Thailand News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.
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‘Oreo Gang’ member denies drunk driving after crash injures Bangkok cop
A 20 year old student has admitted to being a member of the ‘Oreo Gang’ after a white Mitsubishi Xpander struck a police officer at an alcohol checkpoint in Bangkok. He denies consuming alcohol before the crash on May 22. The incident took place at around 1.30am on Bang Na-Trat Road, where 59 year old Police Lieutenant Colonel Taran Piromjitjaroen…
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Makkasan crash lays bare decades of rail neglect
A train slammed into an air-conditioned bus at the Makkasan railway crossing on Asok-Din Daeng Road, killing eight people and injuring 32 others. The crash has raised serious questions about Thailand’s rail safety standards and the many level crossings that continue to pose risks nationwide. Police investigations point to several contributing factors. The train driver was found to be impaired…
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Thai weather warning: heavy rain and flash floods in 36 provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for 36 provinces today, cautioning residents of heavy rainfall affecting 60% of areas, including Bangkok and its vicinity. Flash floods and forest runoff are the main concerns. The warnings are driven by a moderate southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand, combined with southern and southeastern winds drawing moisture…
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Russian tour guide arrested for working without licence
Tourist police in Phang Nga arrested a Russian national yesterday, May 21, for working illegally as a tour guide while accompanying a group of foreign tourists. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was arrested at the car park of the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Station after officials earlier observed him guiding tourists at Suwan Kuha Temple. According to…
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Medical emergency officer killed in Uttaradit ambulance accident
An ambulance accident in Uttaradit has killed a medical emergency officer after the vehicle veered off the road while responding to a car accident yesterday, May 21. The officer was identified as June, an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEM) from Nam Pat Hospital in Uttaradit, who was working with the Nam Pat Rescue Association during the emergency response. Nam Pat…
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Thai student injured in attempted robbery at train station in Sydney
A Thai student suffered a head injury in an attack by a man who reportedly attempted to steal musical equipment at a train station in Sydney, Australia, on May 17. A Thai music teacher identified only as Luck shared details of the incident with a Facebook page operated by a Thai resident in Australia. The story was later reposted by…
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AirAsia CEO warns airport fee hike could be ‘disaster’ for Thai tourism
AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes has opposed Airports of Thailand’s (AOT) proposed increase to the international passenger service charge (PSC), warning that higher airport fees could damage Thailand’s tourism industry during a difficult period for global aviation. Fernandes, chief executive officer of Capital A, said the timing was inappropriate as airlines worldwide continue to face pressure from rising fuel…
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Ex-politician linked to gambling den in Samut Prakan abandoned hotel
Authorities raided an illegal gambling operation inside an abandoned hotel in Samut Prakan last night, May 21, and discovered more than 43 million baht circulating through the bank account of the alleged owner, a former local politician. Officers from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Territorial Defence Volunteers Administration Bureau conducted the raid at about 8pm on the fourth floor of the Chalermwong…
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Thai police criticised for seeking help from children during arrest
Two high-school students in Nakhon Si Thammarat helped police restrain a suspect on a public road, prompting a debate online about the safety and appropriateness of civilian involvement in police operations. Footage of the incident was shared by TikTok user @jxjxens before being reposted by several news outlets and Facebook pages. It showed two police officers struggling with a man…
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School van driver ignores barriers, stops on tracks as train approaches
A video shared on Facebook yesterday, May 21, shows a school van avoiding a collision with a train after the driver crossed while barriers were lowering, then stopped on the railway tracks. Facebook user สุรเสียง พลับพลาสวรรค์ posted a video of the incident showing a school van attempting to cross a railway crossing while warning alarms were sounding and barriers were…
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Thailand News | Pattaya hotel fire leaves guests trapped as rescue teams respond, Mentally unwell British tourist accidentally sets himself on fire while playing a children’s game
Today we’ll be talking about a hotel fire in Pattaya that left guests trapped as rescue teams responded, also, there’s been a royal update on the health condition of Princess Bajrakitiyabha, then we’ have our badly behaving foreigners in the form of Chinese brothel operators, British reckless drivers, and nightmare Swiss tenants, in ASEAN News, Philippines authorities have vowed to…
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Another police officer involved in Chinese extortion case in Sa Kaeo surrenders
Another police officer surrendered in connection with the extortion case involving five Chinese nationals after four officers and a civilian were arrested last week. Immigration officers from Sa Kaeo Provincial Immigration Office and Wang Somboon Police Station raided a house in the province on May 16 after receiving complaints from Chinese nationals claiming they were being detained and extorted. The…
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Questions raised over public viewing of Suvarnabhumi Airport checkpoint cameras
Concerns over passenger privacy emerged online after social media users questioned the public accessibility of CCTV footage at immigration checkpoints in Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The issue gained attention after a Thai X user criticised Airports of Thailand (AOT) when footage of a popular actor at the immigration checkpoint was circulated online. The user questioned whether sharing footage from security cameras violated…
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Four injured as fire spreads through fully booked Pattaya hotel
A fire broke out at a Pattaya hotel at about 9pm last night, May 21, injuring four people and forcing 240 guests to evacuate after flames broke out at a seventh-floor rooftop bar. The Facebook page Fire & Rescue Thailand first reported the incident, posting that a fire had broken out at a hotel. Video from the scene showed flames…
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Hua Hin landlord issues warning after property vandalism by Swiss man
A woman warned other property owners and local women after a Swiss tenant severely damaged her rental house in Hua Hin and continuing to invite women to the property after his contract ended. The homeowner shared photographs and details of the incident in a Facebook group for Hua Hin residents, where the post quickly gained attention online. According to the…
