Police at Suvarnabhumi Airport question a 23-year-old Russian man (black shirt) who appeared in the indecent video footage from Phuket on September 25, 2025.
PHUKET — Police have arrested a 23-year-old Russian man identified as Mr. Georgii for public indecency after a viral video showed him engaged in sexual acts with a Thai woman in the back of a pickup truck on a busy Phuket road.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night on Chalermprakiat Road (Bypass) in Rassada sub-district, Muang Phuket district. The video showed the foreign man naked and engaging in sexual activity with a Thai woman in the truck bed while traveling on the main road. The man appeared indifferent to passing traffic and was seen smiling at the camera recording the incident.
Screenshot from video footage showing a foreign man and Thai woman engaged in indecent acts in the back of a pickup truck traveling on a road in Rassada sub-district, Muang district, Phuket province on September 24, 2025.
Phuket City Police investigators tracked the suspect’s identity and discovered he had departed Phuket Airport bound for Suvarnabhumi Airport. Police Colonel Chatree Chookhaew, Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, coordinated with multiple law enforcement units at Suvarnabhumi Airport to apprehend the suspect.
Police detained Georgii at 3:45 p.m. on September 25 when he arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport. After questioning confirmed his involvement, authorities transferred him to Phuket City Police Station for prosecution.
Georgii faces charges of committing indecent acts in public, which carries penalties of up to one year imprisonment, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
Suvarnabhumi Airport police detained a 23-year-old Russian male suspect (in Joker t-shirt) and a 59-year-old Russian woman who traveled together, sending them back to Phuket to proceed with legal action against the man on September 25, 2025.
The Phuket City Police Superintendent has recommended that immigration authorities revoke Georgii’s visa and place him on a blacklist prohibiting future entry into Thailand.
Police later arrested the 42-year-old Thai woman who appeared in the clip in Rawai, Phuket, charging her with the same offenses. During questioning, she revealed she was originally from Pathum Thani Province but currently living in Phuket, and admitted receiving 1,000 baht from Georgii to participate in filming the video for online content.
On September 26, Phuket City Police arrested a second Russian man, Alex, 25, who drove the black Ford pickup truck featured in the clip. Police seized the vehicle as evidence. Alex faces charges of facilitating public indecency, reckless driving endangering others’ lives, and facilitating the importation of obscene content.
During interrogation, Alex stated he had only known Georgii for four days when Georgii persuaded him to provide his truck for filming. He said he had not yet been paid.
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The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) appoints internationally renowned conductor Carl St.Clair as its new Music Director.
BANGKOK — The Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) is proud to announce the appointment of internationally renowned conductor Carl St. Clair as its new Music Director.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most distinguished conductors, Maestro St.Clair brings extraordinary artistry, vision, and leadership to the Thailand Phil, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the orchestra’s history.
Under his direction, the Thailand Philharmonic will further elevate its artistic profile, explore innovative programming, and strengthen its engagement with audiences both in Thailand and abroad.
Beyond the concert stage, Maestro St. Clair will collaborate closely with the College of Music, Mahidol University, where he will mentor and inspire young musicians through masterclasses, workshops, and educational initiatives.
Dr. Narong Prangcharoen, Dean of the College of Music, Mahidol University, welcomed the appointment, stating: “We are deeply honored to have Maestro Carl St. Clair join us as Music Director of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. His remarkable career and lifelong dedication to artistry and education resonate with the spirit of our orchestra. With his vision and leadership, we believe the TPO will not only achieve new artistic heights, but also continue to inspire the next generation of musicians in Thailand and across Southeast Asia.”
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Chair of the TPO Board of Directors added ”With his vast experience and proven international success, I am confident that the arrival of Maestro Carl St. Clair will be a powerful force in elevating the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra to international standards and becoming a truly global orchestra.”
Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Chair of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) Board of Directors, Dr. Narong Prangcharoen and others congratulate Carl St. Clair on being appointed as the new Music Director of TPO.
Reflecting on his new appointment, Maestro St.Clair shared: “My very first engagement with the Thailand Philharmonic was in 2019. From the first moments together, our music making has been thrilling, rewarding, and filled with passion and commitment. With each opportunity to make music together, our relationship has deepened profoundly. I am so excited to be named Music Director of the TPO, and I look forward to working with its gifted musicians, the vibrant musical community at Mahidol University, and to sharing music with audiences in Thailand and beyond.”
