Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
-
Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
-
Grave mistake: 2 million meth pills found buried in cemetery bust
Nearly 2 million methamphetamine pills were discovered hidden in a cemetery by the Mekong River in Nong Khai province during a military raid on a drug trafficking operation. The raid led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of the narcotics. At 4am yesterday, April 2, military personnel from the Surasak Montri Task Force, led by Ranger Company…
-
Thailand introduces retirement lottery to boost elderly savings
Parliament has given unanimous approval in principle for a bill to amend the National Savings Fund (NSF) Act 2011, setting the stage for a retirement lottery initiative. This scheme aims to bolster retirement savings by permitting the NSF to issue lottery tickets, a measure widely supported by MPs as a way to enhance financial security for the elderly. The proposal…
-
Crappy cabbie: Taxi driver flings faeces in parking row meltdown
A Thai woman took to social media to expose the disgusting and psychotic behaviour of a taxi driver who threw bags of faeces at her and other people’s cars over a parking dispute in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok. The woman, 40 year old Thitima, shared a picture of her car with a dirty windscreen, as well as a picture of…
-
Teen rescued from call centre gang demanding 500,000 ransom
A 17 year old girl was rescued by police after being forced into hiding by a call centre gang that attempted to extort 500,000 baht from her grandmother in exchange for her freedom. They threatened to sell the girl at the border if the money was not paid. On April 1, Banjong (surname withheld) reported that her granddaughter, Chompoo, had…
-
Poachers kill two wild gaurs in Nakhon Ratchasima
Two wild gaur were found shot dead in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Wang Nam Khiao district, suspected to have been killed by poachers for their meat. Local police are intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrators. Yesterday, April 2, after locals discovered the carcasses of male gaurs at the rear of Yub E Pun village, Wang Mee subdistrict, Som Sak Jotklang, the…
-
Phuket parents face charges for children’s illegal street racing
In Phuket, the parents of 14 minors, apprehended during a police operation in Ao Yon, Wichit, on April 1 are facing legal action for permitting their children to partake in illegal street racing. Wichit Police Chief Somsak Thongkliang announced that the parents were brought to Wichit Police Station to be informed of the charges under Section 26(3) of the Child…
-
Trump’s tariff tantrum: US slaps huge levies on world as trade war erupts
Donald Trump has thrown the world into economic turmoil, launching a full-scale trade war by slapping sweeping new tariffs on imports, including crippling levies on key allies. Thailand has been caught in the tariff crossfire too, with officials claiming the nation could suffer an US$8 billion hit if the US were to even up levies between the two countries. Semiconductor…
-
9 year old Thai boy killed after picking up bomb on Phichit road
A nine year old Thai boy lost his life after picking up a bomb on a road in the Isaan province of Phichit. More bombs were later found in the area. The fatal explosion occurred on March 23 but only gained public attention yesterday, April 2, after a post from the Facebook page ตลาดล่างอัพเกรด. The page shared a picture of…
-
American nurse’s face shattered in moped crash in Krabi, Thailand
An American woman has become the latest in a long line of road victims after a horrific moped crash while on holiday in Thailand. The crash has left the Massachusetts ICU nurse with severe facial injuries Sierra Fairhurst was enjoying a trip with friends in March when the accident happened. One moment, she was riding a rented moped, then everything…
-
Two killed in Phuket motorbike and van collision near airport
A horrific accident on the main road to Phuket International Airport claimed the lives of two people early yesterday morning, April 2. A motorbike with a sidecar collided with a commercial passenger van, leaving both victims with fatal injuries. The tragedy occurred around 9.30am on Route 4026, connecting Thepkrasattri Road to the airport. Emergency services rushed to the scene, where…
-
Wet and wild: Heavy rain set to drench Thailand
Weather woes are on the horizon as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issues an urgent heavy rain warning for April 3. With a deluge expected to sweep across 28 provinces, a staggering 80% of these areas are bracing for severe rainfall. Residents are urged to stay vigilant as strong winds threaten to whip up chaos, alongside the looming danger of…
-
Holiday horror: Australian teen killed in Thai motorbike crash
In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, an Australian teenager’s Thai getaway has ended in tragedy. Known for his “beautiful soul,” Carlos Guirguis, of Melbourne, tragically lost his life in a motorbike crash on the holiday hotspot of Koh Samui. The apprentice plumber was riding without a helmet when he attempted to overtake a local motorist in the early hours of…
-
Shaky ground: Thailand in world’s top 60 earthquake-hit countries
Thailand ranks 59th among the top 100 countries with the most earthquakes, recording 59 quakes so far this year, with the strongest reaching a magnitude of 4.9. While the country may not be in the top 10, it still experiences a noticeable number of seismic events. According to earthquakelist.org, which uses data from the US Geological Survey and the European-Mediterranean…
-
Gay Pattaya man found dead under bed, gold necklace missing
A Thai bar owner in Pattaya found his LGBTQIA+ friend lying dead under his bed with a blue towel in his mouth, and his gold necklace, worth nearly 250,000 baht, was missing. The owner of a bar in Pattaya, Sakesan, discovered the lifeless body of his friend, 30 year old Nai, in his room on the second floor of a…
-
Thailand’s tourism strategy to restore confidence after earthquake
In the wake of the recent earthquake, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has called a crucial meeting with government officials and private sector leaders to tackle the impact on the country’s tourism industry. The primary focus? Restoring both domestic and international tourist confidence while ensuring the continued safety of visitors. The meeting, chaired by Minister of Tourism and Sports…
-
Taps off: Phuket prepares for water supply disruptions tomorrow
