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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    The real cost of being a digital nomad in Thailand

    Thailand is a popular destination for digital nomads, known for its affordable living, lively culture, and modern facilities. With its warm climate, great food, and friendly communities, it's an ideal place for remote workers to balance work and travel. However,...

  • Chinese construction firm raises safety fears at Songkhla Hospital

    Chinese construction firm raises safety fears at Songkhla Hospital

    Concerns have emerged over the safety of a new outpatient building being constructed at Songkhla Hospital, with fears exacerbated by the involvement of a Chinese company previously linked to a collapsed building. The 426 million baht project, managed by China Railway No. 10, is under scrutiny after the firm’s involvement in a tragic incident at the Office of the Auditor…

  • All aboard: Songkhla sets sail for cruise boom with new port plan

    All aboard: Songkhla sets sail for cruise boom with new port plan

    In a bold bid to transform Songkhla into a cruise hotspot, the local Chamber of Commerce has proposed the development of a dedicated cruise port to woo affluent Western tourists, while still charming traditional visitors from Malaysia and Singapore. During an eventful visit by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in February, Songphon Changsiriwattanathamrong, president of the Chamber of Commerce, pitched the…

  • Thai Cabinet approves 721m baht for Islamic teachers’ salary boost

    Thai Cabinet approves 721m baht for Islamic teachers’ salary boost

    To enhance peace-building efforts in Thailand’s Deep South, the Cabinet has approved a hefty 721 million baht to boost the salaries of Islamic school teachers. The decision aims to support educators in the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun, along with specific districts in Songkhla. Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukul Prueksanusak announced the funding allocation yesterday, April 1, revealing…

  • Thai man physically assaults mother over inheritance dispute

    Thai man physically assaults mother over inheritance dispute

    A Thai man physically assaulted his mother over an inheritance dispute, accusing her of squandering the family’s assets with her new husband following their father’s death. A Thai mother took to social media to share videos showing her son attacking her outside her home in the southern province of Surat Thani. “I have been caring for my children for 34 years,…

  • 2.1 million Yaba pills, 210kg of crystal meth found in crashed car

    2.1 million Yaba pills, 210kg of crystal meth found in crashed car

    Police discovered 2.1 million tablets of methamphetamine, also known as Yaba, and 210 kilogrammes of crystal meth in a car involved in an accident on a road in the southern province of Phatthalung. Four suspects who were in the car successfully fled the scene. A motorist and residents near the accident site called officers from Nakhayat Police Station to investigate…

  • Similan scandal: Park boss booted over dodgy e-ticket scheme

    Similan scandal: Park boss booted over dodgy e-ticket scheme

    A top official at one of Thailand’s most iconic national parks has been reportedly booted from his post amid a brewing scandal over alleged ticket fraud. Rittikorn Nunloy, head of Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province, has been transferred to an inactive position following reports of serious irregularities in the park’s e-ticketing system. The Department of National…

  • Funeral woe turns to joy as Thai parents realise ‘dead’ son is alive

    Funeral woe turns to joy as Thai parents realise ‘dead’ son is alive

    Thai parents held a three-day funeral for their son before discovering that he was still alive and undergoing treatment at a hospital in the southern province of Phatthalung. Amarawadee Datekhao shared the case of mistaken identity that her family experienced with ThaiRath yesterday, March 26. She explained that her 17 year old son, Pongsaphak Thaneerat, and his friend were rushed…

  • Thai boys post video when killing 33 year old man on social media

    Thai boys post video when killing 33 year old man on social media

    Police arrested two Thai boys after they filmed themselves brutally murdering a 33 year old man in a rubber plantation in Trang and posted the shocking footage on social media. Esor News reported the shocking murder by the young offenders in Trang yesterday, March 25. The page stated that the 14 year old boys took revenge by killing a 33…

  • Thai woman dies in car crash after van driver abandons her mid-trip

    Thai woman dies in car crash after van driver abandons her mid-trip

    A drunk Thai woman met a tragic end after being dumped mid-journey by a van driver in Surat Thani. The driver allegedly kicked her out for annoying other passengers—only for her to be killed in a horrific car crash moments later. Officers from Tha Chi Police Station were alerted to the woman’s death on Highway 41 in the Ban Na…

  • Lesson in love: Jealous wife goes full throttle in mistress chase

    Lesson in love: Jealous wife goes full throttle in mistress chase

    The jealous wife of a Thai school director pursued his alleged mistress in a high-speed car chase before eventually attacking her on a road in the southern province of Songkhla. The social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet shared a video on Facebook on Sunday, March 23, showing a high-speed chase between the school director’s wife and the victim. Netizens noted…

