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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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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Volcano durian: South Thailand farmer introduces unique breed to nationwide praise
In South Thailand a farmer has successfully grown a unique variety of durian, calling it a ‘volcano durian.’ Harvesting started a couple of days ago and the fruits, selling for 200 baht per kilogram, have already attracted numerous customers from across the country. Sixty-year-old Sai Yud Chansawang owns a durian orchard located in the Na Yung district, Trang province. With more…
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Teen brutally attacked by former friend at Surat Thani school
A school experience turned traumatic for a 16 year old secondary school girl in Surat Thani province when a former close female friend scarred her face and stabbed her in the stomach with a knife in the middle of school premises. The assault landed her with severe injuries. The school’s principal dismissed the idea that the news was suppressed after…
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Decapitated body missing hands found floating off Thai islands
A man’s decapitated body, which was also missing its hands, was found floating off of Thailand‘s Koh Phi Phi islands. Krabi Marine Police were alerted to the grim discovery by the staff of Hat Nopparat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park on Saturday, according to Matichon. Emergency responders arrived at the scene, located approximately 500 metres west of…
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Fresh complaint to target key players in Thailand’s ‘Patani state’ referendum
Another complaint will be lodged against figures involved in championing a ‘Patani state’ independence referendum. This declaration was made by Lieutenant General Santi Sakuntanak, the commander of the Fourth Region Army and the director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4. Lieutenant General Santi yesterday reported that security personnel are in the process of collecting evidence before submitting…
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Koh Tao beach resort faces hefty fines and restoration orders on illegal structures and breaches
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) and related agencies investigated a Koh Tao beach resort following viral social media images, consequently presenting four charges and ordering a restoration to its former state. The establishment in question, located on the popular Koh Tao island in Surat Thani province, a touristic gem often referred to as Turtle Island, came under scrutiny…
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Marine police seize Vietnamese fishing vessels in Songkhla crackdown
Thailand’s southern Songkhla province witnessed a series of Marine Police actions as two Vietnamese fishing vessels were seized and their crew members detained, according to authorities. These events unfolded yesterday in the waters of the southern regions of Pattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Pol. Lt. Col. Nathapong Takaew, the deputy head of the Songkhla-based Marine Police Sub-division 7, reported today…
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Thai peace: Coalition advances plans for security in Thailand’s Deep South
The working group on building Thai peace in the Deep South, comprised of the eight-party coalition, recently convened for its second meeting at the Prachachat Party headquarters. The coalition alliance, led by the Move Forward Party (MFP), formed six groups to address major problems in Thailand during the transition of power for the new government. The meeting focused on the…
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Violent attacks in southern Thailand leave one dead, two injured
Separate incidents of violent attacks occurred yesterday in Thailand’s southern provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat, resulting in one death and two injuries. Armed gunmen targeted a police operations base in Muang district, Pattani province, while a pickup truck carrying villagers was ambushed in Narathiwat province. The attack on the police base in Pattani took place at around 7am in Ban…
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