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.
-
Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
-
Ranong: Daughter of prominent village headman denies money laundering charges
The daughter of a well-known village headman from Ranong turned herself in to the police yesterday, denying allegations of money laundering and involvement in a drug trafficking network. The woman is also suspected of smuggling vehicles and illegal rubber across the border. The initial investigation took place at the Ranong Provincial Police Operation Center, led by Deputy Provincial Police Commander,…
-
Southern Thailand: Russian tourist’s rental vehicle plummets into ditch in Trang
In Trang province, a Russian tourist‘s rental vehicle veered off the main road, plunging into a deep roadside ditch. No one was harmed in the incident, as reported by the Phuket Tourist Police. A message was dispatched yesterday from Phuket Tourist Police’s headquarters, detailing the incident. The report revealed the car’s occupant was a Russian tourist, who rented a Honda sedan…
-
Thai man accused of beheading neighbour in human sacrifice
Police arrested a Thai man in the southern province of Surat Thani for allegedly beheading his neighbour in a human sacrifice ritual. The dead body, minus the head, of 53 year old Sangiam Penrum, was discovered at a house in a rubber plantation in the Kanchanadit district of Surat Thani province. Sangiam was found sitting on his knees in front…
-
Rayong man hides 500 baht from wife under police booth
A seemingly furious man was found rummaging under a police checkpoint in Rayong, revealing a new dimension to hiding money from his wife. When his secret was uncovered, he claimed he would need to find a new hiding place. At 4pm yesterday, Deputy Superintendent of Rayong City Police, Woradet Phongthong, and Police Lieutenant Pachar Sangngoen, were informed of a man…
-
Phuket Airport: American man arrested for overstaying visa by 79 days
As dawn broke over the bustling Phuket International Airport, an American man found himself in the grip of the law. The man was apprehended by Thai immigration officials around 5.30am yesterday for overstaying his visa by 79 days, a direct violation of the country’s immigration laws. The American man’s actions had turned him into an illegal resident in the Land…
-
Drumming up excitement: Phuket’s Surin Beach beats to the rhythm of tourism’s future with groundbreaking Glass Terrace project
The sound of ceremonial drums echoed across Surin Beach, Phuket, early this morning marking the start of construction on a project of substantial tourism potential – the Glass Terrace. With an estimated completion time of two years, this 198 million baht project is anticipated to become a significant tourist attraction along the island’s west coast. Leading the groundbreaking ceremony was…
-
Man detained for climbing ancient Buddhist stupa’s golden spire at Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A young man was detained after climbing to the top of the golden spire of the ancient Buddhist stupa, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The spire, adorned with ancient gold artefacts and blue sapphires, is a revered site for Buddhists worldwide. At around 1am this morning, local law enforcement and passersby noticed a man scaling the…
-
Drug induced man fatally stabs 21 year old student in southern Thailand
In a shocking incident, a drug-addled man fatally stabbed a 21 year old student in Trang, southern Thailand yesterday. The victim, Kulissara (surname withheld), also known as Bam, was attacked by 36 year old Jakraphong (no surname given), a relative, who was reportedly high on drugs. The incident occurred at 6pm in a local village, and the 21 year old…
-
Sia Paeng: Another Nakhon Si Thammarat prison warden given arrest warrant
An additional prison warden has been issued an arrest warrant regarding Chaowalit Thongduang’s case. Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng, escaped from Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital around two weeks ago on October 22. The arrest warrant for Weerachai Nuduang from Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison was issued yesterday by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Weerachai was charged…
-
Fog, light rain forecast in northern Thailand, south braces for heavy rainfall
The Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) today forecasts foggy conditions and light rain in some parts of northern Thailand, while heavy rainfall continues in some southern areas. The 24-hour forecast suggests that high atmospheric pressure or a cool air mass is gradually weakening and covering the upper northern parts, north eastern region, and the South China Sea. This, combined with the easterly…
