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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Three foreigners arrested on Koh Pha Ngan in drug crackdown
Three foreign nationals were arrested on Koh Pha Ngan, Surat Thani province, yesterday, March 8, after immigration officers expanded an investigation into suspected drug distribution to tourists on the island. The arrests followed an investigation that began after a Brazilian drug delivery suspect identified as Pedro was detained on Koh Pha Ngan on March 5 in a drug trafficking case.…
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Seven earthquakes shake Surat Thani, no damage reported
A series of small earthquakes was recorded in Khao Phang subdistrict, Ban Ta Khun district, Surat Thani province, yesterday, March 8, and into early today, March 9, with residents reporting the tremors were clearly felt near Rajjaprabha Dam. The tremors were recorded seven times in one day, with epicentres about one kilometre underground near Rajjaprabha Dam. Five of the earthquakes…
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Russian DJ arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after drug sales to tourists
Tourist police on Koh Pha Ngan arrested a Russian man described as a DJ on March 9 after uncovering an AI drug operation that allegedly arranged sales to tourists through an automated Telegram ordering system. Police received information from an informant that a foreign man living in the Koh Pha Ngan area, Surat Thani province, was selling several types of…
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Two Ugandan women arrested in Koh Pha Ngan prostitution sting
Tourist Police arrested two Ugandan women on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani yesterday, March 1, after an Israeli tourist reported suspected theft linked to an alleged prostitution service. The arrests followed a complaint from an Israeli tourist, who claimed his property had gone missing after using a service offered by a Ugandan woman allegedly involved in prostitution. Investigators then…
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Teenager stabs ex-girlfriend after she refuses to reconcile
A 16 year old Thai boy stabbed his ex-girlfriend in Songkhla province on Saturday, February 21, after she refused to reconcile following a break-up. The victim’s father, 49 year old Udomrat, said the attack happened at about 2.50pm at a teacher welfare residence where his daughter, Fai, was taking extra classes. He shared details of the case with news agencies,…
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South Korean man tragically drowns off Railay Beach, Krabi
A South Korean tourist tragically drowned while swimming with his child off Railay Beach in Krabi on Sunday, February 22. Rangers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park were alerted to the incident at about 3pm and recovered the man from the sea. He was later identified as 48 year old South Korean national, Lee Juhyun. Rangers and…
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Suspected cable thief breaks both legs after Trang Hospital chase
A man suspected of stealing property from Trang Hospital was injured last night, February 22, after crashing his motorcycle while fleeing hospital security guards in Mueang Trang district, Trang province. Police at Mueang Trang Police Station said they were notified at about 11pm that a suspect linked to a theft at Trang Hospital had been involved in a motorcycle accident…
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Similan Islands warns tourists after Blue Button jellyfish spotted
A temporary closure has been imposed at a swimming area in Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga, after officials warned yesterday, February 22, that blue button jellyfish have been found along the shoreline. The park said on its Facebook page that it detected the jellyfish, also known as Porpita Porpita, and commonly referred to as the Blue Button, in some…
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Siberian Husky abused and burned in Songkhla after escaping home
A Thai man is seeking the attacker who abused and set his Siberian Husky on fire after the dog escaped from his home in Songkhla on February 12. The owner, 52 year old Somchai Chanawanno, shared details of the attack on his two year old female dog, Molly, with several media outlets and the Watchdog Thailand Foundation (WDT) as he…
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Songkhla teacher denies mistreating student as motive for fatal shooting
A male teacher denied claims that he mistreated the younger sister of an 18 year old gunman in a fatal shooting at Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, on Wednesday, February 11. The teenage suspect, Khemmanan, also known as Khem, entered the school at about 4pm and held students and teachers hostage before opening the fire. The principal,…
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Police seize M16 rifles and grenades in Nakhon Si Thammarat raid
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat arrested three men and seized military-grade weapons during a raid on a house in Thung Song district yesterday, February 12, as part of a crackdown on online arms trafficking. The announcement was made by Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Police following an operation carried out under national policy directives to suppress crime involving firearms and explosives.…
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46 foreign extras arrested in Krabi for working without permits
Police arrested 46 foreign extras yesterday, February 12, after discovering they were working without permits at an abandoned mine in Krabi province while filming a television series reportedly based in Dubai. Officers from the Krabi Provincial Employment Office, Mueang Krabi Police Station, Border Patrol Police, and Immigration Bureau conducted a joint raid at the mine in the Thab Prik sub-district…
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Krabi installs heart-shaped traffic lights for Valentine’s Day
Krabi Municipality installed heart-shaped red traffic lights at major intersections in the city yesterday, February 11, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, later sharing photos on its official Facebook page. The unusual traffic lights, shaped like hearts instead of the standard circular red signal, were posted on the official Krabi Municipality Facebook page and quickly drew attention online. The decorative red signals…
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School shooting in Songkhla leaves principal dead, students injured
A young gunman stormed into Phatongprathan Kiriwat School in Hat Yai, Songkhla, yesterday afternoon, February 11, after seizing a police rifle, opening fire on staff and students, and taking hostages before eventually surrendering. Police were first alerted to the incident at 2.54pm after receiving reports of a young man armed with a machete in the Thung Lung area. Officers and…
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King cobras mate roadside in Krabi ahead of Valentine’s Day
Locals in Krabi were left stunned yesterday, February 5, after spotting two massive king cobras mating by the roadside in Khlong Thom district just days before Valentine’s Day. The rare encounter occurred in Khlong Thom Nuea subdistrict, where two king cobras, each measuring an estimated three to four metres long, were seen engaging in mating behaviour along Khlong Chamuang Road…
