THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

The recent site inspection of the collapsed SAO building has unveiled both reassuring and concerning findings, according to the Department of Health’s latest reports. While levels of heavy metals and asbestos are comfortably within normal limits, PM10 dust levels have alarmingly exceeded standard thresholds, signaling the potential necessity for extended monitoring to ensure public safety. On April 18, Dr. Amporn Benjapolpitak, the vigilant Director-General of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health, made known that a dedicated team from SEhRT had been promptly deployed to a makeshift shelter at JJ Mall in Chatuchak. Their mission—assess the air quality and address the concerns of those impacted by the earthquake that shook Myanmar. The purpose of these assessments? To bring some solace to the troubled hearts of the public, rescue workers, and the families of those stricken by the disaster. In an added layer of caution, the Department of Health expressed…

As the sun began to rise on Friday morning, the United SAR K9 search and rescue team set out on their mission with an unwavering determination to bring everyone back to their families. A staggering feat amidst a sea of discarded cement and steel bars, all left in the wake of the State Audit Office building’s collapse. This day was about hope, about ensuring no one remained lost in the debris. (Photo: United SAR K9) In the aftermath of the catastrophe, the Royal Thai Police’s Disaster Victim Identification Centre has played a critical role in channeling chaos into order. A total of 33 individuals have been identified following the tragic collapse during the recent earthquake. Pol Maj Gen Wathee Assawutmangkul, who serves as the torchbearer for the Office of Police Forensic Science, announced a mission to confirm these identities. Each triumph brings solace to grieving families yearning for closure as…

In a vibrant display of technological advancement, Bangkok recently hosted a pivotal test of a state-of-the-art virtual cell broadcast entity (CBE) mobile emergency alert system. This endeavor saw the intersection of expertise from major telecom operators – Advanced Info Service (AIS), True Corp, and the state-owned National Telecom – alongside the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Together, these entities demonstrated the system’s capability to dispatch emergency alerts to a wide array of smartphones, both Android and iOS, now possible due to Apple’s strategic inclusion of cell broadcast support in its iOS 18 for iPhones in Thailand. This cell broadcast service, a beacon of speedy communication in times of crisis, relies heavily on a robust framework composed of the CBE system and cell broadcast centres (CBCs). The need for such a system became glaringly obvious after the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, propelling Thai governments into action, albeit slowly. The…

In the heart of Thailand’s northeastern Khon Kaen province lies the typically serene Mancha Khiri Hospital. However, on a seemingly ordinary evening, this hospital became the unlikely centerpiece of a dramatic episode that rippled far beyond its wards. The spotlight fell on 45-year-old Anucha Chuenjai, a man now at the center of controversy. Anucha, driven by a mix of fear and frustration, accused the hospital’s intensive care unit of being a “slaughterhouse” — a comment that led to legal repercussions. The hospital’s director, the poised and firm Dr. Pornpol Laowithaya, wasted no time in seeking justice. With unwavering confidence, Dr. Pornpol stated on April 18, 2025, that police had been summoned to investigate Anucha’s public complaints, deeming them defamatory and disruptive. Dr. Pornpol emphasized the inviolable nature of hospitals as sanctuaries of peace, stating, “A hospital is a safe place with no compromise on violence.” But what, you might wonder,…

The once-thriving construction site of Bangkok’s State Audit Office has now turned into a somber scene of tragedy and controversy. Almost three weeks after the devastating earthquake shook the region, rescue teams uncovered two more bodies from the rubble, escalating both the death toll and the tensions surrounding this ill-fated project. The incident has spiraled beyond simple disaster recovery into a high-stakes investigation laden with allegations of corruption, negligence, and malpractice. Situated on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road in the bustling Chatuchak district, the government building’s ill-timed collapse on March 28 followed seismic tremors originating in neighboring Myanmar. Rescue operations at the site are uncovering more than just tragic human loss; this is now a testament to the potential cost of cutting corners. The discovery of the bodies in Zone C deepens the sorrow, as each rescue and recovery effort sheds light not just on lives lost, but on larger systemic…

With steely resolve and a fierce commitment to justice, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has pledged to hold those responsible for the catastrophic building collapse in Bangkok accountable. The grim episode continues to send shockwaves through the nation, leaving the community in disbelief and demanding answers. The Prime Minister, only 38 but seasoned with wisdom beyond her years, addressed the press today after huddling with top government officials to tackle the fallout from this dreadful event—the collapse of the towering 30-story State Audit Office (SAO) building in the bustling Chatuchak district. The tragedy unfolded following a seismic tremor on March 28, claiming lives and rattling the city’s foundations both literally and figuratively. “Rest assured, the government remains resolute in its pursuit of justice,” the Prime Minister proclaimed with a blend of empathy and determination. Her voice was filled with the kind of assurance that resonates from leaders who mean business. Drawing…

The Thai baht is strutting its stuff on the global financial stage, poised to potentially leap past the noteworthy 33-per-dollar juncture within this bustling second quarter. Experts and market watchers are buzzing over predictions stemming from multiple factors: escalating trade tensions, a sluggish US economy hitting some telling bumps, and the sheer gravitational pull of soaring gold prices. The Kasikorn Research Center (fondly known as K-Research) shines a spotlight on the baht’s impressive climb, attributing its ascent to a US dollar that’s been rocked by President Donald Trump’s tariff seismic shifts and the mounting trepidation roiling global markets. As the sun rose on April 17, the baht found itself perched at a comfortable 33.18–33.20 to the dollar, a small slip from the prior evening’s 33.08, according to noted Kanjana Chockpisansin, who commands the banking and finance research space at KBank’s prestigious think tank. “The baht could surge beyond the pivotal…

The heat of Bangkok’s Outer Ring Road was eclipsed by a fiery confrontation that raced into the hearts and minds of a nation, fiercely debated and fervently shared. This tale of a BMW driver, notorious for his gall and perceived invincibility, collided head-on not just with a humble pickup truck, but with Thailand’s conscience. The instigator of this uproar is none other than Smiththipat “Peach” Leenawarat, a name now etched in the annals of road rage infamy. At just 28, Peach has managed to turn his drive into a spectacle that spiraled across social media. As dashcam footage was unveiled, millions bore witness to a young man’s brash attempts to outmaneuver and dominate the lanes, culminating inevitably in a crash that flung 65-year-old Prachak Duangyai’s truck into an unyielding barrier of concrete and consequence. Prachak, the casualty of this ill-fated encounter, now battles more than just broken ribs in a…

In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Bangkok’s festive atmosphere during the vibrant Songkran festival was shadowed by a chilling revelation. A young woman named Piyathida, aged 27, found herself embroiled in controversy after her newborn daughter’s body was discovered on April 16. The discovery took place on a street just outside a serene village nestled in the heart of Bangkok’s lively Don Mueang district. The incident sent shockwaves through the community, as details of the case unraveled, exposing a tale of desperation and confusion. As the city echoed with water-splashing celebrations, Piyathida faced the reality of her actions. Initially, she confessed to having delivered the baby right there on the street, an unexpected turn of events prompted by a misunderstanding. Engulfed in the festival’s exuberance, Piyathida had ingested drugs and, with her mind clouded, mistook labor pains for a simple urge to urinate. Following the birth, in a bewildering sequence…