News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Slow loris recovering from electrocution in Phuket
PHUKET: A slow loris was rescued and placed under the care of veterinarians after being electrocuted in Thalang Friday evening. “It seems the creature got lost while trying to find food and was electrocuted after climbing onto electric wires near the Ban Pa Krong Cheep School. He is fatigued and has suffered some burns,” said Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker Virat…
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Man survives road crash by jumping out of moving truck
PHUKET:A truck driver survived an early morning crash after he jumped out of his truck before it ran into a roadside barrier and trees on the Bypass Road yesterday morning. The incident took place in front of the Premium Outlet. “The driver, 24-year-old Bunlung Issara, told us that he was on his way back to Surat Thani after making a…
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One killed, several Chinese tourists injured in bus crash on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A motorbike driver died instantly last night when her head was crushed by a ‘broken down’ tour bus. The incident, which also sent more than 30 “shocked and moaning” Chinese passengers aboard the bus to hospital, occurred as the two vehicles descended Patong Hill westbound. The fatality, Ms Rattana Sukpisal, 44, had a passenger with her on the bike.…
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Chinese tourists, mahout injured in falls from elephants
PHUKET: Two Elephants went wild over a barking dog in Phuket yesterday, injuring three Chinese tourists and a mahout (elephant tender). Vachira Hospital received a report of the incident at about 9:30am, then asked rescue workers to send three ambulances to the elephant camp in Chalong. A total of five people were hurt, four tourists and the mahout leading the…
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Gov announces plans to relaunch moribund Phuket Gateway
PHUKET: The Phuket governor has announced plans to renovate and re-brand the ‘Phuket Gateway’ as a tourist landmark by converting it into a shopping outlet selling Phuket-based products. Governor Norraphat Plodthong yesterday held a meeting with relevant officers to discuss the plans. The Phuket Gateway was built by the OrBorJor in 2006 as a ‘tourist center’ featuring a meeting room,…
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Deputy PM kicks off tourist safety drill in Phuket
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Third Area Command held its annual rescue and safety drill for tourists at the Marine National Park Operations Center yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Thanasak Patimaprakorn and Vice Admiral Surapol Koobtapun from RTN 3 presided over the ceremony. The drill was held in coordination with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation…
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American tourist badly injured in rock climbing fall
KRABI: Another tourist, this time an American, has been seriously injured while rock climbing in Phuket’s neighboring Krabi province. At about 2pm, a rescue team and the Krabi Tourist Police received a report from the ‘Railay Rock Climbing Club’ that American tourist Eduardo Keane had fallen off a viewpoint from the near-vertical cliff face at Railay Bay. “Mr Keane is…
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ATM skimming: Two more Chinese tourists arrested
PHUKET: Two Chinese ATM skimmers were arrested in the act of installing their equipment at an ATM in Thalang yesterday afternoon. “The suspects, Chaopeng Zhou, 30, and Qihong Zhou, 24, were nabbed in front of a 7/11 in Baan Lipon on Thepkrasattri Road northbound,” says Lt Col Natthaphop Phongsapan of Thalang Police. Officers seized two pieces of skimming equipment, four…
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Minister hammers Phuket Airport, alleging that women are allowed to touch monks
PHUKET: Phuket Airport Director Phet Chan-charoen made a statement yesterday after mass circulation Thai Rath newspaper reported that an unnamed ex-minster is criticizing the airport for allowing female security staff to use hand-held metal detectors to search monks, instead of strictly limiting that process to male inspectors. “We have investigated the incident. It occurred on May 1 when a monk…
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Army soldiers and Phuket police raid 16 massage parlors at Poonpol Night Plaza
PHUKET: Following an order by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong, a ‘task force’ of 100 police and soldiers raided 16 massage venues in and near Poonpol Night Plaza last night. The raids were led by Capt Bhavorn Promkeawngam. The purpose of the operation was to suppress illicit behavior, including possession of drugs, working without a permit and human trafficking. Police say…
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Phuket International airport under fire for filthy, stinking toilets
