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 Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Phatthalung man claims he runs naked in search of true love
A Thai man ran naked through a community in the southern province of Phatthalung, claiming he did it in search of true love, prompting neighbours to call the police to investigate. Residents living along Phetchakasem Road in the Tha Miram sub-district alerted officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station after witnessing the man running past their homes unclothed at around 11pm…
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School lunch scam: Supreme Court jails ex-director for 25 years
Thailand’s top court has slammed the door on a crooked school director who cheated children out of lunches, locking him away for 25 years. The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from Somchao Sitthichen, former director of Ban Tha Mai School in Surat Thani, in one of the country’s most notorious school lunch corruption scandals. The case first grabbed headlines…
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Car bomb rips through Narathiwat checkpoint, 1 injured
Terror returned to Thailand’s Deep South last night when a car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district, injuring a defence volunteer and triggering a brief gun battle. The attack unfolded at around 8.15pm yesterday, August 20, in Sala Mai subdistrict, where local volunteers were manning a regular security post. According to police reports, the explosion…
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Police accused of embezzlement during gambling raid in Nakhon Si Thammarat
Gamblers in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat accused police officers of taking 50,000 baht in cash, which should have been presented as evidence in a criminal case. A member of the Thung Song District Office, Chanin Jaidee, shared details of the alleged corruption with Channel 8 in the hope of seeking justice for gamblers arrested on August 13.…
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Stray dog in Songkhla melts hearts begging for toy from claw machine
A stray dog in the southern province of Songkhla has gone viral on Thai TikTok after being filmed begging for a toy from a claw machine. The TikToker who captured the moment was praised by netizens for giving the dog his first-ever toy. The videos were shared by 23 year old Kannika “View” Eabsamrong, on her TikTok account, @i.view12, on…
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Thai uncle with history of drug use beats niece to death in Trang
Police yesterday, August 17, arrested a Thai man for beating his niece to death at a house in the southern province of Trang on Saturday, August 16. The Siam Ruamjai Pu-in Rescue Foundation was alerted to the incident at 10.36am on Saturday and rushed to the scene, a house in the Huay Yod district of Trang, to transport the victim,…
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Thailand’s major drug bust seizes 900 kg of crystal meth
A major drug bust in Thailand resulted in the seizure of 900 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, valued at 135 million baht, being transported from central Thailand to Narathiwat. Additionally, police confiscated related assets worth 20 million baht. Yesterday, August 16, at the Front Operations Centre of the Royal Thai Police in Yala, Phumtham Wechayachai, the deputy prime minister and acting…
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Pattani spiritual medium accused of sexually assaulting nearly 30 boys
Teenage boys filed a complaint against a male spiritual medium in the southern province of Pattani for sexually assaulting them. The number of victims is believed to have reached 30 people. The non-profit organisation, Be One, accompanied 13 teenage boys and their families to the Mueang Pattani Police Station to file a complaint against the medium, 25 year old Chondanai. Chondanai…
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Chained body found at Phang Nga pier sparks murder probe
A grisly murder investigation is underway in Phang Nga after the body of a woman was found chained to two concrete dumbbells near a community pier. The chilling discovery was made yesterday, August 8, near the Ban Tha Yai pier in Mueang district. Police Lieutenant Pheerawit Chaichanyut of Khok Kloi Police Station, leading the case, said officers responded with Kusoltham…
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Phang Nga worker’s leg mangled in shrimp pond horror (video)
A shrimp farm turned into a horror scene yesterday after a worker’s leg was mangled by a water aerator in Phang Nga’s Takua Thung district. Emergency responders from the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation (Loma Khok Kloy) and a medical team from Takua Thung Hospital rushed to the scene at 11.57am yesterday, August 6, following a report of a man trapped in…
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Loan shark conflict suspected after man found dead in Phatthalung plantation
A Thai man died in a fatal shooting in a palm plantation in the southern province of Phatthalung, with police suspecting a conflict within a loan shark gang as the motive for the murder. A letter addressed to his mother, discovered in his bag, is believed to provide a crucial clue. The body was discovered at around 4pm yesterday, August…
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Thai woman’s ‘fat belly’ was 8kg cyst shock
What looked like a bulging belly from too much food turned out to be an 8-kilogramme tumour—and the woman had no idea. A 31 year old Thai woman named Ratchanaporn from Satun province lived for years with a massive ovarian cyst growing inside her abdomen, completely unaware of its presence. Her family assumed she was overweight due to her eating…
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Jurassic World shoot sparks tourism surge in Thailand
Thailand’s stunning southern landscapes just scored a Hollywood blockbuster boost—and the dinosaurs aren’t the only stars drawing attention. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has teamed up with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for a global influencer campaign to promote Jurassic World Rebirth, the latest instalment in the iconic franchise. The campaign flew in 30 top influencers from around the world…
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Gunman pursued after fatal M16 shooting in Narathiwat
In Narathiwat province, police are pursuing a gunman who fatally shot a 50 year old man with an M16 rifle on August 4. The incident, occurring at 3.35pm, also resulted in another person sustaining injuries. Thirty-two shell casings were found at the scene. Police Colonel Prayong Khotrasa, Deputy Commander of Narathiwat Provincial Police, alongside Police Colonel Suppachart Na Phatthalung, Chief…
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Thai man allegedly assaults delivery worker and steals 500 baht from victim
A Thai parcel delivery worker accused a male customer, an official at a sub-district administrative office in the southern province of Songkhla, of physically assaulting him and stealing 500 baht. The delivery worker, 42 year old Pongsiri, shared the details of the alleged assault with Hat Yai Focus news agency in a plea for justice. He reported the incident to…
