South Thailand News
Southern Thailand news, Phuket news, Koh Samui news, and Krabi updates—stay informed on business, tourism, and local events from Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Southern Thailand news source.
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NHRC urges Thailand to rethink Southern Land Bridge project
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to reconsider the Southern Land Bridge megaproject, highlighting concerns about its environmental impact and implications for local communities. The NHRC supports its call with findings from various studies conducted by state agencies. Council member Sayamol Kaiyoorawongs stated that the prime minister should direct the Office of Transport and…
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South Thailand: Pickup truck flips in the air, crashes into shop (video)
A pickup truck in the southern province of Chumphon lost control and flipped over, causing significant damage to a shop and its roof, though the driver sustained only minor injuries. CCTV footage captured the shocking incident, which was shared on TikTok by user @tarn.dararat, highlighting the unpredictability of accidents. Tarn, the TikTok user who originally posted the clip, spoke to…
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Russian fined 5,000 baht after driving dangerously on Koh Samui
A Russian man yesterday faced a 5,000 baht fine after dangerous driving on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Locals were impressed by the police’s swift action, though some felt the punishment was too lenient. A Thai woman took to a Facebook group called รวมพลคนสมุย (meaning Samui locals gathering) to expose the dangerous behaviour of…
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Nine suspects arrested for Pattani petrol station robbery
Police apprehended nine suspects involved in a brazen robbery at a petrol station in Panare district, Pattani province. The incident occurred when a group of men and women on motorcycles were ambushed by the suspects, who were armed with two guns. An alarming report emerged yesterday, September 24, of nine individuals robbing victims as they exited a PTT petrol station…
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Durian dispute turns deadly: Vendor kills couple over prime location
A 62 year old durian vendor killed a couple on a roadside in the Chana district of the southern province of Songkhla following a dispute over a prime location for their fruit stalls. Officers from Chana Police Station were called to arrest the suspect, 62 year old durian vendor named Huan Saetan on Ratsarat Road yesterday, September 23. Upon arrival,…
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Nemo’s profit party: Clownfish breeding makes 1 million baht splash
The Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Trang has successfully bred over 20 species of clownfish, commonly known as Nemo fish, this year, resulting in sales surpassing those of the previous year and generating nearly 1 million baht in revenue. Trang Coastal Aquaculture Research and Development Centre director Patcharee Soonsan announced yesterday, September 23, the achievement of breeding 20…
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Four injured in chaotic Phatthalung street shootout
A shootout between two rival youth gangs on a street in Phatthalung left four individuals injured, including a 17 year old boy in critical condition with a bullet lodged in his chest. According to police reports, the incident occurred around 2am yesterday, September 23 on the Khlong Muay-Kong Ra Road in Village 7, Khlong Sai Khao subdistrict, Kong Ra district.…
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Armed chaos: Gunmen turn Hala Bala into a fiery hostage jungle
In a chilling turn of events, police are on an urgent manhunt for approximately 20 armed men who took four officers hostage and torched four buildings in the Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary, Waeng district. The harrowing incident, which unfolded yesterday, September 22, marks the first terror attack on the sanctuary in three decades, as confirmed by the Department of National…
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Pattani buffet restaurant slammed over ‘paper-thin’ meat slices
A buffet restaurant in the southern province of Pattani faced severe backlash after images of overly thinly sliced meat, described as “paper-thin,” were shared online, sparking widespread criticism. The incident highlighted significant dissatisfaction among customers who were disappointed by both the quality of the food and the service. A member of a consumer group posted the photos yesterday, showing the…
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Sea surge devastates Trang village, leaving residents homeless
