South Thailand News
Stay updated with the latest Southern Thailand news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for regional information. Keep informed on local events, business developments, and lifestyle stories in popular locations beyond Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi. We’ve got reports of the latest goings on in Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and more.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, The Thaiger’s Southern Thailand news page is your essential guide to exploring this stunning tropical region. Dive into the vibrant community and rich culture with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Sponsored A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Sadao checkpoint: Entrepreneurs urge continued operation
Songkhla-based entrepreneurs in the Sadao district appealed to the government to keep the old Sadao immigration checkpoint operational alongside the new one. The move aims to stimulate both trade and tourism with Malaysia. The appeal follows the circulation of rumours concerning the government’s intention to close the Sadao checkpoint in preference for the newly constructed border checkpoint. The discussion involved…
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Decapitated Thai man’s head found in water tank, murderer remains at large
Following the murder of a Thai man in the southern province of Surat Thani, police finally located his missing head after five days of extensive search. However, the identity of the killer remains unknown. The lifeless body of Sangiam Penrum, a 53 year old man, was discovered outside his residence in Surat Thani on November 11. Sangiam had been decapitated,…
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From rubber to riches: Thai farmer’s melon metamorphosis in southern Thailand reaps sweet success
A rubber plantation farmer transformed his life by rooting out rubber trees and converting his land into a greenhouse for melon farming in Khuan Kalong District, Satun Province. The venture proved to be more profitable than anticipated, turning him from a low-income farmer into an exemplar of agricultural success. Previously a rubber plantation owner, Somsak Jantrakul decided to repurpose his…
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3 month old baby bitten by monkeys on Phang Nga island, left in a coma
Two monkeys bit a three month old baby boy at his home on Koh Mai Phai, an island in the southern province of Phang Nga, leaving the infant in a coma. A Thai woman, Jiraporn Galong, told PPTV HD that her nephew, three month old Muallim Ard-dee, was with his grandmother when the incident happened on November 13. He was…
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Rayong: Mysterious pot found floating in canal sparks local curiosity
A 37 year old man made a startling discovery while fishing in a canal in Pluak Daeng, Rayong today. Viraphong Tongha came across an earthen pot, tightly bound with a red cloth, that was floating in the water. The sight of the mysterious pot covered in red cloth and securely tied sparked fear and curiosity among residents. The incident occurred in…
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Southern Thailand: 30K meth pills found in car wreck after fatal crash
A high-speed car crash in the rainy weather led to the discovery of a large stash of meth pills. The driver of a white Honda sedan collided with an electric pole around 10.30pm last night, in Tha Sala, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The severe impact left the car in ruins and the driver, identified as 41 year old Phatthrawatee from…
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Teen almost loses penis after being forced to get beeswax injection
A 15 year old Thai boy almost lost his penis after his school friends forced him to have a beeswax injection and recorded a video of the procedure to blackmail him. The victim’s mother claimed the incident happened at her son’s school in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on August 1 but the case has not progressed because…
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Ranong: Daughter of prominent village headman denies money laundering charges
The daughter of a well-known village headman from Ranong turned herself in to the police yesterday, denying allegations of money laundering and involvement in a drug trafficking network. The woman is also suspected of smuggling vehicles and illegal rubber across the border. The initial investigation took place at the Ranong Provincial Police Operation Center, led by Deputy Provincial Police Commander,…
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Thai man accused of beheading neighbour in human sacrifice
Police arrested a Thai man in the southern province of Surat Thani for allegedly beheading his neighbour in a human sacrifice ritual. The dead body, minus the head, of 53 year old Sangiam Penrum, was discovered at a house in a rubber plantation in the Kanchanadit district of Surat Thani province. Sangiam was found sitting on his knees in front…
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Rayong man hides 500 baht from wife under police booth
