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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Man shot dead in a krathom brew party
A man has been shot dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Chulabhorn district after a dispute broke out during a ‘krathom brew drinking party’ early today. The victim, identified as 29 year old Sathit Changnam was shot 11 times all over is body. Several spent shells of 9mm pistol bullets were found at the scene – a shophouse in Moo 4…
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Storm forces Army helicopter into emergency landing
FILE PHOTO: Bell Helicopters 212 of the Royal Thai Army at Khon Kaen An Army helicopter flying senior military officers from Surat Thani to Ranong provinces has been forced to make an emergency landing in Chumphon this morning because of a thunderstorm cell that developed quickly along the route. The Bell 212 helicopter encountered sudden heavy rains, forcing it to…
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Northern temperatures to drop 3-5 degrees Celsius
OK, so we’ve exaggerated a bit. Mercury in Thailand’s north is set to drop another 3-5 degrees from tomorrow until Friday. Meanwhile southern regions are facing forecast rains and isolated heavy rain in some areas. The Thai Meteorological Department says another strong cold front out of China is looming south to cover the upper regions of Thailand from October 30-November…
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Southern border wild boar smuggling risks spread of African swine fever
Thailand’s southern provinces are facing new risks from a viral strain called “African swine fever”. Experts say this is due to the many wild boars that are being smuggled in to the region over the border with Malaysia. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, the disease is highly contagious and affects both wild and farm pigs. It has…
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Religious tolerance is OK until it starts interfering with community health
Last week it was revealed that six children have died in the southern provinces of Thailand since June this year. Sadly, children die all the time through misadventure and incurable disease. But these six children died from Measles, one of the many diseases that have been brought under control in most communities over the past half century. Vaccination has also…
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Heavy rain in spots around the country until Monday
Residents in the Central, East and the South, including Bangkok and suburbs, are being warned to brace themselves for heavy rains from tomorrow until Monday. In a first warning issued at 11am this morning, the TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) said that heavy rains would hitting the forecast areas due to a low-pressure cell over the lower South China Sea. They…
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Pattani policeman’s house attacked by southern insurgents
Southern insurgents have attacked the house of a policeman in Pattani’s Nong Chik district with assault rifles and a molotov cocktails late last night. Police say it’s lucky that no one was injured in the attack. Pol Senior Sgt Maj Anusorn Khantikulanon, an official of the training division of Provincial Police Bureau 9, and his wife were not home. Their…
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Islamic anti-vaxxers in the south causing measles outbreak
by Pratch Rujivanrom Anti-vaxxers in Thailand’s deep south are causing widespread discomfort and even death with a current measles outbreak sweeping through the three southern-most provinces. Vaccine denial is common in some Muslim communities and has contributed to the deaths of at least six patients, including children, over the past three months. Though vaccines are proven to prevent diseases – they’ve…
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Baby elephant Chao Duan dies, 13 days after falling it pit
A two year old male elephant, nicknamed Chao Duan, died earlier today from his injuries, 13 days after veterinarians tried to save it after it fell into a pit in Chumphon. Nam Tok Ngao National Park head Somjet Chanthana said the young elephant died at 4am. It was rescued from a muddy pit in the forest near Ban Chanren in…
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Three border police wounded in Narathiwat attack
by Narong Nuansakul Three border patrol police officers have been injured after being fired on in a gun attack by two suspected insurgents while returning to their base in Narathiwat’s Rusoh district yesterday morning (Thursday). Police deputy inspector Captain Marut Nilkosi visited the scene at Ban Manang Panyang (Moo 1) in Tambon Samakkhee. Officers collected around 20 spent AK-47 and…
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Suspected insurgent killed during Songkhla shootout
A suspected insurgent was shot dead in Songkhla’s Thepha district early today (Monday) after Army troops, rangers and police joined forces to try to arrest the man. The operation at 1am in Moo 3 village in Tambon Sakom also resulted in the arrest of two other suspected insurgents. Police identified the slain suspect as 40 year old Hamadaho Semsun who…
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Innocent health volunteer shot dead in Pattani
A village health volunteer has been shot dead after a shooting last night in Pattani’s Thung Yang Daeng district. 52 year old Abdulloh Bahoh was on his way to pick up his wife at a market when he was shot three times in the head. Witnesses told police he pulled over where several unidentified men were gathered and words were…
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Baby elephant rescued from muddy pit in Chumpon
by Prasit Leehakhunakorn A two year old male elephant, ‘Chao Duan’, has been rescued after it fell into a 70 centimetre deep and four metre wide muddy pit where it was stuck for two days in Chumphon province. The elephant is now recovering under the loving care of veterinarians, although its hind legs remain immobile for now. Nam Tok Ngao…
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‘Romantic conflicts’ suspected in murder of Chinese woman
A 28 year old Chinese woman, found dead at the Ton Nga Chang waterfall in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district on September 20, is suspected to have been murdered by a male compatriot and two accomplices. This revelation from the Deputy Tourist Police Bureau Commissioner Pol Maj-General Surachate Hakparn today. Police suspect a romantic conflict as a motive for the murder…
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Chinese woman’s death at a Hat Yai waterfall is now a murder investigation
An investigation into the mysterious death of a Chinese woman at a waterfall in near Hat Yai has now become an official murder investigation. A Chinese man has emerged as a prime suspect and Thai police also seeking evidence in China and working with Chinese police. Tourist Police Division’s deputy commander Pol Maj-General Surachate Hakparn says that he was soon…
