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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Cult blamed for deadly killing rampage in Surat Thani
Police reported that a strange cult allegedly led a Thai man to go on a killing rampage yesterday, taking the life of his niece and injuring her daughter at a palm plantation in the southern province. The violent rampage was reported at approximately 2pm yesterday, July 25, at a palm plantation in the Phrasaeng district of Surat Thani. Officers from…
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Songkhla raid uncovers smuggled goods worth 8 million baht
Songkhla police raided a warehouse used to store smuggled goods, including e-cigarettes and foreign alcohol, with an estimated loss of 8 million baht. Investigations are underway to apprehend all involved parties. Chamleng Buasong, a Songkhla excise officer, led a coordinated operation with officers from the Excise Department, Region 9 Excise Office, Hat Yai Police Station, and Hat Yai District Administrative…
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Ex-police officer foiled in Phatthalung gold shop robbery attempt
A former police officer, dismissed from service, attempted to rob a gold shop in Phatthalung’s central market. Armed with a gun and a hammer, the suspect was thwarted by the shop owner who noticed the gun was fake and managed to apprehend him. Phatthalung City Police Station received a report at around 11.30am from a concerned citizen about a robbery…
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Thai woman accuses ex-husband’s wife of killing him for fortune
A Thai woman in the southern province of Krabi accused her ex-husband’s wife of killing him for his 10 million baht fortune. The wife admitted to killing her husband but did not mention her husband’s assets. Officers from Khao Phanom Police Station were alerted to the death of 52 year old Thai man Preecha at 9pm on July 22. He…
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Phuket leads in dengue crisis: Kids worst hit in southern Thailand
Phuket has emerged as the hotspot for dengue fever in upper southern Thailand, with the highest infection rates among seven provinces, according to the Department of Disease Control’s regional office. Dr Darinda Rosa, acting Director of Health Region 11’s Disease Control Office, highlighted a significant surge in dengue cases from January 1 to yesterday, totalling 5,853. Children aged 10-14 are…
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Monk leaves monkhood after slapping novice in Trang province
A monk in Trang province quietly left the monkhood following a viral video showing him slapping a young novice. The incident, which occurred on July 13, sparked widespread online outrage, with many calling for severe punishment. Sukpichai Chaowakul, director of the Trang Provincial Office of Buddhism, along with Phra Khru Maha Kettarak, the district monk head of Wang Wiset, and…
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Koh Panyi vendors slammed for fleecing South Korean YouTubers
Thai netizens condemned local vendors on Koh Panyi, an island in the southern province of Phang Nga, for overcharging two South Korean YouTubers. Some netizens claimed that the island locals also overcharged domestic tourists. The drama emerged after the YouTube channel Cullen HateBerry released a video in which Paek Ki Deuk, better known as Cullen, and his friend Jung visited…
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Thai man rides tricycle 5 days in rain to aid family in Sukhothai
A 60 year old Thai man embarked on a perilous journey, riding his motorised tricycle from Trang to Sukhothai through heavy rain for four nights and five days, despite having no money. His mission was to reunite with and support his struggling daughter and five grandchildren. Sithidon, originally from Wang Thong Daeng, Mueang district, Sukhothai, had been working in Trang…
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2 Thai men attack ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend with knives
Two unhinged jealous ex-boyfriends managed to evade arrest following a vicious knife attack on their ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend at her home in the southern province of Phetchaburi. A medical team at Cha-am Hospital reported the stabbing to Cha-am Police Station after three victims were admitted to surgery on Sunday night, July 21. The Thai man, Dream, was cut…
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Roadside bomb injures six police officers in southern Thailand
A roadside bomb detonated in Pattani yesterday, injuring six police officers and prompting the army to urge motorists to exercise caution. The explosion occurred on Road 42 in Nong Chik district as an armoured pickup truck carrying the officers was returning to base from a checkpoint. The Internal Security Operations Command’s (ISOC) southern frontline office reported that the blast caused…
