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.

  • Longtail boat overturns off Krabi coast, two tourists taken to hospital | Thaiger

    Longtail boat overturns off Krabi coast, two tourists taken to hospital

    A longtail boat capsized at sea on the route between Ko Poda and Ao Nam Mao Pier in Krabi yesterday afternoon, March 21, prompting Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park officials to dispatch staff to assist tourists. The national park said it was notified at about 3.29pm that a boat had overturned while travelling from Ko Poda towards…

  • Koh Samui permits reviewed over suspected forged paperwork | Thaiger

    Koh Samui permits reviewed over suspected forged paperwork

    Koh Samui City Municipality in Surat Thani is investigating suspected irregularities in construction permits after a municipal legal officer urged owners yesterday, March 21, to recheck their paperwork and report anything unusual, as officials move to identify those responsible. Yesterday, Pallop Meepian, a legal officer at Koh Samui City Municipality, posted on social media asking owners of villas and other…

  • Phatthalung psychiatric patient kidnaps nurse at knifepoint | Thaiger

    Phatthalung psychiatric patient kidnaps nurse at knifepoint

    A psychiatric patient allegedly threatened a nurse with a knife and forced her into a car before fleeing from Srinakarin Hospital in Phatthalung, yesterday, March 18, before leaving her by the roadside. Police at Srinagarindra Police Station were alerted by the hospital that a patient showing psychiatric symptoms linked to drug use had been brought in for treatment. While staff were preparing…

  • Five officers injured after bomb attack at outpost in Pattani | Thaiger

    Five officers injured after bomb attack at outpost in Pattani

    Five officers were injured in a Pattani bomb attack after an improvised explosive device detonated outside an outpost in Panare district yesterday, March 17, triggering a fire that damaged a building and several vehicles. Panare Police Station received a report at 7pm of an explosion at the Thanam strategic outpost in Ban Kha, Thanam subdistrict, Panare district, Pattani province. Police…

  • Two men nabbed for porcupine poaching in Nakhon Si Thammarat | Thaiger

    Two men nabbed for porcupine poaching in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Two men caught hunting protected wildlife were arrested early this morning, March 15, after authorities found them with porcupine carcasses and a firearm in a protected forest area in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Officials from Nam Tok Yong National Park, the Regional Office of Protected Areas 5, and the Phaya Suea task force carried out the operation at around 2.45am in…

  • Motorcycle taxi rider suspected of public indecency in Songkhla | Thaiger

    Motorcycle taxi rider suspected of public indecency in Songkhla

    Police in Songkhla’s Sadao district have launched a search for a suspect after two women reported disturbing encounters with a man accused of performing indecent acts in public. The incident was reported today, March 15, by 32 year old Nurhayati Salaemae, a resident of Samnak Kham subdistrict in Sadao district. According to the complaint, the suspect was described as a…

  • Mentally ill man attacks mother and daughter with knife in Nakhon Si Thammarat | Thaiger

    Mentally ill man attacks mother and daughter with knife in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    A mentally ill Thai man turned himself in after breaking into a neighbour’s home in Nakhon Si Thammarat and attacking a woman and her teenage daughter with a knife. Both victims were reported to be in critical condition. Sichon Police Station officers and Por Teck Tung Foundation rescuers were called to a house in Si Khit sub-district, Sichon district at…

  • Almost 500 teenagers gather nightly for street racing in Pattani | Thaiger

    Almost 500 teenagers gather nightly for street racing in Pattani

    Residents in Pattani asked for urgent action today, March 11, after large groups of teenagers were seen gathering overnight to race motorcycles on a public road, causing noise disruption and raising safety concerns for other road users. The complaints centre on repeated incidents on Road 43. Residents said that nearly 500 people began assembling from about 12am, parking motorcycles along…

  • Three foreigners arrested on Koh Pha Ngan in drug crackdown | Thaiger

    Three foreigners arrested on Koh Pha Ngan in drug crackdown

    Three foreign nationals were arrested on Koh Pha Ngan, Surat Thani province, yesterday, March 8, after immigration officers expanded an investigation into suspected drug distribution to tourists on the island. The arrests followed an investigation that began after a Brazilian drug delivery suspect identified as Pedro was detained on Koh Pha Ngan on March 5 in a drug trafficking case.…

  • Seven earthquakes shake Surat Thani, no damage reported | Thaiger

    Seven earthquakes shake Surat Thani, no damage reported

    A series of small earthquakes was recorded in Khao Phang subdistrict, Ban Ta Khun district, Surat Thani province, yesterday, March 8, and into early today, March 9, with residents reporting the tremors were clearly felt near Rajjaprabha Dam. The tremors were recorded seven times in one day, with epicentres about one kilometre underground near Rajjaprabha Dam. Five of the earthquakes…

