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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Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Man found dead in idling car at Udon Thani petrol station
Shoppers at a quiet Udon Thani petrol station were left reeling after a grim discovery early this morning: a man found dead inside his car, which had been running non-stop for nearly 17 hours. Emergency services rushed to the scene in Nong Han district after a stunned cleaner raised the alarm. “I came in at 7am and saw the same…
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River on the rampage: Chiang Rai braces for dangerous floods
Chiang Rai residents were jolted awake by urgent phone alerts today as local officials warned the Sai River was set to burst its banks, threatening to inundate homes and businesses across four communities. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) confirmed that water levels have been steadily climbing at monitoring stations in Myanmar’s Jotada and near Thailand’s 1st Friendship…
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Jealous ex-soldier guns down love rival in Phitsanulok attack
A jealous ex-soldier turned a quiet evening into a scene of horror when he stormed into a Phitsanulok home and gunned down his ex-wife’s new husband in a fit of rage. The shocking incident unfolded at 8pm yesterday, July 2, in Ban Nakham, Mueang Ban Yang, Wat Bot district. Police are now on a manhunt for the armed fugitive who…
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Google accused of ‘fake maps’ in Thailand-Cambodia temple spat
A fresh row has erupted over ancient ruins straddling the Thai-Cambodian border, after the Royal Thai Army (RTA) slammed Google Maps for allegedly “misleading the world” about the true ownership of the historic Ta Muen Thom temple. The RTA insists the ancient site in Surin province belongs to Thailand and blasted the popular mapping service for showing it as Cambodian territory.…
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15 Chinese arrested in northern Thailand luxury home raid for scam
A significant police operation in Hang Dong, a district in northern Thailand, led to the arrest of 15 Chinese nationals and two Myanmar workers linked to an online scam network. Provincial Region 5 police conducted a raid on a luxury residence in the Ban Waen area of the district today, July 1, after receiving information that the house was being…
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Thailand sends team to Myanmar for Kok River pollution talks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is set to dispatch an expert team next week to engage with Myanmar officials regarding arsenic contamination in the Kok River. This decision follows Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa’s recent Facebook post, addressing questions raised to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra about water quality issues during her visit to Chiang Rai. Maris highlighted that water pollution has…
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PM Shinawatra orders swift flood relief for Chiang Rai residents
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Phaya Mengrai district in Chiang Rai yesterday, June 28, instructing immediate relief for residents affected by flooding. Although water levels have decreased by over 80%, many residents still face challenges due to a lack of essential resources. PM Paetongtarn’s visit to Chiang Rai included assessments of the flood-hit areas, accompanied by Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat…
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Flash floods devastate Chiang Rai: Homes and farmland destroyed
Chiang Rai province is reeling from catastrophic flooding after continuous heavy rainfall last night and this morning. Flash floods and mountain runoff have wreaked havoc across several districts, with Phaya Mengrai and Wiang Chai hit the hardest. The torrential downpours caused rivers of rainwater to cascade rapidly from the mountains, flooding low-lying areas and causing water levels to surge unexpectedly.…
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Chiang Rai café caught serving kratom tea to schoolkids
A café in Chiang Rai has been raided by local officials for illegally selling kratom leaf tea to teenage students. The operation, led by Chiang Rai Governor Charin Thongsuk, uncovered a disturbing trend of youths consuming the stimulant-laced tea during school hours and late into the night. Officers found 19 students, some still in school uniform, at the café on…
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Cambodian man dies in storm drain fishing tragedy
A Cambodian man’s tragic death in a storm drain has prompted a warning against fishing in such locations. The 33 year old, identified as Chuean Ra, also known as Yao, was found dead yesterday, June 24, after being trapped for 72 hours in a drain at a water treatment station in Nakhon Ratchasima. On June 22, rescue services received a…
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Thai military may close Surin temple amid border tensions
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stated yesterday that local military commanders may advise the closure of Ta Muen Thom Temple in Surin province if tensions at the Thai-Cambodian border escalate. The temple, along with the nearby Prasat Ta Kwai, has become a focal point in the ongoing border disagreement. Recently, there were complaints from Thai citizens regarding inappropriate behaviour by Cambodian…
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DSI appeals to Frenchman for unsolved 2007 murder of Japanese woman
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is seeking the cooperation of a foreign national, believed to be a Frenchman, who may hold key information in the unsolved murder case of a Japanese woman in Sukhothai, which occurred 18 years ago. The victim, 27 year old Tomoko Kawashita, was found dead at the historic Saphan Hin Temple in Sukhothai on November…
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Thai border clash: 4 million meth pills seized, two dead
The Pha Muang Task Force reported a recent armed confrontation with a drug trafficking group near Thailand’s northern border, leading to the deaths of two suspects and the seizure of 4 million methamphetamine pills. Commander of the Pha Muang Task Force, Kidakorn Chantra, stated that encounters between security forces and armed drug smugglers have been frequent. The latest incident took…
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Death penalty call: Activists accuse PM over leaked tape
Two fiery political activists have filed explosive charges against Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, claiming she committed acts so severe they could carry the death penalty. The complaint was lodged on Thursday at Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station by anti-corruption campaigners Tul Prasertsilp and Chaichana Tasaniyom. The duo accused the prime minister of breaching multiple sections of Thailand’s Criminal Code over…
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Earthquake tremors hit Mae Hong Son, 5 quakes strike Myanmar
A series of tremors rocked Mae Hong Son yesterday morning, as a 1.9-magnitude earthquake hit the region, while neighbouring Myanmar experienced five separate quakes, including one minor tremor and four microquakes. The Meteorological Department of Thailand reported that the quake in Mae Hong Son occurred at 10.53am yesterday, June 18, with its epicentre located in Mae Na Toeng subdistrict, Pai district.…
