Mekong River

  • Thailand NewsThai military foils Harley-Davidson smuggling across Mekong River

    Thai military foils Harley-Davidson smuggling across Mekong River

    Thai military rangers intercepted an attempt to smuggle a Harley-Davidson motorcycle across the Mekong River to a neighbouring country. The operation, which occurred at night, resulted in the arrest of a 24 year old Laotian man and the seizure of the motorcycle. Colonel Intrawut Thongkham, commander of the 21st Ranger Task Force, reported yesterday that intelligence was received on Thursday,…

  • Thailand NewsTeen caught with two million meth pills on Mekong River

    Teen caught with two million meth pills on Mekong River

    A 16 year old was apprehended while smuggling meth pills across the Mekong River, with over two million pills seized. Three of his accomplices managed to escape. The incident took place earlier today, February 3, in Chumphon subdistrict, Phon Phisai district, Nong Khai province. Lieutenant General Boonsin Phadklang, head of the Second Army Area and the Border Drug Suppression and…

  • Crime NewsThai border police seize meth and Happy Water worth millions

    Thai border police seize meth and Happy Water worth millions

    The Border Patrol Police Company 237 in Tha Uthen district, Nakhon Phanom province, yesterday seized 240,000 methamphetamine tablets and Happy Water. The drugs were smuggled across the Mekong River and intended for distribution within the region. On Tuesday, January 7, anti-narcotics officers from Border Patrol Police Company 237 received a tip-off from a local informant about a large quantity of…

  • Environment NewsMekong River dams threaten Thailand’s environment and economy, warns NHRC

    Mekong River dams threaten Thailand’s environment and economy, warns NHRC

    Transboundary hydropower dam projects along the Mekong River could jeopardise Thailand’s environment, economy, and community welfare, according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on October 3, the NHRC highlighted its concerns about four hydropower dam projects: Ban Koum Dam, Sanakham Dam, Phou Ngoy Dam, and Pak Chom Dam, all situated…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsUbon Ratchathani prepares for Mekong River flood threat

    Ubon Ratchathani prepares for Mekong River flood threat

    Ubon Ratchathani’s governor has instructed all relevant departments to prepare for the imminent overflow of the Mekong River and its tributaries, expected to inundate five districts in four days. Today, September 16, Suphasit Kochareonyot, Ubon Ratchathani governor, along with disaster prevention and mitigation officials, inspected the Khong Chiam district, where the Mekong River converges with the Mun River. The Mekong…

  • Thailand NewsDrain expectations: Water woes in Thailand get fast-tracked fix

    Drain expectations: Water woes in Thailand get fast-tracked fix

    Government officials are pulling out all the stops to accelerate water drainage in the flood-stricken northeastern provinces of Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, and Bung Kan, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced. The 58 year old deputy PM emphasised that swift action in draining water into the Mekong River could dramatically lessen the flood impacts compared to the…

  • Thailand NewsMekong your way to better flood control: Experts call for joint effort

    Mekong your way to better flood control: Experts call for joint effort

    The International Rivers Network issued a stark warning, calling on the government to urgently team up with neighbouring nations to manage the Mekong River more effectively. The aim? To cut economic losses and save lives when future floods hit. Pianporn Deetes, the Campaign Director for the Southeast Asia Programme at the International Rivers Network, revealed that recent devastating floods in…

  • Thailand NewsMekong floods: Nong Khai residents urged to move belongings

    Mekong floods: Nong Khai residents urged to move belongings

    Residents of Nong Khai have been advised to move their belongings to higher ground as the Mekong River’s water level is expected to peak by tomorrow due to ongoing flooding. The flood situation in Nong Khai province remains concerning as the Mekong River continues to rise steadily. The water level at the Nong Khai Hydrology Station was recorded at 13.46…

  • Crime NewsPolice dismantle illegal Internet tower near King’s Romans Casino

    Police dismantle illegal Internet tower near King’s Romans Casino

    Police and telecommunication officials dismantled a large signal tower used for illegal Internet transmission across the Mekong River to the King’s Romans area. The operation, conducted yesterday, September 3, involved Cyber Police Chief Worawat Watnakornbancha, along with officers from the 4th Cyber Police Division and regional telecommunication officials, acting on a search warrant issued by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court…

  • Thailand NewsMekong floods prompt calls to halt Pak Beng Dam project

    Mekong floods prompt calls to halt Pak Beng Dam project

    Floodwaters from the Mekong River have surged over its banks, affecting agricultural areas and prompting calls for the Thai government to review water management plans and delay the construction of the Pak Beng Dam. Yesterday, August 25, it was reported from the banks of the Mekong River in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province, that water levels continue to rise…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens

