Northern Thailand News
Northern Thailand news, Chiang Mai news, business, tourism, and culture—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and travel insights from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Northern Thailand news source.
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Kok River pollution triggers health alert in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
The discovery of arsenic and lead contamination in the Kok River, particularly in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province, has prompted health warnings for residents in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Levels of arsenic and lead were found to exceed the standard limits, with arsenic measured at 0.026 mg/litre and lead at 0.076 mg/litre. The acceptable levels…
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Retiree surrenders after fatal shooting over dog dispute in Lamphun
A 62 year old retiree surrendered to the police after fatally shooting the owner of a dog that allegedly caused him to suffer an accident. The incident occurred yesterday, April 4 in a field located in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanupong Songsuwan, from Ban Thi Police Station, reported a shooting at Ban Chae Son, Village 1,…
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Mild earthquake shakes Pai as Myanmar tremors surge nearby
Tourists in Thailand’s popular northern getaway Pai woke up to an unexpected jolt after a mild earthquake struck the area early this morning, April 5—part of a cluster of tremors shaking nearby Myanmar. At around 6am, a 2.1-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province, at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometre. While the quake was…
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US academic slapped with lese majeste charges in Thailand
A 58 year old American lecturer is in hot water after Thai authorities issued a rare lese majeste arrest warrant against him—sending shockwaves through the country’s academic and expat communities. The suspect, Paul Chambers, a long-time resident of Thailand and special adviser on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is facing charges under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws, known…
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Phayao’s 70-million-baht SAO building abandoned
A 70-million-baht government project in Phayao has been left incomplete and abandoned, sparking questions over its delayed construction. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office (SAO), remains unfinished, with no clear explanation for its stalled progress. Located near the provincial immigration office, the once-promising site now sits as an eyesore, with only the third-floor framework partially finished, surrounded…
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Bhumjaithai denies tension with Pheu Thai amid PM’s Buriram visit
The Bhumjaithai Party has denied any tensions with coalition leader Pheu Thai, asserting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Buriram province, a stronghold of the Bhumjaithai Party, was not politically motivated. Chaichanok Chidchob, the party’s secretary-general, emphasised the coalition’s unity. Newin Chidchob, the party’s co-founder, welcomed the prime minister and guided her around Chang International Circuit without any political…
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Thai PM tours Chang Circuit amid MotoGP, political tensions
In a political and sporting crossover, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took a tour of the Chang International Circuit in Buriram today, led by none other than Newin Chidchob, president of the race track and political heavyweight of the Bhumjaithai Party. While the track hosts Thailand’s MotoGP races, it was political tensions and contract concerns that stole the spotlight. The 38…
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Shaky waters: Unusual waterfall flow sparks probe after Myanmar quake
Unusual water flow was observed at Huai Hok Waterfall in Ban Thi during the dry season, sparking investigations by officials after the Myanmar earthquake. This abnormality, noted for the first time in decades at Mae Takhrai National Park, has led to safety assessments. On March 30, officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation discovered this anomaly…
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Miracle escape: Electrician survives Khon Kaen earthquake
A young man has shared his terrifying experience of narrowly escaping a collapsed building during a deadly earthquake, recounting how he fled from the 27th floor with his employer’s daughter. The dramatic escape involved breaking through a corrugated iron fence to safety. Yesterday, April 1, reporters visited the home of 62 year old Seng Mo Wiang and 56 year old…
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Udon Thani mother’s plea for missing son after earthquake tragedy
In the village of Na Si Nuan, Talanlian subdistrict, Kudjab district, Udon Thani province, a 59 year old mother is waiting anxiously for news of her son, who is among those missing following the collapse of a building under construction. The incident occurred after an earthquake in Chanthaburi province. Anekpong Kongsa-ya, a 23 year old electrician, was last seen running…
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Buriram man wins 6 million baht lottery with nephew’s help
A 56 year old local government official from Buriram province has become an overnight millionaire after his infant nephew picked a winning lottery ticket. Kanthar Sirisamran, from Mueang subdistrict in Krasang district, Surin province, claimed a massive 6 million baht prize following the lottery draw yesterday, April 1. The lucky number, 669687, was announced by the Government Lottery Office, sparking…
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Mae Hong Son battles wildfires and hazardous smoke levels
In Mae Hong Son, ongoing wildfires continue to affect the area as provincial efforts intensify to combat the smoke and haze. Yesterday, April 1, the governor took a helicopter to survey and identify hotspots for ground teams to extinguish while efforts were made to reduce pollution levels. At 9am yesterday, April 1, at the helipad of the Natural Resources and…
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Thai tomboy allegedly raped and left lying naked in Lampang
A Thai mother was shocked to discover her tomboy daughter lying naked near the railway in the northern province of Lampang and suspected that a man, who was found half-naked at the scene, raped her. The 53 year old Thai mother filed a complaint against a Thai man, whose identity remains undisclosed, at Mueang Lampang Police Station at 3am yesterday,…
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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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Phayao’s ancient pagoda draws lottery seekers, fortune seekers
Residents of Phayao have flocked to pay respects and seek fortune at the recently unearthed seven-tiered ancient pagoda, believed to be over a thousand years old. Discovered in a field, the relic has become a focus for lottery enthusiasts hoping to find lucky numbers. The pagoda’s spire was found during the construction of the Den Chai-Phayao-Chiang Rai double-track railway, near…