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Bingo! Gambian arrested for 7-year illegal stay on Koh Pha Ngan
Tourist Police arrested a Gambian man on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, on Friday, July 19, for illegally entering Thailand and staying on the island for more than seven years. He reportedly shouted “Bingo!” after being caught. Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police were conducting a crackdown on illegal foreigners when they encountered the…
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Alleged drunk American stabs Australian man to death in Krabi
A reportedly drunk American man stabbed an Australian man to death in the southern province of Krabi, following a heated argument at a bar on Ao Nang Beach. Officers from Ao Nang Police Station investigated the stabbing, which occurred on the roadside near Nopparat Thara Beach at 2am on July 22. Rescuers had already taken the injured Australian man, later…
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Samui journalist threatened with violence over luxury villa report
A journalist from Channel 7 filed a complaint against the owner of some luxury villas in Koh Samui after the owner issued a violent threat against him for reporting a suspicious construction permit for the villas. Officers from the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Division 4 are investigating the construction permit for 53 luxury villas of the Samui Green Cottages…
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Missile attack on Naypyidaw Airport kills 16 soldiers
Armed groups launched a missile attack on Naypyidaw International Airport in Myanmar, resulting in significant damage to three aircraft and the deaths of 16 soldiers. This marks the fifth attack on this airport since the start of the year. High-ranking officials from the Karenni Army (KA) reported on July 16, at 9am, that armed groups MKCDF, MRF, and BWM reportedly…
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Similan Islands national park’s plea for hermit crab homes
Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province is sounding the alarm and calling on the public to donate shells to provide new homes for hermit crabs. This urgent campaign aims to boost the crab population and enhance marine biodiversity. Hermit crabs are vital beach cleaners, eliminating bacteria and disease to maintain the park’s ecosystem. Due to their soft…
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Fishing boat nets 4 tonnes of shrimp off Phang Nga coast
A fishing boat’s single catch netted an astonishing 4 tonnes of shrimp, worth nearly 1 million baht, off the coast of Phang Nga. The catch highlights the rich marine life in the area, following a recent conservation period. Officers from the Krabi Provincial Fisheries Office inspected the commercial fishing vessel, S. Phet Samut 11, upon its return to the Sai…
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Thai man arrested for raping Ukrainian woman in Koh Samui
A Thai man denied raping a Ukrainian woman at Thongson Beach on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, claiming that the victim consented. The 32 year old Ukrainian victim filed a rape complaint at Bor Phud Police Station on July 13 after the incident took place on Thongson Beach in the Bor Phud sub-district at…
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Thai police bust major illegal alcohol and cigarette ring in Hat Yai
Police in Songkhla have successfully dismantled a major illegal alcohol and cigarette operation in Hat Yai, following complaints from local businesses about unfair competition. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the operation’s success, which took place yesterday at 2pm. The crackdown came after legal businesses reported significant losses due to vendors selling illicit products at lower…
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Songkhla police seize over 30 million baht in meth and ice
Police in Songkhla seized more than 1 million methamphetamine (meth) pills and 400 grammes of crystal meth (Ice), valued at over 30 million baht. The suspects, previously involved in multiple serious crimes, are linked to a significant drug distribution network. Police in Songkhla province announced the major drug bust, which took place at the provincial police headquarters yesterday. The press…
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Batik Air Malaysia unveils new routes to Thailand
Starting September 13, Kuala Lumpur’s Batik Air will operate daily flights to Hat Yai and Krabi. These routes will be serviced by their state-of-the-art Boeing 737 aircraft, offering both business class with plush 2-2 recliners and a 3-3 configured economy class cabin. Hat Yai serves as the perfect gateway to southern Thailand’s stunning beaches, while Krabi offers seamless access to…
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Woman arrested for illegal online wildlife trade in southern Thailand