A powerful sea surge devastated the coastal village of Ban Mot Tanoi in Ko Libong, Kantang district, Trang province, rendering residents homeless and their properties in ruins. Waves reaching heights of 3 to 4 metres, combined with strong winds, caused extensive damage to 15 homes, with eight destroyed and seven partially damaged. Residents are now left to pick up the…
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Satun province faces severe flooding amid heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding in four districts of Satun province, affecting eight subdistricts and 26 villages. The continuous downpour led officials to establish boats in flood-prone areas and mobilise resources for 24-hour monitoring and assistance. Heavy rain has been battering Satun province since yesterday, September 16, resulting in significant flooding in the districts of Khuan Don, Mueang Satun, Tha…
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Thai doctor faces probe over private practice while on state pay
Thailand’s Public Health Ministry launched an investigation into allegations concerning a doctor at a state-run hospital, who is reportedly practising at multiple private hospitals despite receiving extra pay for signing a non-competition clause in his contract. Dr Sawat Apiwachaneewong, the Public Health Ministry inspector at Participatory Health Region 12, confirmed that the Yala Provincial Public Health Office had set up…
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Cutting corners: Illegal barber snipped by cops on Koh Pha Ngan
Thai police recently apprehended an illegal Burmese national working as a barber in Koh Pha Ngan, earning nearly 50,000 baht monthly. The arrest took place following reports of foreign workers taking jobs from locals. Police Lieutenant Colonel Winij Boonchit received a tip about an unauthorised foreign worker and led a team to arrest 20 year old Wai Yan Kyaw at…
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Insurgents bomb ATM, set fire to Songkhla office, no injuries
Insurgents are believed to be behind the bombing of an ATM booth and a fire at a local government office in Saba Yoi district, Songkhla province, early yesterday. No injuries were reported. The ATM booth, located in front of the Ban Nod Tambon Administration Organisation (TAO) office, was targeted by a bomb around 1.50am, yesterday, September 14, according to Police…
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Three arrested for drug use near monastery in Chumphon
Police in Chumphon province apprehended three individuals for drug use after concerned residents reported their suspicious activities. The trio, living with young children, admitted to drug use and expressed their intention to undergo rehabilitation. The incident took place near a monastery in the Song Phi Nong subdistrict, Tha Sae district. Local police, led by Wisit Samannmuang and supported by a…
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Thai couple loses over 11 million baht to trusted employee
Frustrated by the police’s lack of action, a Thai couple in Bangkok sought assistance from an official at the Ministry of Public Health. They shared their ordeal involving an employee of their dowry rental business and gold shop, who had swindled over 11 million baht from them. The victims, 28 year old Atijittra and 34 year old Piyaphat, yesterday, September…
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Australian man arrested on Koh Pha Ngan for 15 sexual assaults
Immigration Bureau officers arrested an Australian man who had evaded justice for 15 sexual assault cases in his home country. He was found hiding on Koh Pha Ngan, an island in Surat Thani Province. The Commander of the Royal Thai Police (RTP), Torsak Sukvimol, instructed officers, particularly those from the Immigration Bureau, to intensify their efforts in investigating illegal foreigners in…
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Century-old parkia speciosa tree generates 40,000 baht annually
A century-old parkia speciosa tree in Trang province has captivated the market due to its large, long pods and superior taste, generating up to 40,000 baht annually from a single tree. At Suan Ta Chan Tonmai Panpi in Trang’s Na Yong district, 53 year old Satit Ramna hired locals to climb and harvest the pods from his four 100-year-old parkia…
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Gunman fires shots at Yala bank, no injuries reported
A gunman fired five shots at a bank in Bannang Sata, Yala, without causing any injuries. Police are investigating and pursuing the suspect, believing it to be a staged daily situation. Police Lieutenant Anan Suwannachatri from Bannang Sata Police Station in Yala received a report of a shooting at a local bank branch. On arriving at the scene with a…
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Fisherman survives four days at sea off Satun
A fisherman miraculously survived after floating in the sea off Satun in southern Thailand for four days. Despite exhausting his strength, he managed to stay alive by drinking from a floating bottle of sugarcane juice. His incredible ordeal concluded when waves carried him to Bulon Mai Phai Island. News emerged yesterday, September 6, of the incredible survival of Suntorn Khaosom,…
