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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  • Sukhothai official arrested over alleged bribe for job placements

    Sukhothai official arrested over alleged bribe for job placements

    Police apprehended a local administrative organisation leader in Sukhothai for allegedly accepting bribes to facilitate job placements for residents’ relatives, only to fail to secure the promised positions. The accused admitted to the charges but claimed to have refunded the money. Following orders from Deputy Commissioner Jaruengkiat Pankaew, Police Major General Prasong Chalampin, and Colonel Sanuwong Kongkain, the Anti-Corruption Division…

  • Singha Park aids Chiang Rai flood victims with central kitchen

    Singha Park aids Chiang Rai flood victims with central kitchen

    Singha Park Chiang Rai has set up a central kitchen to aid flood victims by providing drinking water, cooked food, and ready-to-eat meals in response to the severe flooding in various areas of Chiang Rai. The flooding has particularly affected the Mueang district, where the Kok River has overflowed, submerging homes and causing widespread damage. In the Mae Sai district,…

  • Thai footballer auctions jersey for Chiang Rai flood victims

    Thai footballer auctions jersey for Chiang Rai flood victims

    Thailand international footballer Ekanit Panya auctioned his jersey from the LP Bank Cup 2024 match against Vietnam to aid flood victims in Chiang Rai. The auction quickly garnered attention, with bids reaching 50,000 baht within an hour. The 24 year old football player announced on Facebook at 8.47pm yesterday, September 12, the auction of his Thai national team jersey. He wore…

  • Buriram farmer’s name wrongly listed in social security system

    Buriram farmer’s name wrongly listed in social security system

    A farmer from Buriram province discovered that his name appeared in Thailand’s social security system despite never having registered for it or working outside his family’s farm. This alarming revelation surfaced when he used the 30-baht health scheme. Panuwat Hadprakorn, a 25 year old resident of Khok Yang subdistrict in the Prakhon Chai district, Buriram province, along with his family,…

  • Lotto Plus donates 500,000 baht for Chiang Rai flood relief

    Lotto Plus donates 500,000 baht for Chiang Rai flood relief

    Lotto Plus announced an initial donation of 500,000 baht to aid flood relief efforts in Chiang Rai, with plans to visit the area tomorrow, September 13. Residents are encouraged to share posts to raise more funds. Severe flooding continues to affect Chiang Rai, with persistent heavy rain causing water levels to rise, reaching heights of 1 to 2 metres in…

  • Chiang Rai Airport remains open amid flooding, flights from Bangkok cancelled

    Chiang Rai Airport remains open amid flooding, flights from Bangkok cancelled

    Mae Fah Luang International Airport in the northern province of Chiang Rai remains open despite heavy flooding in the area. However, some airlines cancelled flights for safety reasons. The official Facebook page of Mae Fah Luang Airport issued an announcement this morning, September 12, stating that the airport is open as usual, although the entrance is flooded. The water level…

  • Chiang Mai landslide death toll rises to 6, 2 more missing (video)

    Chiang Mai landslide death toll rises to 6, 2 more missing (video)

    The death toll from the landslide in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai province, has risen to six, with two more residents reported missing. Rescuers from across the country have converged on northern Thailand to assist locals stranded by the floods. Two landslides were reported in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai on Tuesday, September 10. Six people were initially…

  • Landslide in Chiang Mai leaves 2 dead, and many stranded

    Landslide in Chiang Mai leaves 2 dead, and many stranded

    Heavy rain and a subsequent landslide struck Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand yesterday, September 10, resulting in the deaths of two residents, including a young child. Many residents in the area were left stranded by the floods. Following continuous heavy rain from September 8 until yesterday, two landslides occurred in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai. The first…

  • Chiang Rai market shut due to severe flooding

    Chiang Rai market shut due to severe flooding

    Sai Lom Joi Market, typically lively and bustling, found itself submerged and closed yesterday due to flooding from the overflowing Sai River. The market, located on the border with Myanmar in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, faced the deluge after the river burst its banks late Monday night. Heavy rainfall had been battering the border region since Sunday night, causing…

  • Man trapped on rooftop tent in Mae Sai amid strong currents

    Man trapped on rooftop tent in Mae Sai amid strong currents

    A man has been trapped on a rooftop tent in the Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai for nine hours due to strong water currents. Efforts to rescue him with a jet ski were unsuccessful, prompting ongoing attempts to save him. Yesterday, September 10, a Facebook page named แอน แม่สายมหานคร broadcasted live footage of a man stuck on the roof…

