PM2.5 still hits half of Thailand hard, north in crisis

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22 April 2026, 11:12

PM2.5 still hits half of Thailand hard, north in crisis

BANGKOK — 21 April 2026, Air pollution exceeded safety limits in 38 provinces across Thailand on Monday, with the north remaining in a critical condition and eight provinces recording hazardous levels, authorities said.

The Pollution Control Department reported at 07:00 that 24-hour average PM2.5 levels ranged from 13.4 to 132.0 micrograms per cubic metre, above the national standard of 37.5 in many areas.

Northern provinces were the worst affected, with readings between 38.7 and 132.0, and eight provinces, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Lamphun, Nan, Phayao, Sukhothai and Phitsanulok are classified as red zones posing health risks.

The highest level was recorded in Huai Khon subdistrict of Nan’s Chaloem Phra Kiat district at 132.0 micrograms per cubic metre.

In the northeast, levels ranged from 21.8 to 73.8, while the central and western regions recorded 25.5 to 73.2, with most areas exceeding standards.

Air quality in the east and south remained largely within safe limits, with readings between 13.4 and 30.2, and 15.4 to 23.7 respectively.

In Bangkok and surrounding areas, pollution exceeded the standard at one monitoring station, with levels between 17.7 and 38.7.

Authorities advised the public to limit outdoor activities and use protective measures, especially in high-risk areas, and to seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.

Wildfire near Mae Hong Son park quickly contained

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22 April 2026, 10:59

Wildfire near Mae Hong Son park quickly contained

MAE HONG SON — 22 April 2026, A forest fire came close to spreading into Tha Pong Daeng public park before being brought under control by authorities, officials said, as air pollution in the province remained at hazardous levels.

Kanchit Wongphraya, a forestry officer and head of forest protection units in Muang Mae Hong Son, said the blaze broke out at about 13:40 on 21 April near Ban Sop Pong in Pang Mu subdistrict.

Firefighting teams, including forestry officials, soldiers, local administrators and villagers, were deployed to tackle the blaze, which was contained by 15:40 after burning about 14 rai (around 2.2 hectares) of dry dipterocarp forest.

The affected area borders Tha Pong Daeng public park, land once granted by King Bhumibol Adulyadej as a public recreation area for nearby communities.

Officials said forest fires in Mae Hong Son continue to be caused largely by illegal burning, although the number of hotspots has declined as many areas had already been burned earlier.

The Pollution Control Department reported that 24-hour average PM2.5 levels measured at 7:00 on 22 April reached 105.7 micrograms per cubic metre in Pai district, well above safe standards and posing health risks.

Satellite data from the Suomi NPP system detected 23 hotspots in the province early on Tuesday, indicating a gradual decrease.

However, thick haze continued to blanket Mae Hong Son town, with visibility reduced to about 2 kilometres on Tuesday morning, according to the provincial meteorological office.

Man found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima moat

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22 April 2026, 10:36

Man found dead in Nakhon Ratchasima moat

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 22 April 2026, An unidentified man was found dead in a city moat early on Tuesday, with police suspecting he may have drowned while trying to cool off in the heat.

Police were alerted at 2:00 to the body in the moat in front of the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Court, within the municipal area.

At the scene on Ratchanikul Road, opposite the entrance to Thanon Chira Junction railway station, officers found the body of a man believed to be about 40 years old. He was wearing shorts and no shirt, lying face-up in the water.

Rescue workers retrieved the body for examination. Authorities estimated he had been dead for at least six hours and found no signs of assault or injuries. No identification documents were discovered.

The body was sent to Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for a forensic autopsy.

Police said no one in the area recognised the man. The vicinity is known to be frequented by homeless and vulnerable people seeking shelter.

Investigators believe the man may have entered the moat to bathe due to the hot weather, suffered cramp and drowned.

Local official suspected for forest fire, wildlife hunting

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22 April 2026, 10:14

Local official suspected for forest fire, wildlife hunting

PHETCHABURI — 22 April 2026, Authorities are gathering evidence to pursue a suspect believed to have started a forest fire while hunting protected wildlife in Kaeng Krachan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, officials said.

