THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

In the picturesque town of Chon Buri, a quiet day turned tumultuous for one 70-year-old resident, Phanthong Khampongjai. What began as a peaceful afternoon in the company of neighbors ended in distress when she returned to find her home ransacked. It was July 19 when a thief brazenly broke into her sanctuary in Tambon Khao Mai Kaew, making off with a substantial haul that included precious gold jewelry, an extensive collection of over 100 Buddhist amulets, and a small fortune in baht coins. Phanthong’s heart sank as she assessed the chaos. Among the missing items were a gold necklace weighing 2 baht and a prized gold-encased amulet. Compounding the loss was more than 5,000 baht (about US$154), which had been safely tucked away in a canister, now vanished. The thief, with apparent stealth, had also pilfered a collection of rare banknotes and amulets, a traipsed history ripped away overnight. In…

In a city that never sleeps and always seems to be under construction, the collapse of the State Audit Office (SAO) building in Bangkok sent shockwaves far beyond the structural rubble it left behind. It was a catastrophe of such magnitude that had both literal and figurative reverberations, rocking the foundations of Thailand’s construction standards and legal frameworks. The 30-storey tower, which was an embodiment of rising ambitions, came crashing down on March 28, 2025. This was not just another day in the vibrant chaos of Bangkok. On this fateful morning, a 4.5-magnitude earthquake originating from Nakhon Nayok province, approximately 100 kilometers from the city, unleashed its seismic energy, reducing the building to nothing more than a scene of devastation. In the aftermath, five workers tragically lost their lives, and dozens were left with injuries. The crumbling tower, meant to serve as a paragon of public accountability once completed, became…

In an inspiring tale of bravery and quick action, five souls found themselves rescued from the relentless embrace of the Andaman Sea, caught off the coast of sunny Phuket. This dramatic sequence of events unfolded on July 20, 2025, when a charming longtail fishing boat, a staple of Thailand’s seafaring life, suffered a calamitous engine failure. Set afloat on the unpredictable waves without any life jackets, the passengers were at the mercy of the sea. The thrilling rescue commenced when the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3—dubbed Thai-MECC 3—received a startling distress call at 4:00 PM sharp. A woman named Nu alerted the center about a fishing boat amiss in troubled waters, her voice carrying urgency against the backdrop of a brewing maritime mishap. The boat, which drifted north off the stunning Koh Maithon, was a mere 6.1 nautical miles southeast of the Third Naval Area pier at Cape…

It was a day that would forever haunt the memories of Nakhon Ratchasima, a typically serene part of Thailand’s Isaan province, where joy turned into tragedy in a blink of an eye. On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, July 19, a heart-wrenching incident unfurled, capturing both local and international attention. Akin, an energetic and delightful two-year-old boy, was cycling with his friends by a school in the tranquil district of Bua Yai. The innocent laughter of children at play was abruptly overpowered by chaos when a swarm of wasps descended upon them. The sudden attack was as unexpected as it was devastating. Young Akin, at the tender age of two, bore the brunt of the wasps’ fury. In those frantic moments, as the swarm barraged him with relentless stings, he fell unconscious, his small frame succumbing to the venomous onslaught. His father, in an act of sheer bravery fueled by parental…

As the bustling city of Bangkok hurtles towards a brighter, more affordable future, a monumental change to its metropolitan electric train network is on the horizon. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, has announced that by October 1, 2025, the maximum fare for the city’s extensive train network will be capped at a mere 20 baht per journey. This landmark initiative will encompass an impressive eight lines, stretching across 13 routes, totaling 276.84 kilometers and stopping at a staggering 194 stations. In a strategic move to improve accessibility and ease the financial burden of commuting, Suriya recently convened a meeting with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt and private sector stakeholders. This pivotal discussion sought to ensure that all parties were aligned in their understanding and committed to smoothly implementing the 20 baht fare policy. With these crucial collaborations, the public is poised to reap the anticipated benefits seamlessly. Central…

