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 What’s not covered by health insurance in Thailand?
Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...
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Phetchabun karaoke bar raided for suspected child exploitation, owner arrested
Police conducted a raid on a karaoke bar in Phetchabun, arresting a 39 years old woman, for allegedly running a service offering underage girls catering to customers’ pleasures. The bar, advertised under the Facebook account E ลำยองโอ้ลั้นล้า, allegedly allowed teenagers under 18 years old to engage with customers in a salacious manner. The bar raid was conducted as part of…
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Nearly extinct Eastern Sarus Crane eggs discovered in rice field
In a significant win for wildlife conservation, eggs of the Eastern Sarus Crane – also known as Thai Cranes – were found in a rice field adjacent to the Huai Talat Reservoir Non-Hunting Area in the Mueang district of Buriram, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The cranes were believed to be mostly extinct…
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Pick-up truck wrecks government-owned rest spot in Nakhon Ratchasima
A pick-up truck driver lost control of his vehicle, causing a multi-flip crash, which ultimately led to the destruction of a state pavilion in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Given the severity of the crash, an investigation was immediately launched to ascertain the circumstances around the incident, which occurred earlier today. Responding to the incident were officers from the Phimai police station,…
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InterContinental attends funeral for hotel employee’s mum after denying leave request
The InterContinental Khao Yai Resort in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district expressed its condolences and empathy towards a former staff member whose mother died. But after they denied her leave – a move that went viral – the hotel management attended the funeral of the employee’s mother. Is it a change of heart, or a desperate bid to look caring…
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British TikToker praises Thai gas man’s effort to master the English language
A British Tiktoker shared a video of a Thai gas attendant and applauded his dedication to improving his English communication skills. The British teacher, Dan Thomas, took to TikTok under the handle scootinthailand last Sunday, August 13, to share a video of the gas station attendant with a caption in Thai saying… “Greatly appreciated! I would like to encourage everyone…
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Major drug dealer killed in Thai police operation: 233 meth pills found on body
A notorious drug dealer yesterday met a violent end at his abode in the Mae Tha district of Lamphun province. Police closed in on the house hoping to execute an arrest warrant only to encounter gunfire from the suspect who tried to make a daring escape. At approximately 4.30pm, Police Lieutenant Colonal Sampran Janmangkang, chief of Tha Khat Police Station,…
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Man kidnaps and murders 5 year old boy in Chiang Mai
Police arrested a man who kidnapped a five year old boy from a school in the northern province of Chiang Mai and murdered him. The claimed motive behind the murder was revenge after a romantic relationship ended. A 30 year old man filed a complaint at Meuang Chiang Mai Police Station on Tuesday after his five year old son went…
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Missing man’s skeletal remains found in submerged pickup truck in Buriram pond
Villagers in Buriram irrigating their paddy fields were shocked when they came across the tail end of a pickup truck submerged in a large pond. Skeletal human remains were found inside the vehicle, now identified as a missing 47 year old man who disappeared almost a year and a half earlier. Yesterday, reports emerged about a startling discovery in the…
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Two young boys severely injured by menacing hanging wire trap
A 14 year old boy and his eight year old cousin sustained severe injuries after getting tangled in a hanging wire on their way home. One boy’s 35 year old mother Namjai Sa Lee detailed the horrific incident, which occurred in Mahapho, Kao Liao district, Nakhon Sawan on July 29. The two boys were knocked off a motorcycle by the…
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Heartbreaking child abuse: Thai parents’ cruelty leaves 5 year old unable to walk or learn
A distressing case of child abuse has come to light, involving a five year old boy victimised by his parents. The severity of the abuse has left the boy with incapacitating injuries, preventing him from both walking and attending school. The boy’s grandfather has assumed the responsibility of bringing his school assignments to their home in Ban Nongai Phatthana, Udon…
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Snake charms monks: Unusual temple encounter in northern Thailand