  • Thailand plans 1 trillion baht land bridge to boost trade efficiency

    Thailand plans 1 trillion baht land bridge to boost trade efficiency

    The Ministry of Transport has introduced draft legislation for establishing a Southern Economic Zone, facilitating a substantial Land Bridge transport project to connect the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand. This bill proposes a commission to expedite the Southern Economic Corridor’s development across Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit expressed hopes for the…

  • Masked killers fatally shoot cattle farmer in Pattani

    Masked killers fatally shoot cattle farmer in Pattani

    A chilling murder in the southern province of Pattani has left a community reeling, as four masked assailants ruthlessly gunned down a local cattle farmer in a brutal execution-style shooting. The killers escaped on two motorcycles, leaving the police scrambling to uncover the motive behind the cold-blooded attack. The horrific shooting unfolded in Ban Klang subdistrict, Panare district, Pattani province…

  • Pipe bomb attack injures five at Pattani police checkpoint

    Pipe bomb attack injures five at Pattani police checkpoint

    Two people disguised as Muslim women threw a pipe bomb at a police checkpoint in Pattani province, injuring five residents, including a family of five. The incident occurred at 5.40pm, yesterday, March 19, when officers from the Sai Buri District Police Station were alerted to the attack at the Wat Lieb checkpoint in Taluban subdistrict. The explosion affected passersby, prompting…

  • Man arrested for using fake licence plate in Phang Nga

    Man arrested for using fake licence plate in Phang Nga

    A man has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and Highway Police after being caught with a fake licence plate in a bizarre case of forgery in Phang Nga. The suspect, identified as Nattawut, was taken into custody for the offence of forgery and use of forged official documents after a swift police operation. The case began in…

  • 2 German models steal from Koh Pha Ngan shop twice in one day

    2 German models steal from Koh Pha Ngan shop twice in one day

    The Thai owner of a handcrafted home goods store on Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani refused to compromise with two German male models who stole products from her store twice on the same day yesterday, March 18. The owner of the Sprout store, Ploy, took to Facebook and Instagram to expose the two German thieves after…

  • Irishman killed in high-speed crash in Phang Nga’s Khao Lak

    Irishman killed in high-speed crash in Phang Nga’s Khao Lak

    A tragic accident claimed the life of a 54 year old Irishman when he was struck by a speeding car in Khao Lak last night. The victim, identified as Neil Christopher More Oferrall, was killed instantly when a black Ford Everest hit him on Phetkasem Road, in front of the Sangsawan Resort, around 9pm yesterday, March 17. Police quickly arrived…

  • Landslide at pipe installation site claims 2 lives in South Thailand

    Landslide at pipe installation site claims 2 lives in South Thailand

    A landslide during a pipe installation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat claimed the lives of two workers and injured another. Officers from Khanom Police Station investigated the fatal accident at 2.30pm yesterday, March 17, at a construction site on Pu Chao Saming Road in the Khanom district of Surat Thani. Upon arrival, officers encountered the landslide at…

  • Volunteer escapes car bomb attack in Pattani, vehicle damaged

    Volunteer escapes car bomb attack in Pattani, vehicle damaged

    A female territorial defence volunteer today narrowly escaped a car bombing in Pattani province. The explosion severely damaged her vehicle, which caught fire. Emergency services responded promptly to assist at the scene. At 10am, today, March 17, the incident occurred in Mueang district’s Moo 2, Ban Cho Kapo, Karubi subdistrict. The volunteer, Suriyanee, was en route to work from her residence…

  • Thai woman loses hand after shirt caught in motorcycle wheel

    Thai woman loses hand after shirt caught in motorcycle wheel

    A Thai woman lost her left hand at the weekend after her shirt was caught by the wheel of a motorcycle while travelling on a road in the southern province of Songkhla. CCTV footage of the motorcycle accident circulated on Thai social media platforms after it occurred on Saturday, March 15. The video showed the victim, 55 year old Sudarat…

  • Rubber plantation worker shot dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Rubber plantation worker shot dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    A 52 year old rubber plantation worker was fatally shot while riding his motorcycle to work in Nakhon Si Thammarat province yesterday, March 14. Police are actively investigating the case to determine the motive and apprehend the gunman. Police Lieutenant Hassan Wongmathong, Deputy Inspector at Chulabhorn Police Station, received a report of the shooting incident near a rubber plantation entrance…

