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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Sponsored Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Landmine blast injures 3 soldiers near Thai-Cambodian border
A border patrol mission turned into a nightmare after three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine blast in a former conflict zone near Hill 481 in the Chong Bok area in Nam Yuen district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Military sources say the men are lucky to be alive. At around 8pm yesterday, July 16, Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, Commander of the…
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Thailand fights back as Myanmar pollution threatens health crisis
Thailand has launched an urgent crackdown on toxic cross-border pollution after dangerous levels of heavy metals were detected flowing into northern rivers from Myanmar, sparking fears of a looming health and environmental disaster. Yesterday, July 15, the Cabinet officially endorsed recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to protect communities along the Kok and Sai rivers, where contamination has…
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Lottery fever grips Kham Chanod as lucky numbers vanish
Hopeful punters have swarmed Udon Thani’s mystical Kham Chanod Island, desperately trying to snag elusive lucky numbers before the lottery draw today. Yesterday, July 15, hundreds of visitors descended on the sacred home of Phaya Naga, where believers flock to seek blessings from Pu Sri Sutho and Mae Ya Sri Pratumma. Despite a noticeable drop in foot traffic this year,…
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RTA ready to fence Ta Muen Thom temple amid tensions
The commander of Thailand’s 2nd Army Region has declared the military’s readiness to erect a fence around the disputed Ta Muen Thom temple in Surin province if the government and the Department of Fine Arts give the green light. Lieutenant General Boonsin Padklang confirmed that, despite the simmering dispute, stability currently prevails along the border. He noted that while local…
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Nakhon Ratchasima temple’s ‘miracle Buddha’ sparks lottery frenzy
A centuries-old Buddha statue in Nakhon Ratchasima is fuelling a frenzy among lottery devotees, who swear its blessings have turned them into instant millionaires—seven draws in a row. Wat Muen Wai, an ancient temple tucked away in Muen Wai subdistrict, Mueang district, has become a magnet for hopeful devotees and lottery fans alike. The star attraction is Luang Pho Thong,…
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Teen motorcycle racers arrested in Buriram amid public chaos
Over 30 teenagers have been apprehended in Buriram after causing public disturbances by racing motorcycles and carrying weapons. The group engaged in altercations, gunfire, and explosions over three consecutive nights, alarming residents and prompting a swift response from local police. The disturbances were linked to a viral video showing the teenagers, between 14 and 19 years old, challenging law enforcement…
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Myanmar earthquake shakes multiple districts in Chiang Rai
An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale rocked large parts of Chiang Rai, with tremors strong enough to jolt desks, rattle ceiling tiles and set computer screens quivering. Natthawut Dandee, Deputy Director General of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), confirmed the quake struck at 3.06pm yesterday, July 14, originating 10 kilometres underground in neighbouring Myanmar. The epicentre was located…
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Long-lost ‘Forest sea star’ plant stuns scientists in Thailand
A rare plant thought to have vanished from the face of the Earth has emerged like a botanical ghost, shocking scientists with its return after more than a century in hiding deep within Thailand’s rainforests. Botanists worldwide are celebrating the extraordinary rediscovery of Heterostemma brownii Hayata, also known as the Forest Sea Star. Part of the milkweed family (Apocynaceae), this…
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Udon Thani woman scammed by fake dentist out of 1 million baht
A 34 year old woman from a veterinary hospital in Udon Thani has fallen victim to a scam, losing nearly 1 million baht. The fraudster posed as a charming dentist, luring her into investing in luxury goods through an app. Initially engaging in friendly conversation, the scammer eventually persuaded her to invest, resulting in a loss of 849,500 baht. Anna…
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Brawling cat impaled on fence sparks Udon Thani rescue
A cat found itself impaled on a fence after a night of fighting, prompting a rescue operation in Udon Thani. At 12.45pm yesterday, July 10, rescue volunteers from the Thammasat Foundation were called to help a cat trapped on a fence in Mueang Udon Thani district. The incident occurred on a fence approximately 3 metres high, located in a residential area…