In an unusual incident, over 500 monks peacefully gave way to a green snake that slithered into their temple meeting, ultimately cohabiting the space until the gathering’s conclusion in northern Thailand. The intriguing episode unfolded in a shared clip on social media at the Wat Jampa Temple in the Prakhon Chai district of Buriram province. The monks were convening for…
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Wild elephant herd caught on camera in Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary
The northeastern province of Buriram recently witnessed the majestic sight of a herd of 12 wild elephants within the lush confines of the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary. The herd was captured on video through state-of-the-art automated cameras strategically positioned by local wildlife officials, meant to record and safeguard the diverse range of flora and fauna thriving within the sanctuary. Somsuan…
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RTN officer shoots woman, sexually harasses another at Chiang Rai grocery store
Police arrested a former Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officer who shot one woman and sexually harassed another woman at a local grocery in the northern province of Chiang Rai. The suspect shocked the community after saying he could kill anybody because he was a former RTN officer. Chaing Khong Police officers rushed to the incident scene at the grocery store in…
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Rolled dice: Police shuffled as casino thrives under their watch in Chiang Mai
Five police officers were transferred for recklessness after allowing gambling dens to operate under their noses following a Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) raid at the 89 CLUB Casino, in Chiang Mai province. The raid was conducted following a complaint filed by the Ministry of Interior. A resident urged the ministry to investigate a casino in Chiang Mai where over…
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Korat Candle Procession 66 event upstaged by scene-stealing cat
The grand candle parade attraction, “Korat Candle Procession 66,” recently left onlookers delighted by an unexpected scene stealer. A cat, inadvertently defying the event queue, nabbed the spotlight, prompting a wave of amused social media attention. The celebration “Korat Candle Procession 66” recently took place at the Suranaree Monument, located in Nakhon Ratchasima’s city centre, and concluded on August 1.…
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Sisaket Hospital probes alleged sabotage of patient data to sell backup software for 3 million baht
The Director of the Sisaket Hospital has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate claims that patient data was deleted, causing the entire Hospital Information System (HIS) to crash in northeastern Thailand. Allegedly, this sabotage was part of a reckless attempt to sell backup software for 3 million baht (US$87,387). If proven true, it signifies alarming corruption within the…
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Panda Arena badminton court stokes controversy with MFP colour-coded promotions and political bans
Panda Arena badminton court, situated in the northern Uttaradit province, sparked controversy by offering a promotion to anyone wearing an orange shirt, in support of the Move Forward Party (MFP). The Panda Arena made known that those wearing orange can play on the courts for free for two hours. Interestingly, it has cautioned against wearing red shirts, expressing disgust at…
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Tragedy in northern Thailand as durian picker loses life in perilous hillside fall
An incident in northern Thailand left locals in a state of shock, highlighting the dangers endured by durian pickers navigating treacherous terrain. Tragedy struck a community when a woman lost her life and her devastated son could do nothing but grieve. The disaster unfolded within a durian orchard in Laplae district, situated on the challenging hillside terrains of the northern…
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MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat hailed as politician of the year in E-Saan Poll
The leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP) was hailed politician of the year according to an E-Saan Poll. The survey was compiled by the E-Saan Centre for Business and Economic Research (ECBER) of the Faculty of Management Science, Khon Kaen University, in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen. The annual “Rewards of E-Saan” poll aims to gauge the sentiments…
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Myanmar labourers killed in Tak road crash: Illegal worker transportation suspected
A severe road accident in the northern Tak province claimed the lives of five labourers from Myanmar and left 12 others wounded. The crash took place at Tak main city junction on Phahonyothin Road today at 4am. The collision was between a six-wheeled Isuzu truck, registration 74-4144 Samut Prakan, and a Toyota pickup truck with the registration plate บล4295 Kamphaeng…