-
Chon Buri: Security guard dies in motorbike crash in Banglamung district
Earlier yesterday morning, a tragic incident unfolded in the Banglamung district when a security guard lost his life in a motorbike accident. The unfortunate victim, 43 year old Somchai Saengrung, employed at Laem Chabang Port, crashed his motorbike into a tree on Sukhumvit Road near the entrance of Soi Banglamung 29 in the Banglamung sub-district, Chon Buri. The Sawang Boriboon…
-
Satun man admits to matricide after arrest for drug abuse
Police from Langu district, Satun province, apprehended 41 year old man suspected of killing his 73 year old mother, Fatima. The police presented the suspect, Chaiwin (surname withheld), to the Satun Provincial Court to request detention on charges including matricide, abuse of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) in contravention of the law, and the illegal use of inhalants (glue) to satisfy physical…
-
RTP police chief Torsak Sukvimol’s surprise visit: Tracking cases in southern Thailand
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) Commissioner General made an official visit to the Pattani Provincial Police Station at 4.30pm on October 31. The purpose of Torsak Sukvimol’s visit was to inspect and track the progress of key cases in Pattani. He was received cordially by the chiefs of the 16 police stations in Pattani and other concerned police officers from…
-
Sattahip: Karaoke venues police check for compliance with regulations for tourist safety
In Sattahip, a thorough check of karaoke establishments in the vicinity of Tao Than Thong Thip Market took place on October 30. The inspection was led by the Sattahip Police Station’s chief, Police Colonel Panya Damlek, following the Royal Thai Police’s guidelines to maintain order in every area. The main focus of the inspection was to ensure adherence to closing…
-
Omura’s whale spotted in Thailand’s Surin Islands for first time
A sightseeing trip in Thailand’s Surin Islands took an unexpected turn when tourists spotted a rare Omura’s whale, a species only identified in the wild eight years ago. The sighting was confirmed by the national park officers at Mu Ko Surin National Park through an online post on Thursday, October 26. The online post featured a video of the whale…
-
Sia Paeng: Bounty raised to 1 million baht as associates surrender
Thai police apprehended two individuals connected to the case of Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng, a fugitive prisoner who feigned illness and escaped from a hospital. The Department of Corrections has increased the bounty for his capture to 1 million baht, up from the original 100,000 baht. Authorities yesterday, October 27, arrested Sand (nickname), the wife of Jakree Pannoi,…
-
Chaowalit aka Sia Paeng escape: One accomplice arrested
The arrest of 28 year old Khanet Thongprajong, also known as Boy, has been confirmed by authorities in Songkhla‘s Hat Yai district. Khanet, one of the five suspects implicated in aiding the escape of a prisoner 37 year old Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng, was apprehended inside a shopping mall in the district on the evening of October…
-
Scrapping immigration forms may boost Malaysian tourist influx in Thailand
Tourism professionals in Songkhla have voiced their desire for the discontinuation of the TM6 immigration paperwork as an additional border checkpoint and the eradication of extra-time service charges, as these measures continue to slow the influx of tourists from Malaysia. The government gave its approval this week to scrap the TM6 forms from November 1 to April 30, 2024, at…
-
Chanthaburi preschool teachers suspected of school trip scam questioned by Anti-Corruption Commission
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Chanthaburi Province is investigating a preschool teacher team accused of collecting money from students for a trip to Vietnam. Jamnien Moonsarn, the director of the Chanthaburi ACC office, revealed that the initial fact-checking was carried out yesterday following reports from the National Corruption Deterrence Centre. The case has also become viral on social media under the…
-
Prison escapee on the prowl: Inmate’s great Thailand wildlife sanctuary location unveiled
The hunt for a 37 year old inmate who escaped from Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital led police to the Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary. This vast wildlife refuge, spanning 1266 square kilometres across Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, and Songkhla, is believed to be the hideout of Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as Sia Paeng. This discovery prompted a shift in law enforcement’s…