Police apprehended a Thai woman involved in illegal online wildlife trading, seizing 34 rare birds. The suspect admitted to buying the birds from locals and reselling them online for profit. Arune Wachirasrisukanya, Deputy Commander of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NED), along with Wanpichit Watthanasakmonta, Chief of Police Station 6, and Somphop Trongtokit, Inspector of Police Station 6,…
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Nine arrested in Songkhla drug raid, crystal meth seized
A police raid on a house in Songkhla’s Mueang district led to the arrest of nine people for alleged drug use, along with the seizure of crystal methamphetamine (Ice). Border Patrol Police executed the raid in Thung Wang subdistrict yesterday, July 10, discovering six men and three women partaking in a drug-fuelled party. The suspects attempted to escape upon seeing…
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Lorry crash in Surat Thani leaves two hospitalised
A lorry carrying palm oil waste experienced brake failure and crashed into a car, dragged it for 100 metres, and collided with a pickup truck, causing severe damage. Rescue teams extracted two individuals from the wreckage and transported them to the hospital. The incident occurred at 5.50pm yesterday, July 10 when police from Chaiya Police Station in Surat Thani were…
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New tree species unearthed in Thai Geopark
Researchers from Chiang Mai University have uncovered a brand-new species of Ylang Ylang, or cananga tree, at the Satun UNESCO Global Geopark. Dubbed “Chalermprakiat” in honour of His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday, this discovery is set to shake the botanical world. Ylang Ylang, a tropical tree known for its fragrant flowers, is typically found in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia,…
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No plastics allowed: Koh Nang Yuan protects coral reefs
Visitors to the stunning island of Koh Nang Yuan in southern Thailand are facing a surprising restriction: no plastic items or styrofoam boxes are allowed. Koh Nang Yuan, renowned for its three interconnected islets with pristine white sands, has long upheld a strict no-plastic policy. This rule extends to the thousands of tourists who flock to its shores each day,…
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Armed men disguised as soldiers raid Yala villages, steal firearms
Armed men disguised as soldiers and rangers executed a series of robberies targeting village headmen and defence volunteers in Yala‘s southern border province last night, making off with several firearms. Around 8.30pm, July 9, approximately 10 armed men with covered faces, dressed like soldiers, stormed a defence volunteer station in Ban Krong Pinang, Krong Pinang district. They seized a shotgun…
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PM Srettha to meet Malaysian PM for peace talks
Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced a high-stakes meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a southern border province on August 3, though the exact location remains undecided. The Thai premier hinted that Yala, Pattani, or Narathiwat could be the chosen venue. “My team is making arrangements.” While the specifics of the agenda are under wraps, the Bangkok-born PM…
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Teenagers on motorbikes open fire near Yala police flat, injuring girl
A group of teenagers riding motorbikes yesterday opened fire near a police flat in Yala, inadvertently wounding a teenage girl. Police are actively pursuing the suspects involved in the shooting. Yala City Police Station received reports of a violent altercation involving firearms at 8pm, yesterday, July 9. The incident took place at the Ber Serng intersection, near the police flats…
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Sleepy driver kills 3 and injures 2 in Songkhla accident
A Thai woman, suspected of falling asleep at the wheel, crashed her pickup into another vehicle on the Songkhla-Natawee Road in southern Thailand. The tragic incident resulted in her death, along with two others, while two more sustained serious injuries. Officers from Khuanmeed Police Station and rescuers from the Chanong Sub-district and Nitimittaparb Rescue Foundations arrived at the scene at…
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Minibus crash in Surat Thani injures ten foreign tourists
A minibus carrying foreign tourists overturned yesterday, injuring ten passengers. The accident occurred around 6.30am, yesterday, July 7, on Phunphin-Mueang Road in the Tha Lon sub-district, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province. Police and rescue workers promptly arrived at the scene where they found the minibus overturned on the roadside. The ten foreign tourists, who sustained minor injuries, were swiftly transported…
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