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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Community chief ends life after shooting ex-girlfriend in Phetchaburi
A Thai community chief in the southern province of Phetchaburi committed suicide after shooting his ex-girlfriend at her beauty salon. Fortunately, the woman survived the shooting but remains in a critical condition. A Thai man, Luechai, rushed to his girlfriend’s beauty salon in the Banlat district of Phetchaburi after hearing two gunshots while talking to her on the phone. Upon…
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Belgian thief’s key to crime: Unlocking 200,000 baht (video)
Songkhla Provincial Immigration Police yesterday arrested a Belgian man after he stole hotel key cards from Thai and Malaysian victims and robbed them of 200,000 baht. Police arrested the 26 year old Belgian thief, Abdelali, at a hotel in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla province yesterday, August 1, after the Thai and Malaysian victims filed a theft complaint with…
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Phatthalung named agricultural product development hub
Phatthalung has been designated as the southern hub for an agricultural product development initiative by the Thailand Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Provincial Chamber of Commerce. This decision aims to bolster the agricultural sector by showcasing and distributing quality local products nationwide. At least eight agricultural products from Phatthalung have received the government’s Product…
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Hapless Thai thieves arrested after showing off ill-gotten wealth
Two hapless Thai thieves were arrested after showing off their ill-gotten wealth to neighbours in the southern province of Songkhla. A 67 year old homeowner and victim, Itsaree, filed a complaint with Mueang Songkhla Police Station after a long list of valuables disappeared from her home on Saiburi Road in Songkhla. The theft took place at about 8pm on July…
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Thai woman killed by stray bullet after neighbours’ dog dispute
Two Thai men engaged in a heated argument over a dog which led to the shooting and death of a 61 year old neighbour at a rented room in the southern province of Trang. A 64 year old Thai man, Samran, was charged with intentional murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of a gun after the death of a 61…
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Neighbours come together for peace in Myanmar conflict
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa called on Myanmar’s neighbouring countries to strengthen their cooperation in encouraging all parties involved in Myanmar’s civil war to halt the ongoing conflict since the 2021 military coup. Maris spoke to Kyodo News and Thai media in Vientiane yesterday, July 29, noting that he had informal discussions with his counterparts from Myanmar and India concerning the…
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Thai monk in southern Thailand accused of sexually abusing dogs
A Thai monk, and acting abbot at a temple in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, denied bestiality and sexually abusing dogs, claiming the other two monks attempted to ruin his name. Several local news agencies in Nakhon Si Thammarat reported that a worker at the temple announced to locals that the acting abbot, 42 year old Daeng, sexually…
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Prime minister fears for Trat amid worsening floods
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin voiced serious concern about the ongoing flooding in Trat, which has persisted since it was first reported last week. The government is closely monitoring the situation in the eastern province, according to a Facebook post by the Thai premier yesterday, July 29. The 62 year old Thai prime minister expressed gratitude to the Royal Thai Armed…
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Bomb and gunfire injures four officers in Pattani
Khok Pho district in Pattani was thrown into chaos yesterday as negotiations failed, leading to an assailant throwing a bomb and opening fire on officials. Initial reports indicate four officers were injured in the incident. Officials arrived at Ban Khlong Chang in Na Ket subdistrict, Khok Pho district, Pattani province at 7.30am yesterday, July 26 following a tip-off from local…
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Efforts intensify to protect rare marine species in Andaman Sea
Efforts to protect rare marine species along the Andaman Sea have intensified, with new aerial surveys revealing the presence of dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins, highlighting a thriving marine ecosystem. The initiative, spearheaded by senior officials, aims to conserve these precious resources. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Pachara Wongsoonsawat has shown significant concern for the…
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Thai rapist attempts to kill 14 year old victim after her pregnancy
The family of a 14 year old Thai girl is seeking justice after an influential 72 year old man in the southern province of Surat Thani repeatedly raped the teenager for over a year and tried to kill her to conceal his crime after she became pregnant. The victim’s 49 year old mother, Suphannee, filed a rape complaint at Hua…
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Yala durian farmers struggle with low prices after export rejection
Durian farmers in Yala are facing severe financial hardship due to plummeting prices, with farm-gate prices ranging from 55 to 80 baht per kilogramme. Farmers are appealing for assistance to raise the prices to at least 100 baht per kilogramme. The issue arose after China rejected four shipments of durians, totalling approximately 17,000 kilogrammes, citing the presence of caterpillars. Investigations…
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TB outbreak looming on Thailand-Myanmar border
Mae Sot Hospital, on the edge of the Thailand-Myanmar border in Tak province, issued a stark warning about a looming tuberculosis (TB) outbreak. Mae Sot Hospital Director Dr Rames Wongwilairat urged health and immigration officials in Mae Sot to stay vigilant. He emphasised the need for personnel in close contact with Myanmar migrants to wear face masks as a preventive…
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Cult blamed for deadly killing rampage in Surat Thani
Police reported that a strange cult allegedly led a Thai man to go on a killing rampage yesterday, taking the life of his niece and injuring her daughter at a palm plantation in the southern province. The violent rampage was reported at approximately 2pm yesterday, July 25, at a palm plantation in the Phrasaeng district of Surat Thani. Officers from…
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Songkhla raid uncovers smuggled goods worth 8 million baht
Songkhla police raided a warehouse used to store smuggled goods, including e-cigarettes and foreign alcohol, with an estimated loss of 8 million baht. Investigations are underway to apprehend all involved parties. Chamleng Buasong, a Songkhla excise officer, led a coordinated operation with officers from the Excise Department, Region 9 Excise Office, Hat Yai Police Station, and Hat Yai District Administrative…