    Bangkok to Beijing train: Mekong River railway bridge opens

    Travellers are one step closer to an epic train journey from Bangkok to Beijing as a new railway bridge over the Mekong River has opened, linking Thailand and Laos by rail for the first time. This milestone, completed last month, leaves just a few dozen miles of a trackless gap before the route can finally reach China. With the launch…

  • Thailand NewsMekong River floods roads in Nakhon Phanom, warnings issued

    Mekong River floods roads in Nakhon Phanom, warnings issued

    The Mekong River has overflowed, flooding roads by half a metre, prompting warnings for four districts to take caution. Heavy rains have been relentless recently. Residents have been fishing amidst the rising waters. Floodwaters from the Mekong River submerged Sawan Chai Khong Road in Nakhon Phanom province, as reported yesterday. The road, constructed 30 to 40 metres from the riverbank,…

  • Thailand NewsTragedy in Mekong River as older brother drowns saving sibling

    Tragedy in Mekong River as older brother drowns saving sibling

    Two siblings had a tragic encounter while playing in the Mekong River, leading to a heartbreaking outcome as the older brother tragically lost his life while trying to save his drowning younger brother. His body was later discovered floating on Thailand’s Nong Khai side of the river, prompting authorities to coordinate with family in Laos to identify the victim. At…

  • Thailand NewsAcidic anxiety: Lorry leak near Mekong raises contamination fears

    Acidic anxiety: Lorry leak near Mekong raises contamination fears

    A lorry incident in Laos, which resulted in a sulphuric acid leak into a tributary of the Mekong River, has sparked concerns about potential water contamination along the Thailand-Laos border. However, the water quality in this stretch of the river was deemed safe yesterday, April 8, with continuous monitoring set to persist until the end of the week. Somsak Thepsutin,…

  • Thailand NewsThai government alert over Mekong River sulphuric acid spill from Laos

    Thai government alert over Mekong River sulphuric acid spill from Laos

    Thailand’s government is on high alert following a sulphuric acid spill in the Mekong River on the Lao border. The contamination, which took place in Laos’s Luang Prabang town, occurred when a lorry carrying over 30 tonnes of the acid toppled over, causing the hazardous substance to leak into the Nam Khan River, which flows into the Mekong. Residents in…

  • Thailand NewsDeputy foreign minister backs Mekong region trade

    Deputy foreign minister backs Mekong region trade

    To revitalise cross-border commerce, the Thailand deputy foreign minister made a pivotal visit to Chiang Saen Port on Monday, accentuating its pivotal role in the lower Mekong region. With cross-border trade in Chiang Rai soaring to an estimated 100 billion baht last year, according to the Foreign Ministry, the port’s strategic location where the Kok and Mekong Rivers converge offers…

  • Thailand NewsKhon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring

    Khon Kaen police bust major motorcycle theft ring

    Law enforcement in Khon Kaen province, Thailand, successfully dismantled a motorcycle theft ring operated by a husband and wife team. The pair, along with their accomplices, have been stealing motorcycles and smuggling them across the Mekong River for sale in neighbouring countries, causing severe distress to locals who have lost more than 30 vehicles. Police Major General Montree Teskan, the…

  • Thailand News10 year old boy drowns in Mekong River whirlpool

    10 year old boy drowns in Mekong River whirlpool

    A tragic incident on the banks of the Mekong River claimed the life of a 10 year old boy whose body was discovered last Saturday, February 17, after being drawn into a whirlpool three days prior. Veerawat’s grandfather managed to rescue the boy’s sister but could not reach Veerawat in time. The local authorities in Ubon Ratchathani’s Khemarat district have…

  • GuidesRivers of life: Exploring the cultural significance

    Rivers of life: Exploring the cultural significance

    Thailand’s rivers are more than just bodies of water; they’re the lifeblood of the nation. For centuries, these waterways have shaped Thai culture, influencing daily life, traditions, and even the country’s cuisine. Imagine a place where rivers are at the heart of every celebration, where communities gather by the water for the most significant events of the year. How water…

  • Thailand NewsLocal fishermen hooked over Vietnam warplane wreckage found in Mekong

    Local fishermen hooked over Vietnam warplane wreckage found in Mekong

    Thai and Lao men discovered the wreckage of a Vietnam warplane while fishing in the Mekong River within the Isaan province of Nong Khai. In light of safety concerns, locals have been banned from accessing the site, given the potential presence of explosives within the wreckage. A 40 year old Thai man, Chonnathep Suriwong, shared his account of finding the…