  • Rescue worker makes Thai girl’s KFC dream come true

    Rescue worker makes Thai girl’s KFC dream come true

    A rescue worker fulfilled an eight year old girl’s dream of eating KFC after she was found walking to school in the middle of the night. The young girl, excited about a school field trip and eager to see elephants, set off on foot to ensure she wouldn’t miss the bus. The young girl was found walking along the Buriram-Nang…

  • World champ smashes record in meatball eating contest in Buriram

    World champ smashes record in meatball eating contest in Buriram

    In a jaw-dropping display of sheer eating prowess, world champion Worachai Wijitwongjaroen set a new record at the seventh annual deep-fried meatball eating contest in Buriram. The event, designed to showcase one of the province’s signature dishes, saw Worachai devour an astounding 65 sticks of meatballs in just five minutes, beating the previous record by two sticks. Held over two…

  • Mentally ill man murders relative in Khon Kaen village

    Mentally ill man murders relative in Khon Kaen village

    A young man suffering from mental illness attacked and killed a relative, who also had a mental illness. His mother discovered the body, slumped face down on the floor, covered in wounds and blood. Police in Chum Phae, Khon Kaen, were alerted to a murder in Ban Mai Na Kham village. Officers, including Deputy Inspector Phumin Iam-ong and Police Colonel…

  • SkyHydrant system brings clean water to Chiang Rai

    SkyHydrant system brings clean water to Chiang Rai

    In the wake of devastating floods, a rural Thai school has been thrown a lifeline—clean drinking water. Disaster Aid Thailand and Disaster Aid Australia, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chiang Khong, installed a SkyHydrant water filtration system at Pang Hat Sahasat School, Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province on September 5 and 6. The installation couldn’t have come…

  • 3 Thai police face sack for mistaking woman as drug suspect

    3 Thai police face sack for mistaking woman as drug suspect

    Three police officers in the northern province of Chiang Rai may face dismissal after mistakenly identifying a Thai woman as a drug suspect and attempting to arrest her, leading to a violent high-speed chase. The 22 year old Thai woman filed a complaint with Mae Yao Police Station, stating that a group of men tried to abduct her on the…

  • Medical technician loses 20,000 baht in Buriram call centre scam

    Medical technician loses 20,000 baht in Buriram call centre scam

    A medical technician in Buriram fell victim to a call centre scam, losing over 20,000 baht after being tricked by someone posing as an electricity authority officer. The victim, 54 year old Yutthana shared his experience to warn the public and urge the government to improve security systems. On Saturday, September 7, Yutthana received a call from an individual claiming…

  • Six drug smugglers killed in gunfight in northern Thailand

    Six drug smugglers killed in gunfight in northern Thailand

    Six suspected drug smugglers were killed in a gunfight with an army patrol near Thailand’s northern border in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai. The incident, which took place on September 6 night, also led to the seizure of approximately 1.3 million speed pills. The confrontation began around 11.15pm when soldiers on patrol near a natural border crossing spotted…

  • Belgian tourist missing near Mae Yen Waterfall in Mae Hong Son

    Belgian tourist missing near Mae Yen Waterfall in Mae Hong Son

    A Belgian tourist has gone missing near the Mae Yen Waterfall in Pai district, Mae Hong Son province. Police discovered her abandoned bicycle on the path leading to the waterfall and have been searching for her since yesterday morning. The 28 year old Belgian national, Chloe Ferrani, was last seen leaving her accommodation with her bicycle, which was later found…

  • Deceased monk found on Udon Thani road sparks safety concerns

    Deceased monk found on Udon Thani road sparks safety concerns

    A monk was found dead on a road in Udon Thani province, leaving locals puzzled about the circumstances. The incident, which occurred around 8pm yesterday, September 6, has raised concerns about road safety and the need for better street lighting in the area. Police Lieutenant Apiwut Leepontong, an investigator at Nong Han Police Station, received a report of a monk…

  • Thai woman survives attempted kidnapping in Chiang Rai (video)

    Thai woman survives attempted kidnapping in Chiang Rai (video)

    A Thai woman issued a warning to other women after a group of men in an SUV stalked and attempted to kidnap her on a road in the northern province of Chiang Rai. The 22 year old woman shared security camera footage when she sought help from a resident in the Mae Yao district of Chiang Rai province. She posted…

