Bangkok News
Bangkok news, politics, business, crime, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s capital. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Bangkok news source.
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Police arrest teenagers in Bangkok hotel sex trafficking sting
Police apprehended two 18 year olds at a well-known hotel in Bangkok’s Pom Prap Sattru Phai district on May 17 at 9.30pm. The suspects were accused of engaging in sex trafficking activities, receiving a commission of 1,000 baht for each transaction. The arrest followed a sting operation coordinated by the police. The suspects, identified as A and B, were caught…
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Pickup truck driver arrested after Bangkok police chase
A pickup truck collided with multiple vehicles during an attempted escape from police in Bangkok, resulting in the driver being detained. Yesterday, May 17, a viral video showed the truck speeding and emitting thick black smoke as it tried to evade capture but was eventually stopped by police. The incident occurred at 1pm on Theparak Road, inbound, near a PTT…
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Five Myanmar nationals arrested for illegal work in Bangkok market
On May 17, five Myanmar nationals were arrested for illegal entry and working without permits at a popular street food market in the RCA area. Immigration officials are expanding investigations to prosecute their employers. Police Lieutenant General Phanumart Boonyaluck, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, instructed Police Major General Prasath Khemprasert, head of Immigration Division 1, along with Police Colonel Pholasit…
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Bangkok’s Bang Na gridlocked by floods and traffic (video)
Bangkok’s roads turned into rivers yesterday evening, sparking one of the worst traffic nightmares in recent memory, with queues stretching over 31 kilometres and motorists stuck for hours in waist-deep floodwaters. Heavy rainfall yesterday, May 16, caused severe flooding on key routes in Bang Na and surrounding areas, leading to massive traffic congestion that brought parts of the city to a…
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Tycoon, engineers face arrest in Bangkok building collapse scandal
A high-stakes manhunt is underway after Thai police issued arrest warrants for 17 people linked to the fatal collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok—a disaster that has rocked the nation’s construction industry and could land several top executives behind bars. At the centre of the storm is prominent businessman Premchai Karnasuta, chairman of Italian-Thai Development, who…
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Bangkok on shaky ground despite low quake risk, expert warns
In Thailand, although the probability of another earthquake occurring soon is low, several regions, including Bangkok, remain at high risk of experiencing tremors from nearby fault lines, according to a seismologist. At the Bangkok Post Knowledge Forum, held under the title After the Quake, Professor Pennung Warnitchai from the Asian Institute of Technology highlighted Bangkok’s vulnerability to distant earthquakes due…
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Thailand tightens regulations on short courses for foreign students
The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) has implemented new regulations to curb the misuse of short courses by foreign students as a means to engage in illegal work in Thailand. Effective immediately, all educational institutions are required to submit their short course curricula for evaluation. Minister Supamas Isarabhakdi announced yesterday, May 15, that the guidelines are…
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Storm splash: Thailand braces for heavy rain and potential flooding
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecast heavy rainfall today across 52 provinces, with Bangkok potentially experiencing significant flooding due to a 70% chance of rain. This weather pattern is expected to affect the upper regions of Thailand and the South, possibly leading to flash floods and runoff, especially in hilly areas and lowlands. This situation is primarily due to…
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Gang arrested for stealing electrical wires in Bangkok
A gang involved in stealing electrical wires was apprehended following a report by a Metropolitan Electricity Authority representative, as the theft caused significant damage. CCTV footage captured the incident, which resulted in injuries to the suspects due to an electric shock yesterday, May 14, at 10.30pm. At Bang Khun Thian Police Station, Police Major General Khomsit Rangsai, Chief of Police…
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Police arrest key figure in Bangkok drug network
Investigators from Metropolitan Police Division 8 arrested a 28 year old man identified as a key figure in a drug network in the Wang Thonglang area of Bangkok. They seized a large quantity of drugs, including 7 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 42 kilogrammes of ketamine. The arrest took place around 6am on May 13 on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 21, Intersection…
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Bangkok siege as gunman goes on rampage over lost lover
A boozed-up gunman brought terror to a Bangkok neighbourhood this morning, firing wildly into the sky and taking six terrified hostages, all in a crazed bid to find his missing girlfriend. Panic gripped Soi Wat Lakhon Tham in the Ban Chang Lo subdistrict around 9.45am today, May 15, when the gunman, a 31 year old Thai man, Tae, went on…
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Man apprehended in Bangkok over indecent filming charges
A 34 year old man was apprehended at a condominium in Bang Sue, Bangkok, following an investigation into allegations of indecent acts. Pirapong was charged under a Nakhon Si Thammarat court warrant for inappropriate behaviour towards people over 15 years old, using force in a public setting, which caused distress and humiliation. The incident occurred in 2023 when a 30 year…
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Danish man vanishes after no-show at Thailand airport
A Danish man who failed to board a flight home from Thailand in March has vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of confusion, concern and desperate pleas from loved ones as fears grow for his mental health and safety. The baffling disappearance of Jakob Jensen, has sparked an international search effort after the Danish tourist seemingly vanished in…
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Man arrested in Bangkok for exploiting youths in trafficking scam
Police apprehended a 20 year old man in Din Daeng, Bangkok, linked to a human trafficking operation exploiting youths via Facebook. Police revealed that the suspect, along with four accomplices, falsely promised lucrative overseas jobs, leading to the victims being recruited by a call centre gang. Abdul Waris, yesterday, May 12, was arrested under a warrant from Phitsanulok provincial court dated…
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Laotian woman dies in Bangkok house fire, 4 others escape safely
A Laotian woman lost her life after a fire broke out at her family home in the Bang Khun Thian district of Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Four other family members sustained injuries in the fire today, May 13. Tha Kham Police Station and the Bang Khun Thian district firefighter team were alerted to the blaze at…
