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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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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17 Irrawaddy dolphins left in Songkhla Lake amid extinction crisis
In Songkhla Lake, the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin population has dwindled to only 17, leading the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) to intensify efforts to preserve the species and rejuvenate the lake’s delicate ecosystem. Minister Chalermchai Sri-on visited the lake on Monday, May 19, highlighting the importance of balancing conservation with the development of the Songkhla Lake bridge…
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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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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 boy traumatised after being kicked by classmate’s father
A Thai father kicked a six year old boy in the head at a kindergarten in the southern province of Trang on Thursday, May 15, allegedly because the boy had played roughly with his child, which resulted in an injury. A Twitter account by the name of Mr.Hap shared a video of the physical assault on Saturday, May 17, although the…
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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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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 taxi driver wanted for murder and robbery of old woman
Police are searching for a Thai motorcycle taxi rider who allegedly murdered an 89 year old woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat and stole her valuables worth approximately 260,000 baht. Officers from Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat Police Station discovered the body of the woman, Nin, in a grassland along Terd Phrakiat Road at around 1.30pm yesterday, May…
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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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Chumphon chief faces backlash over monitor lizard cooking (video)
Locals in the southern province of Chumphon are demanding legal action against a community leader who shared a video of himself cooking and eating a monitor lizard, a protected species in Thailand. Residents in the Pathio district of Chumphon came across a Facebook post by the male community leader and shared it with various news agencies, calling for legal action…
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Ancient seashells from Jurassic era uncovered in Surat Thani
In a stunning discovery that has put Surat Thani in the spotlight, a bunch of ancient seashell fossils have been unearthed in the south of Thailand, offering a rare glimpse into the distant past. Experts believe these fossilised treasures are over 145 million years old, dating back to the Jurassic period. The fossils were found across four distinct sites, including…
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Police officer slits his throat to escape arrest after stealing gold
A Thai police officer slit his own throat at a police station in the southern province of Trang yesterday, May 7, after being caught stealing a gold necklace from a food vendor. The 34 year old female vendor, Pornpimon, complained to Na Yong Police Station officers on May 3 that her gold necklace, worth over 100,000 baht, was stolen at…
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Two soldiers injured in Yala province IED attack
Two soldiers were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting military engineers from the 15th Engineer Battalion. The incident occurred at 5pm yesterday, May 7, in Raman district, Yala province, as the soldiers were returning to their base after completing a canal dredging mission. The attack took place in front of a cemetery in the village of Kototura,…
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Southern Thai watermelon gets GI boost in sweet victory
The Ministry of Commerce has officially designated the Koh Sukorn watermelon as Thailand’s first GI-certified watermelon variety, marking a significant milestone for the small island in Trang province. Deputy Commerce Minister Napintorn Srisunpang announced the news, calling it a victory for local identity and agricultural pride. “This sweet, sea-grown watermelon is a standout. Its flavour, fine texture, and colourful flesh make it unique not…
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UK roadshow rocks South Thailand with fair, farms and flair
The British Embassy in Bangkok wrapped up a whirlwind three-day roadshow across southern Thailand, marking a major milestone in the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and Thailand. Running from April 28 to 30, the outreach tour made stops in Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani, showcasing a blend of serious diplomacy and lively community engagement.…
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People’s Party urges peace talks after deadly southern attacks
A wave of violence in Thailand’s Deep South has sparked a fierce call to action from the People’s Party, which is demanding the government restart peace talks and urging insurgents to stop slaughtering innocent civilians. The opposition People’s Party has issued an open letter calling on the Thai government to urgently resume stalled peace talks with insurgent groups, while also…
