South Thailand News
Stay updated with the latest Southern Thailand news at The Thaiger, your ultimate source for regional information. Keep informed on local events, business developments, and lifestyle stories in popular locations beyond Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi. We’ve got reports of the latest goings on in Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and more.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, The Thaiger’s Southern Thailand news page is your essential guide to exploring this stunning tropical region. Dive into the vibrant community and rich culture with our expertly curated content, designed to keep you connected and well-informed.
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Sponsored Working in Thailand: How expat health insurance protects your career and lifestyle
Starting a career in Thailand can be an exciting chapter, but it also brings unique challenges, especially when it comes to health and wellness. For expats, navigating Thailand’s healthcare system and meeting work permit requirements can be difficult. And while...
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DoRR sets its sights on a ‘lake’ of possibilities for Songkhla travel
The Department of Rural Roads (DoRR) is currently exploring the possibility of establishing a new route over Songkhla Lake, aiming to ease travel between Mueang and Singha Nakhon districts. This initiative, which could potentially result in the construction of a bridge or tunnel, is being examined through a feasibility study, with preliminary results expected to be available next month. Weeradej…
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French tourist missing after boat capsizes in Surat Thani
A French tourist has been reported missing following the capsizing of a tour boat in Surat Thani’s Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir. The incident occurred yesterday, November 23, when strong winds and high waves overturned the vessel carrying 13 people, including 10 French tourists, a tour guide, a caregiver, and the boat operator. Rene Mary Corre, whose age remains unknown, was part…
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Caterpillar outbreak devastates Songkhla’s coconut plantations
A significant outbreak of black-headed caterpillars has severely impacted coconut plantations across four districts in Songkhla, causing extensive damage to the crops. Local agricultural officials are responding by deploying parasitic wasps and chemical agents to combat the infestation. Agricultural experts have reported that the black-headed caterpillar infestation is affecting coconut trees in the Sathing Phra Peninsula and other areas of…
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Surat Thani police crack down on noisy modified motorcycles
Police in Surat Thani are intensifying efforts against young motorcyclists modifying their bikes to create loud noises. Today, orders were given to all local police stations to crack down on these activities, aiming to prevent public disturbances and ensure road safety. Niphon Chatree, head of Surat Thani’s city police, instructed his team, including Taweesil Laksana-Pheng, deputy head of the city…
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Trang monk defrocked after alcohol-fueled disturbance
A monk, involved in a public disturbance while allegedly drunk, insisted on his innocence, claiming he only consumed alcohol and did not use any illegal substances. The incident unfolded near a child development centre in Trang province, raising concerns among the local community. Law enforcement received a report about a monk and a layperson causing a commotion. Upon arrival, officers…
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Hat Yai water meter thief falls through roof during police chase
A man responsible for stealing water meters in Hat Yai, Songkhla province, found himself in a sticky situation when he attempted to flee from the police. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 21 in the bustling area of Hat Yai, where residents had been repeatedly victimised by the theft of water meters from their homes. Local police, led by Anuwat Rittichai,…
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Interior ministry allocates 56 million baht for Surat Thani marshland
Thailand’s Ministry of Interior approved a budget of over 56 million baht for the fiscal year 2025 to develop the Khlong Khwai marshland, aiming to create a new green space for the people of Surat Thani province. Kanisini Opasrangsank, a Member of Parliament for Constituency 1 in Surat Thani and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Thai Nation Party, along with…
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Bombs in rubbish bags spark Narathiwat emergency school closure
Bombs planted inside rubbish bags sent shockwaves through a community in Narathiwat as police rushed to investigate the incident. Four explosive devices were strategically placed on Road 4136, prompting an emergency school closure and a large-scale investigation with no reported injuries. Officials, including Direk Chomyong, deputy chief of Narathiwat Provincial Police, and Weerayut Tasiphan, chief of Koh Kian Police Station,…
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Phanom district grows kitchen gardens for food security boost