About Carl St. Clair
A highly respected figure on the international stage, Maestro St.Clair recently concluded a groundbreaking
35-year tenure as Music Director of the Pacific Symphony where he became the longest-serving American-born conductor of a major U.S. orchestra. His legacy there includes a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, the orchestra’s first tour to China, and an acclaimed nine-city European tour.
St.Clair’s distinguished international career further underscores his global reputation. In 2024, after a 27-year association with Germany’s Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal, he was named its Honorary Guest Conductor for Life. He also holds the title of Conductor Emeritus with the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, having served as its Music Director from 2013 to 2023, and earlier was General Music Director of Berlin’s Komische Oper (2008–2010).
Carl St. Clair
He made history as the first non-European to lead the German National Theater and Staatskapelle in Weimar, where his acclaimed performances of Wagner’s Ring Cycle received international recognition.
In North America, Maestro St.Clair has conducted many of the continent’s most prestigious ensembles, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra (where he served as Assistant Conductor from 1985–1990), the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the symphonies of San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, Houston, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.
President Donald Trump walks out to greet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will put import taxes of 100% on pharmaceutical drugs, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30% on upholstered furniture and 25% on heavy trucks starting on Oct. 1.
The posts on his social media site showed that Trump’s devotion to tariffs did not end with the trade frameworks and import taxes that were launched in August, a reflection of the president’s confidence that taxes will help to reduce the government’s budget deficit while increasing domestic manufacturing.
While Trump did not provide a legal justification for the tariffs, he appeared to stretch the bounds of his role as commander-in-chief by stating on Truth Social that the taxes on imported kitchen cabinets and sofas were needed “for National Security and other reasons.”
Under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the administration launched a Section 232 investigation in April about the impacts on national security from pharmaceutical drug and truck imports. The Commerce Department launched a 232 investigation into timber and lumber in March, though it’s unclear whether the furniture tariffs stem from that.
The tariffs are another dose of uncertainty for the U.S. economy with a solid stock market but a weakening outlook for jobs and elevated inflation. These new taxes on imports could pass through to consumers in the form of higher prices and dampen hiring, a process that economic data suggests is already underway.
Cargo containers line a shipping terminal at the Port of Oakland on Thursday, July 31, 2025, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
“We have begun to see goods prices showing through into higher inflation,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned in a recent news conference, adding that higher costs for goods account for “most” or potentially “all” of the increase in inflation levels this year.
The president has pressured Powell to resign, arguing that the Fed should cut its benchmark interest rates more aggressively because inflation is no longer a concern. Fed officials have stayed cautious on rate cuts because of the uncertainty created by tariffs.
Trump said on Truth Social that the pharmaceutical tariffs would not apply to companies that are building manufacturing plants in the United States, which he defined as either “breaking ground” or being “under construction.” It was unclear how the tariffs would apply to companies that already have factories in the U.S.
In 2024, America imported nearly $233 billion in pharmaceutical and medicinal products, according to the Census Bureau. The prospect of prices doubling for some medicines could send shock waves to voters as health care expenses, as well as the costs of Medicare and Medicaid, potentially increase.
The pharmaceutical drug announcement was shocking as Trump has previously suggested that tariffs would be phased in over time so that companies had time to build factories and relocate production. On CNBC in August, Trump said he would start by charging a “small tariff” on pharmaceuticals and raise the rate over a year or more to 150% and even 250%.
Trucks line up to depart from a container terminal in Nanjing in east China’s Jiangsu province on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Chinatopix Via AP)
According to the White House, the threat of tariffs earlier this year contributed to many major pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Roche, Bristol Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly, among others, to announce investments in U.S. production.
Pascal Chan, vice president for strategic policy and supply chains at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, warned that the tariffs could harm Americans’ health with “immediate price hikes, strained insurance systems, hospital shortages, and the real risk of patients rationing or foregoing essential medicines.”
The new tariffs on cabinetry could further increase the costs for homebuilders at a time when many people seeking to buy a house feel priced out by the mix of housing shortages and high mortgage rates. The National Association of Realtors on Thursday said there were signs of price pressures easing as sales listings increased 11.7% in August from a year ago, but the median price for an existing home was $422,600.
Trump said that foreign-made heavy trucks and parts are hurting domestic producers that need to be defended.
“Large Truck Company Manufacturers, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks, and others, will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions,” Trump posted.
Trump has long maintained that tariffs are the key to forcing companies to invest more in domestic factories. He has dismissed fears that importers would simply pass along much of the cost of the taxes to consumers and businesses in the form of higher prices.