Thailand, once a beacon of Southeast Asian tourism and renowned as the Land of Smiles, finds itself teetering on the edge of an identity crisis. Gone are the golden days when Thailand’s tourism thrummed with an infectious energy, welcoming flocks of international visitors. While its regional peers like Vietnam and Malaysia ride high on the winds of post-pandemic recovery, Thailand struggles to reclaim its former glory. By 2024, the nation had rolled out the welcome mat for 35.5 million foreign tourists, a commendable 26% surge from the previous year. Yet, the numbers still haven’t quite touched the nearly 40 million record set in 2019. Fast-forwarding to the halfway mark of 2025, a mere 16.6 million arrivals echo the sobering truth that breaking old records is rapidly slipping into the realm of wishful thinking. To cope with these challenging tides, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has embarked on a bold…

In a story that seems like it sprang from the pages of a dramatic novel, yet speaks volumes about real-life complexities, a seemingly trivial misunderstanding turned a weekend in Pattaya into a chaotic melodrama between a husband and wife duo. It all began as the clock ticked toward the later hours of Saturday, July 19, with the humid air hanging heavy in the bustling heart of Soi Ban Lang 7. As the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation’s rescue team arrived at the scene, they were greeted by a scene right out of a thriller—it wasn’t the setting for a block party but rather an emotional and unfortunate spectacle. At the heart of this turmoil was 38-year-old Duangporn, finding herself the unintended protagonist of a drama fueled by miscommunication. With a significant head injury—a vicious souvenir from the clash with a glass bottle—her face illustrated the plot’s desperation. The scene was one…

In a bid to streamline travel for young globetrotters, the Immigration Bureau in Thailand has rolled out a red carpet of sorts, specifically for Chinese children and their families traveling during the bustling Chinese school holiday season. This fast track service, currently gracing the corridors of four key international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and the sun-soaked shores of Phuket – is a part of the aptly named initiative, 暑假愉快通道 (shǔ jià yú kuài tú jìng), or Happy Chinese Summer Channel. With its launch set to make a splash throughout July to September, this exclusive lane promises to transform the typically tedious wait times at immigration from a sluggish 40 minutes to a zippy 15 minutes or less. Imagine! Less time shuffling in line and more time sampling Thai delicacies or diving into the cultural rainbow that Thailand has to offer. But what prompted this special gestured nod…

In the lush city of Nakhon Ratchasima, enveloped by the buzz of academia, a tale of resilience unfolded, captivating the compassionate hearts of many. Yesterday, amidst the hustle and bustle of university life, an unimaginable event took center stage, altering the trajectory of one student’s life forever, and reminding us all of the fragility interwoven with human strength. The serene morning of July 21 was abruptly interrupted when news broke of a 19-year-old university student’s plummet from the lofty fifth floor of a distinguished academic edifice within Nakhon Ratchasima University. The student, a vibrant presence known to her peers simply as A, took this fateful leap from the Faculty of Business Administration’s heights, only to defy both gravity and odds, emerging alive on the lawn beneath. Emerging promptly like unsung heroes, the valiant teams from Sawang Metta Korat Rescue Unit with Police Colonel Sutthinan Khongchamdee at the helm, dashed to…

In the enchanting city of Pattaya, renowned for its dazzling nightlife and thrilling escapades, a rather harrowing episode unfolded which added yet another story to the tapestry of its vivid landscape. A Japanese tourist, seeking the vibrant ambiance of Pattaya’s iconic Walking Street, found himself in an unexpected and flirtatious predicament today, July 21st. The clock had just ticked past 4:46 a.m. when the lively street was cloaked in twilight, and the buzz of nocturnal activities crescendoed into a perplexing adventure. Our protagonist, a spirited man in his 30s, opted for anonymity as he recounted his tale with a mix of relief and disbelief. As he strolled under neon lights and amidst echoing laughter, he was approached by a group of transgender sex workers whose playful banter quickly hinted at ulterior motives. A friendly smile and courteous declines weren’t enough to dissuade the determined group. Suddenly, playful flirting turned into…