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Fish bone pierces Thai woman’s throat and emerges through her neck
A Thai man in the northern province of Phetchabun issued a warning to food lovers on social media after a sharp fish bone pierced through his wife’s throat. The man, Suriyan Buppa-art, shared pictures of his injured wife and the extracted fish bone on his Facebook account on June 17. He captioned the post… “Warning! She ate fish, and a…
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Thai man fatally shot at karaoke bar after scuffle over microphone
A former Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) member fatally shot a Thai man at a karaoke bar in the northern province of Phetchabun, allegedly following a scuffle over a microphone. Officers from Si Thep Police Station arrested the gunman, Sanan Promsook, at the karaoke venue in the Si Thep district of Phetchabun at around 11pm, Sunday, June 15. Sanan, a former…
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Khon Kaen woman strikes it rich with 6 million baht lottery win
A woman from Phu Wiang district in Khon Kaen has become the talk of the town after winning 6 million baht in the national lottery. The lucky number, 507392, was drawn in the lottery yesterday, June 16, landing her the first prize. The Government Lottery Office (GLO) revealed the results, which included other prize numbers such as the three-digit front…
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Korat villager wins 12 million baht lottery jackpot
A lucky resident of Thong Lang village in Thailand’s northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima has struck it rich, winning a life-changing 12 million baht in the national lottery. The winning numbers were announced yesterday, June 16, with the first prize number being 507392. In addition to the first prize, the draw included several other winning numbers, such as the three-digit…
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Lampang man dies from flesh-eating bacteria on tour bus
A 38 year old man from Lampang province died aboard a bus during a trip from Nakhon Ratchasima to Chiang Mai, with autopsy results now revealing the shocking cause of death—flesh-eating bacteria. The man was found lifeless when the bus arrived at Lampang Bus Terminal yesterday, June 16, his left leg bruised and bleeding. Initial investigations showed no signs of…
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Phichit governor probes school insurance scam at children centre
The governor of Phichit province in northern Thailand has ordered an investigation into an insurance fraud case involving a supposed agent deceiving parents at schools and child development centres. The parents were led to believe they had secured accident insurance for their children, but the money was never forwarded to the insurance company. This came to light following an incident…
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Tragic fall: Couple tumbles from bridge in northeast Thailand
A man and woman plunged from a bridge at Huai Chan Waterfall in Khun Han district, Sisaket province, in northeast Thailand yesterday after an evening of drinking turned deadly. The couple, aged 38 and 36, suffered serious injuries, and while the man survived, the woman tragically died in the hospital. Emergency services responded quickly, arriving at the scene where locals…
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Roi Et rocket crashes into Yasothon school as festival chaos erupts
A lively rocket festival turned into a terrifying ordeal after a massive homemade rocket crashed through the roof of a school in the northeastern province of Yasothon, narrowly missing teachers during a lesson. At around 9am yesterday, June 11, a 6-inch wide, 4-metre long Saen Tho rocket, launched as part of the annual Bun Bang Fai Festival in Roi Et…
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Thai man stabs grocery store owner 31 times, claiming romantic betrayal
A Thai man stabbed a female grocery store owner 31 times in the northern province of Phitsanulok yesterday, claiming he had been in a relationship with the victim and had only just discovered she was married. Officers from Wang Thong Police Station were alerted to the incident at around 9am, yesterday, June 10. It occurred at a house that also…
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Imposter monk drags motorcycle along road in Korat (video)
A video showing a man dressed as a monk, tying his robe to a motorcycle with a sidecar and dragging it along a road, has surfaced on Facebook. The incident took place on Mittraphap Road, near Khao Yai Thiang in Si Khio district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, yesterday, June 6. The man is seen crawling on all fours and appeared to…
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Golden GI banana boom brings millions to Chaiyaphum farmers
The Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 has highlighted the success of the golden banana export initiative in Nong Bua Daeng, Chaiyaphum province. This venture generates over 36 million baht annually for local farmers by producing golden bananas with geographical indication (GI) certification for the international market. Chaisak Wuttisak, director of the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 5 in Nakhon…
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King cobra stops car in Phayao, leaving woman terrified
A woman had a terrifying near-“hiss” with a giant king cobra on a rural road in the northern province of Phayao, leaving her shaken but unharmed. The incident occurred yesterday, June 4, between Ban Wang Bong and Ban Huai Son, when the 3-metre-long snake appeared out of nowhere, forcing her to slam on the brakes and narrowly avoid a collision.…
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Buriram dentist leaves needle in patient’s gum, sparking black magic fear
A forgetful dentist in the Isaan province of Buriram left a needle embedded in a female patient’s gum 15 years ago, sparking panic over suspected black magic. The 49 year old woman, Rungnapha Thaingyotha, shared on Facebook that she unexpectedly discovered a piece of steel in her gum near her lower left molar. She experienced pain in the area for…
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Charity turns violent: homeless man punches food donor in Nakhon Sawan
A Thai man’s act of kindness took an unexpected turn when he was punched in the face by a homeless man while handing out food in the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. The incident came to light after the Facebook news page Jmoi V+ (เจ๊มอย v+) shared a video of the incident yesterday, May 29. In the caption, the page…
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Udon Thani temple funeral turns violent as monk and man fight (video)
A confrontation occurred at a renowned temple in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, where a monk and a local man engaged in a physical altercation. The incident was captured on video and shared on social media, prompting public concern. The video shows a man in a black shirt restraining another man, while a monk uses his feet and fists against him.…
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