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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    Why health insurance costs more each year and how expats in Thailand can save more money

    Each year, many expats living in Thailand see their health insurance premiums go up and often without a clear reason. This can be frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan your budget. But by understanding why prices rise and learning...

  • Surat Thani train station horror: Guards beat man over nap | Thaiger

    Surat Thani train station horror: Guards beat man over nap

    A family dinner ended in shocking violence for one Surat Thani man, who was brutally beaten by security guards at a train station simply for lying down to rest as he waited for his train home. The 57 year old man, identified only as Yutthaphon, was left with severe bruising across his face and body and a gaping head wound…

  • Thai woman dies in attack by wild elephant in Surat Thani forest | Thaiger

    Thai woman dies in attack by wild elephant in Surat Thani forest

    A Thai woman lost her life in an attack by a wild elephant while travelling on a motorcycle with her son through a forest in the southern province of Surat Thani. Officers from Khirirat Nikhom Police Station, along with rangers and rescuers from the Kusol Sattha Foundation, rushed to Thap Nok Forest within the Khlong Yan Wildlife Sanctuary after being alerted…

  • Thai man arrested for setting fire to ex-MP’s car in Songkhla | Thaiger

    Thai man arrested for setting fire to ex-MP’s car in Songkhla

    Police arrested a Thai man in the southern province of Songkhla for setting fire to the car of a former Member of Parliament on Saturday, July 5. The suspect’s father claimed his son acted due to mental illness. A former Democrat Party MP, Sirichok Sopha, shared a video showing his GWM Haval H6 PHEV electric car ablaze. He stated that the…

  • Narathiwat unrest: suspicious sedan fire follows explosion | Thaiger

    Narathiwat unrest: suspicious sedan fire follows explosion

    Chaos continues in Narathiwat as a suspicious sedan is set on fire in Rueso district, luring rangers to inspect the scene after a morning explosion. At 8.56pm yesterday, July 5, paramilitary rangers from Company 4608 were alerted by the village head of Moo 5, Bue Cho village, Sao subdistrict, Rueso district, Narathiwat province, about a sedan being set ablaze along…

  • Ranong drug bust: Fishermen caught in boat crackdown | Thaiger

    Ranong drug bust: Fishermen caught in boat crackdown

    A sweeping crackdown on drugs among Ranong’s fishing fleet has exposed a troubling undercurrent of substance abuse, with nearly 40 workers testing positive in just four days. Yesterday, July 4, Marine Police in Ranong province joined forces with a network of agencies to root out drug use aboard local fishing boats. The coordinated operation, part of the so-called White Fishing…

  • New marine protection zones established around Koh Phayam | Thaiger

    New marine protection zones established around Koh Phayam

    The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has introduced new marine and coastal protection zones around Koh Phayam in Ranong. The initiative aims to safeguard the area’s rich biodiversity from the growing environmental challenges posed by tourism, fishing, and coastal development. Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on declared the implementation of a fresh ministerial regulation for the region. Published in the Royal…

  • South Thailand lends backdrop to latest ‘Jurassic World’ blockbuster | Thaiger

    South Thailand lends backdrop to latest ‘Jurassic World’ blockbuster

    Today marks a day of excitement for fans of the Jurassic Park franchise as the latest instalment from the blockbuster is released. Jurassic World: Rebirth is out in cinemas across the globe today, July 3. The seventh instalment of the Jurassic Park franchise was filmed across three southern provinces: Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang. Production ran from June 13 to…

  • Phang Nga James Bond museum shuts after one day, wastes 40m baht | Thaiger

    Phang Nga James Bond museum shuts after one day, wastes 40m baht

    A grand vision to lure tourists with the allure of James Bond has turned into a spectacular embarrassment, after a 40-million-baht museum in Phang Nga collapsed into decay barely 24 hours after opening. The so-called James Bond Museum, built to celebrate the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun, closed its doors on its very first day and has…

  • Durian variety draws Malaysia, Singapore tourists to Yala’s Betong | Thaiger

    Durian variety draws Malaysia, Singapore tourists to Yala’s Betong

    The Musang King durian, renowned for its rich, creamy texture and distinctive flavour, has begun to bear fruit in Betong, Yala, attracting hordes of Malaysian and Singaporean tourists eager to indulge in this prized variety. The durian season is in full swing, with many visitors organising tours to the plantations in Ban Bon Nam Ron, Tanae Marae subdistrict, Betong district,…