His broader country-by-country tariffs relied on declaring an economic emergency based on a 1977 law, a drastic tax hike that two federal courts said exceeded Trump’s authority as president. The Supreme Court is set to hear the case in November.
The president continues to claim that inflation is no longer a challenge for the U.S. economy, despite evidence to the contrary. The consumer price index has increased 2.9% over the past 12 months, up from an annual pace of 2.3% in April, when Trump first launched a sweeping set of import taxes.
Nor is there evidence that the tariffs are creating factory jobs or more construction of manufacturing facilities. Since April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that manufacturers cut 42,000 jobs and builders have downsized by 8,000.
“There’s no inflation,” Trump told reporters Thursday. “We’re having unbelievable success.”
Still, Trump also acknowledged that his tariffs against China had hurt American farmers, who lost out on sales of soybeans. The president separately promised on Thursday to divert tariff revenues to the farmers hurt by the conflict, just as he did during his first term in 2018 and 2019 when his tariffs led to retaliation against the agricultural sector.
President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order regarding TikTok in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that he says will allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States in a way that meets national security concerns.
Trump’s order will enable an American-led of group of investors to buy the app from China’s ByteDance, though the deal is not yet finalized and also requires China’s approval.
Much is still unknown about the actual deal in the works, but Trump said at a White House signing ceremony Thursday that Chinese leader Xi Jinping has agreed to move forward with it.
Vice President JD Vance added that “there was some resistance on the Chinese side, but the fundamental thing that we wanted to accomplish is that we wanted to keep TikTok operating, but we also wanted to make sure that we protected Americans’ data privacy as required by law.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press inquiry seeking confirmation of China’s approval.
President Joe Biden signed legislation passed by Congress last year that would ban TikTok unless ByteDance sold its U.S. assets to an American company by early this year. Trump has repeatedly signed orders that have allowed TikTok to keep operating in the U.S. as his administration tries to reach an agreement for the sale of the company.
The executive order itself is a declaration by the president that the proposed deal meets the security concerns laid out in that law. And it gives all negotiating parties an additional 120-day reprieve in order to finalize it.
Young people especially “really wanted this to happen,” Trump said.
Any major change to the popular video platform could have a huge impact on how Americans — particularly young adults and teenagers — consume information online.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
About 43% of U.S. adults under the age of 30 say they regularly get news from TikTok, higher than any other social media app including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, according to a Pew Research Center report published Thursday.
Asked if he’d want a U.S.-owned TikTok algorithm to suggest more content promoting his Make America Great Again movement, Trump said he’d make it “100% MAGA” if he felt he could, but he intends for “every philosophy, every policy” to be “treated right.”
Vance said the deal ensures that “American investors will actually control the algorithm” that determines the content seen on the social media app. He said more information about the deal will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Who will control the new TikTok venture?
Under the terms of the deal that have so far been revealed by the White House, the app will be spun off into a new U.S. joint venture owned by a consortium of American investors — including tech giant Oracle and investment firm Silver Lake Partners.
Though the details have yet to be finalized, the investment group’s controlling stake in the new venture would be around 80%. While ByteDance is expected to have a stake in the new venture, it would be less than 20% — a portion of the ownership reserved for foreign investors. The board running the new platform would be controlled by U.S. investors. ByteDance will be represented by one person on the board, but that individual will be excluded from any security-related matters.
TikTok’s new owners include many whose business or political interests are tied to Trump, including Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch, raising questions about whether political influence will be exerted into the platform.
Although he stepped down as Oracle’s CEO more than a decade ago, Ellison remains heavily involved as chairman and chief technology officer. Now 81, he could be in line to become a behind-the-scenes media power player, having already helped finance Skydance’s recently completed merger with Paramount, a deal engineered by his son, David.
FILE – The TikTok Inc. building is seen in Culver City, Calif., March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Trump said Dell founder Michael Dell will also be an investor in the new venture.
TikTok users could now “get the editorial policies of the people who now have control of the company,” said David Greene, civil liberties director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. ”It won’t be 100% MAGA. The question is how it will treat criticism of him and people he likes.”
What we know about the algorithm powering the platform
The recommendation algorithm that has steered millions of users into an endless stream of video shorts has been central in the security debate over TikTok. China previously maintained the algorithm must remain under Chinese control by law. But a U.S. regulation that Congress passed with bipartisan support said any divestment of TikTok must mean the platform cut ties with ByteDance.
American officials previously warned the algorithm — which is a complex system of rules and calculations that platforms use to deliver content to your feed — is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, but no evidence has ever been presented by U.S. officials showing that China has attempted to do so.
