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 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...
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Similan Islands reopen with fresh upgrades for high season
Tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea, including the famous Mu Ko Similan National Park on Similan Islands, will reopen next Tuesday, October 15, just in time for the high season. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) has given the green light for visitors until May 15 next year. Among the standout destinations is Koh Similan, the…
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Phatthalung villagers scammed out of 5 million baht by neighbour
Nearly 30 villagers in Phatthalung province filed police reports after being scammed out of 5 million baht by a neighbour they had trusted. The incident involved daily savings schemes, gold savings plans, and land brokerage deals. The chief of Khao Krasai subdistrict in Pa Bon district, Komjak Saengsio, led the villagers in reporting the case. The accused, Sattaya Boonladee, a…
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Murder-suicide suspected after family of 4 found dead in Songkhla
Police suspect a Thai woman of committing a murder-suicide involving her family members at her home in the southern province of Songkhla after four bodies with gunshot wounds were discovered yesterday, October 7. Officers from Mueang Songkhla Police Station were called to investigate the fatal shooting at a two-storey house belonging to a former member of the Songkhla Municipality Council,…
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Thai crackdown on activists ignites fresh tensions in Deep South
Five activists in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued Deep South are facing the heat after hosting a mock referendum on self-determination. Yesterday, October 3, police charged two activists and three students for organising the event in June last year, sparking renewed debates about free speech in the volatile, heavily militarised border region. The group, which includes members of The Pattani political movement and…
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Thai woman dies after car plunges into river during driving practice
A Thai woman lost her life after her car careened into a river while she was practising her driving skills in the southern province of Trang. Officers from Nong Trut Police Station, along with rescuers and volunteer divers, rushed to a road along the Trang River in the Nong Trut sub-district, Mueang district, Trang province, after receiving a report that…
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Thai teacher escapes with minor injuries after car crashes into truck
A Thai teacher crashed her sedan into a six-wheel truck on a bypass road in the southern province of Phetchaburi but fortunately sustained only minor injuries. Officers from the Cha-am Police Station were alerted to the accident and injuries on the Cha-am-Pranburi Bypass Road yesterday, October 1, and rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Sawang Sunphet Foundation. Upon…
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Thailand to withdraw military from southern provinces by 2027
Thailand plans to withdraw military forces from the nation’s southernmost provinces by 2027, with a focus on bolstering volunteer forces in the region. The Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly train these volunteer forces. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Army Commander Charoenchai Hintao were present at the ceremony.…
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Thai boy arrested for killing close friend over alleged insult
A 15 year old Thai boy arrested for the murder of his close friend in the southern province of Songkhla, claimed that the deceased insulted him with vulgar language. A resident in the Khlong Hoi Khong district of Songkhla discovered the body of 15 year old Konnawan “Fang” O-thong in a puddle in the forest at around 9.45am yesterday, September 29.…
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Elderly man loses 10,000 baht from Thai govt handout
An elderly man who recently withdrew 10,000 baht in cash from the Thai government’s handout initiative found his wallet missing, prompting a heartfelt community response. A woman’s Facebook post detailed the incident and led to numerous offers of assistance from across the country. The government recently issued 10,000 baht to vulnerable groups, distributed based on the last digits of their…
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NHRC urges Thailand to rethink Southern Land Bridge project
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to reconsider the Southern Land Bridge megaproject, highlighting concerns about its environmental impact and implications for local communities. The NHRC supports its call with findings from various studies conducted by state agencies. Council member Sayamol Kaiyoorawongs stated that the prime minister should direct the Office of Transport and…
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South Thailand: Pickup truck flips in the air, crashes into shop (video)
A pickup truck in the southern province of Chumphon lost control and flipped over, causing significant damage to a shop and its roof, though the driver sustained only minor injuries. CCTV footage captured the shocking incident, which was shared on TikTok by user @tarn.dararat, highlighting the unpredictability of accidents. Tarn, the TikTok user who originally posted the clip, spoke to…
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Russian fined 5,000 baht after driving dangerously on Koh Samui
A Russian man yesterday faced a 5,000 baht fine after dangerous driving on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Locals were impressed by the police’s swift action, though some felt the punishment was too lenient. A Thai woman took to a Facebook group called รวมพลคนสมุย (meaning Samui locals gathering) to expose the dangerous behaviour of…
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Phatthalung romance: Love-struck victim won’t ‘stick’ it to attacker
A love-struck Thai man in the southern province of Phatthalung has decided to forgive and forget, even after his boyfriend savagely attacked him with a wooden stick, leaving him unconscious. Remarkably, the victim has declared he still loves his assailant. Officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station were alerted to the assault at a house in the Mueang district of Phatthalung…
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Durian dispute turns deadly: Vendor kills couple over prime location
A 62 year old durian vendor killed a couple on a roadside in the Chana district of the southern province of Songkhla following a dispute over a prime location for their fruit stalls. Officers from Chana Police Station were called to arrest the suspect, 62 year old durian vendor named Huan Saetan on Ratsarat Road yesterday, September 23. Upon arrival,…
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Nemo’s profit party: Clownfish breeding makes 1 million baht splash
The Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Trang has successfully bred over 20 species of clownfish, commonly known as Nemo fish, this year, resulting in sales surpassing those of the previous year and generating nearly 1 million baht in revenue. Trang Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre director Patcharee Soonsan announced yesterday, September 23, the achievement of breeding 20…