-
Surat Thani village headman killed in wild elephant attack
In a tragic turn of events in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, a village headman lost his life in a wild elephant attack. The unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday as the leader attempted to steer a cow elephant and her calf back into the adjacent forest. The headman, known as Samnao Kraiket, was the leader of Moo 11 village, situated…
-
Southern insurgents wreak havoc in Tak Bai, chaos erupts
A group of 21 southern insurgents was caught on CCTV causing havoc in Tak Bai. They are suspected to be part of a group led by Muhammad Fami, a key operational leader. The incidents occurred in Tak Bai district and the boundary area of Muno sub-district, Su-ngai Kolok district, on the night of October 21. The insurgents planted bombs, fired…
-
Bombings and skirmishes in Narathiwat leave four officers injured and power outage
Four officers were injured in a fierce confrontation between police and criminals, who instigated several bombings and skirmishes in Narathiwat, Thailand. A gold shop was severely damaged, and approximately 10 electricity poles were knocked down. Early in the morning of today, around 1.30am, troublemakers clashed with officers and secretly planted bombs near the Tabah checkpoint in Jeh Heh, Tak Bai…
-
Phuket Airport’s future takes flight: Environmental impact on the agenda
A meeting took place this morning to discuss the potential environmental and community impact of the proposed development plans for Phuket International Airport. The meeting, organised by the Phuket office of the Airports of Thailand (AOT), was held at the Proud Phuket Hotel near Naiyang Beach. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Phuket Provincial Office, Somprat Prabsongkhram, led the assembly.…
-
Toddler locked in car for hours in southern Thailand after accidental self-locking
A two year old toddler was locked in a car for hours after her mother left her alone to go shopping. The incident, which took place at a convenience store on Niphat Uthit Road behind the Florida Hotel in downtown Hat Yai, Songkhla province, occurred at 10am today. The girl had accidentally hit the lock button, trapping herself inside the…
-
Swift police action follows tragic suicide of student scammed by iPhone fraud gang in southern Thailand
The tragic suicide of a female grade 12 student from a school in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has prompted a swift response from law enforcement agencies. The student chose to end her life in her bedroom on Sunday night, October 15. Police guess that she was under extreme stress after falling prey to a fraud gang that enticed her to…
-
Phuket’s waste crisis and eco-tourism plans discussed by Pita Limjaroenrat
Pita Limjaroenrat, the former Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, yesterday paid a visit to Phuket to assess some ongoing projects in the seaside resort and discuss the key issues with the residents and officials. The respected former MFP leader was accompanied by three local MPs affiliated with the MFP, namely Somchart Techathavorncharoen, Chalermpong Saengdee and Thitikan Thitipruekthikul. The first stop…
-
Rain doesn’t dampen spirits at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a grand spectacle of Chinese culture, witnessed another round of street processions today. Despite the heavy downpour, the processions, featuring devotees from the Sapam Shrine and the Bang Khu Shrine, kicked off with fervour. These processions were a part of the ongoing celebrations which have taken the streets of Phuket by storm. Photographs capturing the essence…
-
Stolen gun leads to death of 14 year old boy in southern Thailand
A 14 year old boy stole a gun from his retired police officer grandfather yesterday, leading to the accidental shooting and tragic death of his friend at his residence in the southern Trang province. Rescue officers from the Ruam Jai Yan Ta Khao team received a distress call yesterday, October 10, reporting what was believed to be a fireworks explosion…
-
Monkey business cleaned up: Tourists cheer innovative solution at Samila Beach, Songkhla
Tourists visiting Samila Beach in Songkhla are delighted by an innovative solution to the issue of macaque monkeys scavenging through rubbish bins, causing odour and litter. Complaints had been previously made about the monkeys rummaging through the bins, spilling litter and creating a foul smell, disturbing the natural environment of the beach and causing fear among the visitors. The Songkhla…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.