Trump’s order says that a licensed copy of ByteDance’s algorithm — “retrained” solely with U.S. data — will power the new U.S. version of the app. The joint venture will control and monitor the code and all content-moderation decisions. Administration officials say the retraining will nullify any risk of Chinese interference and influence.
It’s not clear if the U.S. version of TikTok would be a different experience than what users in the rest of the world are used to. Any noticeable changes made to a social media platform’s service raises the risk of alienating its audience, said Jasmine Enberg, an analyst for the research firm eMarketer.
In a prime example of how a change of control can reshape a once-popular social media platform, billionaire Elon Musk triggered an almost immediate backlash after he completed his takeover of Twitter nearly three years ago.
But Musk made extremely visible changes, including changing its name to X, pulling back on its content moderation and adding exclusive features for paid subscribers. The changes that gradually occur while different data is fed into the U.S. copy of TikTok’s algorithm could be unnoticeable to most of its audience.
“Social media is just as much about the culture as it is the technology, and how users will take to new ownership and potentially a new version of the app is still an open question,” Enberg said.
What motivated China to make this deal
Beijing once called the demand that TikTok be spun off from its Chinese parent company an act of “robbery,” but Chinese officials changed their tune as the U.S.-China trade war progressed.
A TikTok deal would allow China to keep the ball rolling on trade negotiations, said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Washington-based think tank Stimson Center. “TikTok alone does not compare with the importance of amicable U.S.-China relations.”
Dimitar Gueorguiev, associate professor of political science at Syracuse University, argues that Beijing is more interested in retaining access to U.S. technology and services, at least in the short term, so it can build up self-sufficiency in semiconductor, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
“That is the front line of technological competition,” Gueorguiev said. “TikTok, by contrast, is a maturing consumer app with diminishing strategic weight.”
The international law enforcement delegation gathers in a field near the Thai-Cambodian border, with a suspected cyber scam compound visible in the background across the border in Cambodia's Pailin province on September 25, 2025.
CHANTHABURI — Law enforcement officials from eight countries joined Thai police Thursday to inspect massive cyber scam compounds operating just across the Cambodian border, marking a significant escalation in international efforts to combat the criminal networks.
The delegation, led by Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, could clearly see suspected scammer safe houses from the Thai side of the border – high-rise buildings surrounded by security fences located just 20 meters away across a narrow canal in Cambodia’s Pailin province.
Scammers Spotted During Inspection
In a revealing moment, workers inside the suspicious compounds appeared startled when they noticed the international police team observing them. The scammers came outside and began photographing the delegation with their phones, highlighting the brazen nature of their operations.
Police General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot (center) leads an international delegation of law enforcement officials through rural terrain near the Thai-Cambodian border in Chanthaburi Province on September 25, 2025, during an inspection of cross-border cyber scam operations.
The inspection team included officials from Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, along with representatives from UNODC and Interpol.
Criminal Networks Shifting to New Areas
Police General Thatchai warned that Thai call center gangs are increasingly moving from the heavily monitored Poipet area to Chanthaburi province, seeking new bases for their operations.
“We’re seeing more Thai criminals relocating here because of increased surveillance at Sa Kaeo,” he said. “Thailand serves as a transit point, not a base for these scammers.”
‘Cutting the Lifelines’ Strategy
Thai authorities are implementing what they call an “Infrastructure Dismantle Operation” – cutting off utilities like electricity and mobile phone signals that these criminal compounds rely on. They’re also preventing Thais from illegally crossing to Cambodia to open bank accounts used in scams.
The area inspected, known locally as “Channel 5 Baht,” features dense bamboo forests and polluted waterways that make illegal crossings difficult. Despite the challenging terrain, it remains a popular smuggling route.
New Technology Complicates Detection
Officials revealed that scammer gangs are now using “SIM box” and “E-SIM” technology, allowing them to use Wi-Fi from neighboring countries to access Thai mobile networks, making detection much harder.
A UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) representative walks alongside Thai law enforcement officials during the border inspection tour in Chanthaburi Province on September 25, 2025.
Cambodia Expected to Present Action Plan
The inspection aims to build international pressure on Cambodia to crack down on the criminal operations on its territory. Police General Thatchai said Cambodia is expected to present an action plan at upcoming regional meetings.
All participating nations agreed to jointly combat the scammer networks and acknowledged Thailand’s commitment to solving the problem.
The tour concluded with plans for further intelligence sharing at Thailand’s “War Room” command center in Bangkok, where Asian countries will coordinate international legal pressure against the criminal syndicates that have victimized people across multiple nations.
