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 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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Vietnamese trawler detained for illegal fishing in Thai waters
A Vietnamese trawler with four crewmen was detained yesterday for illegally fishing in Thai territorial waters, according to the Thai navy. The incident took place south of Koh Kra, yesterday, July 4, where the Second Naval Area Command, led by deputy commander Phichit Srirungruang, ordered the HTMS Sattahip to conduct a patrol following intelligence reports of unauthorised fishing activities. The…
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Ex-husband fires shots at ex-wife’s house in Hat Yai
A woman’s ex-husband fired shots at her house, forcing her to flee and hide. Enraged by her refusal to provide school fees for their children and jealousy over her new husband, he resorted to violence. Police Lieutenant Wallaop Supachaiyakit, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) at Koh Hong Police Station, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, received a report yesterday, July 4, of a…
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Songkhla police arrest illegal workers in Koh Pha Ngan crackdown
Police in Songkhla launched an operation targeting illegal foreign workers, arresting six Myanmar nationals and one Thai employer for working outside their permitted rights in Koh Pha Ngan. This action follows complaints from local leaders and residents. The operation was ordered by Sak Sira, the Commissioner of Tourist Police, and executed by Winich Boonchit, a senior officer in the Tourist…
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Teen dies, two injured in Songkhla knife attack leading to crash
A 15 year old boy riding with two friends was attacked by three 14 year olds armed with knives, resulting in a crash that left one dead and two seriously injured. Police are coordinating with the guardians for the suspects to surrender. Investigators at Hat Yai Police Station, Songkhla province, led by Phum Balthip and Dusit Phromsin detained three 14…
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Woman arrested for selling kratom tea to teens in Songkhla
Police in Rattaphum, Songkhla, arrested a woman for openly selling kratom leaf tea, with teenagers reportedly becoming addicted. The operation seized 500 bottled kratom teas, sold around the clock. Rattaphum District Chief Wilailak Rueangphon ordered Sub-Lieutenant Surasak Chanakit to lead a team, including local health officers, to apprehend a vendor selling kratom leaf tea from a rented house. The house,…
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Thai AirAsia operates Bangkok-Hat Yai route
Thai AirAsia unveiled an exciting new flight route between Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) in Bangkok and Hat Yai (HDY) in southern Thailand, shaking up domestic air travel. Flight FD4304 is set to depart Suvarnabhumi at 10.45am, landing in Hat Yai by 12.10pm. The return journey, flight FD4305, will leave Hat Yai at 12.40pm, arriving back in Bangkok at 2.15pm. This…
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26 drug addicts escape Krabi rehab, 11 recaptured by police
Royal Thai Police (RTP) reported yesterday that 26 recovering drug addicts escaped from a rehabilitation foundation in Mueang, Krabi. The group allegedly stole a long-tail boat to make their way to Mueang Krabi, with some escapees later seen walking along Hemthanon Road. After nearly an hour, police managed to capture 11 of the escapees. The police negotiated with the 11…
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Car bomb near Yala police flat kills one, injures several (video)
A car bomb detonated near a police flat in Bannang Sata, Yala, causing multiple injuries and one fatality. The explosion occurred around 10.30am today, close to the district office and only a few hundred metres from the local police station. The powerful blast happened in front of the police officers’ residential building, situated within the Bannang Sata Municipality. Initial reports…
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Volcanic durian from southern Thailand creates year-long waitlist
A surge in demand has led to a year-long waitlist for the unique volcanic durian grown exclusively in southern Thailand, which boasts a GAP certification ensuring its safety and quality. This particular variety is reported to be twice as delicious as the commonly known Monthong durian. At the heart of this phenomenon is Saiyut Jannsawang’s orchard in Na Khao Sia…
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Fare game: Thai man fights taxi overcharge at Krabi Airport
A Thai man lodged a complaint at the Ministry of Interior after a taxi driver at Krabi International Airport attempted to overcharge him 2,500 baht for a 12-kilometre trip. The actual taxi fare is 400 baht. The 30 year old man visited Krabi Provincial Damrongtham Centre, under the Ministry of Interior, yesterday, June 25, to report the cheating taxi driver.…
