THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra finds her political footing challenged as criticism mounts over her handling of a recent, devastating earthquake in Bangkok. The tremors rattled the capital on March 28, unraveling the city’s infrastructure and shaking the public’s faith in their leader’s crisis management abilities. Critics argue that natural disasters have tested Ms. Paetongtarn’s leadership mettle ever since she took office on August 16 of the previous year. The flood crisis in Chiang Rai was her baptism by water—literally—that garnered skepticism about her commitment to assist the flood-stricken region. Officially, she cited the pending royal endorsement as her reason for delaying any intervention, but cynics suspected political posturing at play. The critics’ whispers grew louder after what was described as a noticeable “leadership vacuum.” Without a solid plan or mobilized resources, the basic demands of flood relief, such as budget allocation and logistic support, remained unmet. And while the weight…

In a tragic turn of events that unfolded under the moonlit skies of southern Thailand, a trailer truck driver met a heartbreaking fate in Phatthalung province. On the night of April 18, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the tranquility of Highway 15 in the Ban Pabak area of Thung Nari subdistrict, Pa Bon district was shattered. The dimly lit stretch of road bore witness to a catastrophic accident that claimed the life of Manop, a 59-year-old driver whose journey came to a devastating halt. The trailer truck, brimming with a heavy cargo of ceiling panels, overturned, leaving a scene of sheer devastation. Registered in Songkhla, the truck lay on its side by the roadside, its spilled cargo strewn haphazardly across the asphalt. It was a chaotic tableau of steel and splintered wood, with the panels as grievous witnesses to the accident. The responders, police officers from Pa Bon Police Station, along…

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…