Phuket residents, take note: water supply disruptions are set to affect parts of the island tomorrow, April 3, as the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA Phuket) carries out vital maintenance work. Two separate outages will hit areas in Srisoonthorn and Kathu, with residents urged to prepare for the disruption. The first outage will affect the Botanica Modern Loft housing estate in…
-
Thailand waives toll fees on major roads for Songkran travel
Thailand is easing the burden on travellers this Songkran, with the government announcing that tolls on two major motorways and two expressways will be waived, allowing motorists to travel for free during the long holiday. The toll exemption is part of a plan to reduce congestion as millions of Thais head home to celebrate the Thai New Year with family.…
-
Sweeping success: Bangkok road cleaner gets devilish makeover
A leading Thai make-up artist offered a road sweeper in Bangkok, who previously went viral for her photoshoot by a Russian photographer, a new makeover as a character from a famous Thai film, Art of the Devil 2. The Russian photographer, Semyon Rezchikov, shared a video of himself taking a portrait of a road sweeper on Yaowarat Road in Bangkok…
-
More than 3,000 Thai govt buildings damaged in earthquake
The powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 28 has left a trail of destruction across Thailand, with over 3,000 government buildings affected, according to the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning (DPT). As of today, April 2, the DPT reported that 3,375 government buildings had been inspected following the quake, with 34 deemed severely damaged…
-
Protesters rally against entertainment complex and gambling bills
Demonstrators gathered outside the prime minister’s residence yesterday to protest against the government’s proposed entertainment complex bill and the online gambling bill, which was under Cabinet review the same day. A few hundred people converged at the Phitsanulok Mansion residence yesterday, April 1, intensifying their opposition to the draft bills, which they argued would destroy the country by undermining societal…
-
Thailand to refurbish Japanese diesel trains for suburban services
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to introduce 20 second-hand Japanese KiHa diesel trains for suburban passenger services. A systems test is set for June, before the refurbishment of the KiHa 40 and KiHa 48 trains, with six trains expected to be operational by the end of the year. SRT chief Veeris Ammarapala mentioned that these diesel trains were…
-
Motorbike mugger nabbed after late-night bag snatch in Phuket
A late-night ride turned into a nightmare for one Phuket woman after a motorbike-riding thief snatched her shoulder bag in a brazen robbery. But thanks to swift police work, the culprit didn’t get far. At around 10.30pm yesterday, April 1, a 41 year old woman from Village No. 5 in Ratsada subdistrict, Mueang district, was riding pillion on a motorbike…
-
Chiang Mai struggles with severe air pollution from wildfires
Chiang Mai is currently grappling with severe air pollution due to ongoing wildfires across various districts, with over 150 hotspots identified. Yesterday, April 1, wildfires persisted in mountainous regions of the northern province, with 150 active hotspots reported in 15 districts. The most affected areas include Hot with 34 hotspots, Chiang Dao with 26, and Phrao with 23. Thick smoke…
-
Chinese embassy pledges cooperation in SAO building probe
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued a statement addressing media concerns regarding the involvement of China Railway No.10 Engineering Group in the construction of the Office of the Auditor-General (SAO) building, which tragically collapsed during the March 28 earthquake. In a statement released late yesterday, April 1, the embassy expressed its commitment to fully cooperate with the Thai authorities and…
-
Truck collision on Kanchanaphisek Expressway causes fatality, traffic chaos
A collision between two trucks on the Kanchanaphisek Expressway in Bangkok led to a 10-kilometre traffic jam, resulting in one fatality and one injury. The incident occurred at 5.20am today, April 2, when a trailer truck crashed into the back of a 10-wheel truck, causing severe damage and scattering soybean waste across the road. Officers from Phra Pradaeng Police Station…
-
15 dead, 72 missing amidst quake rubble in Bangkok
Rescue teams continue their search for 72 missing workers after a catastrophic building collapse in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. The under-construction 30-story State Audit Office (SAO) building crumbled last Friday afternoon, March 28, following a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake near Mandalay, Myanmar, which was felt across the region, including Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province. As of this morning, April 2, the death…
-
Trailer and pickup clash sparks heated dispute in Nonthaburi
A heated argument erupted following a collision between a trailer and a pickup truck in Nonthaburi, resulting in both parties filing complaints with the police. The incident occurred yesterday, April 1, and has led to accusations and physical altercations between the involved parties. Today, it was reported that Chaowarat, a 58 year old bamboo shop owner, filed a complaint with…
-
Baiyoke Tower heir drops legal action over false claim on Facebook
The heir of Baiyoke Tower in Bangkok has decided to resolve a false Facebook post claiming that the Baiyoke Tower was tilting and cracking following an earthquake. The post, which was misinformation, caused public concern, prompting the heir, Beer Baiyoke, also know as Piyalert Baiyoke, to reach out to the poster to discuss the false claims. However, the poster responded…
-
Laotian man arrested for illegal motorcycle taxi work in Bangkok
Thai police apprehended a 32 year old Laotian man for illegally working as a motorcycle taxi driver in the Huai Khwang district of Bangkok. The suspect, Leklai, was caught after police devised a plan to have him take them to a police station, where he was then arrested. The arrest followed a tip-off from an informant who reported seeing a foreign-looking…
-
Pattaya’s new Bali Hai Pier to boost access to Koh Larn
Pattaya City is making waves with the announcement of a major development, the construction of a new pier at Bali Hai, South Pattaya. Designed to offer a safer and more efficient boarding point for small boats, this new facility promises to enhance access to popular destinations like Koh Larn and other nearby islands just in time for the busy summer…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.