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 Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money
Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...
-
Smoke scare at sea: Pattaya tourist boat evacuates 35 passengers
A tourist boat carrying 35 Russian passengers yesterday narrowly avoided disaster after a massive cloud of black smoke engulfed the vessel near Sak Island. Fortunately, quick-thinking by the captain and emergency services ensured a safe outcome for everyone on board. The Marine Disaster Prevention Radio Center (Marine Rescue) in Pattaya received an urgent report at 10am yesterday, March 18, of…
-
Bangkok bust: 191 unit raids luxury home, nabs drug dealer
The 191 police unit conducted a raid on a luxurious residence in the Wang Thonglang district of Bangkok, arresting a man involved in drug possession. The operation, which took place yesterday, March 18 at 10.30am, resulted in the seizure of substantial evidence, including 313 ketamine vape pods, 80 bags of ketamine, 53 ecstasy pills, and 38 disposable e-cigarettes. The operation…
-
Fire at Mae Sot customs warehouse destroys over 50 vehicles
A raging fire has torn through a customs warehouse in Mae Sot, Tak province, destroying more than 50 confiscated vehicles. The fire, which broke out yesterday, March 18, around 8pm, remains uncontrollable despite the tireless efforts of local fire services. The blaze started behind the new customs checkpoint, near the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Tha Sai Luat subdistrict, Mae…
-
Tourist, not monk: Thai man surrenders after dangerous snake ride
A Thai man dressed in a monk robe surrendered to the police after a video of his dangerous ride on a Pattaya road with a snake draped over his shoulder went viral. He insisted that he was a tourist, not a monk. The 40 year old witness, Bang-on Chom-ngam, shared the video of the motorcyclist riding recklessly with a snake on…
-
Thai-speed ahead: PM revs up talks for F1 grand prix in Thailand
Could Thailand be the next country to host a glamorous Formula One (F1) Grand Prix? Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has opened the door to this exciting possibility, holding high-level talks with Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of the Formula One Group, about bringing the iconic motorsport event to the kingdom. Yesterday, March 18, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab confirmed that the…
-
Two men detained for smuggling crystal meth worth 50 million baht
Two men have been detained for attempting to smuggle 54 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine on a flight. Police were astonished at their ability to evade airport scanners. The suspects confessed to being paid 20,000 baht each to transport the drugs, which were delivered to them by a contact from Laos. Yesterday, March 18, at the Provincial Police Headquarters in Udon…
-
Charged & brewed: Phuket thief busted for beer & batteries theft
A 39 year old man has been arrested after he was caught stealing beer and batteries from a 7-Eleven store in Patong, Phuket, with the police tracking him down using CCTV footage and his distinctive clothes. Officers from Patong Police Station, led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, apprehended the suspect on Sunday, March 16, following a theft reported on March…
-
Thailand video news | British paedophile caught after 27 years on the run, Vietnamese women risk lives for train track photos
In Thailand video news, Alex and Jay cover top stories from Thailand and Southeast Asia. A fugitive British paedophile is caught after 27 years, while an Iranian tourist attacks Phuket hotel staff with a syringe. Thai police seize 260,000 smuggled vape products, and Thailand’s heat index reaches dangerous levels. Bangkok’s governor fast-tracks Asoke footpath renovations, and a road sweeper’s viral…
-
Fire at Udon Thani Hospital quickly contained, no injuries reported (video)
A fire broke out at a seven-storey building at Udon Thani Hospital, leading to the evacuation of patients by nurses and rescue services. Swift action by fire services managed to control the blaze without any injuries or fatalities. The initial cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit in a medicine dispensing robot’s control cabinet, with police investigating the…
-
Rama II expressway lane reopens after fatal bridge collapse
The inbound lane to the expressway on Rama II Road, affected by the bridge project collapse last Saturday, will reopen by tomorrow. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) stated that demolition work on the collapsed bridge is 90% complete, with the contractor, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), pledging compensation for victims. The collapse on Saturday, March 15, involved a concrete beam under…