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Bangkok train crash exposes negligence, says minister
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat admitted that a train driver was negligent during the Bangkok train-bus crash at the Asok-Din Daeng intersection, which killed eight people, as he addressed new drug testing measures for public transport staff. The issue was raised in Parliament at 10.30am today, May 21, during a House of Representatives meeting chaired by House Speaker Sophon Saram.…
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Australian tourist found dead with white powder nearby in Phuket condo
An Australian tourist was found dead inside a condominium in Phuket at around 7.30pm yesterday, May 20, with police finding white powder on a plate near his body. Officers at Karon Police Station received a report of a death at the condominium and went to inspect the scene. Inside, police found the body of a foreign man on the floor. He…
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Jealous Thai rescuer allegedly threatens to kill wife, steals valuables
A woman in Nonthaburi accused her husband, a volunteer rescuer, of physically assaulting and threatening to kill her during a fit of jealousy before stealing valuables worth more than 600,000 baht. The victim, 44 year old Promphit, sought help from the Nonthaburi Member of Parliament (MP) assistants to Kraithawat Thammatada and Saichon Nitkham, who accompanied her to file a complaint at…
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Princess Bajrakitiyabha health update reports worsening condition
Thailand’s Bureau of the Royal Household today, May 21, issued its seventh statement on Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s health, reporting that her condition has worsened after a severe infection linked to abdominal and intestinal inflammation. Princess Bajrakitiyabha has been receiving treatment at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, since December 15, 2022. The bureau previously stated that she lost consciousness…
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Austrian man deported for blocking road and demanding money in Phuket
Phuket immigration police revoked the visa of an Austrian tourist and prepared to deport him after he caused public disturbances in Rawai by blocking roads and demanding money from residents and tourists. Videos showing the man’s behaviour circulated on Thai social media on Tuesday, May 19. The suspect was later identified as 39 year old Austrian national, Raphael. In the…
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Nigerian suspect arrested in Nonthaburi with 7 bank cards and 42 mobile phones
Police arrested a Nigerian man suspected of involvement in a romance scam network in Nonthaburi after discovering dozens of mobile phones and bank cards. Rattanathibet Police Station superintendent Prut Jamroonsarn announced details of the arrest at about 6pm yesterday, May 20. The suspect was identified as 24 year old Nigerian national Sinedu Heophilus Acege. Prut said officers had been conducting…
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Thailand News | Thailand watches Ebola Situation after Congo Outbreak, British traveller’s bag delayed after sex toy alert on Thai Flight
Today we’ll be talking about steps the Thai government is taking in monitoring the ebola outbreak in the Congo, of course we have some foreigners behaving badly but also – surprise, surprise – facing consequences for their actions, plus, we’ll give you a full breakdown of everything we know so far regarding the Singha family dispute, and a little later…
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May 21 forecast brings heavy rain, rough seas as monsoon grips Thailand
Thailand will continue to face heavy rain in several regions today, May 21, with the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warning of flash floods, forest runoff and rough seas in parts of the country, according to today’s weather forecast. The department said a moderately strong southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand, combined with a low-pressure cell over the…
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7 year old girl and soldier injured in ambush shooting in Narathiwat
A Thai soldier and a seven year old girl were injured in an ambush shooting in Narathiwat last night, May 20. The attack took place at about 7pm in Sawo subdistrict when unidentified gunmen opened fire on 29 year old Muhammad-Ammudi Waesohoh, a soldier from the 3rd Infantry Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment at Sirindhorn Camp in Pattani. According to reports,…
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4 travel agencies on Koh Samui found operating through Thai nominees
Southern Tourism Business and Tour Guide Registration Office revoked the licences of four illegal travel agencies on Koh Samui for operating through Thai nominees. The revocation followed an expanded crackdown on nominee-run businesses across Thailand. Koh Samui Tourist Police and the Surat Thani Tourism and Sports Office inspected 12 suspicious travel agencies on the island and found four operating illegally. Under…
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Railway drug test finds two SRT workers positive for drugs
Two railway workers tested positive for drugs during random drug tests at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal conducted by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). The inspections were conducted on May 19 and yesterday, May 20, among railway operations staff and mechanical division employees, including train drivers, station staff, rail crossing…
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Foreigner criticised for paying Phuket man to pass police checkpoint
A foreign tourist was caught on video paying a Thai food delivery rider to ride a rental motorcycle through a police checkpoint in Phuket, prompting speculation online about his motives. The incident was first shared by the food delivery rider on his social media account before being reposted by the Shadow Phuket Facebook page, where it attracted widespread attention. The…
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Pattaya’s tourism business association backs visa-free stay cut
Pattaya’s tourism business association has backed the government’s decision to reduce Thailand’s visa-free stay periods from 60 days to around 30 days, saying the move could help address scammer concerns, illegal business activity, and support tourism revenue. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the Cabinet agreed to cancel the 60-day visa-free scheme for more than 90 countries. Countries with…
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Homesick conscripts flee camp, steal motorcycle, fail drug test
Two reportedly homesick conscripts who had been in training for just 18 days were arrested yesterday, May 19, after allegedly fleeing a military camp in Udon Thani and stealing a woman’s motorcycle. The theft happened at about 6.10pm on May 17 in Non Sung subdistrict, Mueang district. The 22 year old woman had parked the motorcycle with the key left…
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Ebola risks in Thailand under watch after Congo outbreak
The Thai government has ordered the Ministry of Public Health to closely monitor Ebola risks in Thailand after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo an international public health emergency. Deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said Today, May 20, that the WHO declaration concerned an Ebola outbreak in Ituri province, eastern…
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