Brace yourselves, Thailand: the skies are staging a dramatic performance this weekend. Meteorologists at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) have sent out a broad, unambiguous alert — heavy to very heavy rain is expected across large swathes of the country as a tropical depression develops and moves westward, threatening to dump serious moisture over the north, northeast and eastern provinces. Bangkok is among 49 provinces placed on warning status, so umbrella aficionados and commuters alike should plan for wet, gusty days ahead. What’s coming: the weather story in plain language Here’s the short version: a tropical depression near Luzon in the Philippines is forecast to track into the upper South China Sea and strengthen into a tropical storm. The system is predicted to make landfall over Vietnam and upper Laos around August 25–26, but its influence will be felt well before then. From August 24–27, the upper northeastern and northern…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
A routine late-afternoon run turned into a scene of heartbreak in Rayong province on August 21, when a rescue van rushing to an earlier collision ran a red light at an intersection in Ban Chang district and slammed into a dark blue hatchback. Security-camera footage of the crash, taken at about 4:30pm and later shared online, shows a split-second collision that sent the rescue vehicle careening, striking a row of motorcycles waiting at the light before overturning. The images are blunt and unforgiving: the van, siren blaring, barrels through the red while the hatchback — reportedly traveling at high speed — proceeds through the junction on green. The hatchback driver, authorities later said, was focused on the green signal and did not notice the rescue vehicle in time. The result was catastrophic. Most of those hurt were students and guardians who had been returning home from school. Among the dead…
The small town of Kamphaeng Phet felt the weight of a tragedy that reads like a bitter novel: a beloved restaurant owner, a frontline soldier forced home by grief, and a violent confrontation that left a family shattered. On August 20, 62-year-old Meena Pattatha, who ran a local eatery, was fatally stabbed by a 32-year-old customer identified by police as Jaruwan Jaifai. Meena suffered more than 10 stab wounds to her chest, neck and arms and later died in hospital. Authorities arrested Jaruwan at her family home the same day. When approached by reporters she initially mumbled that she was “too sleepy” to talk. Police later said Jaruwan eventually confessed and explained her motive: she claimed she had visited the restaurant alone on August 18 to drink while coping with personal problems. According to Jaruwan’s account, after she became intoxicated a male patron led her outside and sexually assaulted her.…
A quiet Phuket night turned tragic on August 21 when 35-year-old Russian tourist Denis Nonenkov sacrificed his life to save his girlfriend during a late-night swim between Banana and Nai Thon beaches. The incident unfolded near the Andaman White Beach Resort in Thalang district, leaving holidaymakers and locals shaken and renewing warnings about the dangers of swimming at night. The desperate call for help At about 12:30 a.m., 24-year-old Kamila Sharipova rushed to the resort staff, distraught and breathless. She told rescuers that she and Nonenkov had been swimming together when a powerful wave struck them. According to Sharipova, her boyfriend managed to push her back toward the shore, but he could not follow. He vanished into the dark sea, prompting her panicked call for help. Initial rescue attempts were hampered by strong winds and dangerous waves. The conditions made it too risky for teams to search immediately, and rescuers…
Thailand’s kratom scene has gone from traditional remedy to national headache, and the government is starting to push back. Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong signaled tougher controls this week after reports surfaced of kratom being mixed into dangerous cocktails — a trend that has alarmed health officials and lawmakers alike. From leaf to lethal mix: why alarm bells are ringing Kratom, long used in parts of Southeast Asia as a mild stimulant or pain reliever, was removed from Thailand’s narcotics list in 2022. The move opened the door to legal sales and a wave of kratom-based products—from drinks to edibles—suddenly available on streets and online. Trouble is, where ease of access meets inventive youth culture, trouble often follows. Authorities have singled out a risky concoction known colloquially as “4×100,” a syrupy blend of kratom juice, cough syrup, soda and ice that’s sometimes laced with illicit narcotics. Reports of young people consuming…