  • Pattaya NewsMekong momentum: Nakhon Phanom’s new bike lane sets sail for tourism boost

    Mekong momentum: Nakhon Phanom’s new bike lane sets sail for tourism boost

    In Nakhon Phanom, a new initiative has been launched to boost tourism along the scenic Mekong River. The local municipality has collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to introduce a Bike Lane Tunnel, an innovative attraction that’s set to captivate tourists throughout December. This project was announced to the public yesterday, December 7. The Bike Lane Tunnel, a…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesONWR notifies Mekong neighbours of potential flash flooding

    ONWR notifies Mekong neighbours of potential flash flooding

    As Thailand braces for severe weather and potential flash floods, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has issued an urgent communication to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) and neighbouring nations in the Lower Mekong River Basin, including China. The ONWR urges careful management of water level discharges in the region to prevent damaging floods. Yesterday, Surasri Kidtimonton, the…

  • Thailand NewsVillages and academic collaboration gathers crucial data on Mekong River dam projects’ impact

    Villages and academic collaboration gathers crucial data on Mekong River dam projects’ impact

    In a collective stance against two prospective dam projects along the Mekong River, villagers from five communities, researchers, as well as a Thai university, have teamed up. The collaboration aims to gather comprehensive data regarding their local economy, natural resources, and potential downstream impacts. The participation from within the communities stretches to Ubon Ratchathani province, located in northeast Thailand. The…

  • Crime News4 suspects arrested for smuggling 7 million meth pills near Mekong River

    4 suspects arrested for smuggling 7 million meth pills near Mekong River

    Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) arrested two Thai men and two Thai women near the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Nakhon Panom after the gang smuggled seven million meth pills into Thailand and prepared to deliver them into a third country. The NSB released the details of the drug bust on Tuesday, May 16 during a…

  • Thailand NewsAncient Buddhist stupa emerges from Mekong river in Thailand

    Ancient Buddhist stupa emerges from Mekong river in Thailand

    A Buddhist stupa believed to be over 700 years old has emerged from the Mekong River between Laos and northeast Thailand. Buddhists are flocking to Nong Khai province in Isaan to catch a glimpse of the sacred structure, which has emerged as the river’s water level has drastically fallen as Thailand enters the summer season. Phra That Lah Nong –…

  • World NewsSchool ferry sinks on Cambodian Mekong, 14 children dead

    School ferry sinks on Cambodian Mekong, 14 children dead

    An overloaded ferry capsized on the Mekong River in Cambodia, killing at least 14 children. The incident took place southeast of the capital city of Phnom Penh on a ferry that was transporting children home from school. The victims were between the ages of 11 and 14 years old. The wide and long Mekong snakes through Cambodia – as well…

  • World NewsWoman’s body in suitcase identified as Lao millionaire

    Woman’s body in suitcase identified as Lao millionaire

    UPDATE The dead woman’s body in a suitcase, which was found in the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Nakhon Phanom last week, has been identified as a Laos business owner and millionaire. Her five year old daughter and husband are also missing. Thai police tried to identify the woman from her designer clothing while her body was sent…

  • Northern Thailand NewsWoman’s body in luggage found floating in Mekong River

    Woman’s body in luggage found floating in Mekong River

    Royal Thai Marine Corps police yesterday found a suitcase stuffed with the body of a dead woman floating in the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Nakhon Phanom. Officers from Nakhon Phanom Provincial Marine Police Station fished the luggage out of the Mekong about 20 metres away from the station’s dock. Officers from That Phanom Police Station, That Phanom Crown…

  • Thailand NewsThai actor’s plan to swim from Thailand to Laos for charity

    Thai actor’s plan to swim from Thailand to Laos for charity

    Famous Thai actor and singer Phakin “Tono” Khamwilaisak hopes to make a splash with his charity swim across the Mekong River from Thailand to Laos and at the same time raise awareness about environmental issues and raise funds for hospitals in the two countries. Tono announced his plan via his Instagram account last Thursday, August 25. He revealed that he…

  • World NewsCambodian fishermen release a monster stingray back into the Mekong River

    Cambodian fishermen release a monster stingray back into the Mekong River

    HOW big was the stingray?! An enormous freshwater stingray was rescued and released in a Cambodian section of the Mekong River on May 5 after being ensnared earlier by local fishermen. The monster fish was 4 metres long and weighed around 180 kilograms. Brown on the top and a shade of white on the bottom, the fish usually along the…