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Stinging situation as Bluebottles sighted around Racha Islands
The Thai authorities issued a warning about the presence of Portuguese Man o’ War, also known as bluebottles, at the Racha Islands, located south of Phuket, following an incident where a tour boat staff member was stung yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has identified bluebottles at Ao La, Ao Tu, and Racha Yai Islands. Tourists and…
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Fire at Hat Yai hotel sparks chaos, guests evacuated
A fire erupted in the ventilation shaft of a prominent hotel in downtown Hat Yai, leading to chaotic scenes as staff and guests scrambled to evacuate. Officials are investigating the incident, initially suspected to be caused by an electrical short circuit. At 7.30pm yesterday, emergency services were alerted to a fire at a well-known hotel on Sanehanusorn Road, within the…
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Police officer accused of assaulting man in Phatthalung
A 23 year old man from Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung Province, filed a complaint against a police officer who allegedly assaulted him in his home. The incident occurred at 6.46pm yesterday while the man was cleaning his dog’s kennel. Yanason (surname withheld) reported that while he was cleaning, Chakraphan (surname withheld), a police sergeant from Raman Police Station in Yala,…
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Southern Thailand: Family shocked to find body preserved in ice
Rescue workers were startled to discover a corpse preserved in ice, akin to salted mackerel after being called to inject formalin due to the smell and bloating. The body had been kept in ice for four days. Yesterday, the Facebook page of Oat Chantra, a rescue worker from the Phutthabucha Lansuan Rescue Unit, shared images of the event. The post…
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Italian arrested for cocaine sales and illegal business on Samui
Police in Surat Thani arrested an Italian man allegedly involved in selling cocaine and operating a motorbike rental business illegally on Samui Island. The arrest, made on June 18, followed an investigation by Surat Thani Immigration based on tips from concerned locals. Officers identified the suspect as 39 year old Mattio who was apprehended on Lamai Beach Road in the…
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Southern Thailand popular for Malaysian polygamous marriages
Southern Thailand has emerged as a preferred destination for Malaysian men seeking ceremonial polygamous marriages. Each month, at least 30 couples from Malaysia undergo marriage ceremonies at the Narathiwat Islamic Religious Council, according to a report by the Bernama news agency. These couples primarily hail from the neighbouring states of Kelantan and Terengganu, though some travel from as far as…
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Koh Samui steals spotlight: Readers rave over four island getaways
Readers of the popular American travel magazine Travel+Leisure voted four accommodations in Koh Samui as winners in the Beach+Island Resort category. Travel+Leisure released its 2024 Luxury Awards Asia Pacific ranking, allowing readers to nominate and vote for outstanding accommodations in various categories, including five-star urban escapes, private-island beach resorts, innovative spas, Instagram-worthy swimming pools, awesome airlines and airports, cruises, and…
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Heartless landlord leaves terminally ill man homeless before death
The owner of a rented house in the southern province of Songkhla refused to allow a terminally ill Thai man to rest in her residence. This forced the man to seek refuge in a temple, where he passed away this morning, June 14. Witnesses took to social media to share the heartbreaking story of 63 year old terminally ill Thai…
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Twinning triumph: Thailand to launch second border bridge to Malaysia
Thailand is set to break ground on a monumental project that will transform the region. The Twin Bridge, a massive construction project in Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok, is expected to begin in April 2025. Narathiwat Province Governor Trakul Thotham announced that before construction starts, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be conducted. The EIA survey is scheduled to kick off next…
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Fake police officer causes uproar in Songkhla snooker hall
A man claiming to be a police officer caused a scene after parking his car in the middle of the road in Songkhla Province, boasting about his rank and causing a disturbance in a snooker hall. The incident led to a formal complaint against him. The incident occurred yesterday when a Facebook user posted about a troubling encounter in the…
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Ruff rescue: Abandoned pit bull in Hat Yai finds new home
