South Thailand News
Southern Thailand news, Phuket news, Koh Samui news, and Krabi updates—stay informed on business, tourism, and local events from Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Southern Thailand news source.
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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Thai Porsche driver kills motorcyclist and tries to silence victim’s family
A Porsche driver crashed into and killed a female motorcyclist in the southern province of Songkhla, later allegedly threatening the victim’s family to abandon legal proceedings. The 38 year old Thai man, Supachai Suwannarat, appealed to ThaiRath to help him seek justice for his wife, Thong-uraiwan Phramana. Thong-uraiwan was killed in a car accident on Kanchana Wanit Road in Mueang…
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Man dies from electrocution climbing tower in southern Thailand
A 29 year old man died after being electrocuted while climbing a high-voltage power transmission tower in Chaloem Phra Kiat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, southern Thailand. Emergency services rushed to the scene in Thang Phun subdistrict around midday today, June 10, after receiving reports of a man in distress near a 230,000-volt transmission line. Upon arrival, rescue teams discovered the…
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Pattani police hunt suspects after twin bombings in night market (video)
Security officials are actively searching for two people suspected of orchestrating the bombings in downtown Pattani at the weekend. A device detonated in front of a night market at approximately 8.05pm, Saturday, June 7, followed by another explosion in a nearby alley between the Santisook and Palace hotels around five minutes later, according to Pattani Police Major General Santhas Chueaputtarn.…
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Thai man and son arrested over murder of woman in rubber plantation
Police arrested a Thai man and his son for conspiring in the murder of a woman at a rubber plantation in the southern province of Songkhla today. The 52 year old victim, Prathum, was found dead in the plantation in the Saba Yoi district of Songkhla at approximately 1am yesterday, June 8. She sustained two major cut wounds to the…
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Monster rains, surging seas and storm warnings slam Thailand
Thailand is bracing for more rain and isolated heavy downpours, with the lower central region — including Bangkok — along with the east and south facing the highest risk, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD)’s latest warning. The weather office said a moderate monsoon trough is moving south across the north, northeast, and upper central regions into a low-pressure…
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Local legend and lingerie: Thais honour island goddess with bra offerings
A group of Thai people fulfilled their vows to a goddess on Koh Nom Sao, the colloquial term roughly translating to Young Women’s Breasts Island, in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan by offering bras. Sumate Charoensuk, President of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) committee of Sam Roi Yot Sub-district, shared details of the unique offerings with several news…
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Missing Dane found safe with new girlfriend in South Thailand
A 59 year old Danish man, who was feared to be a victim of foul play after losing contact with his family and having his Facebook page mysteriously deleted, has been found safe and happy in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand. It turns out, Brian Dilling Pedersen had simply been living it up with his new girlfriend, completely…
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Bus operators fight back against Phatthalung road ban
Bus operators in Thailand’s southern provinces are fuming over a new ban that restricts them from using the Phatthalung-Trang route, which runs through the Khao Phap Pha mountain. The controversial decision sparked outrage among double-decker bus operators, who are demanding that the Transport Ministry and Land Transport Department review the ban for safety reasons. Around 100 operators took to the…
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Thailand seeks 12m baht over coral reef damage by cargo ship
Thailand is pursuing compensation of at least 12 million baht after a Myanmar cargo ship, the MV Ayar Linn, ran aground on a coral reef in Mu Koh Surin National Park, Phang Nga, causing significant environmental damage. On June 1, the vessel was discovered lodged on a coral reef in Ao Jak Bay, according to Athapol Charoenshunsa, Director General of…
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Danish man’s Thai-mare: Missing dad feared caught in honeytrap
A Danish man has mysteriously vanished in southern Thailand after meeting a much younger woman he’d connected with online, sparking fears he’s fallen victim to an extortion plot. Brian Dilling Pedersen was last heard from on May 28 after a string of increasingly disturbing messages and a chilling final call in which he whispered, “I am afraid; they are many;…
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Over 10 assailants attack Narathiwat Police Station with M60s
Over 10 armed assailants launched an attack on the Chanae Police Station in Narathiwat using two M60 machine guns, as revealed by the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 9. The violent incident saw 30 year old Sergeant Major Abdullor Makaseng, bravely respond to the attack but was fatally shot. Meanwhile, 33 year old Police Lance Corporal Jesada Promrat, sustained severe…
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Thai police helicopter crash sparks corruption allegations
A friend of a police officer who died in a helicopter crash in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan claimed that a lack of maintenance caused the incident, while a Facebook page raised suspicions of corruption. The Bell 212 Twin Huey helicopter, operated by the Royal Thai Police (RTP), crashed near Nong Phang Phuai Temple in Koh Lak sub-district,…
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Drunk foreign BMW driver crashes in Phang Nga, tries to bribe police
A drunk BMW driver crashed into a road construction vehicle and a local’s car in the southern province of Phang Nga on Sunday, May 26, before attempting to bribe police officers to avoid legal consequences. Phuket Times reported that the accident occurred on the Khok Kloi–Phuket Road, near the Khok Kloi Bus Terminal, at 11.25am yesterday. The foreign couple in…
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Thai man dies in failed bomb attack on ex-girlfriend’s home
A Thai man died in an explosion after attempting to bomb the house of his ex-girlfriend in the southern province of Surat Thani yesterday, May 25. The explosion occurred at a residence in the Tha Chana district of Surat Thani at around 8am. The 34 year old man, Surapong Thongnark, was pronounced dead at the scene, while three others sustained…
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South Thailand gang forced man to swallow bullet over debt
Police in South Thailand have identified a gang responsible for violently forcing a 29 year old man to swallow a bullet in exchange for a reduced gambling debt. The incident took place in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, drawing ire from many online users due to its audacious nature. Yesterday, May 25, in a joint investigation by senior officers from Region…
