Thailand to officially enter summer on 22 February, temperatures may hit 43C

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19 February 2026, 14:45

BANGKOK — Thailand will officially enter the summer season on 22 February 2026, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 42–43C this year, the Thai Meteorological Department announced on 19 February.

The department warned that weather conditions will be unstable during the seasonal transition period from 23–25 February, with summer storms forecast for upper Thailand. Thunderstorms, strong winds and possible hail are expected in some areas as cold air masses collide with hot air.

After storms pass, temperatures may temporarily drop before rising again.

Overall, this year’s summer is expected to be hotter than last year, particularly from mid-March to April, when extreme heat is forecast. Mae Hong Son, Lampang and Tak provinces are among areas under close watch, with temperatures possibly exceeding 42C.

The department said the summer season is likely to end around mid-May.

Globally, Thailand’s weather will be influenced by a weakening La Niña pattern transitioning towards neutral conditions. Total rainfall is expected to be near average, although slight dry conditions are forecast in parts of the North, Central Plains and East.

The department’s director-general advised the public to take care during periods of extreme heat, avoid outdoor activities between 10:00 and 19:00 when the heat index is high and the risk of heatstroke increases, and remain cautious about fire hazards and forest fires during dry spells.

People can follow official warnings and forecasts via the department’s website or by calling its 24-hour hotline 1182.

Thai police arrest suspect in child exploitation case

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19 February 2026, 14:17

Thai police arrest suspect in child exploitation case

YASOTHON — Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has arrested a 23-year-old suspect accused of human trafficking and producing child sexual abuse material involving two boys, officers said.

The arrest was carried out by the CIB’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division under warrants issued by the Yasothon Provincial Court.

Police said the suspect was detained at a petrol station in Muang district, Yasothon province.

Investigators traced the case to an account on the social media platform X that allegedly distributed explicit material involving minors and invited users to join a private messaging group in exchange for payment. Authorities said the group had more than 100 members.

Officers, working with provincial social development officials, identified and assisted two boys aged 13 and 15 who were believed to be victims in the case.

According to police, the suspect allegedly befriended the boys separately, contacted them through online applications and approached them at a local village festival before arranging meetings. The suspect is accused of committing offences against the minors and recording material for distribution in a private group.

The case has been forwarded to investigators in Division 3 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division for further legal proceedings. Police said the suspect has confessed to the charges.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior CIB officers, including Pol. Gen. Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, deputy national police chief, and Pol Lt Gen Nattasak Chawanasai, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau.

Smoke from Cambodian forest fires hits Buriram border villages

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19 February 2026, 13:08

BURIRAM — Residents along the Thai-Cambodian border in Buriram province have begun to feel the impact of forest fires burning on the Cambodian side, with smoke and airborne embers drifting into Thai communities, local officials said on 18 February 2026.

The fires were reported near the border line close to Chong Sai Taku in Chanthop Phet subdistrict, Ban Kruat district. The blaze covered a wide area and is suspected to have been deliberately set to create tension or provoke a situation, similar to incidents previously reported in Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket and Surin provinces.

Despite a second ceasefire, villagers in the area have continued their daily routines, though some remain cautious. Most households have prepared for possible evacuation if the situation escalates.

Wichai Khaengraeng, deputy mayor of Chanthop Phet municipality, said that over the past two to three days, fires on the Cambodian side have resulted in smoke and so-called “floating fire rain” — burning embers blown across the border into Thai territory.

He confirmed that the municipality is “100% ready” to respond if the flames spread into Thailand. Fire engines, officials and volunteer watch teams are on standby around the clock, with close coordination maintained with administrative authorities and security agencies.

The Ban Kruat district chief is overseeing preparedness efforts and has pledged support, including equipment and machinery, should the fires intensify, the deputy mayor said.

Russian runner bites soap after mistaking it for race snack

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19 February 2026, 12:20

BANGKOK — A light-hearted mix-up by Russian marathon runner Sergey Zyryanov has gone viral on Thai social media after he accidentally bit into a bar of herbal soap, mistaking it for a sweet treat.

Zyryanov, who was in Thailand for a 10-kilometre run, received a souvenir bag from organisers after crossing the finish line. The bag contained water, daily necessities and snacks.

Feeling hungry after the race, he picked up an orange packet that appeared to be jelly or candy and took a bite. Only then did he realise something was wrong.

The item was not a dessert but a bar of herbal soap.

Zyryanov later posted a photo of the soap bearing clear bite marks, writing: “After running 10 kilometres, they gave me dessert. But it turned out to be soap.”