Mongkol Chaipakdee, head of the park, said about 5,000 rai (around 800 hectares) of forest have been damaged by the blaze.

Officials also found evidence of poaching in the affected area at Mae Kamei Bon in Nong Ya Plong district, including the carcasses of two gaurs. The animals had been shot dead with a shotgun, with pellets found lodged in their bodies. The remains are being examined to confirm the cause of death as part of the investigation.

Mongkol said authorities have obtained photographs of a suspect believed to have set fires to drive wildlife into the open for hunting. The individual is suspected to be a member of a subdistrict administrative organisation council.

According to investigators, the suspect allegedly entered the forest multiple times using a motorcycle, accompanied by hunting dogs and carrying a shotgun.

The method involved setting fires to flush gaurs into predetermined areas before ambushing them. However, the fires spread uncontrollably, resulting in a wider forest blaze.

Officials found spent shotgun cartridges at the scene, and hunting dogs were also present in the area.

Authorities are expanding the investigation and compiling evidence to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Gunfire erupts at Rayong Wan Lai event, no injuries

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22 April 2026, 09:48

Gunfire erupts at Rayong Wan Lai event, no injuries

RAYONG — 22 April 2026, Rival groups of youths exchanged gunfire during a crowded Songkran “Wan Lai” celebration in Map Ta Phut, sending revellers fleeing in panic, police said. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred at about 1:00 at Map Ta Phut market in Muang district, just metres from a police monitoring point, where officers had been deployed due to recurring violence at the annual festivities.

Authorities said large numbers of workers and youths had gathered in the area, with pickup trucks fitted with sound systems playing music as people danced and splashed water.

A dispute broke out between two groups for unknown reasons, escalating when one side began throwing wooden sticks and bottles. The opposing group then drew a firearm and fired multiple shots.

Crowds of residents and tourists ran for cover as the shooting unfolded.

Police stationed nearby rushed to the scene immediately after the gunfire stopped, prompting both groups to disperse into the crowd and flee.

Investigators said the use of a firearm in a public place was a serious offence. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and videos recorded by bystanders to identify those involved and bring them to justice.

Drone captures rare mating dugongs off Trang coast

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22 April 2026, 09:12

Drone captures rare mating dugongs off Trang coast

TRANG — 21 April 2026, Drone footage has captured a rare sight of two dugongs embracing and mating in the sea off Koh Libong, a key habitat in southern Thailand often dubbed the “dugong capital”, researchers said.

The images were released by the Lower Andaman Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, whose director, Santi Nilwat, said the behaviour had not been documented in the area for several years.

Surveys also found multiple groups of dugongs, typically 3 to 7 animals, scattered around the Koh Libong archipelago in Kantang district, signalling a positive trend after the animals had previously migrated due to seagrass die-offs.

Since February 2026, aerial and drone surveys have recorded at least 72 dugongs in Trang waters, including at least two mother-calf pairs. No dugong strandings have been reported so far this year, in contrast to previous years when deaths were linked to seagrass shortages.

Parts of the seagrass beds, covering more than 20,000 rai (about 3,200 hectares), have begun to recover, providing a vital food source and encouraging the animals’ return.

Santi said Trang had seen dugong migration in recent years, but the latest findings suggest a recovery in both the population and their habitat.

Koh Libong remains the area with the highest concentration of dugongs due to its extensive seagrass meadows. In past years, around 10 stranded dugongs were typically recorded annually, rising to about 20 deaths per year in 2024–2025 due to deteriorating seagrass, which forced the animals to migrate and left some starving.

“This year, no strandings have been found in Trang, which is very encouraging,” he said.

Erawan National Park closes due to forest fires, PM2.5 spike

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21 April 2026, 19:52

Erawan National Park in Kanchanaburi has temporarily closed all tourism activities and overnight stays after worsening forest fires and hazardous PM2.5 pollution levels exceeded safety standards, officials said on 21 April 2026.

