Mekong River
- Environment News
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…
- Thailand News
Naga fireballs light up Mekong River in Nong Khai spectacle
Fireballs over the Mekong River thrilled spectators yesterday, as the first pair of Naga fireballs lit up the sky in Nong Khai province at 6.30pm. The much-anticipated phenomenon drew crowds to Ban Tan Chum in the Rattanawapi district. Visitors gathered in large numbers at Ban Tan Chum, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Naga fireballs, and were not disappointed. The…
- Eastern Thailand News
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 News
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 News
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…
- Thailand News
3 Thais survive, 2 still missing after boat capsizes in Mekong River
A boat carrying five Thai men capsized in the Mekong River in the northern province of Chiang Rai yesterday, leaving two people missing. The other three victims survived and were rescued from the river by a local rescue team. Chiang Khong District Chief Udom Pokpongborwonkun coordinated with the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), Siam Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation, and Saeng Dhammastan…
- Crime News
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 News
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 News
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,…
- News
Ancient treasure chest unearthed in Laos along Mekong River
A treasure chest was unearthed along the banks of the Mekong River in Bokeo Province, Laos, revealing a trove of Buddha statues, gemstones, coloured stones, metal artefacts, and other valuable items. The discovery follows earlier findings of Buddha statues and ancient artefacts in the same area, believed to be the site of an old temple and city from the fabled…
- Thailand News
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 News
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 News
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 News
Mekong River’s diverse fish populations face extinction threat
The Mekong River, a lifeline stretching almost 5,000 kilometres from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, is under grave threat. A recent report reveals that unsustainable development is severely endangering the river’s health and diverse fish populations. Consequently, one-fifth of the fish species in this Southeast Asian lifeline are on the brink of extinction. The Mekong River plays…
- Thailand News
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 News
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…
- Thailand News
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…
- Thailand News
Thai naturalist embarks on a 1,000km trip to save Mekong River
The Mekong River, a lifeline for millions, is currently in a state of distress. Naturalist Paramin Wannakornbancha, known as Bass, embarked on a 1,000-kilometre journey on foot to raise awareness about the river’s plight. His journey, which started yesterday, January 15, has been warmly welcomed by local fishermen who are heartened by the younger generation’s concern for the river. In…
- Pattaya News
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 Updates
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…
- Crime News
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…
- Northern Thailand News
YouTuber finds human skull on banks of Mekong River in Thailand
A YouTuber found a human skull while filming content on the banks of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province in northeast Thailand yesterday. At 6pm, Chanathip Chapuban – aka Mukdahan Moss – was riding a motorbike and filming content for his YouTube channel when he noticed something by the water on Sai Thong Kot Boon Beach (Si Khotrabun Golden…
- Thailand News
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 News
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…
- Northern Thailand News
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 News
Two oarsmen drown in race practise on the Mekong River
Two oarsmen tragically drowned on Friday while practising for the Thailand-Laos-Vietnam Long Boat Race last weekend. Their bodies were found yesterday washed ashore on a Mekong River bank in the Isaan province of Bueng Kan. More than ten boat racers were practising on the Mekong River on Friday morning in preparation for the race from Friday, September 9 to Sunday,…
- Thailand News
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 News
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…
- World News
Second Thai-Laos friendship bridge will house both railway and motorway- Transport Minister
Thailand is planning to build a bridge to Laos across the Mekong River for both railway and motorway. Last month, the Thai cabinet approved the project to build a second Thailand-Laos friendship bridge, connecting Nong Khai in northeast Thailand and the Laos capital Vientiane, as part of the third phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project. The construction is estimated…
- Northern Thailand News
19 year old arrested for allegedly smuggling 2 million methamphetamine pills
A 19 year old was arrested for alleged smuggling of more than 2 million methamphetamine pills to northeast Thailand’s Nong Khai province from the Mekong River on Saturday night. The suspect is identified as Phayu Phikhawong and was recruited for 300,000 baht to deliver 2,164,000 methamphetamine pills, known as “ya ba” meaning “crazy drug,” from Phon Phisai district in Nong…