  • Russian DJ arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after drug sales to tourists | Thaiger

    Russian DJ arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after drug sales to tourists

    Tourist police on Koh Pha Ngan arrested a Russian man described as a DJ on March 9 after uncovering an AI drug operation that allegedly arranged sales to tourists through an automated Telegram ordering system. Police received information from an informant that a foreign man living in the Koh Pha Ngan area, Surat Thani province, was selling several types of…

  • Two Ugandan women arrested in Koh Pha Ngan prostitution sting | Thaiger

    Two Ugandan women arrested in Koh Pha Ngan prostitution sting

    Tourist Police arrested two Ugandan women on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani yesterday, March 1, after an Israeli tourist reported suspected theft linked to an alleged prostitution service. The arrests followed a complaint from an Israeli tourist, who claimed his property had gone missing after using a service offered by a Ugandan woman allegedly involved in prostitution. Investigators then…

  • Teenager stabs ex-girlfriend after she refuses to reconcile | Thaiger

    Teenager stabs ex-girlfriend after she refuses to reconcile

    A 16 year old Thai boy stabbed his ex-girlfriend in Songkhla province on Saturday, February 21, after she refused to reconcile following a break-up. The victim’s father, 49 year old Udomrat, said the attack happened at about 2.50pm at a teacher welfare residence where his daughter, Fai, was taking extra classes. He shared details of the case with news agencies,…

  • South Korean man tragically drowns off Railay Beach, Krabi | Thaiger

    South Korean man tragically drowns off Railay Beach, Krabi

    A South Korean tourist tragically drowned while swimming with his child off Railay Beach in Krabi on Sunday, February 22. Rangers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park were alerted to the incident at about 3pm and recovered the man from the sea. He was later identified as 48 year old South Korean national, Lee Juhyun. Rangers and…

  • Suspected cable thief breaks both legs after Trang Hospital chase | Thaiger

    Suspected cable thief breaks both legs after Trang Hospital chase

    A man suspected of stealing property from Trang Hospital was injured last night, February 22, after crashing his motorcycle while fleeing hospital security guards in Mueang Trang district, Trang province. Police at Mueang Trang Police Station said they were notified at about 11pm that a suspect linked to a theft at Trang Hospital had been involved in a motorcycle accident…

  • Similan Islands warns tourists after Blue Button jellyfish spotted | Thaiger

    Similan Islands warns tourists after Blue Button jellyfish spotted

    A temporary closure has been imposed at a swimming area in Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga, after officials warned yesterday, February 22, that blue button jellyfish have been found along the shoreline. The park said on its Facebook page that it detected the jellyfish, also known as Porpita Porpita, and commonly referred to as the Blue Button, in some…

  • Siberian Husky abused and burned in Songkhla after escaping home | Thaiger

    Siberian Husky abused and burned in Songkhla after escaping home

    A Thai man is seeking the attacker who abused and set his Siberian Husky on fire after the dog escaped from his home in Songkhla on February 12. The owner, 52 year old Somchai Chanawanno, shared details of the attack on his two year old female dog, Molly, with several media outlets and the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) as he…

  • Songkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting | Thaiger

    Songkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting

    A male teacher denied claims that he mistreated the younger sister of an 18 year old gunman in a fatal shooting at Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, on Wednesday, February 11. The teenage suspect, Khemmanan, also known as Khem, entered the school at about 4pm and held students and teachers hostage before opening the fire. The principal,…

  • Police seize M16 rifles and grenades in Nakhon Si Thammarat raid | Thaiger

    Police seize M16 rifles and grenades in Nakhon Si Thammarat raid

    Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat arrested three men and seized military-grade weapons during a raid on a house in Thung Song district yesterday, February 12, as part of a crackdown on online arms trafficking. The announcement was made by Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police following an operation carried out under national policy directives to suppress crime involving firearms and explosives.…

  • 46 foreign extras arrested in Krabi for working without permits | Thaiger

    46 foreign extras arrested in Krabi for working without permits

    Police arrested 46 foreign extras yesterday, February 12, after discovering they were working without permits at an abandoned mine in Krabi province while filming a television series reportedly based in Dubai. Officers from the Krabi Provincial Employment Office, Mueang Krabi Police Station, Border Patrol Police, and Immigration Bureau conducted a joint raid at the mine in the Thab Prik sub-district…

  • Krabi installs heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine’s Day | Thaiger

