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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11 of the Mu Pa team complete their ordination, coach Ekkapol stays on
A provincial committee is being set up to screen approaches made to the 12 Mu Pa football players and their coach to attend various events and activities. Chiang Rai’s new Governor Prajon Pratsakul was speaking to reporters after the team made a courtesy call on him. They were accompanied by Phra Khru Prayut Jetiyanukarn, acting abbot of Wat Phra That…
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English retiree electrocuted while mowing his lawn in Khon Kaen
Chiang Rai Times report that Brit Anthony Stratton has died whilst mowing the lawn in his garden in Khon Kaen. The 76 year old retiree was electrocuted while he was mowing the lawn on Wednesday afternoon. His wife discovered the body. Pol Lt Col Gritided Supan of Chum Phae Provincial Police Station said, “We received a phone call from a woman…
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4.8 million meth pills and nearly a tonne of ‘ice’ seized in Chiang Rai
The Nation is reporting that a suspected drug mule has been arrested along with a huge haul of 4.8 million methamphetamine pills and 978 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice). The drugs were seized after two pickup trucks sped through a checkpoint in Chiang Rai early this morning. Army rangers made the arrest after giving chase from the checkpoint in Ban Sai…
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Korat dog gets shot with an arrow
A poor dog in Korat had a bad day earlier but it ended up a better day thanks to some good Samaritans. The stray dog in Nakhon Ratchasima underwent emergency treatment this morning (Thursday) after it was found crying in agony with a fish-hunting arrow embedded in its side. 51 year old Natthawut Chuckling heard the dog in distress and…
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‘The Heroes’ unveiled in Chiang Rai
A 13 x 3 metre mural has become the latest step in immortalising the Tham Luang cave rescue for generations to come. The mural will shortly be moved to be part of an exhibit which will be constructed at the front of the mouth of the caves. “The Heroes” is a canvas painting which portrays the story and the many,…
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Australian doctor reveals about the complicated sedation of Mu Pa 13
Dr Richard Harris, the Australian doctor involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue, has revealed new details about the sedation of the young football team, following a ceremony at Government House in his home city of Adelaide on Thursday where he received a standing ovation. Thai PBS reports that Dr Harris spoke about howhe taught the other divers how to…
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Sing Buri and Chiang Rai – major drug busts
Police in Sing Buri, central Thailand, say they’ve cracked open a major drug syndicate with the arrest of key members. A major drug-trafficking ring’s members were arrested along with 11,600,000 methamphetamine pills and some 700kg of crystal methamphetamine or “ice”. The announcement from the deputy national police chief Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan yesterday. Following a tipoff by undercover police on…
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The Mu Pa 13, minus one, attend blessing ceremony before becoming novice monks
PHOTOS: The Nation Eleven of the Mu Pa football team rescued from the Chiang Rai cave in Mai Sai, along with their assistant coach, participated in a Buddhist ritual this morning (Tuesday) in more carefully stage managed media appearances in the aftermath of the rescue. The ceremony honours the cave’s resident Phra That Doi Wao spirit. This afternoon they will have…
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Seven arrested over a 300 kilogram ‘ice’ shipment in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is in the news for a different reason this morning after six adults and a 15 year old have been arrested over a drug bust in Chiang Rai early today (Monday). The Nation reports that most of the group were riding in a suspected “spotter” car ahead of a a truck full of crystal methamphetamine, aka ‘ice’. Fourteen…
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Soldiers water down protest plans ahead of PMs north-eastern visit
Police visited the home of an Ubon Ratchathani academic over the weekend to ask that he and university students refrain from engaging in protests when PM Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha visits the north-eastern province over the next few days. Khaosod English reports that police officers went to the university lecturer Teerapon Anmai’s home and asked him not to make any political…
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Foreign media slammed for intruding on the Mu Pa 13
The Mu Pa 13 spoke to the Thai and world media on Wednesday night in a one-time-only media conference. Authorities said that it was now time to leave the team alone and let them re-unite with their families and friends, and get back to their studies and football. The media have mostly respected the wishes and left the team alone…
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Blessing ceremony dedicated to Saman Kunan. 11 Mu Pa team members poised to enter monkhood.
