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.

  • Sponsored

    Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna's expat health plans forever

    Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...

  • Spanish chef brutally murders Colombian partner in Thai island horror

    Spanish chef brutally murders Colombian partner in Thai island horror

    On the island of Koh Pha Ngan, located in the southern province of Surat Thani, a horrifying crime unwrapped as a Spanish chef confessed to the brutal murder and dismemberment of his Colombian partner. The crime was alleged to have taken place before the culprit dumped the body fragments in trash bags discovered in a local landfill and into the…

  • Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)

    Car bomb shock in Narathiwat: No casualties as police close district (video)

    In Narathiwat, a car bomb detonation led to the temporary closure of a region surrounding the location of a police base situated in Sungai Kolok district. The blast last night fortunately did not result in any injuries or deaths. The incident took place close to Orakan intersection, in proximity to both a rail route and the ad hoc police stronghold…

  • Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation

    Thai fireworks depot owners surrender following fatal explosion investigation

    The owners of a recently annihilated fireworks depo in Narathiwat yesterday handed themselves over to the police. This revelation was announced by an on-scene informant who wished to remain unnamed. The owners, Sompong Napol and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, both 42, made their way back into Thai territory through the Sadao checkpoint connecting Thailand and Malaysia. This development came on the heels of…

  • A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response

    A young boy’s plea to King for rooftop repairs gets heartwarming response

    In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a young boy from a destitute family has successfully received aid to restore the dilapidated rooftop of his home after his plea to His Majesty the King was met with a positive response. Nine-year-old, Thirat Thongphet lives in a modest village within Khuntalay, a section of the Lan Saka district. The youngster penned a plea on…

  • Juicy bust: Thai police squeeze illicit kratom factory

    Juicy bust: Thai police squeeze illicit kratom factory

    A substantial operation by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday, culminated in the seizure of an illicit factory manufacturing kratom leaf juice. The raid led to the confiscation of around 3000 bottles of cough syrup, three guns, and the arrest of one suspect. The RTP stormed into the clandestine factory situated along Khlong Toei-Khlong Ple Road nearby the Kho Hong…

  • Southern Thailand police seize 12,000 meth tablets, 2 key figures arrested linked to notorious drug ring

    Southern Thailand police seize 12,000 meth tablets, 2 key figures arrested linked to notorious drug ring

    Police officers from the suppression division apprehended two individuals implicated in a notorious drug network known as Jing Kantang, which has been causing alarm throughout the southern region of Thailand. According to reports, these individuals had been evading capture until they were finally caught in the Songkhla today. Police Lieutenant Colonel Montri Theskhan, in command of the Suppression Division, gave orders…

  • Undercover officer fatally shot in Pattani: Potential drug trafficking link being investigated

    Undercover officer fatally shot in Pattani: Potential drug trafficking link being investigated

    A 29 year old undercover law enforcement officer was fatally shot last night following his return from investigating drug trafficking in Mayor district, Pattani Province. Currently, police are conducting an urgent probe into the incident to discern the motive and the assailants. After receiving a report of a fatal shooting incident involving a police officer on Chonlatarn Road in Mayor,…

  • Full Moon Party faces Buddha Days, water shortages this month

    Full Moon Party faces Buddha Days, water shortages this month

    Local party and event organisers have scrambled to host the infamous Full Moon Party on Haad Rin Beach in Koh Pha Ngan this week while facing a number of setbacks. The country is seeing a surge in tourism due to the super-extended six-day holiday weekend, but that brings a downside for the partygoers on the island. Normally the week of…

  • Firework warehouse explosion kills 12, damages 292 homes

    Firework warehouse explosion kills 12, damages 292 homes

    In the Sungai Kolok district of the Deep South province of Narathiwat, a devastating explosion in a firework warehouse claimed 12 lives and injured another 121 injuries yesterday. The explosion also resulted in significant damage to the surrounding area with 292 houses reported to be damaged or entirely obliterated, as announced by the provincial public relations office on their Facebook…

  • Radical imagery paraded at school event called child exploitation

    Radical imagery paraded at school event called child exploitation

    In light of a controversial incident at a recent sports day event in the Panare district of the deep south province of Pattani, the Internal Security Operations Command’s (ISOC) Region 4 Forward Command is reportedly preparing to take legal action. This follows the child exploitation allegations as children were paraded holding images of deceased insurgents. The sight has sparked social…

  • Ancient mysteries unearthed: Skeletal remains found under South Thailand sports stadium

    Ancient mysteries unearthed: Skeletal remains found under South Thailand sports stadium