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Man stabs ex-girlfriend in Trat, crashes motorcycle while fleeing
A man was apprehended in Trat province after stabbing his ex-girlfriend and attempting to flee on a motorcycle, only to crash 20 kilometres away. He claimed he intended to end his life to escape his wrongdoing. While receiving medical treatment, the injured woman confronted him. The incident occurred at 7.50pm yesterday, September 4, when a 41 year old man named…
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Thai man arrested for assaulting elderly woman in Phatthalung
A 64 year old Thai man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a 70 year old woman, sparking controversy due to his poor health and inability to walk unaided. The incident occurred yesterday, September 4, at 5pm, when police from Sri Banphot Police Station in Phatthalung province apprehended Wichian (last name withheld) on charges of rape. Despite his relatives’ efforts…
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Phatthalung man decapitated by train in freak accident
A tragic train accident in the southern province of Phatthalung resulted in the death of a 32 year old man, shocking his wife who discovered the headless body. Villagers recount the incident, which occurred while they were cutting grass and noticed the train stopping unexpectedly. The accident took place at 7.40pm yesterday, September 3, between Khao Chaison and Ban Ton…
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British man arrested for illegal beauty clinic, causing facial paralysis
Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police in the southern province of Surat Thani raided an illegal beauty clinic and arrested its British owner today after a foreign client received services at the clinic and suffered facial paralysis. The foreign client, whose identity was not disclosed, experienced swelling and red bruises and was unable to control her facial muscles after receiving a…
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Foreign wheeled-dealers busted: Koh Pha Ngan car crackdown
Police in Surat Thani nabbed two foreign nationals on Koh Pha Ngan for illegally renting out vehicles. The crackdown happened yesterday, September 1, with a 60 year old Russian man and an 18 year old Ukrainian man being detained. Tourist police and local officials swooped in on the Russian at an unregistered house in Moo 1 village, where they seized…
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2 Burmese wanted for killing 3, including pregnant woman and child
Police officers in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan are searching for two Burmese men who allegedly killed a fellow countryman, his pregnant wife, and their seven year old daughter for 50,000 baht in cash. A Thai employer revealed how he hired a 40 year old Burmese man named Saw to work on his rubber plantation. However, Saw was…
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Gunfire erupts in Yala market after minor vehicle collision
A confrontation in Yala’s Malayu Bangkok market ended in gunfire as two men, upset after a minor vehicle collision, ambushed a contractor and fired three shots at his vehicle before fleeing the scene. Yesterday, August 31, at 1.50pm, the 191 Emergency Response Centre in Yala received a report of a shooting incident at the Malayu Bangkok market. The caller, who…
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Essex man’s Thai holiday night out ends in tragedy
A dream holiday in Thailand turned into a nightmare for an Essex couple when a 27 year old British national from Romford was tragically found dead in a body of water after a night out. Theo Morgan, a former Met Police officer, had been enjoying a 10-day getaway in Surat Thani with his girlfriend when disaster struck. The couple had…
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Phatthalung village head assaults woman over cattle dispute
A 59 year old woman was brutally assaulted by a local village head in Phatthalung province following a heated argument over grazing cattle. The incident left her severely injured, leading to her hospitalisation. The woman’s 31 year old daughter Wannapa took her mother, Kasem, to Phatthalung Hospital at 5.45pm yesterday, August 27, after she was violently attacked. Kasem suffered severe…
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Cat found abandoned at temple in Songkhla
A CCTV camera captured a man and a woman on a motorcycle with a sidecar abandoning a cat in a sack at a temple in Songkhla. The Hope Songkhla urges the owner to help find it, as abandoning animals is illegal. A report from Songkhla detailed footage from a surveillance camera showing two individuals on a three-wheeled motorcycle, likely scrap…
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