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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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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…
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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,…
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Chaowalit aka Sia Paeng chase: Woman arrested in connection with criminal’s hospital escape
A significant development has unfolded in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a southern province in Thailand, as police apprehended a woman for allegedly aiding a prisoner in his escape from a local hospital. The prisoner, known by the alias Sia Paeng, and whose real name is Chaowalit Thongduang, is still at large. Chaowalit’s escape and the subsequent arrest of the woman, identified…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Deadly minivan crash in northeast Thailand leaves one dead and 15 injured
A deadly minivan crash resulted in one fatality and left 15 individuals injured in the Sang Kha district of Surin, northeast Thailand. The incident unfolded on Sunday on No. 24 Road (Chokchai – Det-U-Dom Road) in Baan Santisuk, situated within the Phra Kaew sub-district. Emergency services swiftly arrived at the scene where they discovered an upturned minivan by the roadside.…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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Yala temple’s amusing rules for resident spirits capture netizens’ attention
An intriguing set of rules has emerged from a renowned temple in Yala, aimed at the spirits residing within the temple’s vicinity. The rules, designed to foster harmony among the monks, villagers, and spirits, have gone viral, sparking amusement among netizens. This unusual story began gaining traction when a vinyl signboard with the rules was posted within the famous Yala…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Rain pours on parade: Flooding sours vegetable prices as demand greens up
The recent heavy rainfall and flooding in Central Thailand have led to increased vegetable prices at the fresh market in Betong, Yala, as the supply to the market has been significantly reduced. As the Vegetarian Festival approaches, the demand for vegetables is surmounting, causing prices to surge even more. The prices have doubled for some varieties of vegetables. In the…
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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…
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Whooping cough warning: Pertussis cases surge, one fatality in southern Thailand
The Disease Control Department (DCD) in Songkhla province reported an alarming increase in the number of cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, particularly among children. The department confirmed the diagnosis of two patients in the region, with one fatality in Pattani province. The disease, caused by the bacteria B. pertussis, is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing,…
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Tourism body urges Thai government to lift Malaysian bus restrictions
A plea has been lodged by the Tourism Association of Phatthalung to the government, urging for the removal of restrictions that prevent Malaysian buses from entering Thailand‘s southern provinces. The goal is to revitalise local tourism, currently experiencing a lull due to these limitations. Jarun Kaewjeesub, the president of the Tourism Association of Phatthalung, declared that a separate letter will…
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