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Suspect questioned in alleged waterfall murder in Hat Yai
PHOTO: Sanook An investigation into the death of 28 year old Chinese tourist Lei Jiang at the Tone Nga Chang falls in Hat Yai in Thailand’s south has turned up some fresh evidence. A rock that may have been used as a murder weapon, as well as possible bloodstains, have been found in the area. While an accident or suicide has…
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Fishing worker reported hanged on returning boat
FILE PHOTO The skipper of a fishing boat has reported to police that one of his workers allegedly hanged himself on the boat as it returned to Songkhla fishing pier last night (Monday). But the wife of the dead man, 37 year old Anucha Kahapanna, doubts whether her husband committed suicide and is asking police to investigate whether it was…
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Surat Thani oyster farmstay burns down
PHOTO: Daily News The Sinmana Farmstay oyster farm and resort has burned down after staff unwittingly sprayed the entire property with an accelerant to keep away mosquitos on Friday. Sinmana Farmstay is located in the Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani, and was popular with tour groups who stay at the resort and caught oysters during their trip there. According to staff at…
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Eating your way around Songkhla
by Pattarawadee Saengmanee – The Nation Weekend As we come in for landing at Hat Yai International Airport, I see clear sky reflected in the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Despite the weather App warnings, the sun was out. Sightseeing is first on the agenda though and after a pleasant 40-minute drive from the airport to Songkhla Old…
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Pattani Big C bombers sentenced to death
FILE PHOTO: The Nation The Pattani Provincial Court yesterday sentenced Su-ai-mee Sama-ae and Sama-ae Mamah to death for their role in the 2017 Big C department store bomb attack that injured 61 people, including children, and caused millions of baht worth of property damage. Here’s the original story of the bomb blast HERE. The attack on May 9, 2017, took…
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Train hits car in Hat Yai
A driver has been injured after his car was hit by a train in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district yesterday morning (Wednesday). The Bangkok-Padang Bezar train hit the car at a rail crossing in Ban Lop Moom in Tambon Patong. The car driver, Aeb Meekaew, was critically injured and taken to the Hat Yai Hospital. The 58 year old train driver,…
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District in Thailand’s south declared Special Control Zones
Special report from Chularat Saengpassa – The Nation “We have no idea what will happen next. The soldiers have been keeping a close eye on people going in and out of the village.” Locals in parts of Pattani’s Nong Chik district now live in fear due to the strong military presence in their hometown. “We are scared and don’t want to…
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Major ‘ice’ haul intercepted in the South
FILE PHOTO An enormous haul of 280 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”, was found hidden in a pickup truck that was spotted abandoned in an oil palm plantation in Satun’s Manang district. Supoj Sirisaeng, an assistant chief of Tambon Nikhom Pattana, alerted police to check the vehicle after it was found in the plantation. The pickup was taken…
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Warning for boats going to sea in Phuket
The Phuket Marine Office has made an official announcement for boats to be “careful when going to sea until September 18, due to Typhoon Mangkhut. The announcement was issued yesterday (September 12) stating that “the Typhoon Mangkhut in the Pacific Ocean is likely to move through The Philippines and Taiwan during the period from September 14-15.” “It will then move…
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Three arrested in Pattani with alleged home-made bomb
PHOTO: Nine hurt in bomb blast in Pattani in 2015 – The Star Police and rangers have arrested three men in Pattani this morning (Saturday) after they were allegedly found with a homemade bomb in a gas cylinder. Police and rangers were patrolling a rubber plantation in Ban Lan Chang village in Tambon Taping, Sai Buri district and spotted two motorcycles.…
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Trang councillor arrested over roadwork attacks
A member of the Trang Provincial Administration Council and another Trang resident were brought in for questioning to a military camp yesterday morning (Wednesday). Police say it’s part of the investigation into a case in which unknown assailants burned two road construction machines on the night of July 14 and opened fired on its workers on July 16. The 56…
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Police on the hunt for two ‘Malay-speaking’ assailants in Songkhla
Following up from the shooting story in Songkhla yesterday… Police in the South have released a sketch of what witnesses described as a “Malay-speaking gunman” after an elderly Buddhist couple were gunned down at their house and furniture shop in Songkhla’s Thepha district yesterday. Read the story from yesterday HERE. The shop house belonging to 68 year old Uthit Chanrat…
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Police suspect insurgents involved in double shooting in Songkhla
by Santiparp Ramasut An elderly couple have been shot dead at their furniture shop in Songkhla’s Thepa district this afternoon (Sunday) and police suspect it might be linked to the insurgency in the southern provinces. Police say the shop was among 10 locations of arson or bomb attacks targeted by insurgents back in 2013. An unknown attacker, or attackers, stormed…
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Arson attack on Yala electricity building and vehicles
Five alleged insurgents have raided an office of the Provincial Electricity Authority in Yala and set fire to the building and two vehicles just after midnight. Police said the attackers raided the PEA office in Ban Bannang Dama in Tambon Bannang Dama of Yala’s Kabang district at 12:30am (Thursday) and tied up six officials leaving them them at the rear…
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Trang Moon Festival 2018 – cultural shows, food stalls, contests
The ‘Trang Moon Festival’ has long been observed by Chinese people in Thung Yao in Trang province’s Palian district. The 2018 Trang Moon Festival is scheduled for September 22-24. Through the staging of this traditional festival, the Chinese commemorate the fight for their nation against the Mongols. Trang province was one of Thailand’s trading ports and trade with the Chinese…
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