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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German man dies in Koh Phayam resort, candy found during CPR
A German man died at a resort on Koh Phayam, an island in the southern province of Ranong. A piece of candy may have been spat out of his mouth during CPR but officers concluded that the cause of death was a pre-existing medical condition. Officers from Pak Nam Ranong Police Station were alerted to the death of the German national, 57…
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Insurgent threats in deep South as Tak Bai massacre case passes
Security measures have been increased in Thailand’s deep South amidst intelligence reports suggesting insurgent groups are planning to instigate violence from today, October 26, until October 28, following the expiration of the statute of limitations for the Tak Bai massacre case. Reports indicate that these groups aim to incite violence across four provinces to mark the 20th anniversary of the…
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Explosion outside Panare District Office sparks urgent probe
An explosion occurred outside the Panare District Office in Pattani, igniting a horrifying fire and prompting an urgent investigation by police. Yesterday, October 23, the อาสาสมัครกู้ชีพสันติ ปัตตานี Facebook page reported a dramatic incident outside the Panare district office in Pattani province. The post detailed that an explosion had taken place just after midnight, causing a fire to break out at…
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Homemade bomb explodes in Pattani, no casualties reported
A homemade bomb exploded late last night in Mueang district, Pattani, a southern border province. The incident resulted in no casualties. The explosion occurred at Kalapo intersection in Tambon Chabang Tikor around 10pm, yesterday, October 22. Fifty-minutes later, bomb experts arrived at the scene and discovered remnants of the device, including pieces of a plastic bottle, an electronic circuit, nails,…
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Time’s up: House Speaker warns of ticking tensions in Tak Bai turmoil
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha sounded the alarm over the simmering unrest in Thailand’s volatile Deep South. With the clock ticking down to the looming deadline for the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case, police are under pressure to seize suspects or risk letting them slip away forever. Wan Muhamad has thrown down the gauntlet, insisting security forces must snag…
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Human trafficking in Chumphon leads to three Burmese deaths
Police in Lang Suan district, Chumphon province, responded to a distress call from monks at Wat Sek Tharam at 11.30am on October 17, leading them to a tragic scene involving Burmese migrants. Found in a forest approximately 2 kilometres from Phetkasem Road, 12 Burmese migrants were discovered in dire conditions, covered in dirt and visibly weakened. Two men, aged between…
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Rare Malayan tapir spotted near Thai-Malaysian border
A rare sighting of a Malayan tapir near the Thai-Malaysian border in Narathiwat province has caught the attention of Thai officials from the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary. Local villagers alerted officials yesterday, October 18, after spotting the tapir on October 16 at around 7pm, feeding on fallen rambutans for about an hour before retreating towards the border. Residents in the Waeng…
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Ex-police chief accuses lawyer and dead cop of extortion
A former chief of police in the southern province of Songkhla filed a lawsuit against a lawyer and a dead cop for extorting more than 10 million baht from him and another police officer in August 2018 and April 2019. The former superintendent of a local police station in Songkhla, Police Colonel Surapong Kittithirangkul, complained to the lawyer, identified as Ch.,…
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Get ready to sea it all: Trang opens for snorkeling with marine life
Trang province is now ready to welcome tourists to admire the stunning beauty of the sea at Lao Liang Island. Visitors can snorkel to see schools of anchovy swimming around coral reefs and spot dozens of clownfish among vibrant sea anemones, showcasing the richness of natural marine life. Anan Gingkoyao, also known as Bang Daad, a 36 year old local…
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Thai woman calls foul after man defecates outside her home (video)
A Thai woman demanded accountability from a man who defecated outside her home in the Isaan province of Udon Thani. The 48 year old woman, Mew, took to a local Udon Thani Facebook group to share CCTV footage of the man defecating outside her house. In her post, she stated, “Is this too much? If the post violates group rules,…
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Search continues for 12 year old Thai girl missing for 12 days
A Thai mother and aunt in the southern province of Phang Nga are searching for her 12 year old girl, who has been missing for 12 days since October 5, when the family left the girl alone at home to attend a vegetarian festival. Wandee Hanhuan, the aunt of the 12 year old missing girl, Poonyanut “Sompoy” Kayankhai, took to…
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Three dead in southern Thailand floods, more heavy rain expected
Three people perished in flood-related incidents in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Yala yesterday as the southern border region braces for more rain, potential flash floods, and forest runoff. Two of the victims were in Phrom Khiri district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, where three tourists were caught off guard by forest runoff while visiting Wang Lung waterfall in the late afternoon. Heavy…
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Former politician caught with meth in underwear in South Thailand
A former local politician was arrested at a checkpoint after attempting to hide methamphetamine (meth) in his underwear. A subsequent search of his home revealed a firearm. Local police set up the checkpoint to maintain order. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sawat Niyomdecha of Koh Thuat Police Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat, in coordination with local administrative officials, established the checkpoint in…
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Pattani: Border patrol officer killed in dual insurgent attacks
Tensions erupted late last night when insurgents launched coordinated attacks on two security outposts in a southern border province, resulting in the tragic death of a border patrol officer. The assailants, armed with military-grade weapons, carried out the strikes within minutes of each other, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. The first attack occurred at around 11.45pm, yesterday, October 9, when…
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Southern Thailand braces for torrential rains and flash floods
Southern Thailand is urged to prepare for torrential rains that began yesterday, October 9 and are expected to continue until Saturday, potentially causing flash floods. This warning concerns the provinces of Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, as stated by Surasri Kidtimonton, secretary-general…