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Foul play: Buriram village choked by giant chicken farm nightmare
A once-tranquil village in Buriram has been plunged into misery as a sprawling chicken farm turns daily life into a living hell. Residents of Ban Khok Wan, in Nang Rong district, say their community is overwhelmed by noxious odours, swarms of flies, and the constant roar of heavy trucks thundering through the night. Today, July 9, locals and members of…
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Chiang Rai man claims worms emerge from skin after forest visit
A Thai man in the northern province of Chiang Rai sought help after discovering unidentified insects, resembling worms, emerging from his skin. The 59 year old man in the Mae Chan district contacted rescuers from the Thap Yang Foundation, hoping they could assist him in finding a proper treatment for the strange symptoms he was experiencing. The man told rescuers…
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Thai officer accused of land encroachment on self-help settlement
Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) requested police action regarding an alleged land encroachment involving a prominent police officer in Ubon Ratchathani. Police Senior Sergeant Major Yutthaphon Srisompong, popularly known online as “Johnny the Enforcer,” owns a resort in Lam Dom Noi. The land on which the resort is built has been designated by the ministry as…
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Gambling despair: Buriram student drowns after losing savings
A night of heartbreak ended in tragedy when a 21 year old university student leapt into a canal and drowned after losing his savings to online gambling. The harrowing incident unfolded yesterday, July 4, in Buriram municipality. Police Lieutenant Suphot Tukkraok was alerted to the drowning and immediately coordinated with the Buriram rescue diving team to search for the young…
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RTAF helicopter makes emergency landing on school field
It was a day the children of Roi Et will never forget—when a roaring Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) helicopter swooped out of a stormy sky and touched down right on their school field. The drama unfolded on Thursday afternoon, July 3, at Ban Kham Pha-Ung School, Pracharat Bamrung, in Pho Chai district. According to the school’s official social media…
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Ubon Ratchathani police arrest 4 for violent assault on woman
Police in Ubon Ratchathani apprehended four men on charges related to a violent assault involving a 65 year old woman. The suspects allegedly attacked the woman with an iron object during a dispute. Police Lieutenant General Wathana Yijeen, commander of Region 3, and Police Major General Patiyut Singsamorot of the Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Police, announced the arrest of 27 year…
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River on the rampage: Chiang Rai braces for dangerous floods
Chiang Rai residents were jolted awake by urgent phone alerts today as local officials warned the Sai River was set to burst its banks, threatening to inundate homes and businesses across four communities. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) confirmed that water levels have been steadily climbing at monitoring stations in Myanmar’s Jotada and near Thailand’s 1st Friendship…
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Jealous ex-soldier guns down love rival in Phitsanulok attack
A jealous ex-soldier turned a quiet evening into a scene of horror when he stormed into a Phitsanulok home and gunned down his ex-wife’s new husband in a fit of rage. The shocking incident unfolded at 8pm yesterday, July 2, in Ban Nakham, Mueang Ban Yang, Wat Bot district. Police are now on a manhunt for the armed fugitive who…
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Google accused of ‘fake maps’ in Thailand-Cambodia temple spat
A fresh row has erupted over ancient ruins straddling the Thai-Cambodian border, after the Royal Thai Army (RTA) slammed Google Maps for allegedly “misleading the world” about the true ownership of the historic Ta Muen Thom temple. The RTA insists the ancient site in Surin province belongs to Thailand and blasted the popular mapping service for showing it as Cambodian territory.…
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Helicopter tail number sparks lottery frenzy in Udon Thani
A helicopter landing in Udon Thani has sent lottery fever into overdrive, with residents betting on a number they believe will lead them to fortune. Excitement is mounting in Udon Thani as lottery enthusiasts eagerly await today’s draw, all eyes on the tail number of a helicopter that has taken the town by storm. The focus is on the army…