PHUKET: Well known Thai actor Krirkphol Masayavanich has taken to Facebook to tell airport management that he’s not happy their toilets. Translated from Thai, the complaint reads: “The toilets [at the airport] are in serious need of attention. So dirty and stink terribly. I can’t even take a [xxit]!” Many comments under the post agree with him. Recently appointed Airport…
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Rape escape: Phone call aborts rape of Phuket woman two months pregnant
PHUKET: A chance incoming phone call saved a two-month pregnant woman from being raped yesterday afternoon in her rental room in Phuket. The loud ring panicked the rapist who then fled. “After receiving a report from the victim’s boyfriend, we arrived at the scene at about 4pm. It was a rental room in Soi Pracha in Wichit district. The girl,…
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Double trouble for thief arrested in Phuket Town
PHUKET: A Phuket man who stole a motorbike and Buddhist artifacts, in two separate crimes, in order to buy drugs was arrested yesterday by Phuket City police. Following a June 14 complaint by a Ms Sopee Koodkrai, 51, that her motorbike had been stolen in front of her house in Phuket Town, the police located CCTV footage showing a male…
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Forestry and Wildlife officers on Koh Lanta seize 100 rai of violated land
KRABI: Department of Forestry and allied officials yesterday seized about 100 rai of Koh Lanta land that had been encroached upon by parties they characterized as ‘too powerful, unfazed by law and willing to threaten authorities with death’. More than 30 officials from several departments participated in the take-back, led by Wildlife Conservation Department head Sawat Suksiri. “Locals reported to…
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Good Thai-Myanmar relations highlighted at border management meeting in Phuket
PHUKET: The 31st meeting of the Thai Myanmar Regional Border Committee (RBC) was held at Patong Resort & Spa this morning to solve border problems and strengthen relationships. “In the past, Thailand and Myanmar have always helped each other to deal with border problems, and the purpose of this meeting today was to ensure continued cooperation for stability. Most importantly,…
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Phuket Crime: French tourist latest victim of ladyboy theft at Patong Beach
PHUKET: Patong police yesterday arrested a ladyboy who stole an iPhone from a French tourist on Patong beach. “Mr Montree Srijantra, 24, was arrested near the Paris Star guesthouse in Patong following a complaint by the tourist,” said Capt Jarun Jaisuntud of Patong Police. “On June 19, we received a report from Mr Marcel Sawcho that his iPhone 6 was…
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Phuket teenaged delinquents in riot at juvenile observation center
PHUKET: A group of 12 juvenile delinquents wreaked havoc at the Phuket Juvenile Observation and Protection Center (JOPC) at Saphan Hin yesterday afternoon, causing major damage there. At about 3:30pm, the Phuket City Police were called in to control the situation. The call came from JOPC Director Rawee Kuhapimook. “The riot was in the canteen, where 12 of the teens…
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Phuket soldier killed yesterday by bomb in Pattani honored, buried here this morning
PHUKET: At 11:30am yesterday (June 19), a car bomb in Pattani province killed 6 soldiers, including a Phuket man whose body arrived here late last night. Phuket Vice Governor Sanit Sriwihok and related officials honored the arrival of the body of Pvt Kittipong Bornar, 23, which traveled by car in a parade to honor the hero. “I feel deep sorrow…
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Phuket’s Mai Khao Beach disgraced in social media
PHUKET: Governor Norraphat Plodthong is demanding fast action from officials in Sirinat National Park over a stream of complaints from tourists and local villagers about an accumulation of ‘huge’ amounts of trash on the beach at the threshold to the runway at Phuket International Airport. Access to that stretch of beach is through Soi Mai Khao 4, next to the…
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Erection of fence angers Phuket market vendors on Koh Siray
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad held a meeting at Provincial Hall yesterday over an erection on Koh Siray of a fence that is alleged to have damaged the income of vendors in a local market. At the meeting, among others, were concerned officials, vendor leader Sontaya Chulpum, and a representative of Siam Dock Yard Co (SDYC) who had installed…
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Phuket police nab, charge man selling drugs to teenagers
PHUKET: A man from Sukhothai has been apprehended and charged with selling drugs to teenagers in Phuket. The arrest of Nawareuk Lekam, 35, was announced yesterday by Capt Amphon Samorthai of the border patrol police. The arrest occurred in front of a shop on Phuket’s Pattana Rd on June 15. “We learned from local police patrols that Mr Nawareuk had…
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Opinion: Medical Certificates – Who’s Fooling Whom?
