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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Why is Bangkok's air quality so bad?
Imagine waking up early in Bangkok and you see all the beautiful morning fog from your balcony, but as you sip your coffee you realise it's just Bangkok's air pollution that's making the sun rise aesthetic. Ranked as the 36th...
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Thai fisherman drowns, 31 detained and shot at by Myanmar navy
A Myanmar navy patrol boat recently engaged with Thai fishing vessels off the coast of Ranong province, resulting in the tragic drowning of one fisherman and the detainment of 31 crew members. The Thai Ministry of Defence reported that the altercation occurred when two out of 15 Thai fishing boats were found operating between four and 5.7 nautical miles inside…
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Drowning in chaos: Pattani floods shut down hospitals
Four hospitals in the southern province of Pattani have been forced to close their doors as relentless floodwaters swamp their compounds, leaving patients to be evacuated to emergency field hospitals. The disaster, which has engulfed Nong Chik, Yaring, Thung Yang Daeng, and Mae Lan hospitals, is wreaking havoc in this southern border province. Dr Anurak Saraparb, chief of the Pattani…
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Hat Yai on high alert: Red zone declared amid flood threat
Hat Yai has been declared a red zone as the risk of severe flooding looms, with local officials urging residents to brace for potential evacuations. Hat Yai Mayor Sakhon Thongmunee announced the warning this morning, citing a surge of water flowing into the U-Tapao and Wa canals, which cut through Songkhla’s bustling district. “Overflows from these canals could inundate downtown…
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Surat Thani father and son busted for bitcoin mining electricity theft
Thai police apprehended a father and son involved in a significant electricity theft operation, costing approximately 1 million baht monthly, to support their bitcoin mining business. The father, 64 year old Wirat, claimed ignorance while blaming his son, 34 year old Nuttachai, for the scheme. Commander Montree Techakhan directed officers to arrest the pair at a rubberwood processing factory in…
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Thai woman surrenders after BMW crash kills mother and 2 kids
A Thai woman surrendered at a police station in the southern province of Chumphon after crashing her friend’s BMW into a victim and her two children, killing them, before reportedly fleeing the scene with her pet cat on Wednesday. The fatal accident occurred on a rural highway in Mueang District, Chumphon, at about 7.40pm, on November 27. Witnesses reported seeing…
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Family suspect black magic in deaths of Thai man and daughter
A Thai man and his daughter died under mysterious circumstances in their home in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Relatives suspect their deaths may be linked to the woman’s belief in black magic. A relative visited the home of 87 year old Samreng and his 57 year old daughter, Katechada, in the Pak Phun sub-district of Mueang Nakhon…
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Father and daughter found dead in house in Nakhon Si Thammarat (video)
Two lifeless bodies were discovered in a remote house in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, leaving relatives and police shocked. The deceased, a father and daughter, were found in the same home, surrounded by mysterious artefacts, raising suspicions about the daughter’s beliefs in the supernatural. Police Lieutenant Colonel Montri Wannakhong from the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police Station…
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Chumphon motorcycle crash claims mother and two children
A devastating road accident claimed the lives of a mother and her two children in the southern province of Chumphon. The incident occurred when a speeding car collided with their motorcycle on a railway overpass, resulting in catastrophic injuries for all three. Volunteers from the Chumphon Rescue Foundation responded promptly to reports of the accident. Upon arrival, they found three…
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Elderly woman trapped by floodwater at home rescued in Yala (video)
Heavy rainfall in Yala has led to rapid flooding, trapping many residents in their homes. Soldiers quickly responded to rescue efforts, including carrying a bedridden elderly woman to safety on the second floor of her house. Torrential rain has been pounding the southern Thai province of Yala, causing widespread flooding that has caught many residents off guard. Water levels have…
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RTN to the rescue: Fishing boat capsizes in Songkhla
The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) leapt into action on Sunday after a fishing boat capsized in the treacherous Gulf of Thailand, leaving its five crew members stranded. The alarm was raised by the Pattani Port Control Centre, alerting the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 2 (MECC) to the disaster, which occurred roughly 128 kilometres east of the Songkhla Channel.…
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Phatthalung: Grandmother missing after saving boy from drowning
A grandmother saved her four year old grandson as he was about to drown in a canal in Phatthalung province but the heroic act tragically cost her own life. This incident occurred when both fell into a canal after inspecting floodwaters near their home. Police in Phatthalung received a report yesterday, November 26 at 5pm about a person missing in…
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Thai housemaid’s 100 million baht fortune hits a legal snag
A Thai housemaid on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, is unable to claim a 100-million-baht estate left to her by her deceased French employer due to illegal actions surrounding the foreigner’s business. The 59 year old French businesswoman, Catherine Delacote, took her own life on April 29 of this year by shooting herself at her…
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DoRR sets its sights on a ‘lake’ of possibilities for Songkhla travel
The Department of Rural Roads (DoRR) is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a new route over Songkhla Lake, aiming to ease travel between Mueang and Singha Nakhon districts. This initiative, which could potentially result in the construction of a bridge or tunnel, is being examined through a feasibility study, with preliminary results expected to be available next month. Weeradej…
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French tourist missing after boat capsizes in Surat Thani
A French tourist has been reported missing following the capsizing of a tour boat in Surat Thani’s Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir. The incident occurred yesterday, November 23, when strong winds and high waves overturned the vessel carrying 13 people, including 10 French tourists, a tour guide, a caregiver, and the boat operator. Rene Mary Corre, whose age remains unknown, was part…
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Caterpillar outbreak devastates Songkhla’s coconut plantations