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Baht to the future: 20 baht Bangkok train fare plan on fast track
Bangkok commuters could soon be zipping across the city’s electric rail network for just 20 baht a ride, no matter how far they go, as the government pushes ahead with its wallet-friendly fare cap. The Department of Rail Transport (DRT) officially proposed a flat-rate fare ceiling of 20 baht for all electric train services, with Cabinet approval expected later this…
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Fire at Bangkok factory causes toxic air pollution and evacuation
A fire broke out at a factory in the capital containing 300 tonnes of plastic pellets, resulting in air pollution and chemical emissions. Residents within a 300-metre radius were evacuated, with recommendations to avoid using air conditioning and instead use fans for ventilation. At 1.30pm yesterday, May 12, at the incident command centre located at Lam Pa Ong School, Doctor…
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Bangkok Pride 2025: Right to Love Celebrations Announced
Organisers are preparing for the Bangkok Pride Festival 2025, themed The Celebration: Right to Love, scheduled from May 30 to June 30. The highlight will be the Pride Parade on June 1. A press conference held on May 6 introduced the event’s co-organisers, including the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Bangkok…
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Manhunt in Bangkok for suspect in fatal shooting of gym owner
A 23 year old man from Myanmar is being pursued by police following the fatal shooting of a 70 year old fitness centre owner in Bangkok. The incident occurred after the suspect allegedly seized the victim’s firearm. The suspect then fled in the victim’s car towards Rangsit, prompting an intensive manhunt by law enforcement. The incident came to light on…
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Last night’s Bangkok furniture factory fire rages on
A fire erupted at a furniture factory on Chalong Krung Road in Bangkok last night, May 11, raising concerns about the potential collapse of the building. The blaze originated in the basement before spreading to several nearby communities with intense heat and significant smoke. The incident occurred at a furniture factory located in a two-storey structure with a basement used…
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Bangkok drug network dismantled in major police bust
On May 11, police arrested four people at a condominium in Bangkok for drug-related offences, seizing various illicit substances including methamphetamine and ecstasy. This operation led to the dismantling of a major distribution network selling drugs in nightclubs. Police Lieutenant General Siam Boonsom and other senior officers supervised the arrest of 37 year old Wongsakorn, 32 year old Atcharaphat, 21…
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Myanmar man shoots 70 year old in Bangkok entry dispute
A 23 year old man from Myanmar fatally shot a 70 year old man after being denied entry to visit his pregnant wife at the latter’s workplace. The incident occurred on May 10 at 7pm in the Rom Sai 12 alley, Lak Song subdistrict, Bang Khae district, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant Ekachai Yimnimitt, an investigator from Phetkasem Police Station, along with…
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Severe storm in Bangkok claims life as tree crushes shelter
A severe storm with strong winds and heavy rain resulted in a tree falling and crushing a shelter in Bangkok, leading to the death of 51 year old Buala. The incident was reported yesterday, May 11 and investigated by Police Lieutenant Colonel Pipatchai Panphim, deputy inspector at Thammasala Police Station. The tragedy occurred in the early hours within Soi Phutthamonthon…
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Bangkok building collapse rescue ends; probe into malpractice begins
Efforts to retrieve bodies following the collapse of the 2.1 billion baht State Audit Office building in Bangkok, instigated by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, have been concluded, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s announcement yesterday, May 10. Suriyachai Rawiwon, director of the BMA’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, reported that the final areas, including a lift…
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Lightning alert: Severe storms to hit 55 provinces in Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning for today, predicting severe storms to impact 55 provinces across Thailand. Approximately 60% of the affected areas will experience heavy rainfall, strong winds, and some hail. The northeastern region is anticipated to be hit by summer storms, characterised by thunderstorms, gusty winds, and occasional hail. Other regions will begin to experience…
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Thai public slams 450m baht social security calendar
Thailand’s Social Security Office (SSO) is under fire after a public survey revealed that the majority of people don’t want its pricey annual calendar — a project that’s quietly burned through over 450 million baht in just eight years. In a growing backlash, more than 60% of respondents in a recent nationwide survey said the calendar, intended to promote awareness…
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Couple claim relatives plan their murder for 120 million baht payout
A Thai couple accused their relatives of plotting to murder them to claim an insurance payout totalling over 120 million baht. A police officer was allegedly involved in the plan. The couple, Tong and Au, sought help from the non-profit organisation Be One after Tong survived an alleged murder attempt in 2022. The couple later discovered over 50 life insurance policies…
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Cheers allowed: Buddhist holiday booze ban eased
Just after Phuket had announced a 30-hour alcohol sales ban this weekend for its upcoming municipal elections and the Visakha Bucha holiday, the Thai government officially relaxed its alcohol ban on sacred Buddhist holidays — but only under strict conditions. The Royal Gazette announced today, May 9, that the Prime Minister’s Office has revised its previous order on alcohol sales,…
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Royal Ploughing Ceremony kicks off Thailand’s rice planting season
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony, held at Sanam Luang today, marked the beginning of the rice planting season in Thailand. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida presided over the annual event. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, members of the Cabinet, and diplomatic representatives were also in attendance. The ceremony, a traditional ritual promoting good fortune and agricultural prosperity, coincides with the sixth…
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Labour minister vows to slash work deaths by 2030
Thailand’s labour boss is declaring war on deadly workplaces—\promising to cut fatalities in half within five years. At the National Occupational Safety Day 2025 opening ceremony, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn unveiled his ambitious “Safety Thailand” vision to drastically reduce serious workplace injuries and deaths. The aim is to bring down severe injury rates from 2.13 to one per 1,000 workers,…
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