-
Police mistake mannequins for bodies in Chon Buri trash pile
Officers from Huai Yai Police Station in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district responded to a report of two bodies found in an embrace amidst a pile of trash. The incident occurred on Thong Chai 1 Alley, near the railway road in Mueang Huai Yai, yesterday, March 18, at 11pm,. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that the figures were not…
-
Bangkok creator hunts aliens at Thailand’s Area 51 (video)
A Bangkok content creator set out on a pilgrimage to Thailand’s Area 51 to discover any truth in locals’ belief that UFOs, aliens and extraterrestrials not only exist in the mountain region of Khao Kala, but walk among us. Residents believe that when they meditate in front of a Buddha statue in Khao Kala, Thailand’s Area 51, they hear alien…
-
Indian gang no match for Belgian MMA fighter in Pattaya
Four Indian men gang attacked a Belgian mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter over a parking issue outside a condominium in Pattaya at the weekend but were no match for the Belgian man’s skills. The Belgian fighter, 22 year old Maxim Arbille, and his Thai girlfriend shared the details of the altercation with Channel 8 today, March 19. The couple explained…
-
Man found dead in Chachoengsao cattle pen amid financial woes
A 29 year old man was found dead in an abandoned cattle pen in Chachoengsao province, leaving behind his wife and three children. He was reported missing after expressing stress over financial issues and poor sales. The discovery was made on March 19 at 3am, when Police Lieutenant Colonel Attachapan Kochasi from Khlong Khuean Police Station was informed of the…
-
Pattaya takraw players forced to practice in darkness
Residents and athletes are in the dark, literally, at a local sports facility in Chon Buri, where the lack of lighting has left players stranded in the shadows. The Nong Pla Lai Takraw Group is urgently calling on Thai officials to fix the issue, which has made night-time training impossible and raised safety concerns. In a recent complaint, 31 year…
-
Bite club arrest: German man sinks teeth into chaos in Korat
The German man has been arrested after he went on a jaw-dropping rampage in Korat, biting female dentists and leaving chaos in his wake. The German, Matthias Ebner, infamous in Nakhon Ratchasima province for his savage antics, has finally been apprehended following a biting incident that left the city in uproar. Dubbed the “Dental Menace,” Ebner, married to a local…
-
Thailand uncertain on US visa ban after Uyghur deportation
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed uncertainty regarding her inclusion on a list of Thai officials recently barred from obtaining US visas following the deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China. Addressing the media yesterday, March 18, she said, “There’s no confirmation yet. I still don’t know.” The 38 year old PM explained that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would further clarify…
-
Wombat woes: American flees to Thailand after Aussie uproar
An American woman’s ill-fated encounter with a wombat joey has sparked uproar Down Under, sending her fleeing to Thailand in the wake of a furious Aussie backlash. An Australian influencer called out the American on TikTok labelling her a “pig,” “narcasist” and a “terrible woman” after she posted a video of her snatching the joey from its distressed mother. The…
-
German tourist’s love for Thai salted mackerel goes viral on TikTok
A German man went viral among Thai TikTok users after sharing a video of his favourite Thai dish, bought from a market in the southern province of Krabi, in an attempt to discover its exact name from Thai netizens. The German tourist, Manuel Calumet, shared a video of himself and his family visiting a market in Krabi on Friday, March…
-
Thai it all together: Storms, PM2.5 smog and rough seas ahead
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of summer storms across much of Thailand today, with thunderstorms and rough seas expected in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. Meanwhile, northern Thailand continues to face persistent PM2.5 pollution. The TMD forecasts weather conditions over the next 24 hours, indicating that a high-pressure system or a relatively strong cold air mass…
-
Irishman killed in high-speed crash in Phang Nga’s Khao Lak