Local cuisine serves as a captivating cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community. A new initiative in Phanom district in the southern province of Surat Thani embodies this spirit by utilising the vacant space in front of the district office to cultivate kitchen gardens, promoting food security. The District Chief of Phanom, Suchau Tumosik, in collaboration with local leaders…
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Grenade attack at Songkhla construction site injures three
A construction workers’ camp was attacked with an M79 grenade launcher, leading to a fire and injuring three people. The assault occurred in a private company’s restricted area in Thepha district, Songkhla, early this morning. Police are actively investigating the incident. The unexpected attack took place at approximately 6am, targeting the workers’ accommodation within a large Guan Yin statue construction…
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Trat: Man punches woman unconscious due to sarcastic remarks
A violent altercation occurred last night when a man repeatedly punched a woman until she lost consciousness, leaving her with a swollen face. The incident took place in a rented room in Trat province, following a drinking session where the woman reportedly made several sarcastic remarks. Despite warnings, the man lost patience, resulting in the assault. Trat City Police received…
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Elderly couple gets 500 baht electricity bill for a single fan (video)
A TikTok user discovered an unusually high electricity bill for an elderly couple who used only a single fan. The bill amounted to 500 baht, raising suspicions among social media users about potential electrical issues or misuse. TikTok user @bank_waiyaphat, who works as an electricity bill distributor, posted a video highlighting the anomaly in the electricity usage of a home…
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Fisheries department seize 200k baht shellfish in smuggling bust
Thai police intercepted a foreign fishing vessel attempting to smuggle marine goods into Thailand, seizing a significant haul of shellfish. The operation highlights the nation’s commitment to combating illegal fishing and protecting its maritime resources. The Department of Fisheries, led by Banchao Sukkaeo, played a pivotal role in the recent operation that took place on Sunday, November 17. The team,…
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Pattani pair ‘checkout’ with million-baht heist
Two thieves remain at large after stealing 1.2 million baht from the manager of a convenience store in the southern province of Pattani. Officers from Mayo Police Station are searching for the male suspects involved in the theft, which occurred at around 2.30pm, yesterday, November 18. The victim was the manager of a convenience store, who was on her way…
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American arrested for alleged sexual assault of Chinese woman
Hat Yai police have arrested a 39 year old American man following serious allegations of sexual assault against a 35 year old Chinese woman. The case unfolded after the victim, known publicly as Chang, bravely came forward to report the distressing incident. The drama began on November 2 when Chang and the suspect, identified as Christian, first crossed paths at…
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2 students killed, 12 injured in Pattani truck collision
Tragedy struck in Pattani’s Sai Buri district when a six-wheel truck collided with a parked pickup truck carrying students, resulting in the deaths of two students and injuries to 12 others. This unfortunate incident occurred on the Pattani-Narathiwat Road at Ban Laharn village, Village 5, and was reported to police at approximately 8.10am yesterday, November 15. Upon arrival, police found…
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Motorbike bomb attack injures five police officers in Pattani
An explosive attack targeted a police truck in Pattani yesterday, injuring five officers when a bomb planted on a motorcycle was detonated remotely. The incident occurred at 2.40pm, yesterday, November 14, near the Tanyong Dalo Bridge in Yaring district. Police Colonel Teerapot Yindi, head of Yaring Police Station in Pattani, was alerted to the attack, which left the police truck…
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Bridge over troubled water: Cops probe grim find in murder mystery
Police are hunting for suspects after the dead body of a Thai man, with his arms tied and two gunshot wounds, was found under a bridge in the southern province of Narathiwat on Tuesday. The body, believed to belong to a man aged between 20 and 30 years, was discovered under a bridge on Tuesday, November 12, in the Ra-ngae…
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Paramilitary rangers ambushed in Yala rubber plantation attack
Gunfire erupted in Bannang Sata as armed assailants ambushed paramilitary rangers, leaving one officer injured in a rubber plantation near a local community and school. The incident unfolded in the afternoon, sparking an immediate response from police. The confrontation occurred at 3pm yesterday, November 13, when an unidentified group launched an assault on a unit of paramilitary rangers from Ranger…
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Amulets save teenagers’ lives in Phatthalung shooting
