Northern Thailand News
Northern Thailand news, Chiang Mai news, business, tourism, and culture—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and travel insights from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Pai, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Northern Thailand news source.
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Midnight quakes jolt northern Thailand and Myanmar region
Late-night rumblings rattled parts of northern Thailand and Myanmar today as seven minor earthquakes struck the region in the early hours, sparking concern but causing no reported damage. According to the Thai Meteorological Department’s Earthquake Observation Division, the series of seismic events occurred today, April 18, with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 4.1. Most of the tremors were recorded in…
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Forestry worker dies in Udon Thani forest gun accident
A 53 year old forestry worker and seasoned fireworks maker died from a gunshot wound in a forest in Udon Thani province. The incident occurred yesterday, April 17, with his wife expressing shock as they had spoken just that morning. Police Colonel Sonthaya Hitayaso from Phen District Police Station was notified of the incident, which took place in the forest…
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Thief poses as monk to steal 300k baht from Ubon temple
A thief disguised as a monk targeted the abbot’s quarters at a temple in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani, stealing 300,000 baht. The incident, captured on CCTV, marks the second such theft, leading to a manhunt by local police. The footage, shared by the Warin Chamrap Ban Hao Facebook page, shows a man dressed like a monk leaving the…
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Woman shot dead by boyfriend in Yasothon, northeast Thailand
A tragic incident unfolded in Yasothon province yesterday when a 24 year old woman was fatally shot by her boyfriend following an unsuccessful attempt to reconcile. The woman had previously returned to her home in Samakkhi subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha district, unable to endure his jealousy-fuelled violence. Officers from Loeng Nok Tha Police Station responded to the scene yesterday, on…
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Kind act turns Buriram woman into lottery millionaire
What started as a moment of pity turned into a life-changing windfall for one lucky woman from Buriram — all thanks to a persistent lottery vendor and a single ticket. Kamplaeng Singkulang, a 53 year old resident of Buriram province, is now 6 million baht richer after unexpectedly winning the top prize in the April 16 lottery draw. The twist?…
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Shooting in Sisaket leaves one dead, suspect in custody
A shooting incident in Sisaket has left one man dead and another critically injured. The violent event occurred at a community pavilion in Ban Khon, Mueang district, Sisaket province, when a group of young men opened fire. The assailant has since surrendered to the police. The incident transpired just after midnight yesterday, April 15. Yailak Jantho, the village headman of…
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Myanmar earthquake rattles northern Thailand border towns
Northern Thailand was rattled awake in the early hours of this morning as tremors from a Myanmar earthquake crept across the border, stirring fears of more seismic shocks to come. The 4.1-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar just after midnight today, April 16, sending tremors rippling across the Thai-Myanmar border and unsettling residents in the north, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.…
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Myanmar earthquake tremors reach northern Thailand cities
An earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude in Myanmar was felt in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. This tremor, occurring at 9.24am today, April 13, was attributed to the movement of the Sagaing Fault. The Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department reported that the earthquake struck on land at a depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 271 kilometres…
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Chiang Rai theft suspect escapes police vehicle through roof
A Thai suspect arrested for theft in the northern province of Chiang Rai escaped from a police transport vehicle by damaging its roof. Officers from Mae Yao Police Station are searching for the 25 year old suspect, Armo Chermue, who fled custody yesterday, April 9, while being escorted to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). Police revealed they had…
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Laotian pair nabbed for Mekong meth smuggling
Two Laotian men were apprehended while attempting to smuggle methamphetamine concealed in oxygen tanks across the Mekong River. The police detected the drug due to its strong odour emanating from the tanks, which contained over 300,000 tablets. Yesterday, April 9, security agencies in Pak Chom district, Loei province, comprising the 2109th Ranger Company, Pak Chom Police Station, Immigration Bureau, and…
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US academic granted bail but remains behind bars
An American academic accused of royal defamation remains locked up despite a court granting him bail, as Thai Immigration drags its feet on his release. Dr Paul Chambers, a lecturer at Naresuan University’s ASEAN Community Studies Institute, was granted bail by the Court of Appeals Region 6. But the saga is far from over. His lawyer must convince the Immigration…
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American lecturer’s Thai visa revoked over lese majeste charge
The American lecturer facing up to 15 years behind bars if convicted for defaming the Thai royal family, today had his visa revoked. Paul Chambers, an academic based at Naresuan University’s ASEAN Community Studies Institute, was officially arrested yesterday, April 8 at Phitsanulok City Police Station. Accompanied by officials from the US Embassy in Thailand, interpreters, and lawyers from the…
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3 Colombians arrested in Nong Khai for luxury home thefts
Immigration officers in Nong Khai province arrested three Colombians suspected of theft from luxury homes in Pathum Thani. The arrests occurred yesterday, April 7, at 10.30am as the suspects were preparing to flee the country. The suspects were identified as 46 year old Nelson Andres Malo Rojas, 64 year old Raul Ferney, and 65 year old Luis Guillermo. They were…
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Man found dead in hammock in Phayao, murder suspected
A man was found dead in a hammock at a garden home, with police investigating the death as a murder. The incident occurred on Sunday, April 6, at a cottage in Don Kham Tai subdistrict, Phayao province. The police are pursuing two potential motives: a personal dispute or drug-related issues. Yesterday, police officers, including Police Lieutenant Colonel Chaiyasit Khadphab, Deputy…
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Kok River pollution triggers health alert in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
The discovery of arsenic and lead contamination in the Kok River, particularly in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province, has prompted health warnings for residents in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Levels of arsenic and lead were found to exceed the standard limits, with arsenic measured at 0.026 mg/litre and lead at 0.076 mg/litre. The acceptable levels…