PHOTO: AP/Sakchai Lalit Thai PBS is reporting that members of the Mu Pa soccer team, along with their coach, attended a traditional blessing ceremony at a local temple in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai this morning. Nine soldiers entered the monkhood as a dedication to former SEAL member Saman Gunan who died while taking part in the massive rescue operation…
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Thai citizenship likely for one of the Mu Pa team
PHOTOS: The Nation During the rescue of the Mu Pa 13 from the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai it emerged that three of the team members and their 25 year old coach Ekkapol, were ‘stateless’ – caught in a bureaucratic neverland between Thailand and the nearby border Myanmar area which isn’t recognised by the Myanmar government. Their status leaves…
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“We only intended to visit the cave for an hour” – Mu Pa 13
PHOTOS: The Nation The Mu Pa Academy team and their assistant coach yesterday fronted the media as a group for the first and last time last night in Chiang Rai in a carefully staged media event. Questions from local and international media were carefully vetted before being addressed to the team members who, all dressed in match team T Shirts,…
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British divers reveal more details – VIDEO interview John Volanthen
Whilst the Mu Pa 13 team, along with some Thai Navy Seals, doctors and psychiatrists have participated in a group interview in Chiang Rai tonight, some of the British divers have related their stories to the British press. Three of the British divers involved in the extraordinary rescue of 12 boys and their football coach who were trapped inside the…
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Just one interview – Mu Pa 13 face the media tonight
The 13 members of the Mu Pa Football Academy, now recovered after their rescue from the Tham Luang caves last week, will sit down for a tightly-controlled media conference this evening. “After the media conference, which will also be their last, they will return to their homes and try to live a normal life”, said the new Chiang Rai provincial…
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“They’ll grow up to work for country’s benefit” – Dr Pak
“I’m confident that the Mu Pa boys will grow up to be excellent citizens of the country and work for the benefits of the country’s future and reputation,” wrote Dr Pak Loharnchun in a Facebook post. The Army doctor played a leading role in helping the boys. The doctor also posted photos of himself giving the boys goodbye hugs in Chiangrai…
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“Leave the kids alone” – Child psychiatrist
(4 minute read) The global attention drawn to the dramatic rescue mission has shone a glaring spotlight on the 12 young footballers from the Mu Pa Academy, making them unwitting public figures. Psychiatrists are stressing that the boys should draw on their own personal strength and support from their families to avoid becoming tainted by fame. Child psychiatrists are advising…
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Chiang Rai: Mu Pa team pay tribute to Saman Kunan
The Mu Pa Football players trapped in the Tham Luang Caves for almost three weeks paid tribute to the Navy SEAL who lost his life during the rescue operation. Wiping away tears, the boys wrote messages of thanks on a portrait of the former Navy SEAL Saman Kunan, who died July 6 during an operation to deliver oxygen tanks to…
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Chiang Rai: “I thought it would be a recovery rather than a rescue”
PHOTO: Perth vet and craig diver Craig Challen An Australian diver from Perth, Craig Challen, has spoken exclusively about the Tham Luang cave rescue and why he had fears that some or all of them mightn’t get out of the caves alive. Here are some of the main points from The Sunday Times interview: • When Craig arrived in Thailand he thought…
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Chiang Rai: Mu Pa team speak of their ordeal
As the team continues to recover in the Chiang Rai Prachanukro Hospital, the parents and guardians are now being given time with they kids. Here are some of the first details to emerge from some of the team members, as reported by Marisa Chimprabha… Chanin ‘Titan’ Wibulrungrueng Chanin Wibulrungrueng, one of the 13 Mu Pa Academy football club members who were…
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“Massive, massive relief” – Diver Richard Stanton speaks
“The mission was an order of difficulty much higher than anything that’s been accomplished anywhere around the world by any other cave diving team.” The British diver who found 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped alive in a flooded cave has described his “massive relief” as he counted them one by one, in what he called an unprecedented rescue…
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Up close and personal – team continues to recover
The 13 footballers rescued from a flooded cave in Chiang Rai province continue to recover under the supervision of staff at the Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital. Relatives have even been up to visit them and be with them. The Public Health Ministry inspector-general Dr Thongchai Lertwilairattapong gave the latest report card on the group’s recovery this morning (Friday). He reports that the…
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Comment: They’re out. Now what? The future for Mu Pa football team members.
by Tim Newton They’re out. Now what for the 13 young men from Mae Sai? They entered the Tham Luang caves on June 23 along with their 25 year old coach, Ekkapol on a benign post-practice trip to the nearby caves. The y’d been there before. Except for their families, guardians and school friends, they were basically unknown to anyone…
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From inside the cave – bringing out the team. Thai Navy SEAL video.
The Thai Navy SEAL Facebook page has released a video clip that shows for the first time how the 13 Mu Pa Academy football team members were evacuated from the Tham Luang cave. The 12 young footballers and their 25 year old assistant coach were trapped in the cave since June 23 after flash floods blocked their exit. They were…
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Australian cave medic emerges to his own tragic news
In the wake of yesterday’s euphoria following the final five team members being successfully evacuated from the Tham Luang caves, a sad epilogue. An Australian doctor, Richard Harris, partly responsible for looking after the Thai football team during their cave ordeal, emerged last night, exhausted but relieved they job was over. Some sad news awaited him. He was told that…
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American film crew already in Chiang Rai plotting movie
As the rescue mission around the cave swings into a huge clean up operation, a US film crew has already arrived in Chiang Rai. Two American producers have been sniffing around plotting a movie project about the 12 young Mu Pa Academy footballers and their assistant coach who were trapped in the cave for more than two weeks. The final…
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Thirteen is a lucky number
All 12 young footballers and their assistant coach, who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for over two weeks, have been successfully and safely evacuated from the cave on day 3 of the mammoth rescue operation. According to the Thai Navy Seal’s Facebook page, the four divers, who accompanied the last members to be rescued from deep…
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Chiang Rai: Solid food but no TV – Doctors report on the first eight out of the cave
The eight members of the Mu Pa Academy football club, already rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in the past two days, are in good health mentally and physically. But attending doctors say all had high white blood cell counts and two initially showed indications of pneumonia. Senior health officials briefed reporters at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital this morning, saying…
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Media slammed for unethical reporting – Narongsak Osottanakorn
PHOTOS: Karl Vandenhole and The Nation “Unethical reporting by the media has hampered the rescue operation to retrieve the 13 trapped footballers from the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai. Reporters have broken the law and the rights of their news sources to get the latest stories,” this from the Mission Control chief, Narongsak Osottanakorn. He yesterday issued a stern warning…
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