Five teenagers narrowly escaped a terrifying encounter when four men on motorcycles pursued and fired shots at them. Despite the attack, the injuries sustained by two young women, sitting on the back of the motorbike, were minor, attributed to the protection of sacred amulets they wore. The incident unfolded yesterday at approximately 10.30pm yesterday, November 13, in the Na Noth…
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Coconut prices crack open a fortune for farmers in Trang
Coconut farmers in Trang province are celebrating as prices soar, with coconuts now fetching as much as 20 baht each, doubling previous prices. This lucrative market shift promises earnings exceeding 30,000 baht, drawing significant interest from traders eager to purchase entire plantations. At the integrated agricultural garden owned by 64 year old Suthep Wattanavatchara, located in the village of Khao…
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Thai woman’s daring car cling ends in roadside heartbreak (video)
A Thai woman desperately tried to stop her husband from fleeing with his mistress by clinging onto his car, only to be savagely attacked and left abandoned by him on a roadside in Phatthalung, a southern province. The 48 year old woman, Bee, called officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station to pick her up from the side of Aphai Borrirak…
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Lifeless body of Indian man found after Koh Samui waterfall stumble
Thai officials discovered the body of a 29 year old Indian man yesterday after he accidentally fell from the cliff at Na Mueang 2 Waterfall on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani. Over 30 officials from Koh Samui Police Station, rescue teams, the local administrative office, and the Royal Forest Department participated in the search…
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Cyber police arrest Thai woman for illegal lending in Songkhla
Cyber police executed a raid on a residence in Songkhla to apprehend a woman involved in illegal money lending with a staggering interest rate of 15%. The operation uncovered weapons, land deeds, and multiple vehicles used as collateral. The investigation revealed a turnover exceeding 1 million baht. A team led by Jirawat Phayungtham, acting commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation…
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Narathiwat mayor fatally gunned down at garment factory
In a shocking daylight assassination, the popular two-time mayor of the Rueso subdistrict in the southern province of Narathiwat was brutally shot dead at his garment factory. The 55 year old mayor, Wichet Thaithongnum, known by locals as Mayor Arm, was gunned down by a group of men wielding war weapons in an audacious attack that has left the community…
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Locals reel in Thai man stranded at sea for 2-hours near Koh Samui (video)
Locals on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, came to the aid of a Thai man who accidentally fell into the sea yesterday and was stranded, treading water for two hours. Samui Association Rescue Volunteers were alerted by locals at around 9am yesterday, November 6, that the Thai man, later identified as 34 year old Sanadate,…
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Dugong numbers in Andaman Sea may drop 70% in four years
Dugong populations in the Andaman Sea face a potential 70% decline within the next four years, primarily due to a shrinking supply of seagrass, their main food source. This alarming prediction was made by a marine biologist, emphasising the urgent need for conservation efforts to save this vulnerable marine mammal. Thon Thamrongnawasawat highlighted the crisis in seagrass reserves, stressing the…
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Fire at Surat Thani car dealership damages five vehicles
The early hours of yesterday saw a fire engulf the Siam Charoen Yont car dealership located in Surat Thani, causing significant damage to five vehicles. The blaze was reported to the police, who promptly responded to the emergency. Police Lieutenant Phumiphat Jaiyen from the Surat Thani City Police Station, in collaboration with Police Colonel Nipon Chatri and local disaster relief…
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Pattani police officer survives ambush after brave retaliation
Gunmen ambushed and shot a 52 year old police officer from Mayo Police Station in Pattani while he was riding his motorcycle home after prayers. The attack occurred in the evening but Abdulhadi, despite sustaining injuries, managed to return fire, causing the assailants to flee. The incident unfolded yesterday, November 4 around 8.30pm on a village road in Moo 1,…
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Malaysian singer arrested in southern Thailand with 6,060 Yaba pills
Thai police officers arrested a well-known Malaysian singer and five other suspects in a hotel room in the Su-ngai Kolok district of Narathiwat in the early hours of November 1, with 6,060 methamphetamine pills, also known as Yaba, in their possession. The arrests were made by officers from Su-ngai Kolok Police Station at around 3.30am in room number 814 of…
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