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Ex-police officer foiled in Phatthalung gold shop robbery attempt
A former police officer, dismissed from service, attempted to rob a gold shop in Phatthalung’s central market. Armed with a gun and a hammer, the suspect was thwarted by the shop owner who noticed the gun was fake and managed to apprehend him. Phatthalung City Police Station received a report at around 11.30am from a concerned citizen about a robbery…
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Highways Department’s tree-mendous tribute for king’s birthday
The Department of Highways, District 16, recently launched a tree-planting initiative in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday. The event took place at Highway 44, between the kilometre markers 132+700, in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani. The event saw the participation of over 700 individuals, including executives, highway department officials, employees, and contractors. Led by Paijit Saengthong, Director…
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Phuket leads in dengue crisis: Kids worst hit in southern Thailand
Phuket has emerged as the hotspot for dengue fever in upper southern Thailand, with the highest infection rates among seven provinces, according to the Department of Disease Control’s regional office. Dr Darinda Rosa, acting Director of Health Region 11’s Disease Control Office, highlighted a significant surge in dengue cases from January 1 to yesterday, totalling 5,853. Children aged 10-14 are…
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Monk leaves monkhood after slapping novice in Trang province
A monk in Trang province quietly left the monkhood following a viral video showing him slapping a young novice. The incident, which occurred on July 13, sparked widespread online outrage, with many calling for severe punishment. Sukpichai Chaowakul, director of the Trang Provincial Office of Buddhism, along with Phra Khru Maha Kettarak, the district monk head of Wang Wiset, and…
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Koh Panyi vendors slammed for fleecing South Korean YouTubers
Thai netizens condemned local vendors on Koh Panyi, an island in the southern province of Phang Nga, for overcharging two South Korean YouTubers. Some netizens claimed that the island locals also overcharged domestic tourists. The drama emerged after the YouTube channel Cullen HateBerry released a video in which Paek Ki Deuk, better known as Cullen, and his friend Jung visited…
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Thai woman visits 2 jailed ex-boyfriends who stab her over jealousy
A Thai woman stabbed in the chest by two of her ex-boyfriends visited Phetchaburi Provincial Court to visit them after their arrest, admitting she still loved them. Her current boyfriend, who was cut on his ear, was not aware of the visit. Three injured victims, a Thai woman named Wassana, her boyfriend Dream, and her older sister Salaiporn, were admitted to…
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2 Thai men attack ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend with knives
Two unhinged jealous ex-boyfriends managed to evade arrest following a vicious knife attack on their ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at her home in the southern province of Phetchaburi. A medical team at Cha-am Hospital reported the stabbing to Cha-am Police Station after three victims were admitted to surgery on Sunday night, July 21. The Thai man, Dream, was cut…
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Roadside bomb injures six police officers in southern Thailand
A roadside bomb detonated in Pattani yesterday, injuring six police officers and prompting the army to urge motorists to exercise caution. The explosion occurred on Road 42 in Nong Chik district as an armoured pickup truck carrying the officers was returning to base from a checkpoint. The Internal Security Operations Command’s (ISOC) southern frontline office reported that the blast caused…
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Bingo! Gambian arrested for 7-year illegal stay on Koh Pha Ngan
Tourist Police arrested a Gambian man on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, on Friday, July 19, for illegally entering Thailand and staying on the island for more than seven years. He reportedly shouted “Bingo!” after being caught. Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police were conducting a crackdown on illegal foreigners when they encountered the…
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Boy drowns in Hat Yai canal despite rescue efforts
An eight year old boy tragically drowned while playing in a canal with his friends in Hat Yai, Songkhla. Despite efforts to rescue him, it took two hours to locate his body after his grandfather performed a ritual. The incident occurred at around 1.30pm yesterday, July 20, when police from Koh Hong Police Station in Songkhla received a report of…
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Samui journalist threatened with violence over luxury villa report
A journalist from Channel 7 filed a complaint against the owner of some luxury villas in Koh Samui after the owner issued a violent threat against him for reporting a suspicious construction permit for the villas. Officers from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Division 4 are investigating the construction permit for 53 luxury villas of the Samui Green Cottages…
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Missile attack on Naypyidaw Airport kills 16 soldiers
Armed groups launched a missile attack on Naypyidaw International Airport in Myanmar, resulting in significant damage to three aircraft and the deaths of 16 soldiers. This marks the fifth attack on this airport since the start of the year. High-ranking officials from the Karenni Army (KA) reported on July 16, at 9am, that armed groups MKCDF, MRF, and BWM reportedly…
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Similan Islands national park’s plea for hermit crab homes
Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province is sounding the alarm and calling on the public to donate shells to provide new homes for hermit crabs. This urgent campaign aims to boost the crab population and enhance marine biodiversity. Hermit crabs are vital beach cleaners, eliminating bacteria and disease to maintain the park’s ecosystem. Due to their soft…
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Thai woman seeks justice over hermit’s naked massage cancer cure claim
A Thai woman is seeking help after a hermit in the southern province of Surat Thani sexually assaulted her by tricking her parents into taking her to his compound for a naked massage, claiming she had breast and cervical cancer. The 20 year old victim, identified only as Or, told a Thai news agency yesterday, July 14, that she had…
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Thai man arrested for raping Ukrainian woman in Koh Samui
A Thai man denied raping a Ukrainian woman at Thongson Beach on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, claiming that the victim consented. The 32 year old Ukrainian victim filed a rape complaint at Bor Phud Police Station on July 13 after the incident took place on Thongson Beach in the Bor Phud sub-district at…
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