Book Expo Thailand 2025 Adopts "Melody of Books" Theme
BANGKOK – The Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT) will transform the country’s premier book fair with a music-infused theme when Book Expo Thailand 2025 opens October 9-19 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The 30th edition operates under the theme “Melody of Books – Have You Read? Have You Listened?” combining traditional reading with audiobooks, podcasts, and musical elements across 900 booths from 400 publishers.
PUBAT President Nattakorn Vuttichaipornkul said the concept aims to expand reading access beyond printed books while attracting new audiences through multimedia formats.
PUBAT President Nattakorn Vuttichaipornkul
Record Inventory and Attendance Goals
The 11-day event will showcase over 2 million books, including 2,000 new releases, organized across six zones covering fiction, children’s books, comics, and educational materials. Organizers project 1.3 million visitors and sales exceeding 400 million baht, representing a 5-10% increase from last year.
Interactive Highlights
Key attractions include “View ’til Touch,” an immersive experience connecting books and music through listening pods and AI composition tools, and “Play & Learn with Chao Khun Thong,” featuring live puppet theater performances with hands-on workshops.
The “Read for The Blind” exhibition, developed with the Thailand Association of the Blind, promotes audiobook accessibility through mobile app demonstrations and voice recording opportunities.
National Competitions
Three major contests will debut at the fair: a national storytelling competition featuring regional finalists, a songwriting contest with the winning entry to be performed by artist Belle Warisara, and a secondary school debate competition.
Social Impact Initiative
PUBAT will donate 100,000 baht in reading grants to 10 schools, while the “Pick A Note” fundraising activity offers prizes for 99-baht donations supporting literacy programs.
The event runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Halls 5-7, LG Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, with collaboration from the Department of Cultural Promotion and National Soft Power Development Committee.
Book Expo Thailand 2025 Adopts “Melody of Books” Theme
Founders and top executives from the world’s leading luxury watch brands united for an unprecedented evening celebrating horological culture, the largest luxury watch event in Southeast Asia.
Siam Paragon reaffirms its position as Thailand’s premier luxury watch destination, showcasing the country’s most extensive collection of world-class watch brands.
With a commitment to establishing Thailand as the emerging “hub of horological culture” in Southeast Asia, the iconic lifestyle destination is set to host an exclusive celebration — “Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week: Opening Ceremony.”
The special evening on September 24, 2025, brought together founders and senior executives from leading luxury watch maisons around the globe to honor the timeless artistry of watchmaking and to mark the grand arrival of Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2025 — the largest luxury watch event in Southeast Asia.
The opening ceremony was graced by an impressive gathering of senior executives and visionaries from the world’s most prestigious watch brands. Distinguished guests included Mr. Nicholas Gong (Managing Director APAC, A. Lange & Söhne), Mr. Joseph Munoz (Director, Bvlgari), Ms. Florence Inumaru (Director SEA, Boucheron), and Mr. Karl-Fritz Scheufele (Fifth-Generation founder, Chopard), etc.
The evening was marked by joy and dynamism as executives from prestigious maisons mingled while enjoying captivating performances in a luxurious setting during an exclusive cocktail reception.
It was truly a historic night for the luxury watch industry in Thailand and Southeast Asia — a rare gathering of the world’s most influential figures, united in celebrating the culture of timepieces at Siam Paragon.
Luxury villas under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for allegedly encroaching on no-construction zones or red zones on Koh Samui on September 24, 2025.
KOH SAMUI — The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is investigating illegal luxury villa construction on Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province after discovering 93 violations across 24 locations, including properties built in environmentally protected red zones and suspected money laundering operations.
NACC Deputy Secretary-General Suchart Kruaykitanon and Surat Thani NACC Director Netipol Chumyuang conducted site inspections on September 24, finding violations of five major laws covering building control, construction, hotels, environment, and foreign business operations.
NACC authorities conduct site inspections in Mae Nam sub-district, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province on September 24, 2025.
The investigation team has filed complaints with the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division while reporting suspected government official misconduct to provincial NACC offices.
The Zog Villas project in Mae Nam sub-district emerged as a key target, with five completed villas discovered in red zones under the Environmental Quality Enhancement and Conservation Act, where construction permits cannot be legally issued. Despite displaying “closed for renovation” signs, the properties were found accepting online bookings.
The ‘closed for renovation’ sign is displayed at a luxury villa that investigators found was still accepting online bookings.