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Sisaket police seize illegal firearms cache in major raid
In Sisaket province, police raided a weapons cache and illegal firearms production site used for criminal activities, seizing 18 firearms and various ammunition. Yesterday, March 27, Khun Han district chief Pawit Rattawan and Colonel Anek Promta, commander of the 3rd Special Task Force of the Suranaree Force, along with investigative police from Khun Han Police Station, arrested Ekaphon Namwan. They…
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Deadly crash horror: Sedan ploughs into pickup in fiery Loei smash
A routine midday drive turned into a devastating tragedy when a sedan lost control and slammed into an oncoming pickup truck in Loei province, leaving one woman dead and two men fighting for their lives. The gruesome crash occurred at 12.50pm yesterday, March 27, along the Wang Saphung–Udon Thani Road (Highway 210), directly opposite Phain In Plang Witthaya School in…
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Khon Kaen school janitor accused of assaulting girls
The Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page urged officials to maintain oversight on a case involving a school janitor accused of sexually assaulting schoolgirls, including a kindergartener, in Khon Kaen. Parents of the victims reached out to the page, expressing concern that the case, which emerged approximately one month ago, might encounter delays or risk being shelved due to diminishing…
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Seeking forgiveness: Thai thief sends apology letter, returns stolen amulet
A Thai thief sent an apology letter after stealing 3,000 baht in cash and an amulet from a coffee shop in the northern province of Chiang Mai on Sunday, March 23. He also returned the amulet with sentimental value to the victim. The owner of MOKA CAFE in Chiang Mai, 38 year old Somchai, asked Chiang Mai News to publicise…
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Wildfires force indefinite closure of North Thailand park
Doi Phu Nang National Park in Phayao province has been closed indefinitely following a troubling rise in wildfires, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced yesterday, March 25. The park, known for its lush mountain ranges and diverse wildlife, will remain off-limits to both tourists and locals as authorities work to address the ongoing fire risks.…
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Drunk Thai woman attempts hara-kiri after dispute with husband
A Thai woman today attempted to perform hara-kiri, cutting open her stomach, after a dispute with her husband while they were both drunk at a rented house in Chiang Mai province. Officers from Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station and rescuers arrived at the two-storey house in the Mueang district of the province at about 2am, today, March 24, after receiving…
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German dentist attacker found dead with throat slit
A notorious German man accused of attacking female dentists across Korat has been found dead with his throat slashed – his body eerily guarded by two snarling Rottweilers. The grim discovery was made around 5.20pm yesterday, March 21, in a single-storey house near Wat Don Chomphu in the Don Chomphu subdistrict, Non Sung district, Nakhon Ratchasima. The lifeless body of…
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Bee chaos at Ubon Ratchathani temple market injures 6 (video)
Chaos ensued at a temple market in Ubon Ratchathani’s Warin Chamrap district yesterday when a swarm of local bees attacked a hive of wild bees brought for sale. Six people, including the elderly and disabled, sustained injuries from bee stings and required medical attention. The incident occurred at the Phasukaram Temple’s amulet market when a vendor attempted to sell a…
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Rodent royalty: Korat Zoo’s new Patagonian attraction charms (video)
Korat Zoo has rolled out the red carpet for its latest superstar, a cute Patagonian mara, unveiled to eager visitors. While the newborn’s gender remains a mystery, its charm is undeniable, as the zoo’s director, Thanachon Khensing, proudly stated: “It’s capturing everyone’s attention.” Currently, Korat Zoo boasts a trio of these enchanting creatures: one male, one female, and the new…
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Foot the bill: Smelly foreigner limps away from Thai massage tab
A massage shop owner in the northern province of Lampang reported yesterday that a smelly foreigner with a limp leg fled without paying a bill of 700 baht after receiving a two-hour massage. The owner of the Kanthika massage shop, Ann, stated that she was not the first victim, according to information from officers at Mueang Lampang Police Station. Ann…
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Chinese dating scammer arrested for targeting foreign men in Chiang Mai
Police yesterday arrested a Chinese man at Chiang Mai International Airport for operating scams using a dating app to approach foreign men in the province. Two victims filed complaints with officers at Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station on Sunday, March 16 and March 19, stating that a Chinese man they had met on a dating application stole their valuables and…
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Cannabis vendor found dead with more than 30 stab wounds
Police are hunting for a murderer after a cannabis vendor was found dead with more than 30 stab wounds on his body in a rented room in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. His roommate was conspicuous by his absence when police descended on the scene. A 25 year old Thai man, Few, was the first person to discover the…
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Drunk British man allegedly insults Thais in restaurant (video)
A drunk British man reportedly insulted Thai workers and customers at a restaurant in the Isaan province of Nakhon Ratchasima after his favourite alcoholic beverage was not available. The restaurant’s owner, Thai man, Apinan, called officers from Phimai Police Station to the scene in the Phimai district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday, March 16. The 49 year old restauranteur was…
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Tractor traction: Uthai Thani cops defend noisy farmer’s arrest
Police in Mueang Lansak district, Uthai Thani province, addressed social media criticism regarding the arrest of a man for modifying his tractor’s exhaust system, creating excessive noise. Residents lodged complaints, prompting police to issue a warning rather than make an arrest, acknowledging the challenges faced by local farmers. On March 16 at 11am, Lieutenant Naruepol Chanthates, a duty officer, alongside patrol…
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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…
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