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Thailand sends team to Myanmar for Kok River pollution talks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to dispatch an expert team next week to engage with Myanmar officials regarding arsenic contamination in the Kok River. This decision follows Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa’s recent Facebook post, addressing questions raised to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra about water quality issues during her visit to Chiang Rai. Maris highlighted that water pollution has…
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PM Shinawatra orders swift flood relief for Chiang Rai residents
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Phaya Mengrai district in Chiang Rai yesterday, June 28, instructing immediate relief for residents affected by flooding. Although water levels have decreased by over 80%, many residents still face challenges due to a lack of essential resources. PM Paetongtarn’s visit to Chiang Rai included assessments of the flood-hit areas, accompanied by Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat…
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Flash floods devastate Chiang Rai: Homes and farmland destroyed
Chiang Rai province is reeling from catastrophic flooding after continuous heavy rainfall last night and this morning. Flash floods and mountain runoff have wreaked havoc across several districts, with Phaya Mengrai and Wiang Chai hit the hardest. The torrential downpours caused rivers of rainwater to cascade rapidly from the mountains, flooding low-lying areas and causing water levels to surge unexpectedly.…
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Bangkok Airways cancels flights to Lampang and Mae Hong Son
Bangkok Airways announced the temporary suspension of its flights between Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Lampang starting from October 26. This decision, which has left many passengers concerned, also affects the route between Bangkok and Mae Hong Son, which will be suspended from July 1. The airline revealed that the suspensions are due to fleet maintenance and commercial considerations, though it reassured passengers that alternative options would still be available. Despite the…
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Cambodian man dies in storm drain fishing tragedy
A Cambodian man’s tragic death in a storm drain has prompted a warning against fishing in such locations. The 33 year old, identified as Chuean Ra, also known as Yao, was found dead yesterday, June 24, after being trapped for 72 hours in a drain at a water treatment station in Nakhon Ratchasima. On June 22, rescue services received a…
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Thai military may close Surin temple amid border tensions
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday that local military commanders may advise the closure of Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province if tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border escalate. The temple, along with the nearby Prasat Ta Kwai, has become a focal point in the ongoing border disagreement. Recently, there were complaints from Thai citizens regarding inappropriate behaviour by Cambodian…
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DSI appeals to Frenchman for unsolved 2007 murder of Japanese woman
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking the cooperation of a foreign national, believed to be a Frenchman, who may hold key information in the unsolved murder case of a Japanese woman in Sukhothai, which occurred 18 years ago. The victim, 27 year old Tomoko Kawashita, was found dead at the historic Saphan Hin Temple in Sukhothai on November…
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Fisheries boost monitoring amid toxic fears in Thai rivers
The Department of Fisheries is intensifying its monitoring efforts on aquatic life in the Sai and Kok Rivers due to concerns about toxic contamination. The Department of Fisheries has expanded its inspection sites from four to 22, covering high-risk areas in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Recent tests on over 12 species of freshwater fish showed most were in good…
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Death penalty call: Activists accuse PM over leaked tape
Two fiery political activists have filed explosive charges against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, claiming she committed acts so severe they could carry the death penalty. The complaint was lodged on Thursday at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station by anti-corruption campaigners Tul Prasertsilp and Chaichana Tasaniyom. The duo accused the prime minister of breaching multiple sections of Thailand’s Criminal Code over…
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Earthquake tremors hit Mae Hong Son, 5 quakes strike Myanmar
A series of tremors rocked Mae Hong Son yesterday morning, as a 1.9-magnitude earthquake hit the region, while neighbouring Myanmar experienced five separate quakes, including one minor tremor and four microquakes. The Meteorological Department of Thailand reported that the quake in Mae Hong Son occurred at 10.53am yesterday, June 18, with its epicentre located in Mae Na Toeng subdistrict, Pai district.…
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