The Koh Samui Revenue Office reported investigating another luxury villa project involving suspicious investment funds totaling 300 million baht ($9.3 million) transferred from overseas with untraceable origins. Tax officials flagged the transactions as potentially involving nominee companies and money laundering.
Suchart ordered NACC investigation teams to collaborate with the 4th Army Region and relevant agencies to gather evidence against violators. He announced that Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao will be designated as “Anti-Corruption Pinpoint Areas” in fiscal year 2026.
A luxury villa under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for allegedly encroaching on no-construction zones or red zones on Koh Samui on September 24, 2025.
“Every agency must enforce laws transparently and directly,” Suchart emphasized, adding that progress will be evaluated every three months.
While Koh Samui remains a prime destination for high-end real estate investment, particularly luxury condominiums and vacation homes, the island faces mounting challenges from state land encroachment and environmental destruction.
The crackdown highlights growing tensions between tourism development and environmental protection as authorities work to balance economic interests with conservation efforts on Thailand’s popular resort islands.
Cement trucks pour concrete into the massive sinkhole on Samsen Road in an attempt to stabilize the ground and prevent further collapse on September 25, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Surat Sapphakhun)
BANGKOK — Thai authorities are racing to repair a massive sinkhole on Samsen Road near Vajira Hospital, with contractors pledging to restore traffic within two weeks after the road collapsed into a 50-meter-deep crater during subway construction.
Emergency Response and Current Status
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt announced September 25 that the sinkhole area has been declared a disaster zone to expedite damage relief efforts. The collapse occurred September 24 around 7:30 a.m., creating a 30×30-meter crater that swallowed part of the road and damaged the under-construction Vajira Hospital subway station.
“The situation remains serious but stable,” Chadchart said following emergency meetings with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA). “We’re working continuously to prevent further collapse and restore normalcy for affected residents.”
Officials inspect old structural debris unrelated to the tunnel construction inside the massive sinkhole after Samsen Road in front of Vajira Hospital collapsed, working to find ways to remove the wreckage on September 25, 2025. (MATICHON Photo/Tachit Chuenniyom)The massive sinkhole in front of Vajira Hospital in Bangkok on September 24, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Yingyos Akmanachai)
Repair Challenges and Timeline
Recovery efforts face significant obstacles, including 34-ton structural debris lodged in the tunnel that requires 150-ton heavy machinery to remove. Workers must first stabilize the ground to safely operate the equipment before filling the hole with approximately 50,000 sandbags mixed with cement.
The CKST-PL Joint Venture, responsible for the subway construction, pledged to restore road surface access within 14 days through a phased concrete pouring process.
Root Cause Investigation
MRTA Governor Kajphajon Udomthamphakdee explained that the collapse began around 5:00 a.m. September 24 when residents noticed uneven road surfaces. Water began seeping up by 5:30 a.m., followed by progressive road deterioration until the major collapse occurred.
Preliminary investigations suggest unstable soil conditions combined with groundwater caused a 3-meter-deep water pipe to rupture, further destabilizing the ground and triggering the massive cave-in.
MRTA Governor Kajphajon Udomthamphakdee (center) speaks to media about the investigation and repair timeline following the massive sinkhole that opened on Samsen Road during subway construction on September 25, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Surat Sapphakhun)
Public Safety Measures
Authorities evacuated approximately 10 bedridden patients from nearby areas and are providing water support to affected households. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority expected normal water service to resume by midday September 25, while electricity has already been restored.
Samsen Police Station, which tilted 2 millimeters toward the sinkhole due to damaged support pillars, remains evacuated along with police residential flats as a safety precaution.
New Concerns Emerge
Officials discovered water seepage and road swelling near Boon Rawd Brewery, approximately 2 kilometers from the original collapse site, prompting additional safety inspections led by Deputy Governor Wisanu Supsompol. However, investigations later revealed the issue was merely a leaking water pipe, which has since been repaired.
Authorities cordon off an area in front of Boon Rawd Brewery on Samsen Road on September 25, 2025, after discovering water seepage and road swelling approximately 2 kilometers from the previous day’s massive sinkhole near Vajira Hospital. (MATICHON Photo/Tachit Chuenniyom)
Government Response
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited the site Wednesday night and apologized to the public. “As a government, we must apologize to all citizens for what happened,” he said, emphasizing immediate road restoration over assigning blame while promising strict legal action regarding contractual and civil responsibilities.
The Transport Ministry has ordered comprehensive safety reviews of all ongoing subway construction projects following this first major incident in Thailand’s 10-year underground railway construction program.