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Rare dugongs observed in Trang marine habitat survey
Marine researchers in Trang province teamed up with wildlife defenders yesterday, February 4, to survey dugong populations near Libong Island, using drone technology and direct observation to assess the condition of these rare sea mammals. The survey was led by staff from the Marine National Park Research Centre 3 (Trang) in collaboration with the Dugong Conservation Group, and it was…
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15 year old boy arrested over 2.4 million baht gold theft in Hat Yai
Police arrested a 15 year old boy for a gold shop robbery at a supermarket in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, in which gold accessories worth more than 2.4 million baht were stolen. The robbery occurred at around 6.30pm inside a gold shop located within Lotus’s supermarket in Hat Yai. CCTV footage showed the suspect dressed entirely in black and…
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Israeli and El Salvadoran men rescued from Koh Pha Ngan forest
Tourist Police officers, together with local administrative officials, successfully rescued two foreign tourists, Israeli and Salvadoran men, who became lost in a forest on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province last night, February 4. According to authorities, Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received an emergency call via the tourist police hotline 1155 from two foreign men who reported that…
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Gunmen unleash over 20 shotgun rounds on Phatthalung home
Two armed assailants opened fire on a family home in Phaya Khan subdistrict, Phatthalung province, early today, February 4, damaging property and terrifying a family. Police investigators led by Police Lieutenant Wicha Nupeannoi from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station arrived at the scene shortly after 1.30am, accompanied by a forensics team. At the scene, officers recovered eight spent shotgun shells and…
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Koh Samui police demolishes 600 illegal exhaust pipes
Police in Koh Samui today, February 3, destroyed more than 600 illegal motorcycle exhaust pipes seized from street racers, as part of an ongoing crackdown on noise pollution and reckless driving in the community. The public destruction took place in front of Koh Samui Police Station, led by Police Colonel Panya Niratimanon, Superintendent of Koh Samui Police Station. He was…
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‘Mr Spray’ wanted for defacing Koh Pha Ngan with political graffiti
Residents and local business operators on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province called on police to take action against “Mr Spay“, a foreign man who spray-painted political slogans on public and private property across the island. Residents told reporters that the man spray-painted messages such as “Save Gaza” and “Libre” on traffic signs, electricity poles, and walls belonging to…
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Foreign tourists’ pickup stuck in sand at Phang Nga beach
Two foreign tourists found themselves in a sticky situation yesterday evening, February 2, after their pickup truck became stuck in the sand at Na Tai Beach in Phang Nga province. The incident unfolded around 7pm on February 2 while a local woman, Wilawan, and her friends were camping and fishing along the shoreline in Khok Kloi subdistrict, Takua Thung district.…
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Owner demands justice after cat found dead outside neighbour’s home
A cat owner filed a complaint in Songkhla today, February 2, after his Persian cat was found dead inside a sack under suspicious circumstances, with conflicting accounts over whether the animal had been mauled by dogs or killed deliberately. The incident involves a nine month old Persian cat named Kitkat, whose owner, 20 year old Patchara, said the cat was…
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Researchers uncover new ant species in Trang rubber plantation
A team of Thai researchers has discovered a new species of ant in a rubber plantation near a tourist cave in Trang province. The insect has not been seen again since the area underwent development. Yesterday, January 28, Dr Weeyawat Jaitrong, senior entomologist and researcher with the National Science Museum of Thailand, confirmed the identification of a previously unknown ant…
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Surat Thani nightclub sparks backlash over contemporary nora dance
A nightclub in Surat Thani province sparked online controversy after featuring a contemporary nora folk dance performance during its New Year celebration last year. A video of the performance circulated widely on Thai social media and was later reposted by the popular news Facebook page Jmoi V+. The footage showed three performers dressed in full traditional nora costumes dancing on…
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Nigerian drug dealer arrested on Koh Pha Ngan after skipping court
Police arrested a Nigerian drug dealer on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani on Wednesday, January 14, after he skipped court proceedings following an earlier arrest. Officers from the Koh Pha Ngan Tourist Police received a tip-off that the suspect, 38 year old Nigerian national Ukoma Jefta Nuzbech, who was wanted in a drug case, was travelling along a road…
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Garage owner and cop exchange shots over noise complaints
A noise complaint turned into a late-night shootout in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday, January 14, after a police officer and a garage owner pulled guns on each other during an argument over after-hours car repairs. The incident took place around 11pm at a garage on Pak Nakhon Road in Tha Sak subdistrict, Mueang district. A police officer, reportedly intoxicated,…
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Myanmar man goes on car-smashing rampage in Satun
A Myanmar national was arrested yesterday morning, January 13, after allegedly damaging 19 parked vehicles in Satun’s La-ngu district using stones and a digging tool. The incident occurred around 3am in Moo 6, La-ngu subdistrict, where the suspect, a 45 year old man identified only as Saw, was captured on CCTV picking up a stone and smashing two cars parked…
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Drug suspect escapes after police officer grants ‘farewell’ release
A police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat was dismissed from government service after releasing his friend, a detained drug suspect, who later escaped from custody. The officer claimed the suspect deceived him by saying he wanted to say goodbye to his family before imprisonment. The suspect, Ekkaluck Datepalit, was arrested on Saturday, January 10, for possession of a Category 1…
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Narathiwat imposes curfew after attacks at 11 petrol stations in Deep South
Narathiwat province is under a nightly curfew following a series of bombings and fires at petrol stations across three Deep South provinces on Saturday, January 10. Explosions and fires were reported at 11 petrol stations in the provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat late on Saturday night. All of the affected petrol stations belong to the same operator, PTT. According…
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