  • Hairy surprise: Thai woman finds pubic hair on ‘brand-new’ shaver | Thaiger

    Hairy surprise: Thai woman finds pubic hair on ‘brand-new’ shaver

    A Thai woman in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan took to social media to share her shocking online shopping experience after discovering what she suspected was pubic hair from an unidentified person on what was supposed to be a brand-new shaver. The 44 year old woman, Chompoonuch Wanchana, posted a video of the disturbing unboxing on her Facebook…

  • Fire in Hat Yai destroys five houses, no injuries reported | Thaiger

    Fire in Hat Yai destroys five houses, no injuries reported

    A fire broke out in a community along the railway in Hat Yai, Songkhla, destroying five houses. Six fire trucks were deployed to tackle the blaze, but accessibility issues due to narrow roads complicated efforts. Local residents suspect the fire originated from burning rubbish. Yesterday, June 30, the Hat Yai municipal fire brigade was alerted to a fire in the…

  • Giant king cobra invades Trang home, sparks lottery frenzy (video) | Thaiger

    Giant king cobra invades Trang home, sparks lottery frenzy (video)

    A giant king cobra caused panic in Trang province when it entered a home in search of prey, attacking a sizable cobra. Residents were alarmed by the incident and took note of the house number for lottery luck. Yesterday, June 27, Khajornkiat Kongkaew, known as “Nong Mew Bongla Trang” from the Bung Ya Bongla King network, was called to assist…

  • Teacher busted with drugs, weapons, and wildlife in Phang Nga | Thaiger

    Teacher busted with drugs, weapons, and wildlife in Phang Nga

    A 53 year old school teacher in Kuraburi, Phang Nga, was arrested in a major crackdown on illegal activities following an operation aimed at suppressing drugs and wildlife crime in the region. Today, June 26, Governor Pairot Petchyuan ordered a security operation, which saw local officials, including District Chief Kittipong Maneesri, set up a checkpoint on Mae Yai Bridge Road. The…

  • Unrest in Pattani as assailants target officials during rescue | Thaiger

    Unrest in Pattani as assailants target officials during rescue

    Unidentified assailants caused unrest in two districts of Pattani province, aiming to harm officials during rescue operations. The incidents yesterday, June 25, at 9.30pm, took place in Sai Buri and Kapho districts, leading to multiple road closures. In Sai Buri district, arsonists set fire to a vehicle belonging to the Paen Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, resulting in significant damage. Emergency services…

  • Earthquake swarm rattles Andaman amid tsunami rumblings | Thaiger

    Earthquake swarm rattles Andaman amid tsunami rumblings

    A flurry of undersea earthquakes off Thailand’s southern coast has put experts on high alert and locals are being urged to brush up on their evacuation plans, just in case. A popular Thai science page has warned that over 15 moderate tremors have rocked the Andaman Sea in the past few days, sparking fears of an underwater volcanic eruption —…

  • Jurassic World: Rebirth to boost Thai tourism (video) | Thaiger

    Jurassic World: Rebirth to boost Thai tourism (video)

    Thailand prepares to see a significant tourism boost thanks to the global release of Jurassic World: Rebirth, a major Hollywood blockbuster that chose the kingdom’s stunning landscapes as its backdrop. The film, which had its world premiere in London and New York, was primarily shot in Thailand, featuring breathtaking locations in Krabi, Phang Nga, and Trang. Not only will Jurassic World:…

  • Old Thai man shoots 2 neighbours over stolen palm trees | Thaiger

    Old Thai man shoots 2 neighbours over stolen palm trees

    A 79 year old Thai man shot two neighbours yesterday, June 22, in the southern province of Surat Thani, allegedly over a long-standing dispute involving stolen palm trees. Police from Kanchanadit Police Station were called to the scene in the Chang Sai subdistrict of Kanchanadit district at 8.46am. Inside one home, officers found 88 year old Angsri critically injured with…

  • Border patrol officer kills family of 3 in Songkhla car accident | Thaiger

    Border patrol officer kills family of 3 in Songkhla car accident

    A border patrol police officer crashed his car into a motorcycle and killed a family of three in the southern province of Songkhla, leaving the couple’s eldest son orphaned. The tragic incident came to light after a Thai man, Chaiwat Meesanthan, sought justice for his late friend via a post on his Facebook account yesterday, June 22. In part of…

  • Peacock tree crushes pickup in Surat Thani, driver killed | Thaiger

    Peacock tree crushes pickup in Surat Thani, driver killed

    A horrific accident unfolded in the southern province of Surat Thani when a towering peacock tree unexpectedly toppled onto a moving pickup truck, tragically killing the driver and injuring two passengers. The shocking incident occurred yesterday, June 20, around 4pm, on Soi Koteng Road in Village 8, Wat Pradu subdistrict, Mueang district, Surat Thani province. The Thakub Public Service Unit…