A quiet night by the Ping River in Kamphaeng Phet turned tragic when a routine meal at a riverside restaurant ended in violence. Authorities say 62‑year‑old restaurant owner Meena was fatally stabbed at her establishment in Khlong Khlung district, prompting a police response that has left the community stunned and searching for answers. What happened Officers from Khlong Khlung Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Kamphaeng Phet Foundation were summoned after an attack at the restaurant near the Ping River. Rescuers found Meena with multiple stab wounds and rushed her to Khlong Khlung Hospital, where she later died from her injuries. How authorities identified the suspect Investigators reviewed security camera footage from the restaurant and identified the assailant as a 32‑year‑old customer named Jaruwan. Footage and eyewitness accounts indicate Jaruwan had dined alone, ordering two bottles of beer and food, before the violent confrontation. After the attack she fled…
Office workers spilled onto sidewalks, ceiling lamps swayed like lazy pendulums, and a hush of nervous laughter mixed with the click of phones as Bangkok high-rises registered an unexpected jolt this morning. At 9:58 a.m. on August 21, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled the region — centred about 10 kilometres beneath the Andaman Sea and roughly 211 kilometres southwest of Mae Sot in Tak province, the Earthquake Observation Division reported. The tremor, brief but emphatic, was felt across a broad swath of Bangkok. From Din Daeng to Khlong San, in buildings where windows frame the city and office coffee tastes suspiciously like survival fuel, people described a few tense seconds of swaying and dizziness. In Din Daeng, staff from the Ministry of Labour evacuated to the street after feeling the ground shift. A worker on the 11th floor of the Prime Building in Klong Toei Nuea said the floor vibrated for…
On the morning of August 20, Pattaya’s leadership traded boardroom suits for walking shoes and went straight into Naklua’s neighborhoods, knocking on doors where help is most needed. Deputy Mayor Thitipan Petchtrakul and Pattaya City Council President Banlue Kullavanij led a compact team of council members and Social Welfare Office officers on a targeted welfare outreach that felt less like a press event and more like neighbors looking after neighbors. The team visited three households, each with stories that tug at the heart: a bedridden woman, an elderly man struggling to make ends meet while caring for a daughter battling cancer, and an older woman in need of mobility assistance. The items delivered were practical and thoughtful—air mattresses, commode chairs, care packages—and the officials’ hands-on approach left residents pleasantly surprised and visibly relieved. From Red Cross aid to everyday comforts The first stop was at the home of Jit Daengkaew,…
A quiet afternoon at a school in Udon Thani turned into a nightmare on August 18 when a 53-year-old man driving a pickup struck a 12-year-old boy who was sitting in the activity area after classes. The boy, identified as Tang, was left with a broken pelvis and immediately rushed to Udon Thani Hospital. Doctors have since stabilized him and confirmed he will not need surgery, but he must remain hospitalized for at least three weeks while the pelvic bone heals. What happened According to reports, the pickup was driven by 53-year-old Phan — the husband of one of the school’s teachers. He later told media he did not notice Tang was sitting in that spot and expressed remorse, apologising to the family and accepting responsibility. Still, the incident stirred strong reactions from the local community and the family, who were worried the case might be downplayed because of the…
Late-Night Visit or Shakedown? Ubon Restaurant Owner Files Complaint After Alleged Fake-Police Extortion It was the kind of 2 a.m. drama that makes for a bad thriller and a worse morning-after for a small business owner. In Mueang district, Ubon Ratchathani, restaurant owner Kritwit — 35 years old and reportedly alarmed by what happened at his eatery — has officially filed a complaint after a group claiming to be undercover police allegedly demanded cash to avoid shuttering the place. According to the report submitted to Police Lieutenant Phakaphong Sueksakul, Deputy Inspector of the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station, the incident unfolded in the early hours of August 18. A party of five men arrived at the restaurant after its official closing time. Although the kitchen had reportedly closed, a few familiar customers were lingering when the men confronted an employee named Siwakorn. “Pay up or close down” — the alleged…