  • Narathiwat Court sentences 7 men for assault on 12 year old girl

    Narathiwat Court sentences 7 men for assault on 12 year old girl

    The Narathiwat Court sentenced seven men involved in the sexual assault of a 12 year old girl in Grade 6, with sentences ranging from two years to 87 years in prison. Kosolwat Inthuchanyong, Director General of the Office of Rights Protection and Legal Aid for the Public (SCP), yesterday, March 13, revealed progress in the case of 16 men, both…

  • Fire at Surat Thani car dealership causes 2 million baht damage

    Fire at Surat Thani car dealership causes 2 million baht damage

    A raging fire tore through a used car dealership near Vibhavadi Camp Hospital in Mueang district, Surat Thani, in the early hours of today, leaving behind a trail of destruction worth over 2 million baht. The dramatic blaze, which erupted at around 3.40am, today, March 14, sent emergency services scrambling to the scene as towering flames engulfed vehicles and the…

  • Tragic crash: Trang train-pickup collision kills 4

    Tragic crash: Trang train-pickup collision kills 4

    A tragic train and pickup truck collision in Kantang district, Trang province, resulted in the deaths of four passengers in the back of the truck. The train driver had sounded the horn but could not stop the train in time, leading to the crash at 2.40pm yesterday, March 13. The incident involved a rapid train number 168 travelling from Kantang…

  • Cold feet, hot lawsuit: Jilted Thai bride-to-be sues runaway groom

    Cold feet, hot lawsuit: Jilted Thai bride-to-be sues runaway groom

    A Thai bride-to-be sued her future husband for jilting her at the altar in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat and causing her damages over 500,000 baht. The accused groom-to-be denied the allegations and claimed that his girlfriend’s family threatened to kill him. The 34 year old Thai woman, Nack, filed a complaint against her 33 year old boyfriend,…

  • Bomb explosion narrowly misses vehicle in Narathiwat

    Bomb explosion narrowly misses vehicle in Narathiwat

    A deadly roadside bomb detonated in Narathiwat, narrowly missing a vehicle carrying territorial defence volunteers, in what police suspect was an insurgent attack. The explosion yesterday, March 11, on the Sungai Kolok-Sungai Padi road caused significant damage but miraculously left no casualties. The blast occurred at 1.59pm at a U-turn in Ban Bango Humo, Mueang subdistrict, Sungai Padi district. Police…

  • Lottery hiss-teria in Songkhla as king cobra slithers into family car

    Lottery hiss-teria in Songkhla as king cobra slithers into family car

    A routine afternoon turned into a heart-stopping moment for a Songkhla family when a 3-metre-long king cobra slithered into a parked car’s engine, sending locals into a frenzy. While officials rushed to capture the venomous intruder, superstitious residents had their eyes on something else—the car’s registration number for the upcoming lottery draw. The dramatic encounter took place in Ban Khlong…

  • Pipe bomb attack at Pattani checkpoint during Ramadan (video)

    Pipe bomb attack at Pattani checkpoint during Ramadan (video)

    A motorcycle-riding assailant threw a pipe bomb at a checkpoint near the Koh Pho market in Pattani province. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Police suspect the incident is part of a series of disruptions during Ramadan, following a similar occurrence earlier this month. At 7.10pm yesterday, March 10, police at Koh Pho Police Station received a report of an attack…

  • Thai monk commits suicide after being blackmailed with explicit video

    Thai monk commits suicide after being blackmailed with explicit video

    A Thai monk committed suicide at a temple in the southern province of Chum Phon on Friday, after a call centre scam blackmailed him with an explicit video and swindled him out of 30,000 baht. Officers from Lamae Police Station were called to Nong Bua Boat Temple in the Lamae district of Chumphon to investigate the death of the 50…

  • Surat Thani to welcome new cruise terminal by 2032

    Surat Thani to welcome new cruise terminal by 2032

    Plans are underway to construct a large cruise terminal in Surat Thani, set for completion by 2032 in a move to boost the tourism economy and accommodate increasing international cruise traffic in the southern province. Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub announced this during a visit to Surat Thani yesterday, March 9, to assess the port development progress, following the Cabinet’s approval…

  • Nighttime explosion in Pattani claims three lives, investigation underway (video)

    Nighttime explosion in Pattani claims three lives, investigation underway (video)

    A nighttime explosion in the Sai Buri district, Pattani province, resulted in the immediate deaths of three officials. The incident occurred yesterday, March 8 at approximately 11.20pm, prompting police to await daylight for further investigation due to concerns about additional explosive devices. Residents are urged to report any suspicious person or objects to the police promptly. At around 11.20pm, the…