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Retiree surrenders after fatal shooting over dog dispute in Lamphun
A 62 year old retiree surrendered to the police after fatally shooting the owner of a dog that allegedly caused him to suffer an accident. The incident occurred yesterday, April 4 in a field located in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanupong Songsuwan, from Ban Thi Police Station, reported a shooting at Ban Chae Son, Village 1,…
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US academic slapped with lese majeste charges in Thailand
A 58 year old American lecturer is in hot water after Thai authorities issued a rare lese majeste arrest warrant against him—sending shockwaves through the country’s academic and expat communities. The suspect, Paul Chambers, a long-time resident of Thailand and special adviser on international affairs at Naresuan University in Phitsanulok, is facing charges under Thailand’s strict royal defamation laws, known…
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Warning: Sinkholes emerge in Mae Hong Son after earthquake
In a startling post-earthquake discovery, six sinkholes have appeared in Mae Hong Son’s Khun Yuam district, leaving locals on edge. The sudden appearance of these giant holes has prompted a warning from the Mineral Resources Regional Office 1, advising residents to exercise extreme caution. The sinkholes, which range in size from 2 to 30 metres in diameter, were first discovered…
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Phayao’s 70-million-baht SAO building abandoned
A 70-million-baht government project in Phayao has been left incomplete and abandoned, sparking questions over its delayed construction. The building, intended to house the State Audit Office (SAO), remains unfinished, with no clear explanation for its stalled progress. Located near the provincial immigration office, the once-promising site now sits as an eyesore, with only the third-floor framework partially finished, surrounded…
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Bhumjaithai denies tension with Pheu Thai amid PM’s Buriram visit
The Bhumjaithai Party has denied any tensions with coalition leader Pheu Thai, asserting that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Buriram province, a stronghold of the Bhumjaithai Party, was not politically motivated. Chaichanok Chidchob, the party’s secretary-general, emphasised the coalition’s unity. Newin Chidchob, the party’s co-founder, welcomed the prime minister and guided her around Chang International Circuit without any political…
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Shaky waters: Unusual waterfall flow sparks probe after Myanmar quake
Unusual water flow was observed at Huai Hok Waterfall in Ban Thi during the dry season, sparking investigations by officials after the Myanmar earthquake. This abnormality, noted for the first time in decades at Mae Takhrai National Park, has led to safety assessments. On March 30, officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation discovered this anomaly…
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Thai man found dead after leaving home to work in Taiwan
A Thai man told his mother he was going to work in Taiwan but committed suicide instead in the middle of a rice field in the Isaan province of Roi Et. The deceased’s mother was shocked after a relative informed her of the death of her 30 year old son, Pongsakorn Saenkla, yesterday, April 1. Pongsakorn was found hanging from…
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Miracle escape: Electrician survives Khon Kaen earthquake
A young man has shared his terrifying experience of narrowly escaping a collapsed building during a deadly earthquake, recounting how he fled from the 27th floor with his employer’s daughter. The dramatic escape involved breaking through a corrugated iron fence to safety. Yesterday, April 1, reporters visited the home of 62 year old Seng Mo Wiang and 56 year old…
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Udon Thani mother’s plea for missing son after earthquake tragedy
In the village of Na Si Nuan, Talanlian subdistrict, Kudjab district, Udon Thani province, a 59 year old mother is waiting anxiously for news of her son, who is among those missing following the collapse of a building under construction. The incident occurred after an earthquake in Chanthaburi province. Anekpong Kongsa-ya, a 23 year old electrician, was last seen running…
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Mae Hong Son battles wildfires and hazardous smoke levels
In Mae Hong Son, ongoing wildfires continue to affect the area as provincial efforts intensify to combat the smoke and haze. Yesterday, April 1, the governor took a helicopter to survey and identify hotspots for ground teams to extinguish while efforts were made to reduce pollution levels. At 9am yesterday, April 1, at the helipad of the Natural Resources and…
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Thai woman dies after swallowing denture at Lampang market
A Thai woman accidentally swallowed her dentures yesterday, which blocked her windpipe and led to her death at a fresh market in the northern province of Lampang. Vendors and shoppers at the market sought assistance from a rescue team for the 67 year old woman, Moi, yesterday, March 31. She was seen suddenly losing consciousness after using a bathroom within…
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Thai tomboy allegedly raped and left lying naked in Lampang
A Thai mother was shocked to discover her tomboy daughter lying naked near the railway in the northern province of Lampang and suspected that a man, who was found half-naked at the scene, raped her. The 53 year old Thai mother filed a complaint against a Thai man, whose identity remains undisclosed, at Mueang Lampang Police Station at 3am yesterday,…
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Thai police suspect foul play in death of missing Austrian man
An Austrian man died in a canal in the northern province of Phitsanulok under mysterious circumstances after disappearing from his home for 11 days. Police suspect murder. Officers from Wang Thong Police Station were called to investigate a foreign man’s body in a canal in the middle of a rice field in the Wang Thong district of Phitsanulok at 2pm…
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Sisaket police seize illegal firearms cache in major raid
In Sisaket province, police raided a weapons cache and illegal firearms production site used for criminal activities, seizing 18 firearms and various ammunition. Yesterday, March 27, Khun Han district chief Pawit Rattawan and Colonel Anek Promta, commander of the 3rd Special Task Force of the Suranaree Force, along with investigative police from Khun Han Police Station, arrested Ekaphon Namwan. They…
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Toxic air terror: Nan goes into lockdown as smog chokes province
Officials in northern Thailand have slammed the brakes on daily life in parts of Nan province, imposing lockdowns and curfews as toxic air pollution sends the region’s Air Quality Index (AQI) into the red. Yesterday, March 27, Nan’s AQI hit a hazardous level of 152, with PM2.5 levels spiking to 57.2 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³), according to IQAir. That’s…
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