PHUKET: As part of its ongoing reforms, the current government should revise or eliminate the Medical Certificate (bai raprawng phaet) as a requirement in so many government application procedures. In the process of renewing his work permit, this editorialist was recently handed a form citing, among numerous other documentary requirements, “a medical certificate certifying that the applicant is free from…
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Half a million baht worth of goods confiscated in Phuket raid
PHUKET: A Patong raid led to half a million baht’s worth of pirated goods being seized from 19 shops this morning. “After learning from our source that there were many shops selling pirated goods in Patong, we took teams of officers to the area for inspection. The shop owners managed to escape the scene as soon as we arrived,” said…
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Officials try to curb growing numbers of beggars in Phuket
PHUKET: Officials are trying to counter the increasing numbers of beggars in Phuket, particularly in Rawai. Phuket Vice Governor Siwaporn Chuasawad yesterday held a meeting with concerned officials and sea gypsy representatives to discuss ideas and solutions after a growing number of sea gypsy children were seen pestering tourists for money. “We have been informed by Rawai residents that a…
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Thailand receives ranking upgrade for combating IUU fishing
PHUKET: The European Commission has formally upgraded Thailand’s fisheries ranking, citing the Kingdom’s efforts to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing over the past two years. Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, announced the news during a ‘Point of Contact’ marine resources conference with Andaman officials at Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday.…
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Technician injured from electric shock in Phuket
PHUKET: A 24-year-old man was injured from an electric shock after he accidentally stepped on a wire while fixing an electronic display sign in Kamala this morning. “The incident occurred in front of Tesco Lotus. The sign was located above a 7/11 store. Rescue workers climbed up a ladder to bring him down,” said Capt Chatchawan Poonaruemit of Kamala Police.…
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Phuket police issue warning against ‘belt guns’
PHUKET: Police have issued a warning about ‘belt guns’ after another drug dealer was caught in possession of one last week. Capt Kraisorn Boonprasob of Thalang Police yesterday held a press conference to display the weapon and warn against its potential dangers. The gun and bullets were seized from Bundit Chaiwandud, 38, who was charged with possession of category 5…
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Phuket gov announces improvement plans at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has announced plans to boost security protocols at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint to ensure that no illegal substances are being smuggled in or out of Phuket. The governor unveiled his plans during a meeting with relevant officers at the Mai Khao OrBorTor office yesterday. “The final improvement plans have already been laid out. Some of…
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Teenaged tourist drowns, four others rescued on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Another Chinese tourist drowned and four others were rescued at Phuket beaches in two days, prompting the Phuket Governor to urge officials to find better safety solutions for tourists. The governor was present at the scene when the body of an 18-year-old Chinese tourist, Wei Peixin, washed up at Kamala Beach this morning after rescue workers were unable to…
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Aussie, Argentinian hospitalized after Krabi rock climbing accident
PHUKET: Two tourists were rescued but suffered serious injuries after falling off a cliff while rock climbing in Krabi yesterday. The accident occurred while climbing a cliff between Ao Ton Sai and Ao Pai Plong. Rescue teams, including tourist police, marine police and Nopparat National Park officers, went in search of them after the mishap was reported. Australian national Thomas…
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