    Krabi installs heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine’s Day

    Krabi Municipality installed heart-shaped red traffic lights at major intersections in the city yesterday, February 11, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, later sharing photos on its official Facebook page. The unusual traffic lights, shaped like hearts instead of the standard circular red signal, were posted on the official Krabi Municipality Facebook page and quickly drew attention online. The decorative red signals…

  • School shooting in Songkhla leaves principal dead, students injured | Thaiger

    School shooting in Songkhla leaves principal dead, students injured

    A young gunman stormed into Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai, Songkhla, yesterday afternoon, February 11, after seizing a police rifle, opening fire on staff and students, and taking hostages before eventually surrendering. Police were first alerted to the incident at 2.54pm after receiving reports of a young man armed with a machete in the Thung Lung area. Officers and…

  • King cobras mate roadside in Krabi ahead of Valentine’s Day | Thaiger

    King cobras mate roadside in Krabi ahead of Valentine’s Day

    Locals in Krabi were left stunned yesterday, February 5, after spotting two massive king cobras mating by the roadside in Khlong Thom district just days before Valentine’s Day. The rare encounter occurred in Khlong Thom Nuea subdistrict, where two king cobras, each measuring an estimated three to four metres long, were seen engaging in mating behaviour along Khlong Chamuang Road…

  • Rare dugongs observed in Trang marine habitat survey | Thaiger

    Rare dugongs observed in Trang marine habitat survey

    Marine researchers in Trang province teamed up with wildlife defenders yesterday, February 4, to survey dugong populations near Libong Island, using drone technology and direct observation to assess the condition of these rare sea mammals. The survey was led by staff from the Marine National Park Research Centre 3 (Trang) in collaboration with the Dugong Conservation Group, and it was…

  • 15 year old boy arrested over 2.4 million baht gold theft in Hat Yai | Thaiger

    15 year old boy arrested over 2.4 million baht gold theft in Hat Yai

    Police arrested a 15 year old boy for a gold shop robbery at a supermarket in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, in which gold accessories worth more than 2.4 million baht were stolen. The robbery occurred at around 6.30pm inside a gold shop located within Lotus’s supermarket in Hat Yai. CCTV footage showed the suspect dressed entirely in black and…

  • Israeli and El Salvadoran men rescued from Koh Pha Ngan forest | Thaiger

    Israeli and El Salvadoran men rescued from Koh Pha Ngan forest

    Tourist Police officers, together with local administrative officials, successfully rescued two foreign tourists, Israeli and Salvadoran men, who became lost in a forest on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province last night, February 4. According to authorities, Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received an emergency call via the tourist police hotline 1155 from two foreign men who reported that…

  • Gunmen unleash over 20 shotgun rounds on Phatthalung home | Thaiger

    Gunmen unleash over 20 shotgun rounds on Phatthalung home

    Two armed assailants opened fire on a family home in Phaya Khan subdistrict, Phatthalung province, early today, February 4, damaging property and terrifying a family. Police investigators led by Police Lieutenant Wicha Nupeannoi from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after 1.30am, accompanied by a forensics team. At the scene, officers recovered eight spent shotgun shells and…

  • Koh Samui police demolishes 600 illegal exhaust pipes | Thaiger

    Koh Samui police demolishes 600 illegal exhaust pipes

    Police in Koh Samui today, February 3, destroyed more than 600 illegal motorcycle exhaust pipes seized from street racers, as part of an ongoing crackdown on noise pollution and reckless driving in the community. The public destruction took place in front of Koh Samui Police Station, led by Police Colonel Panya Niratimanon, Superintendent of Koh Samui Police Station. He was…

  • ‘Mr Spray’ wanted for defacing Koh Pha Ngan with political graffiti | Thaiger

    ‘Mr Spray’ wanted for defacing Koh Pha Ngan with political graffiti

    Residents and local business operators on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province called on police to take action against “Mr Spay“, a foreign man who spray-painted political slogans on public and private property across the island. Residents told reporters that the man spray-painted messages such as “Save Gaza” and “Libre” on traffic signs, electricity poles, and walls belonging to…

  • Foreign tourists’ pickup stuck in sand at Phang Nga beach | Thaiger

    Foreign tourists’ pickup stuck in sand at Phang Nga beach

    Two foreign tourists found themselves in a sticky situation yesterday evening, February 2, after their pickup truck became stuck in the sand at Na Tai Beach in Phang Nga province. The incident unfolded around 7pm on February 2 while a local woman, Wilawan, and her friends were camping and fishing along the shoreline in Khok Kloi subdistrict, Takua Thung district.…