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.
-
Chiang Mai karaoke bar raided, 12 illegal workers detained
Chiang Mai police raided a covert karaoke bar in the city centre on May 23 after residents complained about noise, detaining 12 Myanmar nationals found working without properly registered employers. The operation was led by Police Major General Olan Iampraphat of Tourist Police Division 2 and Police Colonel Phisanu Triamdee, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Avirut Sookyaem conducting the inspection alongside…
-
Turkish man found dead after swallowing drug capsules to avoid detection
A Turkish man was found dead in a hotel room in Samut Prakan yesterday, May 23, after allegedly swallowing more than 50 capsules suspected to contain illegal drugs to avoid detection. Police and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers were called to the hotel in Racha Thewa subdistrict, Bang Phli district, after receiving reports of a foreign man found dead inside a room.…
-
Woman killed by train at ungated railway crossing in Bangkok
A 21 year old woman was hit by a freight train while riding her motorcycle and killed at an ungated railway crossing in Lat Krabang, Bangkok, shortly after midnight today, May 24. Lat Krabang police were notified of the accident at about 12.30am near Sangkaracha Temple along the motorway frontage road in Lat Krabang district. Police and Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers…
-
Udon Thani monk defrocked after drunk bar run
A monk caused a public disturbance in Udon Thani on May 23 after being found heavily intoxicated and trying to enter a sukiyaki restaurant, then a bar, before being stripped of his robes that evening. Police Lieutenant Colonel Sata Porn Sawatdee of the Mueang Udon Thani Police Station received a report of a monk behaving disruptively near a buffet restaurant…
-
Gun videos lead police to Indian man with drugs on Koh Pha Ngan
Police arrested an Indian man on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, May 23, after videos showed a foreigner posing with guns and practising shooting, with officers later finding drugs and drug price lists on his phone. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Shabeelkunnon Valappil, was arrested at a residence in Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani. Police charged him with…
-
School van driver fined 2000 baht for railway crossing violation
A school van driver handed himself over to Lop Buri police after footage emerged showing his vehicle crossing railway tracks as a train approached. The driver, 55 year old Sangwan, said it was his first day on the route and he was unfamiliar with the area. The incident occurred on May 23, when the school van, coming from Phrachai Junction…
-
Foreign tourist accused of theft runs from brawl outside Pattaya shop
A foreign tourist accused of stealing two energy drinks fled a convenience store near Jomtien Beach in Pattaya after getting into a brawl with multiple Thai men outside the shop. A video shared on social media showed the incident inside and outside a convenience store near Jomtien Beach. The post claimed that a foreigner had stolen items and refused to…
-
Ancient Khmer fortune teller arrested for 1.7 million baht ritual scam
A 65 year old ancient Khmer fortune teller has been arrested in Na Jomtien for allegedly defrauding a woman out of more than 1.7 million baht through ritual services, with additional allegations of sexual assault. The incidents reportedly took place between January and April. Police Colonel Pisit Tangsirisatien, accompanied by deputy investigation chief Pol. Lt. Col. Adisorn Kongkoi and an investigative…
-
Phuket and Pattaya back 30-day visa-free stays to boost tourism
Tourism businesses in Phuket and Pattaya have backed the government’s decision to reinstate 30-day visa-free stays, saying the move will deter illegal operations and budget long-stay tourists. The Department of Consular Affairs, under the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the policy shift is part of a broader restructuring of Thailand’s visa system to cut confusion, tighten immigration controls, and align stays…
-
‘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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Phuket locals demand investigation into foreign woman in police uniform
Residents in Phuket are calling for an investigation after a foreign woman shared photos and videos online showing herself wearing clothing resembling a Thai police uniform. The Phuket Times Facebook page posted images of the woman yesterday, May 21. In the photos, she appeared wearing a black vest featuring a Thai flag and a Royal Thai Police patch. She was…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Thailand halts new Volvo EV registrations after battery defect
New registrations of the Volvo EX30 in Thailand have been suspended after the Department of Land Transport found that a recent fire involving the electric vehicle was linked to a defect in its high-voltage battery cells. The order was issued after Siripong Angkasakulkiat, deputy transport minister, instructed the Department of Land Transport to investigate the case. Thitiphat Thaijongrak, director of…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
May 22 weather forecast warns of heavy rain despite weaker monsoon
Thailand will see less rain over the next 24 hours, but heavy rain is still expected in some areas today, May 22, mainly in the west and the east, according to the weather forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). The department said the southwest monsoon covering the upper Andaman Sea and Thailand has weakened, while a low-pressure cell remains…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
3 Thai men arrested in Ecuador with 12 rare Galápagos iguanas
Three Thai nationals were arrested at an airport in Ecuador for wildlife smuggling after 12 rare marine iguanas were discovered hidden in their luggage. Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment and Energy said the animals were found during baggage inspections at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil on Tuesday, May 19. Officials said specially trained K9 dogs used for wildlife…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Alcohol bottles found after Chinese tourist dies in Pattaya hotel fall
A Chinese tourist died after falling from the sixth floor of a Pattaya hotel early today, May 21, with police finding alcohol bottles in his room as they investigate what led to the fall. Pattaya City Police received the report at 3.36am and went to the scene with investigators and Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue volunteers. The 33 year old Chinese…
-
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…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.