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Four injured in chaotic Phatthalung street shootout
A shootout between two rival youth gangs on a street in Phatthalung left four individuals injured, including a 17 year old boy in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his chest. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 2am yesterday, September 23 on the Khlong Muay-Kong Ra Road in Village 7, Khlong Sai Khao subdistrict, Kong Ra district.…
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Armed assailants raid Halabala Sanctuary, steal shotguns and torch homes
Armed assailants, numbering more than 10, launched a brazen attack on the Halabala Wildlife Sanctuary in Narathiwat, Thailand. The incident, which occurred around 6.30pm yesterday, saw the group overpowering and restraining 10 sanctuary officers, looting 10 shotguns, and setting ablaze four staff residences. The armed group stormed the sanctuary, located in Bala Village, Moo 5, Lo Chut subdistrict, Waeng district.…
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Pattani buffet restaurant slammed over ‘paper-thin’ meat slices
A buffet restaurant in the southern province of Pattani faced severe backlash after images of overly thinly sliced meat, described as “paper-thin,” were shared online, sparking widespread criticism. The incident highlighted significant dissatisfaction among customers who were disappointed by both the quality of the food and the service. A member of a consumer group posted the photos yesterday, showing the…
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Sea surge devastates Trang village, leaving residents homeless
A powerful sea surge devastated the coastal village of Ban Mot Tanoi in Ko Libong, Kantang district, Trang province, rendering residents homeless and their properties in ruins. Waves reaching heights of 3 to 4 metres, combined with strong winds, caused extensive damage to 15 homes, with eight destroyed and seven partially damaged. Residents are now left to pick up the…
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Satun province faces severe flooding amid heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in four districts of Satun province, affecting eight subdistricts and 26 villages. The continuous downpour led officials to establish boats in flood-prone areas and mobilise resources for 24-hour monitoring and assistance. Heavy rain has been battering Satun province since yesterday, September 16, resulting in significant flooding in the districts of Khuan Don, Mueang Satun, Tha…
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Phatthalung unveils 71 billion baht airport plan to boost tourism
A plot of land spanning 1,496 rai near Songkhla Lake in Phatthalung has been earmarked for constructing a new airport, aimed at boosting tourism and transport in the southern province and its neighbours. Anticipated to become a central hub for Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, the land in Khuan Maphrao subdistrict, Mueang district is owned by the Department of…
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Cutting corners: Illegal barber snipped by cops on Koh Pha Ngan
Thai police recently apprehended an illegal Burmese national working as a barber in Koh Pha Ngan, earning nearly 50,000 baht monthly. The arrest took place following reports of foreign workers taking jobs from locals. Police Lieutenant Colonel Winij Boonchit received a tip about an unauthorised foreign worker and led a team to arrest 20 year old Wai Yan Kyaw at…
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Insurgents bomb ATM, set fire to Songkhla office, no injuries
Insurgents are believed to be behind the bombing of an ATM booth and a fire at a local government office in Saba Yoi district, Songkhla province, early yesterday. No injuries were reported. The ATM booth, located in front of the Ban Nod Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) office, was targeted by a bomb around 1.50am, yesterday, September 14, according to Police…
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Three arrested for drug use near monastery in Chumphon
Police in Chumphon province apprehended three individuals for drug use after concerned residents reported their suspicious activities. The trio, living with young children, admitted to drug use and expressed their intention to undergo rehabilitation. The incident took place near a monastery in the Song Phi Nong subdistrict, Tha Sae district. Local police, led by Wisit Samannmuang and supported by a…
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King cobra causes chaos: Serpent slithers into senior’s home
A large king cobra measuring 3.5 metres was found hiding in the kitchen of a 73 year old woman’s house, prompting her to call the Southern Venomous Snake Team for assistance. The incident occurred yesterday, September 12, when Taweesak Boonsed, an official from the Southern Venomous Snake Team, received a distress call from Yingdee Suwannarat, who resides in Moo 8,…
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Australian man arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for 15 sexual assaults
Immigration Bureau officers arrested an Australian man who had evaded justice for 15 sexual assault cases in his home country. He was found hiding on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in Surat Thani Province. The Commander of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Torsak Sukvimol, instructed officers, particularly those from the Immigration Bureau, to intensify their efforts in investigating illegal foreigners in…
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Century-old parkia speciosa tree generates 40,000 baht annually
A century-old parkia speciosa tree in Trang province has captivated the market due to its large, long pods and superior taste, generating up to 40,000 baht annually from a single tree. At Suan Ta Chan Tonmai Panpi in Trang’s Na Yong district, 53 year old Satit Ramna hired locals to climb and harvest the pods from his four 100-year-old parkia…
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Gunman fires shots at Yala bank, no injuries reported
A gunman fired five shots at a bank in Bannang Sata, Yala, without causing any injuries. Police are investigating and pursuing the suspect, believing it to be a staged daily situation. Police Lieutenant Anan Suwannachatri from Bannang Sata Police Station in Yala received a report of a shooting at a local bank branch. On arriving at the scene with a…
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Canadian arrested for illegal work, ecstasy possession in Koh Pha Ngan
Police arrested a Canadian man after he was found working illegally as a masseur and in possession of ecstasy for sale on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Tourist Police and Immigration Police officers arrested the 48 year old Canadian, Ky Uwe Jablonowski, at a Thai traditional massage shop in Koh Pha Ngan yesterday,…
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Man stabs ex-girlfriend in Trat, crashes motorcycle while fleeing
A man was apprehended in Trat province after stabbing his ex-girlfriend and attempting to flee on a motorcycle, only to crash 20 kilometres away. He claimed he intended to end his life to escape his wrongdoing. While receiving medical treatment, the injured woman confronted him. The incident occurred at 7.50pm yesterday, September 4, when a 41 year old man named…
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