A seemingly furious man was found rummaging under a police checkpoint in Rayong, revealing a new dimension to hiding money from his wife. When his secret was uncovered, he claimed he would need to find a new hiding place. At 4pm yesterday, Deputy Superintendent of Rayong City Police, Woradet Phongthong, and Police Lieutenant Pachar Sangngoen, were informed of a man…
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Thai woman slashed by vendor after motorcycle parking dispute
A Thai woman filed a complaint against a fruit vendor in the southern province of Songkhla after she slashed her mother following a dispute over a parked motorcycle in front of the shop. The victim’s daughter, Waranart, shared videos of her injured mother standing in front of a fruit shop on Facebook yesterday, November 10. She also explained in the…
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Phuket Airport: American man arrested for overstaying visa by 79 days
As dawn broke over the bustling Phuket International Airport, an American man found himself in the grip of the law. The man was apprehended by Thai immigration officials around 5.30am yesterday for overstaying his visa by 79 days, a direct violation of the country’s immigration laws. The American man’s actions had turned him into an illegal resident in the Land…
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Man detained for climbing ancient Buddhist stupa’s golden spire at Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A young man was detained after climbing to the top of the golden spire of the ancient Buddhist stupa, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The spire, adorned with ancient gold artefacts and blue sapphires, is a revered site for Buddhists worldwide. At around 1am this morning, local law enforcement and passersby noticed a man scaling the…
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Drug induced man fatally stabs 21 year old student in southern Thailand
In a shocking incident, a drug-addled man fatally stabbed a 21 year old student in Trang, southern Thailand yesterday. The victim, Kulissara (surname withheld), also known as Bam, was attacked by 36 year old Jakraphong (no surname given), a relative, who was reportedly high on drugs. The incident occurred at 6pm in a local village, and the 21 year old…
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Gold necklace grabbed: Brazen bandit makes glittering 172,000 baht heist in southern Thailand
A daring theft took place in a well-known jewellery shop when a thief made off with a gold necklace worth 171,665 baht. The incident occurred today at the Yaowarat Gold Shop, located within a shopping mall in Chana district, Songkhla. The thief, identified as 34 year old Madaree, a security guard from Hat Yai, Songkhla, was apprehended shortly after the incident.…
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Sia Paeng: Another Nakhon Si Thammarat prison warden given arrest warrant
An additional prison warden has been issued an arrest warrant regarding Chaowalit Thongduang’s case. Chaowalit, also known as Sia Paeng, escaped from Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital around two weeks ago on October 22. The arrest warrant for Weerachai Nuduang from Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison was issued yesterday by the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases. Weerachai was charged…
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Chon Buri: Security guard dies in motorbike crash in Banglamung district
Earlier yesterday morning, a tragic incident unfolded in the Banglamung district when a security guard lost his life in a motorbike accident. The unfortunate victim, 43 year old Somchai Saengrung, employed at Laem Chabang Port, crashed his motorbike into a tree on Sukhumvit Road near the entrance of Soi Banglamung 29 in the Banglamung sub-district, Chon Buri. The Sawang Boriboon…
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Satun man admits to matricide after arrest for drug abuse
Police from Langu district, Satun province, apprehended 41 year old man suspected of killing his 73 year old mother, Fatima. The police presented the suspect, Chaiwin (surname withheld), to the Satun Provincial Court to request detention on charges including matricide, abuse of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) in contravention of the law, and the illegal use of inhalants (glue) to satisfy physical…
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Rare ancient book unveiled at Rayong temple to public gaze
An over 300 year old ancient book, one of only two known copies in the world, has been unveiled at a famous temple in Rayong. The treasure, which was collected by a local governor before it could be sold, is priceless. Today at 9am, Wat Khod Thim Tharam in Mueang Rayong opened up its treasure trove for public viewing. The…
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RTP police chief Torsak Sukvimol’s surprise visit: Tracking cases in southern Thailand
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) Commissioner General made an official visit to the Pattani Provincial Police Station at 4.30pm on October 31. The purpose of Torsak Sukvimol’s visit was to inspect and track the progress of key cases in Pattani. He was received cordially by the chiefs of the 16 police stations in Pattani and other concerned police officers from…
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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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