The image quickly spread across Thai social media, drawing waves of amused and sympathetic reactions. Many users joked about the unexpected “taste of Thailand”, while others expressed concern for the runner.

The incident has since become a reminder for race participants to double-check whether items in souvenir bags are edible — especially in Thailand, where surprises can come in many forms.

Chinese suspect arrested in Thailand over $128 Million crypto scam

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19 February 2026, 12:13

Crypto-scam — Chinese suspect in 4 billion baht crypto fraud arrested at luxury housing estate.

SAMUT PRAKAN — 19 February 2026, Thai immigration police have arrested a Chinese national accused of orchestrating a large-scale cryptocurrency investment scam that allegedly defrauded victims of $128 million, about 4 billion baht.

The suspect, identified as Tuan Jianlei, also known as “Boss Tuan,” was apprehended at a luxury housing estate in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province, after authorities tracked his movements for about one month, police said.

crypto scam2 — The suspect had been in hiding since 2024 before being tracked down and apprehended in Bang Phli district

According to immigration officials, Tuan is wanted by Chinese authorities for allegedly creating a fraudulent digital asset trading platform called BHE Exchange in 2024. Investigators said the platform issued a fake cryptocurrency and lured investors with promises of high returns, attracting an estimated 20,000 victims.

Authorities in China estimate total losses at approximately $128 million, or about 4 billion baht, before the platform was shut down and the suspect fled overseas.

Thai police said Tuan entered Thailand later in 2024 and frequently changed residences in an effort to evade arrest. Immigration officers located him through surveillance and intelligence coordination with Chinese authorities.

His visa has been revoked, and he is being detained pending deportation to China to face fraud charges.

Police said the arrest reflects ongoing cooperation between Thai and Chinese law enforcement agencies in tackling transnational cybercrime and investment fraud.

New sub-district councillor shot dead in Korat

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19 February 2026, 10:49

New sub-district councillor shot dead in Korat

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 18 February 2026, A newly elected sub-district councillor was found shot dead in Bua Yai district, with his wife expressing doubts that he took his own life and pointing to possible election-related conflict.

Weerasin Thinrat, district chief of Bua Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima, said the body of Sunet Phakdee, 69, a member of Dan Chang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation council, was discovered beneath a village water tank in Ban Non Thong, Moo 3, on the evening of 18 February.

A preliminary examination found a single gunshot wound to his right temple. A registered .22-calibre pistol, legally owned by the victim, was found beside his body. Authorities said there were no signs of a struggle at the scene.

Police are questioning witnesses and awaiting autopsy results from Bua Yai Hospital to determine the cause of death.

New sub district councillor shot dead in Korat 2 — Samran Phakdee, the victim’s wife

Samran Phakdee, 63, the victim’s wife, said villagers reported hearing three gunshots at 10:00, but the body was not found until about 15:00.

She said her husband had no family problems and that the Election Commission had certified the recent local election results on 16 February. She said she did not believe he would have taken his own life, adding that he had previously spoken about disputes arising from the sub-district election, including complaints lodged with the Election Commission over the management of a village fund.

Pol. Col. Suranat Sakolwan, superintendent of Bua Yai Police Station, said officers found a gunshot wound to the head and a firearm lying beside the body, with no evidence of a struggle. He said investigators were working to determine whether the death was a homicide, pending a detailed forensic examination.

14 Thais arrested after online job scam lures victims to Poipet to open mule accounts

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19 February 2026, 09:57

SA KAEO — 19 February 2026, Fourteen Thai nationals were arrested after allegedly being lured by an online job scam that took them across the border to Cambodia, where they were forced to open mule bank accounts before being sent back into Thailand, authorities said.

According to the Burapha Task Force, troops under Col. Chainarong Kasee, commander of Task Force 12 in Aranyaprathet, were conducting a late-night patrol to prevent illegal crossings near a natural border route through a sugarcane field between checkpoints 53 and 54 in Ban Non Phatthana, Moo 13, Phan Suek subdistrict, Aranyaprathet district. The area is about 570 m from the Thai-Cambodian border.

During the operation, officers arrested 14 Thai nationals — nine men and five women — who had illegally entered Thailand. No guides were found at the scene.

banner1 600x900 4 — Arrested individuals seen moving across a natural section along the border

Initial questioning indicated the group had applied for jobs advertised in a Facebook group promising unusually high pay. They travelled separately to Aranyaprathet between 10 and 14 February 2026 and stayed overnight at a hotel in the district.

They were then taken across the border via a natural crossing to Poipet, Cambodia.

Upon arrival, the victims said they were detained in a three- to five-storey building. Their national ID cards, mobile phones and SIM cards were confiscated. The suspects allegedly used their personal data to open online bank accounts and forced them to scan their faces through banking applications to verify the accounts.