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Dead sea turtle found on Phang Nga beach sparks pollution fears
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has launched an investigation after a decaying sea turtle carcass was discovered washed up on the sands in front of The Sands Khao Lak by Katathani Resort in Phang Nga’s Takua Pa district. The grim find was first reported to the Phang Nga Provincial Marine Office yesterday, July 30. Officials from the…
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Thai teacher suspended for striking 8 year old boy with broomstick
A Thai teacher in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat struck an eight year old schoolboy with a broomstick after he accidentally dropped a bead on the classroom floor. The boy’s parents shared CCTV footage of the violent punishment with news agencies, claiming the school ignored the incident. They said the assault occurred on July 18, shortly before the…
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Koh Pha Ngan drone thieves nabbed for targeting tourist homes
Tourist Police on Koh Pha Ngan arrested four Myanmar nationals accused of using drones to scope out rented homes of unsuspecting tourists before breaking in and stealing valuables. The men, aged between 25 and 30, were caught at around 5.30pm yesterday, July 22, at an unregistered rental property in Village 3, where they were reportedly laying low. The arrests came…
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Police officer fatally shot near home in Narathiwat
A shooting occurred last night resulting in the death of 32 year old Police Lieutenant Ruzdee Jedorlor from the Su-ngai Padi Police Station. The incident yesterday, July 22, took place near his residence in Paluru subdistrict, Su-ngai Padi district, Narathiwat province. The officer was preparing to attend a funeral when he was fatally shot. Investigations revealed that as Police Lieutenant…
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Stranded boat captain rescued after 4 hours in Krabi sea
A Thai boat captain escaped with his life after his delivery boat capsized during a thunderstorm and he floated in the sea for four hours near Koh Mai Phai and Koh Phi Phi in the southern province of Krabi. The Krabi Provincial Port Security Control Centre was alerted on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20, that a hotel on Koh…
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Thailand to send back stolen orangutans to Indonesia
Thailand is preparing to send four rescued orangutans back to Indonesia by the end of the year, marking a symbolic step in the fight against wildlife trafficking — and celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) confirmed that the orangutans were seized in two separate illegal wildlife…
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Man drowns after pickup plunges off Nakhon Si Thammarat bridge
A late-night shortcut turned fatal for one man in Nakhon Si Thammarat, when a routine drive ended in horror as his pickup truck plunged off an unfinished bridge, claiming his life in a freak drowning accident. The tragic incident unfolded around 8.30pm yesterday, July 17, when 51 year old Bamrung’s brown-black Isuzu pickup veered off a construction zone in Village…
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Contractor kills knife-wielding man in Trang shootout
A knife-wielding man was shot dead in broad daylight on a village road in Trang province, after reportedly terrorising locals in a drug-fuelled outburst. The gunman was identified as a local contractor who claimed he was acting in self-defence. The incident unfolded yesterday, July 17, in Huai Yot district, when 40 year old Pathompong, a contractor, fatally shot 32 year…
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Love feud sparks gunfight at Phatthalung sports event
What was meant to be a night of community celebration turned into a battleground, as a simmering love feud exploded in gunfire at a district sports event in the southern province of Phatthalung, leaving two teenagers fighting for their lives. Yesterday, July 17, officers from Pa Phayom Police Station responded to an emergency call reporting a shooting at the annual…
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Mute Thai man arrested for selling porn featuring young boys
Police arrested a mute Thai man in the southern province of Phattalung for tricking young boys into engaging in sexual activities with him and secretly recording explicit videos to sell on the Telegram app. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) received a tip-off from the International Protection Alliance (IPA) that a 34 year old Thai man, Phuwadon, shared multiple…
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Buzzing: Thai motorcyclist’s bee TikTok video sparks lottery fever
A Thai TikToker attracted the attention of lottery enthusiasts after posting a buzzing video showing a swarm of bees building a hive on the side mirror of a motorcycle parked by the roadside in the southern province of Surat Thani. The TikTok user, @pimpitchayasornk, shared the video on July 10 with the caption, “Go all out! #Lottery @LuckyNumbers #AllTimeLuckyLotteryNumbers.” In…
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Bomb attack injures four rangers in Yala’s Bannang Sata district
A group of unidentified perpetrators orchestrated a bomb attack on a unit of rangers from the 3306 Task Force in Bannang Sata district, Yala province. The attack, which took place around 1.20pm, yesterday, July 15, left four rangers injured while on patrol in Moo 2, Ban Kue Da village. They were promptly transported to Bannang Sata hospital for urgent medical…
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Thai ministers deny US bid for Phang Nga navy base (video)
Top Thai ministers have slammed swirling rumours that the United States tried to swap tariff perks for military access to a strategic naval base on the Andaman coast, calling the claims baseless and speculative. Three senior Cabinet ministers today firmly denied a report suggesting the US had demanded use of Thailand’s Phang Nga naval base during recent tariff negotiations. Deputy…
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Woman caught red-handed with 600 meth pills in Phang Nga
Police in Phang Nga have arrested a 33 year old woman who tried to hide a huge haul of methamphetamine pills along a quiet road in Takua Thung district. The bust unfolded at 1.50pm on Wednesday, July 9, when officers from the Special Operations Division of Provincial Police Region 8 swooped in as the suspect attempted to conceal the drugs.…
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Illegal logging racket busted in South Thailand
Underwater rescue teams from the Rom Sai Rescue Foundation in Satun province uncovered an illegal logging operation yesterday. Acting on a tip-off, they discovered submerged timber in Ban Thung Mai, Nam Phut subdistrict, La-ngu district, strategically hidden to evade detection. Although only remnants of the timber were found, the concealment was sophisticated. Previously, officials were alerted to illegal logging in…
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