Park chief Phiphat Chimpli said the closure follows ongoing forest fire and haze conditions in the area, which have pushed the 24-hour average PM2.5 level to 42.9 micrograms per cubic metre—considered harmful to both visitors and staff. He added that some areas of the park have already been damaged by the fires.

The Erawan National Park announced the suspension of tourism and camping services from 21 April 2026 at 13:00 onwards. Officials said the move is aimed at ensuring public safety and allowing staff to focus on firefighting operations and environmental recovery.

Park authorities said they are coordinating with Kanchanaburi provincial officials to widely inform the public and are closely monitoring air quality and fire conditions. The park will reopen once conditions return to normal and the area is deemed safe, with updates available through its official Facebook page.

Thailand performs first cross-border robotic surgery

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21 April 2026, 19:36

Thailand has marked a medical milestone after successfully performing its first cross-border robotic-assisted surgery to treat a patient with gallstones, officials said on 21 April 2026.

The procedure, a tele-robotic assisted surgery, was carried out between Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital in Thailand and West China Hospital in Chengdu, China, covering a distance of more than 2,000 kilometres in real time.

Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the achievement reflects Thailand’s push to integrate advanced medical technology into healthcare services, aiming to reduce waiting times and expand access to specialist treatment. He said the success of robotic surgery systems also strengthens Thailand’s position in international medical innovation and lays the groundwork for future telesurgery development.

The operation involved a robotic-assisted gallbladder removal procedure performed on a patient in Bangkok, while a specialist surgeon at West China Hospital controlled the robotic system remotely through a high-speed communication network.

According to the Department of Medical Services, led by Dr. Nattapong Wongwiwat, the surgery was the result of close cooperation between Thai and Chinese medical teams. The procedure was supported by surgeons, anaesthesiologists and medical staff on-site in Bangkok, with contingency plans in place to ensure patient safety throughout the operation.

Officials said the breakthrough could help reduce healthcare inequality by enabling patients in remote areas to access world-class surgical expertise without travelling abroad, while also opening new opportunities for international medical collaboration.

Bangkok Airways, BDMS founder Prasert dies aged 93

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21 April 2026, 18:57

Thai doctor and business magnate Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth, founder of Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS) and owner of Bangkok Airways, has died at the age of 93.

He passed away on 21 April 2026 after being treated for an extended period. His funeral will be held at Sala Klang Nam, Wat Thepsirin in Bangkok.

Born on 22 March 1933, Prasert was the chairman of Bangkok Airways and a key figure in Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, one of Thailand’s largest private healthcare groups. He also previously held senior executive roles across the group, which became a major force in Thailand’s private medical sector.

Prasert graduated in medicine from Siriraj Hospital under Mahidol University after completing earlier studies at Assumption College and preparatory programs at Chulalongkorn University. He began his career in surgery at Siriraj Hospital before expanding into business sectors including construction and oil exploration consultancy.

He later built a diversified business empire spanning aviation, healthcare, and related industries. In 2026, Forbes ranked him as Thailand’s seventh-richest person and 1,108th globally, with an estimated net worth of around US$3.9 billion.

Ladyboy fined after wild Songkran video goes viral

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21 April 2026, 18:14

Police in Sattahip have tracked down and questioned a transgender woman seen in a viral video during Songkran celebrations in Bang Saray, Chon Buri.

The incident took place on 20 April 2026 along Bang Saray Beach Road during the “Wan Lai” water festival, where large crowds of Thai and foreign tourists gathered to celebrate Songkran. Police said some groups of young revellers, including women and transgender individuals, were seen wearing revealing outfits, dancing to loud music, and behaving inappropriately in public. One individual in a bikini-style outfit was later seen removing clothing during the event, with officers initially suspecting alcohol consumption as a factor.

Police at Sattahip Police Station later identified and summoned a 32-year-old transgender woman seen in the clip for questioning. She admitted to attending the festival, drinking alcohol, and behaving in a way she now said went too far, and apologised for the incident.

Authorities said she was fined under public indecency laws for committing an act deemed shameful in public by exposing or revealing the body or engaging in obscene behaviour.

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