After the accounts were opened, the group was sent back into Thailand through a natural border route. They were told they would not be charged any fees to return.

All 14 were taken to Ranger Company 1204 for further questioning before being handed over to investigators at Khlong Nam Sai Police Station for background checks and legal proceedings.

Authorities warned the public to exercise caution when applying for jobs via social media, particularly advertisements promising unrealistically high income or requiring illegal cross-border travel. Officials said such offers may be part of transnational scam operations and could result in personal data being misused.

banner2 2 — Officers line up suspects for a photograph, a standard practice in Thailand

Chiang Mai arrests two illegal Lao migrants

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19 February 2026, 09:32

Chiang Mai arrests two illegal Lao migrants

CHIANG MAI — 18 February 2026, Immigration police in Chiang Mai have arrested two Lao nationals who allegedly entered Thailand illegally through a natural border crossing, officials said.

Pol. Col. Pitakpong Charoenkul, superintendent of Chiang Mai Immigration, and Lt. Col. Nattaphon Chumbuathong, deputy superintendent, ordered an investigation into foreign nationals suspected of violating the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and other relevant laws.

An investigative team from Chiang Mai Immigration, working with officers from Immigration Division 5, inspected locations considered at risk for illegal activity in Nong Hoi subdistrict, Mueang district.

Authorities said they arrested two Lao nationals on charges of entering and residing in the Kingdom without permission. The suspects were informed of the charges and their legal rights before being taken into custody.

Both were transferred to Chiang Mai Immigration for processing and deportation under Section 54 of the Immigration Act.

The two men admitted they were Lao nationals who had entered Thailand via a natural border route in late January and travelled to Chiang Mai in search of work before being apprehended.

Chiang Mai Immigration said members of the public can contact the office to provide information or seek further details.

From Moscow to the coffin: Russians join Thai fortune ritual

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18 February 2026, 18:59

NAKHON NAYOK — Russian tourists traveled to Wat Luang Phor Pak Daeng Temple in Nakhon Nayok province to take part in a coffin-lying ritual believed to dispel bad luck and boost fortune.

The ceremony, held at the temple in Ban Yai subdistrict, Muang district, drew both Russian visitors and Thai devotees after coverage on television and online media.

Participants lay inside one of five coffins arranged at the temple as monks chanted funeral rites. The ritual symbolises “practising death before real death,” reminding participants of life’s impermanence. During the ceremony, monks turned the body from west to east, recited prayers, gave blessings and sprinkled holy water to ward off misfortune.

The event was presided over by Phra Ratchaphromkhun, the Nakhon Nayok provincial ecclesiastical chief and abbot of Wat Phra Mani, also known as Wat Luang Phor Pak Daeng.

In addition to the coffin rite, participants received sacred markings on the forehead and palms, and yantra inscriptions on their wallets for prosperity.

Temple officials said the ritual is intended not only to dispel bad luck but also to encourage mindfulness and reflection on the inevitability of death.

Russian ambassador visits Matichon, highlights media cooperation and bilateral ties

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18 February 2026, 17:03

S__254795798_0 — H.E. Evgeny Tomikhin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Thailand

BANGKOK — On 18 February, Evgeny Tomikhin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Thailand, visited Matichon Public Company Limited to meet executives of the Matichon Group at the company’s headquarters in Bangkok.

S 254795780 0 — MR. Prap Boonpan, Managing Director of Matichon Group, welcomes Russian Ambassador H.E. Evgeny Tomikhin at the company’s headquarters in Bangkok on 18 February.

The Matichon delegation, led by Prap Boonpan, Managing Director of Matichon Group, welcomed the ambassador and his delegation.

During the meeting, Ambassador Tomikhin emphasised the importance of longstanding relations between Thailand and Russia. He noted that people-to-people exchanges have continued to grow, with an increasing number of Russian tourists travelling to Thailand each year, while many Thais visit Russia during the winter season.

S 254795785 0 1 — Russian Ambassador H.E. Evgeny Tomikhin is pictured with MR. Vladislav Tornikov, Attaché and MR. Denis Tetiushin, Second Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Bangkok.

Economic and trade cooperation remain key pillars of bilateral ties, he said.

The ambassador also highlighted the role of the media in the current global environment, stating that Russia seeks to strengthen cooperation with Thailand, particularly in information exchange.

He referred to the global challenge of fake news, citing false reports circulated during tensions along the Thai–Cambodian border alleging that Russian mercenaries had assisted Cambodia. He described the claims as untrue.

Tomikhin was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, on 2 November 2018.

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