A significant outbreak of black-headed caterpillars has severely impacted coconut plantations across four districts in Songkhla, causing extensive damage to the crops. Local agricultural officials are responding by deploying parasitic wasps and chemical agents to combat the infestation. Agricultural experts have reported that the black-headed caterpillar infestation is affecting coconut trees in the Sathing Phra Peninsula and other areas of…
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Phatthalung declared disaster zone amid severe flooding
Severe flooding has hit several areas in the southern province of Phatthalung, prompting officials to declare disaster zones across four districts, affecting 15 subdistricts, 57 villages, and 12 communities. The heavy rainfall has led to both flood and wind disaster declarations, with urgent evacuations underway to move residents to safer areas. Kongsakul Jantrach, acting governor of Phatthalung, convened a meeting…
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Trang monk defrocked after alcohol-fueled disturbance
A monk, involved in a public disturbance while allegedly drunk, insisted on his innocence, claiming he only consumed alcohol and did not use any illegal substances. The incident unfolded near a child development centre in Trang province, raising concerns among the local community. Law enforcement received a report about a monk and a layperson causing a commotion. Upon arrival, officers…
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Hat Yai water meter thief falls through roof during police chase
A man responsible for stealing water meters in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, found himself in a sticky situation when he attempted to flee from the police. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 21 in the bustling area of Hat Yai, where residents had been repeatedly victimised by the theft of water meters from their homes. Local police, led by Anuwat Rittichai,…
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Interior ministry allocates 56 million baht for Surat Thani marshland
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior approved a budget of over 56 million baht for the fiscal year 2025 to develop the Khlong Khwai marshland, aiming to create a new green space for the people of Surat Thani province. Kanisini Opasrangsank, a Member of Parliament for Constituency 1 in Surat Thani and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Thai Nation Party, along with…
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Drug-addicted Thai man murders former employer in plantation
A drug-addicted Thai man fatally attacked his former female employer at a palm plantation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday after she and her girlfriend unexpectedly terminated his employment. Officers from Chang Klang Police Station were called to a house in the palm plantation in the Chawang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Tuesday, November 19,…
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Phanom district grows kitchen gardens for food security boost
Local cuisine serves as a captivating cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community. A new initiative in Phanom district in the southern province of Surat Thani embodies this spirit by utilising the vacant space in front of the district office to cultivate kitchen gardens, promoting food security. The District Chief of Phanom, Suchau Tumosik, in collaboration with local leaders…
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Grenade attack at Songkhla construction site injures three
A construction workers’ camp was attacked with an M79 grenade launcher, leading to a fire and injuring three people. The assault occurred in a private company’s restricted area in Thepha district, Songkhla, early this morning. Police are actively investigating the incident. The unexpected attack took place at approximately 6am, targeting the workers’ accommodation within a large Guan Yin statue construction…
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Trat: Man punches woman unconscious due to sarcastic remarks
A violent altercation occurred last night when a man repeatedly punched a woman until she lost consciousness, leaving her with a swollen face. The incident took place in a rented room in Trat province, following a drinking session where the woman reportedly made several sarcastic remarks. Despite warnings, the man lost patience, resulting in the assault. Trat City Police received…
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Thailand to repatriate 900 seized lemurs and turtles to Madagascar
Thailand is set to return over 900 lemurs and rare turtles to Madagascar, following a significant seizure from the illegal wildlife trade, as stated by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). The DNP announced that 963 animals, including ring-tailed lemurs, brown lemurs, spider tortoises, and radiated tortoises, are currently under the care of officials. These animals…
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Fisheries department seize 200k baht shellfish in smuggling bust
Thai police intercepted a foreign fishing vessel attempting to smuggle marine goods into Thailand, seizing a significant haul of shellfish. The operation highlights the nation’s commitment to combating illegal fishing and protecting its maritime resources. The Department of Fisheries, led by Banchao Sukkaeo, played a pivotal role in the recent operation that took place on Sunday, November 17. The team,…
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Pattani pair ‘checkout’ with million-baht heist
Two thieves remain at large after stealing 1.2 million baht from the manager of a convenience store in the southern province of Pattani. Officers from Mayo Police Station are searching for the male suspects involved in the theft, which occurred at around 2.30pm, yesterday, November 18. The victim was the manager of a convenience store, who was on her way…
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American arrested for alleged sexual assault of Chinese woman
Hat Yai police have arrested a 39 year old American man following serious allegations of sexual assault against a 35 year old Chinese woman. The case unfolded after the victim, known publicly as Chang, bravely came forward to report the distressing incident. The drama began on November 2 when Chang and the suspect, identified as Christian, first crossed paths at…
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Tourists in Trang thrilled by rare dugong sighting near Koh Libong
Tourists in Trang were thrilled to encounter a fully grown dugong grazing on seagrass, a sight not witnessed for several months. The boat operator quickly launched a drone to capture the memorable moment, creating a buzz among the visitors. At Ban Phrang Pier in the Koh Libong area of Kantang district, Trang province, Anon Kingkoyao, a tour operator on Koh…
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Motorbike bomb attack injures five police officers in Pattani
An explosive attack targeted a police truck in Pattani yesterday, injuring five officers when a bomb planted on a motorcycle was detonated remotely. The incident occurred at 2.40pm, yesterday, November 14, near the Tanyong Dalo Bridge in Yaring district. Police Colonel Teerapot Yindi, head of Yaring Police Station in Pattani, was alerted to the attack, which left the police truck…
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