    Three sets of skeletal remains have been discovered underneath Nakhon Si Thammarat’s central sports stadium, believed to be from an ancient cemetery over a century old. The archaeological find was made during construction work for a drainage pipe behind two football fields. An evening inspection, following the report of the discovery, was led by Police Captain Thanathorn Panchu, Investigation Officer…

  • Ex-Hat Yai mayor handed 9-year prison sentence and heft fine over monument funds misuse

    Ex-Hat Yai mayor handed 9-year prison sentence and heft fine over monument funds misuse

    In a long-standing case spanning over 18 years, the former mayor of Hat Yai City in Songkhla province has been handed a nine-year prison sentence and a fine of 12.4 million baht by the Supreme Court. The verdict came yesterday, related to accusations dating back to between February 1 and February 4, 2005. Prai Pattano was accused of misspending funds…

  • Massive Hat Yai raid seizes 5,000+ illicit cigarette packs, 2 arrested

    Massive Hat Yai raid seizes 5,000+ illicit cigarette packs, 2 arrested

    A major raid took place today in southern Thailand, where police, Songkhla administrative officials, and officers from the Excise Office raided a large illicit cigarette shop. The officials seized a considerable amount of contraband alongside a hefty sum of cash. The incident took place in the city of Hat Yai in Songkhla province. The operation was headed by Chavakij Suwankiri,…

  • Chumphon durian farmer fatally shot: Locals feared regular gunfire

    Chumphon durian farmer fatally shot: Locals feared regular gunfire

    Police are on the hunt for a gunman who shot dead a 63 year old durian farm owner in his backyard. Locals reported frequent gunfire from the victim’s farm, causing anxiety amidst fears of stray shots. The incident occurred at around 4.30pm today when the police received a report of a fatal shooting in a durian orchard in southern Thailand.…

  • Bhumjaithai Party proposes bill to safeguard Thai hajj pilgrims stranded abroad

    Bhumjaithai Party proposes bill to safeguard Thai hajj pilgrims stranded abroad

    A groundbreaking solution is on the horizon as the Bhumjaithai Party‘s Southern working committee strategises a preventative measure; proposing a bill to safeguard Thai hajj pilgrims from potential misery abroad brought about by issues back home. Astoundingly, above 500 pilgrims hailing from Yala, Thailand found themselves in an unfortunate entanglement, trapped and unsupervised on arrival in Saudi Arabia during the…

  • Southern Thailand calamity: Lorry crash kills retired school director, triggers village blackout

    Southern Thailand calamity: Lorry crash kills retired school director, triggers village blackout

    A lorry plunged into a house and hit a retired school director who was out for a walk, causing fatal injuries, in a village in southern Thailand. The mishap also caused damage to a residence and a high-voltage power pole and left three motorcycles damaged. Lieutenant Bundit Prasert, deputy investigator of Betong Police Station, today rushed to the scene at…

  • Storm hits Trang, uprooted tree traps bedridden woman in her home

    Storm hits Trang, uprooted tree traps bedridden woman in her home

    As storms lashed the district of Kantang in the southern Trang province last night, emergency services were called to rescue a 78 year old bedridden woman and her family. The disastrous weather resulted in a 100 year old banyan tree falling on their residence and trapping them inside. The rescue operation was coordinated with local authorities under the leadership of…

  • Scorpions found in Longkong fruit: Thai mother stung in southern Thailand

    Scorpions found in Longkong fruit: Thai mother stung in southern Thailand

    A woman needed medical attention after getting stung by a scorpion after the deadly creature made a nest in some Longkong fruit in southern Thailand. A Thai man alerted fellow netizens after finding four of these deadly creatures hiding within 2 kilogrammes of the fruit bought for his mother. The shocking incident led to an outpouring of similar experiences from the…

  • Quadruple murder suspect arrested in southern Thailand

    Quadruple murder suspect arrested in southern Thailand

    The man believed to be responsible for the brutal shooting and killing of four people, including a 60 year old local man and three Burmese workers, has been apprehended in southern Thailand. The 44 year old suspect was also responsible for the killing of a dog in the same area. The murders, believed to be fuelled by existing disputes, ensued…

  • Ex-military man turns himself in for fatal case of mistaken identity in milk trailer shoot-out

    Ex-military man turns himself in for fatal case of mistaken identity in milk trailer shoot-out

    In a shocking turn of events, a woman who drove a milk transport trailer was brutally gunned down in a tragic case of mistaken identity. An ex-military personnel, assigned to the Thung Song area in Nakhon Si Thammarat, turned himself in and confessed to being the gunman, in lieu of a mercenary fee. However, he had targeted the wrong person. The…