  • Triple bomb blasts at Pattani fair injure 7, stalls damaged | Thaiger

    Triple bomb blasts at Pattani fair injure 7, stalls damaged

    The aftermath of the triple bomb explosions at the Pattani Red Cross Fair resulted in injuries to seven people, including vendors and police personnel. The blasts, which occurred at three locations within the fair on Samanchai Sawan Road, Rue Samilae subdistrict, Mueang district, Pattani province, also caused significant damage to over 15 stalls. A reporter visiting the fair observed a…

  • Dead man with hands cuffed and legs bound found in Nakhon Si Thammarat | Thaiger

    Dead man with hands cuffed and legs bound found in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    The discovery of a dead man with his hands cuffed and legs bound in a palm plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, June 19, reminded locals in the area of a similar case that occurred two years prior. Residents of the Tha Rue sub-district in Mueang district detected a foul odour in the area and gathered…

  • Frightened Thai man fires at police mistaking raid for threat | Thaiger

    Frightened Thai man fires at police mistaking raid for threat

    A Thai man repeatedly opened fire on a group of police officers during a raid of his neighbour’s home in the southern province of Trang, claiming he was frightened to see so many armed men near his home. Officers from the Drug Suppression and Investigation Divisions of Trang Provincial Police were preparing to raid a house on Na Mueang Phet–Sikao…

  • Soldier killed by sniper in Yala raises security concerns | Thaiger

    Soldier killed by sniper in Yala raises security concerns

    An incident in Bannang Sata district, Yala province, resulted in the death of one soldier, identified as 22 year old Pakom Suden. The soldier was shot in the head by a sniper yesterday, June 17, while on patrol in the village of Wang Hin, revealing the involvement of highly trained perpetrators. Pakom succumbed to his injuries at Bannang Sata Hospital.…

  • Burmese man arrested with gun and ammo in Phang Nga | Thaiger

    Burmese man arrested with gun and ammo in Phang Nga

    A Burmese man has been arrested in Phang Nga, southern Thailand, after being caught with a homemade firearm and ammunition, just days after locals reported his suspicious activities. The man, identified only as Ruay, was found in a hut without a number in Village 4, Lo Yuang subdistrict, Takua Thung district, following a tip-off that he was frequently seen carrying…

  • Drunk police officer kills woman in fatal crash in southern Thailand | Thaiger

    Drunk police officer kills woman in fatal crash in southern Thailand

    A drunk police officer is facing four charges after crashing his vehicle and killing a 62 year old woman in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Sunday, June 15. Officers from Thung Song Police Station were called to arrest the driver of a grey sedan, Police Senior Sergeant Major Wicharn, on Sai Serm Chart Road in the Thung…

  • Nakhon Si Thammarat demands removal of 15-year unused hydropower plant | Thaiger

    Nakhon Si Thammarat demands removal of 15-year unused hydropower plant

    Residents of Nakhon Si Thammarat are voicing their dissatisfaction with the Keereewong Project, a community hydropower plant that has remained inactive for nearly 15 years despite an initial construction budget of 20 million baht. Locals are now calling for the removal of the unused facility to reclaim the land for community use. The hydropower plant, located in Mueang subdistrict, Lan…

  • Bomb explosion in Narathiwat kills ranger, injures five | Thaiger

    Bomb explosion in Narathiwat kills ranger, injures five

    An explosion in the Si Sakhon district of Narathiwat province resulted in the death of a 27 year old paramilitary ranger, Amru Sama-ae, and injuries to five others. The incident occurred at 8.50pm yesterday, June 14, when unidentified people detonated a bomb targeting the 4916 paramilitary ranger patrol (mobile unit) at the Sri Banphot subdistrict’s bridge area. The fatality was…

  • Presumed dead man found alive after week in mangrove mud | Thaiger

    Presumed dead man found alive after week in mangrove mud

    Rescuers assisted a Thai man who was trapped in mud in a mangrove forest in the southern province of Chumphon for seven days, after a local fisherman discovered him and initially mistook him for a corpse. The 53 year old fisherman, Sila Wongpaen, fled the mangrove in shock and filed a report at Ban Wisai Nue Police Station, stating that…

  • Man dies from electrocution climbing tower in southern Thailand | Thaiger

    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…

  • Pattani police hunt suspects after twin bombings in night market (video) | Thaiger

    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.…