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Similan Islands reopen with fresh upgrades for high season
Tourist hotspots in the Andaman Sea, including the famous Mu Ko Similan National Park on Similan Islands, will reopen next Tuesday, October 15, just in time for the high season. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) has given the green light for visitors until May 15 next year. Among the standout destinations is Koh Similan, the…
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Murder-suicide suspected after family of 4 found dead in Songkhla
Police suspect a Thai woman of committing a murder-suicide involving her family members at her home in the southern province of Songkhla after four bodies with gunshot wounds were discovered yesterday, October 7. Officers from Mueang Songkhla Police Station were called to investigate the fatal shooting at a two-storey house belonging to a former member of the Songkhla Municipality Council,…
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Thai crackdown on activists ignites fresh tensions in Deep South
Five activists in Thailand’s insurgency-plagued Deep South are facing the heat after hosting a mock referendum on self-determination. Yesterday, October 3, police charged two activists and three students for organising the event in June last year, sparking renewed debates about free speech in the volatile, heavily militarised border region. The group, which includes members of The Pattani political movement and…
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Winter story: Thai cool season arrives fashionably late with icy twist
Brace yourselves, Thailand’s winter this year will arrive a little late but pack an extra punch of chill. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) announced that the cool season will kick off in the third week of October, with temperatures set to dip lower than last year. Although winter will extend until late February, the TMD is predicting cooler-than-usual temperatures. The…
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Thai woman dies after car plunges into river during driving practice
A Thai woman lost her life after her car careened into a river while she was practising her driving skills in the southern province of Trang. Officers from Nong Trut Police Station, along with rescuers and volunteer divers, rushed to a road along the Trang River in the Nong Trut sub-district, Mueang district, Trang province, after receiving a report that…
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Thailand to withdraw military from southern provinces by 2027
Thailand plans to withdraw military forces from the nation’s southernmost provinces by 2027, with a focus on bolstering volunteer forces in the region. The Ministry of Interior and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly train these volunteer forces. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Army Commander Charoenchai Hintao were present at the ceremony.…
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Thai boy arrested for killing close friend over alleged insult
A 15 year old Thai boy arrested for the murder of his close friend in the southern province of Songkhla, claimed that the deceased insulted him with vulgar language. A resident in the Khlong Hoi Khong district of Songkhla discovered the body of 15 year old Konnawan “Fang” O-thong in a puddle in the forest at around 9.45am yesterday, September 29.…
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Man bitten by snake on Phatthalung mountain shares survival story (video)
A Thai man shared a TikTok video about his last trip where he was bitten by a snake at night on a mountain. He used survival skills passed down through generations to handle the situation, but netizens advised against his methods, calling them dangerous. On TikTok, user @arunsrisuwan512 posted a video describing his experience of being bitten by a green…
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Elderly man loses 10,000 baht from Thai govt handout
An elderly man who recently withdrew 10,000 baht in cash from the Thai government’s handout initiative found his wallet missing, prompting a heartfelt community response. A woman’s Facebook post detailed the incident and led to numerous offers of assistance from across the country. The government recently issued 10,000 baht to vulnerable groups, distributed based on the last digits of their…
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South Thailand: Pickup truck flips in the air, crashes into shop (video)
A pickup truck in the southern province of Chumphon lost control and flipped over, causing significant damage to a shop and its roof, though the driver sustained only minor injuries. CCTV footage captured the shocking incident, which was shared on TikTok by user @tarn.dararat, highlighting the unpredictability of accidents. Tarn, the TikTok user who originally posted the clip, spoke to…
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Russian fined 5,000 baht after driving dangerously on Koh Samui
A Russian man yesterday faced a 5,000 baht fine after dangerous driving on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Locals were impressed by the police’s swift action, though some felt the punishment was too lenient. A Thai woman took to a Facebook group called รวมพลคนสมุย (meaning Samui locals gathering) to expose the dangerous behaviour of…
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Nine suspects arrested for Pattani petrol station robbery
Police apprehended nine suspects involved in a brazen robbery at a petrol station in Panare district, Pattani province. The incident occurred when a group of men and women on motorcycles were ambushed by the suspects, who were armed with two guns. An alarming report emerged yesterday, September 24, of nine individuals robbing victims as they exited a PTT petrol station…
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Phatthalung romance: Love-struck victim won’t ‘stick’ it to attacker
A love-struck Thai man in the southern province of Phatthalung has decided to forgive and forget, even after his boyfriend savagely attacked him with a wooden stick, leaving him unconscious. Remarkably, the victim has declared he still loves his assailant. Officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station were alerted to the assault at a house in the Mueang district of Phatthalung…
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Nemo’s profit party: Clownfish breeding makes 1 million baht splash
The Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Trang has successfully bred over 20 species of clownfish, commonly known as Nemo fish, this year, resulting in sales surpassing those of the previous year and generating nearly 1 million baht in revenue. Trang Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre director Patcharee Soonsan announced yesterday, September 23, the achievement of breeding 20…
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Four injured in chaotic Phatthalung street shootout
A shootout between two rival youth gangs on a street in Phatthalung left four individuals injured, including a 17 year old boy in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his chest. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 2am yesterday, September 23 on the Khlong Muay-Kong Ra Road in Village 7, Khlong Sai Khao subdistrict, Kong Ra district.…
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