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Dazed son found in Uthai Thani after bizarre dragon fruit incident
Reports yesterday emerged of a bewildering vanishment and an unforeseen rescue from Uthai Thani province. A 58 year old man made contact with local rescue authorities to inform them that his 29 year old son had gone missing in their village in Thong Luang, Huay Khot district, Uthai Thani. The missing man’s father, Boonthum, relayed what transpired before Vichit’s sudden…
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Thai welder’s good fortune presage triggers trend of attracting harmless bees
In an intriguing incident in Phayao province, a welder managed to attract a swarm of bees without being stung. It is a folk belief that such an event can presage fortune and good luck for the individual involved. The incident sparked a trend among locals, eager to tempt their fate, as they marvel at these harmless bee swarms. The welder…
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School minibus crash: Vehicle flips in horror on Thai highway, multiple injuries
A school minibus crashed today into the back of a pickup truck, resulting in the vehicle flipping over onto its side and injuring several male and female students. The school minibus crash occurred on Jarod Withi Thong Road, National Highway 12, between Tak-Sukhothai markers 102 and 101, in the Num Reum sub-district of Tak province. Officers from Tak Municipal Police…
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Harbour hubbub: Nakhon Phanom office sinks in sand scandal, draining Thai govt’s revenue
In one of its latest controversies, the Harbour Office at Nakhon Phanom is allegedly involved in illicit aid towards sand dredging business owners, causing significant revenue loss to the Thai government. A leaked conversation reportedly revealed that the Harbour director purportedly leveraged legal loopholes to aid the said business owners by contravening sand dredging regulations in the Mekong River. Reporters…
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Thailand hit by 5.0 magnitude Myanmar quake, tremors felt in north
Last night saw an earthquake of 5.0 magnitude in Myanmar, causing areas in Thailand to experience the tremors. The districts affected, as revealed by the Meteorological Department, were in Chiang Rai and some of its neighbouring areas. The information about the event was brought to light by the Earthquake Observation Division of the department. They made public today that the…
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Divine inferno: Temple fire causes 10 million baht damage, monk injured
Tragedy struck in the early hours of this morning as a fire ripped through Khlong Wat Rai temple, a religious edifice located in Bang Rakam district, Phitsanulok province. The vicious blaze, which sparked at around 3am, reduced the primary sermon building and ten adjacent accommodations reserved for monks to cinders. The abbot of the temple, Pairote Sunthornkit monk, reported the…
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Chiang Rai couple arrested over 24 million baht investment fraud
A couple involved in an investment scam in Chiang Rai has been apprehended. The husband, a 36 year old former government official turned investment advisor, and his 37 year old wife, are accused of defrauding investors out of 24 million baht (US$672,457) through their company K1FX Trader Club. The arrests followed a warrant issued by the Nakhon Pathom court after…
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Residents relive late-night tremors as earthquake strikes Phitsanulok and Phichit (video)
Early this morning, an earthquake of magnitude 4.5 sent shudders through the provinces of Phitsanulok and Phichit. The Thai Meteorological Department reported the seismic event occurred at 12.17am, with Phitsanulok’s Bang Krathum district identified as the quake’s epicentre. The quake was detected 5 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface. Residents from several areas within the provinces experienced the tremor. Quick to…
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Motorcyclist survives 40 metre fall near Doi Khun Tan
A motorcyclist survived a 40 metre fall near Doi Khun Tan National Park. He recounted the terrifying experience of plunging in the early hours of this morning due to stopping by the roadside. At around 2am today, police and rescue teams from Hang Chat sub-district received a report of a man injured in a deep ravine beside a road near…
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Dengue outbreak hits Thai village with over 100 cases, ranking second nationwide
A severe dengue outbreak has hit Thailand’s northern Nan province, with over 100 cases reported in a single village. Ranking second in Thailand for the highest number of dengue patients, health officials are stepping up efforts to control the spread of the disease. Dr. Warin Teppitaksak, the provincial public health officer, revealed that the dengue outbreak situation in Nan province…
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