials and the Surasi Task Force to arrest 11 people for illegal gold mining and wildlife hunting. The operation took place yesterday, March 29, in the Pilokki forest area, Thong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi province, after reports of such activities in…
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Detained Thai crew return home after Myanmar pardon
Four Thai crew members, detained by Myanmar officials since November last year, returned to Ranong province yesterday afternoon. Ras Chaleechan, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, led a Thai delegation, including members of the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee and senior officials from relevant agencies, via speedboat to Myanmar’s Kawthaung province to receive the crew members. The Myanmar government released them following…
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Bangkok hospital evacuates patients after Myanmar earthquake tremors (video)
Hospital beds were set up in a sports hall in Bangkok as patients were evacuated from Rajavithi Hospital due to concerns over damage from a powerful earthquake. The 7.7-magnitude quake struck central Myanmar on March 28, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, causing tremors to be felt as far as Bangkok, located over 1,000 kilometres away. Patients at Rajavithi Hospital were…
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Storm alert: Heavy rain to lash Bangkok and 46 other provinces
Thailand is bracing for another round of wild weather as the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issues its eighth summer storm warning. Forecasters predict heavy downpours will batter 47 provinces, with Bangkok and the northeast set to take a major hit. Up to 60% of the capital is expected to be drenched as the storm rolls in. The TMD is…
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Shaky structure blamed for Chatuchak earthquake disaster
A deadly collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building during construction in Chatuchak, Bangkok, has left dozens trapped and three confirmed dead after an earthquake struck the city. The devastating incident, which occurred during the building’s construction, has sparked widespread concern. According to Suriyachai Rawiwan, Director of the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, the collapse of the building was…
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Chiang Mai condo closed after cracks appear post-Myanmar quake
Yesterday, the Chiang Mai municipality ordered the closure of a luxury condominium complex due to visible cracks on the building’s structure, following a significant earthquake. Residents have been barred from entering the premises to ensure their safety. According to the Meteorological Department (TMD), the earthquake occurred at 1.20pm yesterday, March 28, with its epicentre in Myanmar, registering a magnitude of…
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Earthquake panic: Over 100 evacuated from Pathum Thani hospital
An earthquake in Pathum Thani province caused noticeable tremors, particularly affecting high-rise buildings, including an 18-storey medical centre at Pathum Thani Hospital. The management and medical teams, along with rescue volunteers from Ruamkatanyu Foundation and Poh Teck Tung Foundation, swiftly evacuated over 100 people, including ICU patients and staff. Doctor Ninnat Mookdee, director of Pathum Thani Hospital, stated that while…
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10 dead, 16 injured, 101 missing in Bangkok earthquake
Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night yesterday, March 28, desperately searching for survivors under the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building in Chatuchak, Bangkok, after a deadly earthquake originating in Myanmar. At around 7pm, Petchkasem Rescue Foundation volunteers discovered further fatalities while investigating the site, particularly near the third floor, where massive structural cracks had formed. The collapse, caused…
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Thailand seeks UNESCO status for Loy Krathong festival
Thailand is set to propose the inclusion of the Loy Krathong festival in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The decision was made during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, as announced by Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol. The Loy Krathong festival was officially declared a national cultural heritage in 2011. Minister Sudawan…
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Fatal fall: Crane operator dies in Bangkok earthquake
A crane collapse during an earthquake in the Bang Pho area in Bang Sue district, Bangkok, resulted in the death of a crane operator after he fell from the machinery. The incident occurred at 1.30pm yesterday, March 28, at a condominium construction site in Chatuchak district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Colonel Itthikorn Treeprapakorn from Taopoon Police Station reported that the earthquake…
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Pattaya hospitals evacuate patients after Myanmar earthquake
Hospitals in Pattaya and Bang Lamung were thrown into action yesterday afternoon, March 28, after a massive earthquake in Myanmar sent shockwaves through the region, prompting emergency evacuations. At 1.20pm yesterday, March 28, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) reported a 7.4-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre located in Myanmar at 21.682°N latitude and 96.121°E longitude, approximately 326 kilometres northwest of Mae…
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Pickup truck crashes into Phuket monument, blocking traffic
A pickup truck driver caused chaos on the roads of Phuket early yesterday morning after crashing into the Heroines Monument, leaving traffic at a standstill. At 12.54am on March 28, Thalang Police were alerted to the incident and rushed to the scene, along with rescue workers from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation. Arriving at the scene, officers found the Toyota pickup…
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Pattaya waitress begs for justice after brutal attack
A Pattaya waitress claims she was brutally beaten by coworkers in a shocking street attack, then abandoned by police. On Thursday, March 27, at 9.30pm, 28 year old Bua (surname withheld) submitted video footage to the media, accusing police of dragging their feet in investigating a violent assault that left her and two colleagues hospitalised. The incident unfolded on Sunday,…
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Thailand’s ditching arrival cards—but the digital fix is a mess (video)
Thailand is finally ditching its notorious TM6 paper arrival form—but don’t celebrate just yet. From May 1, every foreigner entering the country must now navigate the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system. And as usual, it’s already a hot mess. The government has launched an operational website for the TDAC, which is set to replace the old-school blue-and-white forms used…
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Thai provinces brace for summer storm with hail, strong winds
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued the seventh warning for a summer storm expected to hit today, with several provinces in north and northeast Thailand likely to experience thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and possible lightning. The warning is effective until Tuesday, April 1. The announcement details that from today, March 29 to April 1, northern Thailand will face summer storms…
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