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Thai government advances peace initiative in deep south
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has concluded the initial stage of the government’s peace initiative, which seeks to balance security, economic, and peace efforts in Thailand’s deep south. Phumtham has conducted several visits, engaging with senior defence and security officials to mediate peace in the region. During these visits, he met frontline workers, including local administrators, police…
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Ranger surrenders after shooting colleague in Pattani
A ranger has surrendered after shooting a colleague from the 4215th Ranger Company, part of the 42nd Ranger Task Force, in Panare district, Pattani province. The incident occurred around 10pm yesterday, May 21, when a water pump malfunction prompted the soldiers to inspect it outside their base. Before leaving the base to inspect the pump, Pongdet Nananuksuk and Sarawut Kaewjanarit…
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New endangered tree species discovered in South Thailand
A rare tree species has been discovered deep in the wetlands of South Thailand, yet it’s already fighting for survival. Thai researchers have uncovered a brand-new species of tree in Surat Thani province, in what’s being hailed as a major botanical breakthrough. Dubbed “Tharathum,” a poetic blend of the Thai words for water (thara) and tree (tham), the plant was discovered growing…
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Thai man fatally attacks ex-lover after alleged failed rape attempt
A Thai man reportedly lured his ex-lover to a reservoir in Phatthalung province, where he allegedly attempted to rape her and then fatally attacked her. Sutima, a 42 year old friend of the victim, found 52 year old Malee in critical condition on the ridge of Khao Hua Chang Reservoir on May 20. Malee suffered severe facial and head injuries,…
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Missing durian vendor reappears safely, declines to go home
A Thai female durian vendor from the southern province of Surat Thani, who was reported missing on Saturday, May 17, appeared at a police station to confirm her safety and revealed that she simply needed a peaceful getaway. The 43 year old vendor, Sujittra, also known as Jay Kaew, was last seen around 8pm on Saturday, after finishing work at…
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Missing durian vendor believed safe after CCTV footage emerges
Police assure that a female durian seller, who went missing in the southern province of Surat Thani, is safe, despite her family’s growing concern. The family of 43 year old missing durian vendor Sujittra, also known as Jay Kaew, filed a complaint with Mueang Surat Thani Police Station after she failed to return home at her usual time on May…
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Thai girl rescued after being pimped out by mother and aunt
The Pavena Foundation for Children and Women and police officers rescued a 13 year old girl who was pimped out by her biological mother and aunt in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan. The teenage victim confided in her father on April 26 after she successfully escaped from her abusive mother in Prachuap Khiri Khan to live with him in…
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Thai paratrooper cheats death as parachute fails mid-air (video)
A Thai paratrooper had a brush with death after his parachute failed to open mid-air, in a terrifying training mishap that was caught on camera by a shocked jogger nearby. The heart-stopping incident unfolded at around 4.30pm, yesterday, May 19, when soldiers from the 4th Army’s Sichon Special Warfare Training Camp were performing an annual parachute jump at Vajiravudh Military…
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Tragic shooting in Pattani claims lives of two volunteers
Two members of a volunteer protection unit died, and two others were injured in a shooting in Pattani province yesterday, May 19, at 5.30pm. The attack targeted five local volunteers running for exercise in Mueang Mai Kaen district’s Don Sai subdistrict. The assailants, dressed in hijabs to disguise themselves as Muslim women, arrived on motorcycles. Upon reaching the village’s main…
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Thai durian vendor disappears with 1 million baht in gold and cash
A female durian vendor in the southern province of Surat Thani disappeared with over 1 million baht in gold accessories and at least 100,000 baht in cash. Her family fears she may have been assaulted and robbed. The family of the 43 year old durian vendor, Sujittra, better known as Jay Kaew, sought help from Mueang Surat Thani Police Station…
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Insurgents attack Yala security unit, injuring two officers
Violence erupted in Yala as unidentified insurgents opened fire with M-16 rifles and shotguns, targeting a security protection unit and injuring two officers during a shift change. Emergency services rushed the injured to the hospital, where they were stabilised. Yesterday, May 17, the radio centre in Lam Mai district, Mueang Yala, reported the shooting incident involving a security protection unit…
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Lottery luck: Rayong restaurateur wins 12 million baht jackpot
Luck struck in the most unexpected way for a Rayong restaurateur who scooped 12 million baht in the lottery — all thanks to a broken durian delivery wheel that flew onto a neighbour’s roof. Yesterday, May 16, the usually quiet village of Ban Yang En in Mueang Thap Mon, Khao Chamao district, erupted with joy after the announcement of the…
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Bomb attack injures two officers in Pattani’s Yaring district
An explosive attack on a military truck belonging to the 44th Ranger Regiment Task Force in Pattani has left two officers injured. The attack took place at 1pm yesterday, May 13, when unidentified assailants planted a bomb in Yaring district. The explosive device, weighing approximately 15 kilogrammes, was hidden in the median of Highway 41. The blast injured two officers…
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Thai teachers calls for safety amid rising southern violence
The Federation of Teachers Association of Thailand (FTT) has urged the government to enhance safety measures as violence intensifies in the southern regions, focusing on increased security for educators and students in high-risk areas. Prathum Ruangrit, President of the Southern Teachers’ Federation, highlighted the need for the government to accelerate safety measures for schools, teachers, and students in the southern…
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Thailand’s Koh Kut and Koh Mak overwhelmed by tourist surge
Sunseekers are swarming to two of Thailand’s lesser-known island paradises, sending ferry services into overdrive and fully booking out thousands of rooms — and it’s all thanks to a surge in online buzz and back-to-back public holidays. Koh Kut and Koh Mak, tucked away in Trat province’s eastern waters, have rapidly climbed the travel charts, becoming some of the country’s…
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