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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Hat Yai backpack scare leads to four-hour road closure
A suspicious bag left outside the house of Hat Yai’s mayor prompted a four-hour road closure as police and bomb squads moved to neutralise the potential threat. This incident follows a series of violent events in the southern border provinces, including a recent car bomb attack in Pattani. Security agencies issued warnings to bolster protective measures at government offices and…
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M16 rifle linked to over 25 deaths in southern Thailand
A deadly weapon, an M16 rifle, used in the fatal shooting of former police officer Phu-at Rasaming, has been linked to over 25 deaths in a series of violent incidents in southern Thailand. The Supreme Court sentenced Amir Dotae to 35 years and 13 months in prison for related terrorism charges. The tragic event unfolded when Phu-at Rasaming, the imam…
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Phatthalung plans airport to become Thailand’s logistics hub
Officials in Phatthalung are gearing up to transform the province into a bustling logistics hub in southern Thailand with plans to construct a new airport. This ambitious initiative, aimed at elevating the province’s economic profile, is anticipated to be presented to the Cabinet soon. A major step forward was taken when the Phatthalung governor submitted a formal request to the…
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School scandal: Education official in hot water for midday snooze
The Office of the Basic Education Commission is investigating an educational official in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan who was allegedly sleeping at work and finishing her duties early after lunch. The Facebook pages ปฏิบัติการหมาเฝ้าบ้าน (Watchdog Anti-corruption Organisation of Thailand) and ร้ายกาจ (Wicked!) shared pictures and videos of the official, identified only as “Aunty Fon,” sleeping on duty…
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Trang Airport terminal’s delay spikes airfares, tourism at risk
Rath Pooklang, head of the Trang People’s Voice Network, met with Deputy Minister of Transport, Manop Charoensri, urging immediate action on the stalled construction of the new passenger terminal at Trang International Airport, alongside addressing exorbitant airfares affecting tourism. Rath and his civic team travelled to Bangkok to present a letter to the deputy minister, highlighting the need for an…
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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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Thai woman surrenders to police after slitting debtor’s throat
A Thai woman turned herself in after slitting the throat of a female debtor during a funeral at a temple in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday. The shocking attack occurred in front of many locals attending the funeral at Jating Phra Temple in the Sathing Phra district of Songkhla at about 12.15am on Sunday, October 20. The victim was…
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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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Bomb blitz rocks southern Thailand: Seven injured
A series of bomb blasts sent shockwaves through Sungai Padi district, in the southern province of Narathiwat province this morning, leaving seven security personnel injured and sparking concerns about the region’s escalating unrest. The attacks began just before dawn, with bombs planted strategically near power poles outside a gas factory in Kuwa Village, according to Ranger Task Force 4810. The…
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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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Man arrested for abusing disabled sister and children in Chumphon
A distressing incident unfolded in Chumphon province yesterday, where a man was arrested for allegedly abusing his disabled sister and three children. The man, Chai (pseudonym), was reported to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the abuse. Village head Somphun Suwan received a call for help from a desperate older brother, who could…
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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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Phatthalung villagers scammed out of 5 million baht by neighbour
Nearly 30 villagers in Phatthalung province filed police reports after being scammed out of 5 million baht by a neighbour they had trusted. The incident involved daily savings schemes, gold savings plans, and land brokerage deals. The chief of Khao Krasai subdistrict in Pa Bon district, Komjak Saengsio, led the villagers in reporting the case. The accused, Sattaya Boonladee, a…
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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 teacher escapes with minor injuries after car crashes into truck
A Thai teacher crashed her sedan into a six-wheel truck on a bypass road in the southern province of Phetchaburi but fortunately sustained only minor injuries. Officers from the Cha-am Police Station were alerted to the accident and injuries on the Cha-am-Pranburi Bypass Road yesterday, October 1, and rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Sawang Sunphet Foundation. Upon…
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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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NHRC urges Thailand to rethink Southern Land Bridge project
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to reconsider the Southern Land Bridge megaproject, highlighting concerns about its environmental impact and implications for local communities. The NHRC supports its call with findings from various studies conducted by state agencies. Council member Sayamol Kaiyoorawongs stated that the prime minister should direct the Office of Transport and…
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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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