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7 Russian nationals hospitalised after eating unidentified wild fruit
Rescuers rushed seven Russian nationals to hospitals after they consumed wild fruit while visiting Khao Na Nai Luang National Park in the southern province of Surat Thani. Ta Khun Prom Foundation rescuers were called to assist the group, who suffered from dizziness and vomiting in the park area in Phanom district at 1.33pm yesterday, May 5. Five of the victims…
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Bomb in Narathiwat kills police officer during murder investigation
A police officer tragically passed away following a bomb explosion at a lamppost in Narathiwat province. The explosion occurred as the police officer was retrieving evidence from a CCTV camera during an investigation into the fatal shooting of a blind elderly woman and her son on May 2. The explosion took place yesterday, May 4, at 1.30pm in the Chang…
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Violence in Narathiwat claims lives, sparking urgent security measures
A recent spate of violence in Narathiwat province has led to the tragic deaths of a nine year old girl and a blind elderly woman. Regional Army Commander Paisal Nusang condemned these acts as inhumane. The incidents were reported on May 3 at the Office of the Islamic Committee in Pattani province. On May 2, unidentified assailants on three motorcycles…
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Two students found dead after Pattani flash flood tragedy
Two female students who were swept away by a flash flood while exploring Sai Khao Waterfall in Pattani province have been found dead. Their bodies were discovered a kilometre apart despite challenging search conditions. Emergency services resorted to rappelling and drone technology in the search effort. The incident occurred yesterday, May 3, at 3.15pm, as officials from Na Pradu in…
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Trat Discovery campaign offers island perks and free flight prizes
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in partnership with Bangkok Airways and local tourism operators, has kicked off the Trat Discovery: Island and Beyond campaign – a bold push to supercharge tourism in Thailand’s eastern region with discounts, rewards, and premium travel experiences. Running from May 1 (yesterday) to August 20, the campaign offers exclusive perks for Bangkok Airways passengers…
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Police officer injured in Yala checkpoint shooting
A police officer was injured in a shooting incident while setting up a checkpoint in Mueang district, Yala province, at 8.15pm yesterday, April 30. The Yala Mueang Police Station’s radio centre reported that an ambush took place near the operational base in Baan Chanan, Phorn subdistrict, resulting in one border patrol officer being wounded. Following the incident, emergency services promptly…
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Man arrested in Songkhla after 11 years evading life sentence
A 43 year old man was arrested in Songkhla at a hospital in Kho Hong subdistrict, Hat Yai district, after evading a life sentence for over 11 years. The arrest was made following a warrant issued by Thung Song Provincial Court on December 17, 2014, for a crime committed on January 6, 2005, in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The incident…
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Bhumjaithai loses southern seat in shock Klatham upset
A dramatic political upset has rocked southern Thailand, as the rising Kla Tham Party snatched a crucial seat from the ruling Bhumjaithai Party in Sunday’s by-election. Kongkiat Ketsobat of Kla Tham unofficially clinched victory in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Constituency 8 with 38,680 votes, knocking out Bhumjaithai’s hopes of holding onto the seat. The poll was triggered by the disqualification of former MP Mukdawan…
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Fake news sparks panic over Narathiwat dam collapse
In a recent case of fake news causing unnecessary panic, officials debunked claims circulating on social media that a dam in Narathiwat province is at risk of collapsing due to sea waves triggered by a recent earthquake in the United States. The Thailand Anti-Fake News Centre was quick to clarify that these rumours were false and misleading. They reassured the…
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Yala police officers injured in devastating roadside bomb attack
An explosive attack targeted a patrol vehicle in Yala province, resulting in severe injuries to three Border Patrol Police officers. The incident occurred while they were returning from a medical check-up in Yala city. One officer later succumbed to injuries, and two others remain in critical condition. The attack took place in Thanto district, Yala, affecting officers from the Border…
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UNICEF sounds alarm on Thailand’s rising child obesity
Thailand once made huge strides in improving children’s nutrition but now a new health crisis is growing — and it’s expanding waistlines. UNICEF Thailand has launched a powerful new campaign called Kin Rai Dee (What’s Good to Eat) in response to rising childhood obesity rates and stagnant progress on tackling undernutrition in parts of the country, particularly the southern border provinces,…
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