A tragic accident claimed the life of a 54 year old Irishman when he was struck by a speeding car in Khao Lak last night. The victim, identified as Neil Christopher More Oferrall, was killed instantly when a black Ford Everest hit him on Phetkasem Road, in front of the Sangsawan Resort, around 9pm yesterday, March 17. Police quickly arrived…
-
Myanmar woman arrested for illegal gambling in Pathum Thani
Police arrested a Myanmar woman for her involvement in running an illegal online gambling operation in Thailand. The arrest, carried out by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Crime Suppression Division (CSD), occurred near a construction site in Pathum Thani province. Nin, who came to Thailand in 2023 for work, was recruited by a labour broker who convinced her to…
-
Baht boost: Thailand greenlights 200 billion for Bangkok transit line
Thailand has sanctioned investment applications amounting to a total of 200 billion baht, spearheaded by a Bangkok transit line and three data centres, offering a potential uplift to the country’s subdued economic growth. The primary initiative is Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc’s 109 billion baht (US$3.2 billion) investment in the Orange Line, aimed at connecting Bangkok’s western and eastern suburbs,…
-
Off-duty nurses try to save crash victim in fatal Pattaya accident
A tragic accident on Highway 36 in East Pattaya left a 63 year old motorcyclist dead after he crashed into the back of a 10-wheel trailer. Despite the heroic efforts of three off-duty nurses who happened to be passing by, the man could not be revived. Emergency responders were alerted to the crash in the Pong area of Bang Lamung…
-
Mae Hong Son strengthens cross-border efforts on forest fires
Mae Hong Son province is stepping up its efforts to combat cross-border forest fires by ramping up cooperation with its neighbouring states. Deputy Governor Boonlue Thammathranurak highlighted the ongoing problem of illegal burning along the border between Mae Hong Son and countries such as Shan State, Karen State, and Kayah State. These areas have long faced the threat of uncontrolled…
-
Pickup truck’s unsafe metal door transport sparks expressway safety alert
A post from the ข่าวสารงานจราจรทางพิเศษ บางพลี-สุขสวัสดิ์ (Bang Phli-Suksawat Expressway Traffic News) Facebook page today highlighted a safety concern involving a pickup truck carrying metal doors on an expressway. The image accompanying the post showed the truck transporting oversized doors without proper securing methods. The post indicated that such vehicles are not allowed on expressways, as it violated regulations and poses…
-
Illegal Thai workers send billions home despite crackdowns
Thailand’s workforce abroad is pumping an astonishing 400 billion baht into the economy each year—much of it from illegal workers, according to Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn. Despite government crackdowns, the number of undocumented Thai workers overseas remains high, with 382,699 working illegally last year alone. While Thailand sent 92,392 legal workers abroad in 2024, a drop of 11% from 2023…
-
Walking the talk: Bangkok chief to revamp Asoke footpaths by July
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt plans to renovate footpaths along Asoke Montri Road, with the project expected to start by July this year. Governor Chadchart, accompanied by Deputy Governor Wissanu Subsomphon, inspected the footpath along Asoke Montri Road on Sunday, March 16, to assess pedestrian issues in the area. He also livestreamed his visit on his Facebook page. The governor revealed…
-
Explosion at Nakhon Ratchasima scrap shop kills one, injures four
An unexplained explosion at a scrap shop in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khiao district resulted in one fatality and four serious injuries. Police are actively investigating the incident, which occurred at 8.30am today, March 18, in the village of Non Si Thong, Udomsap subdistrict. Officers from the Udomsap Police Station responded to reports of the explosion, accompanied by the bomb disposal…
-
Tourists fume over persistent foreign beggars in Pattaya
Tourists flocking to Pattaya, particularly around the notorious Walking Street area, are growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing issue of foreign beggars harassing visitors. Many of these beggars, often accompanied by young children ranging from infants to seven to 10 years old, can be seen wandering the streets selling goods or soliciting money. When tourists refuse to buy, some beggars…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.