A pit bull was found abandoned in the heart of Hat Yai, dehydrated, weak, and unable to move. Rescuers discovered it infested with ticks and emaciated. Fortunately, a kind-hearted individual has already come forward to offer the dog a new home. Residents found the pit bull, weighing about 50 kilogrammes, left in Soi 6, Rat Uthit area, yesterday, June 11.…
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Student’s fatal fall in Trang sparks investigation
Tragedy struck a school in Trang when a 15 year old female student fell to her death from a school building. The governor suspects personal stress might have contributed to the incident, prompting an official investigation by the school. The police received a report from Trang Hospital’s emergency room regarding a fatal fall this morning, June 12. The police, led…
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South Thailand: Woman evading arrest as a nun caught
Thai police apprehended a woman who had been evading arrest by becoming a nun in Nakhon Si Thammarat over the past ten months. Believing she had escaped justice, the woman was finally captured following a police investigation. Law enforcement officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, in cooperation with local police units from Damnoen Saduak in Ratchaburi and Tha Sala in…
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Reeling trouble: Illegal fishing devices net controversy in Songkhla
Illegal fishing tools continue to cause problems in Songkhla, particularly the use of Pongpang fishing devices in Songkhla Lake. Despite efforts by authorities to enforce the law, the situation remains unresolved as fisherfolk persist in using these prohibited tools. The Pongpang devices are installed in the navigable channel between Hua Phaya Nak and the new fishing pier in Mueang Songkhla…
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Cyber police nab key administrator of major gambling site in Thailand
Cyber police apprehended the key administrator of a major gambling site, slotking77, which had a financial turnover exceeding 180 million baht. The arrest occurred after the individual absconded following a bail release at the prosecutor level today. Phumipat Phattharasriwongchai, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau 5, along with Ukrit Srinitivorawong, Chief of News Analysis and Special Tools Division, led…
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Thai-Malay twin-city initiative to boost southern economic growth
The Thai government announced a collaboration with Malaysia to promote a twin-city concept in the Deep South, aiming to stimulate economic growth and bring peace to the region. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai recently chaired a meeting to review the progress of this initiative, which seeks to transform the longstanding conflict zones into thriving trade hubs through…
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Cave tragedy: Thai man’s final journey into the depths of despair
A man reportedly committed suicide inside the sacred Khao Khun Panom cave in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, allegedly motivated by a serious illness. A monk from Khao Khun Panom Temple, where the cave was situated, discovered the lifeless body of a man while entering the cave for his daily meditation. Subsequently, the monk contacted officers from the…
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Songkhla pushes for cruise terminal to boost tourism
The Songkhla Tourism Association is calling for government intervention to boost tourism by constructing a cruise ship terminal and introducing direct flights from Chinese cities to Hat Yai. President of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association Songchai Mungprasithichai announced plans to seek government support for direct flights to Hat Yai, proposing routes such as Kunming-Hat Yai to attract more Chinese tourists…
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Two shot dead while gathering intelligence in Songkhla
Two people were shot dead while gathering information in Thepa, Songkhla yesterday. Ponnchai Kwanpanya, the head of Huai Pling Police Station in Songkhla, received a report of a shooting incident yesterday at 5.30pm. The attack occurred on a road in Ban Huai Pling, Moo 2, Tham Wang Subdistrict, Thepa District, Songkhla Province. Authorities, including military forces from Songkhla Special Task…
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Kazakhstan’s first direct flight lands in Surat Thani
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Scat Airlines today celebrated the inaugural direct flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Surat Thani. The flight carrying 212 passengers, landed at Surat Thani International Airport this morning at 7.30am. The Thai Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Chatchawan Sakornsinsuwan, accompanied the flight, along with Kazakhstani travel operators and media, receiving a warm welcome from local officials.…
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