  • 12-day mystery unfolds as missing Thai woman’s body found near coconut plantation

    12-day mystery unfolds as missing Thai woman’s body found near coconut plantation

    Police are investigating circumstances surrounding the disfigured and naked body of a Thai woman discovered near a coconut plantation in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. The Thai woman, whose body had been mutilated by animals, had been missing from home for 12 days. The shocking discovery was made close to a creak near the plantation, on the road to a sand…

  • Songkran murder fugitive captured after 18-year hunt

    Songkran murder fugitive captured after 18-year hunt

    In the province of Songkhla, police finally ended a decades-long hunt for a suspect in a Songkran murder case. Police yesterday apprehended a 38 year old native of Klong Hoy Khong, Songkhla, who has been on the run for 18 years. The dramatic events unfolded during the celebrations of Songkran in 2005. Chaitawat, along with his two allies, found themselves…

  • Pattani conflict escalates: Negotiator killed

    Pattani conflict escalates: Negotiator killed

    An escalation in the conflict between armed militia and security forces in Pattani province yesterday saw two fatalities and one arrest. In a coordinated operation, government forces succeeded in fatally shooting an armed militant and detaining a woman. The unfortunate loss of a local official, who was involved in peaceful negotiations, also transpired amidst the crossfire. The incident took place…

  • 20 illegal Myanmar migrants captured in Thailand on way to Malaysia

    20 illegal Myanmar migrants captured in Thailand on way to Malaysia

    In a new development on Thailand’s immigration issues, 20 illegal migrants from Myanmar were captured in their pursuit of work in Malaysia. The migrants were hiding at an abandoned property in Sadao, a district forming part of the southern border province Songkhla. Acting on collected intelligence yesterday suggesting the house was sheltering those travelling unlawfully to Malaysia, Immigration and local…

  • Roadside rescue turns into drug bust as police uncover meth pills and firearms

    Roadside rescue turns into drug bust as police uncover meth pills and firearms

    A potential roadside rescue incident today remarkably turned into a drug bust. Highway police in Surat Thani province initially responded to what appeared to be a broken-down vehicle but unexpectedly stumbled upon a sizeable drug haul hidden in the car’s compartment. The suspicious behaviour of the driver, a 31 year old man, led the police to undertake a search of…

  • Perplexing plot: Retired cop’s final chapter unfolds mysteriously amid plantation tragedy

    Perplexing plot: Retired cop’s final chapter unfolds mysteriously amid plantation tragedy

    Tragedy struck when a retired police officer was found dead under mysterious circumstances on a road amid a plantation. The deceased, a retired police officer, was reportedly living near the crime scene, about 300 metres away. Around 7.09pm yesterday, officers from the Police Station in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani province, responded to a report of an assault inflicted in Moo…

  • Viral harvest: Durian’s captivating dance on TikTok leaves viewers in awe

    Viral harvest: Durian’s captivating dance on TikTok leaves viewers in awe

    A captivating TikTok video boasting over 13.9 million views within a mere day showcases impressive skill and accuracy in the harrowing task of durian harvesting. The durian trees, found in a farm in Chumphon province, tower as high as 5 to 9 metres, setting an imposing stage for the intriguing footage. Captured from the vantage point of a brave individual…

  • Taking the insurgency by storm: Southern Thailand’s military withdrawal sets off in full swing

    Taking the insurgency by storm: Southern Thailand’s military withdrawal sets off in full swing

    The forthcoming military withdrawal in the southern region of Thailand, which has seen 19 years of insurgent unrest, is currently in its initial phase, according to Fourth Region Army commander, Lt. Gen. Santi Sakuntanak. The four-year plan aims to gradually decrease military presence and remove the state of emergency that has been prevalent in the area. Since 2004, Yala, Narathiwat,…

  • Pattalung school teacher investigated for alleged child abuse

    Pattalung school teacher investigated for alleged child abuse

    A female teacher is under investigation for alleged child abuse at a school in Pattalung‘s Pa Phayom district. The investigations follow reports that the teacher hit the back of a five year old boy, leaving visible bruises, after he accidentally scratched her car. The incident came to light when the boy’s parents lodged a formal complaint at the local police…

  • Thai father unveils child abuse by nursery teacher over car damage incident

    Thai father unveils child abuse by nursery teacher over car damage incident

    A 38 year old father of a five year old boy reported that his son was physically abused by a female nursery teacher in Pa Phayom district, Phatthalung province, sothern Thailand. The father discovered red and purple bruises on his son’s back during bath time, which his son affirmed, were inflicted by a teacher at the school. Stating the sequence…