  • Nakhon Ratchasima man loses over 600k baht in romance scam

    Nakhon Ratchasima man loses over 600k baht in romance scam

    A middle-aged man from Nakhon Ratchasima lost over 600,000 baht in a romance scam. The victim, nicknamed Up, shared his story through an online news platform, intending to alert the public about a gang of scammers who used personal relationships as bait to extort money. Up explained that in July last year, a woman contacted him via Facebook, and they…

  • 3 Thais survive, 2 still missing after boat capsizes in Mekong River

    3 Thais survive, 2 still missing after boat capsizes in Mekong River

    A boat carrying five Thai men capsized in the Mekong River in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday, leaving two people missing. The other three victims survived and were rescued from the river by a local rescue team. Chiang Khong District Chief Udom Pokpongborwonkun coordinated with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation, and Saeng Dhammastan…

  • Thai woman scammed in fake modelling job for 6,000 baht (video)

    Thai woman scammed in fake modelling job for 6,000 baht (video)

    A young woman was scammed into a modelling job for 6,000 baht but was later asked to transfer 700 baht, raising suspicions of fraud. The incident, shared on TikTok, garnered significant online attention. The 22 year old woman, Fah, revealed to Khaosod Online yesterday that two months ago, she was contacted via the LINE application by someone claiming to be…

  • Northeast Thailand: Duo nabbed smuggling 10 Chinese migrants

    Northeast Thailand: Duo nabbed smuggling 10 Chinese migrants

    In a dramatic late-night pursuit, immigration officers, together with Pa Rai police, intercepted a pickup truck smuggling 10 illegal Chinese migrants in the Don Tan district in the northeastern province of Mukdahan yesterday, September 4. Acting on a tip-off, officers were ready and waiting when the truck appeared. Officers spotted the suspicious vehicle at around 11pm and signalled for it…

  • ‘Por the Slapper’ strikes store worker for fabricated assault

    ‘Por the Slapper’ strikes store worker for fabricated assault

    The owner of a convenience store in the Isaan province of Udon Thani is taking legal action against a mentally ill customer who slapped her employee in the face without reason. The store owner shared CCTV footage on her Facebook account on Monday, September 2, showing the incident, in which the customer, known locally as “Por the Slapper,” struck the…

  • Man dies in collision with cow on Thai road

    Man dies in collision with cow on Thai road

    A 54 year old man tragically died in a collision with a cow while riding his big bike. The accident occurred on the road connecting Nang Rong and Buriram on September 3. His grieving wife appealed for the cow’s owner to take responsibility. Nantachai, a resident of Village 13, Sakae Phrong subdistrict, Mueang district, Buriram province, was riding his big…

  • Chiang Rai vendor receives 54-year sentence for lese-majeste

    Chiang Rai vendor receives 54-year sentence for lese-majeste

    A Chiang Rai clothing vendor has had his prison sentence extended to a record 54 years and 6 months for lese-majeste offences, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The appeal court’s decision yesterday, September 4, upheld Mongkol Thirakot’s earlier conviction, adding to his existing sentences to make it the longest ever under Section 112 of the Criminal Code,…

  • Thai school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl

    Thai school bus driver accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl

    A Thai mother accompanied her 13 year old daughter to file a complaint against a school bus driver who allegedly sexually assaulted her. The accused driver denies the accusation. The 41 year old mother, Ta, brought the sexual assault case to her lawyer, Kritsada Lohitdee, who took her to the Damrongdham Centre, under the Ministry of Interior, to file a…

  • Petrol station scam caught on video in Phitsanulok (video)

    Petrol station scam caught on video in Phitsanulok (video)

    A petrol station employee in Bang Rakam district, Phitsanulok province, allegedly pretended to pump fuel but did not dispense any petrol before attempting to collect payment, prompting a customer to capture the incident on video. A Facebook page known for exposing such incidents, อยากดังเดี๋ยวจัดให้ รีเทริน์ part 7, highlighted a complaint from a customer about a specific petrol station in Bang…

  • Farmer swept away by floodwaters found dead in northern Thailand

    Farmer swept away by floodwaters found dead in northern Thailand

    A Thai farmer attempting to inspect floodwaters in his fields was swept away by a strong current, disappearing before the eyes of local villagers. After an extensive search, his body was found, though his motorcycle remains missing. Police officer Piyapan Piansaad received a report yesterday, September 3, at 11am about a man swept away by floodwaters near the Mae Sanga…