Pattaya beach packed as Wan Lai crowds surge, roads to close

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19 April 2026, 09:18

Pattaya beach packed as Wan Lai crowds surge, roads to close

PATTAYA — 18 April 2026, large crowds of Thai and foreign tourists packed Pattaya Beach ahead of the annual Wan Lai water festival, with authorities preparing to close key coastal roads on 19 April.

Reporters said the beachfront road from in front of Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya to Soi 7 and Soi 8 grew increasingly crowded into the night, as revellers from earlier celebrations in Na Kluea flowed into central Pattaya to continue water festivities.

Tourists gathered at beer bars and seaside restaurants, creating a lively atmosphere, though traffic was still moving normally on the evening of 18 April.

Concerts were also held along Pattaya Beach, with popular Thai artists including New Country, Lipta, Proxie, Thx and F.Hero performing and drawing large audiences to the stage area.

The main Wan Lai Pattaya celebrations are set for 19 April. Morning activities from 08:00 to 12:00 will include a traditional bathing ceremony for Buddha images at Wat Chai Mongkhon, followed by entertainment and live music along the beach throughout the day.

Authorities said Beach Road from North to South Pattaya will be closed to traffic to facilitate the event and ensure safety for festival-goers.

US K9 seizes 100 Thai pork sandwiches at airport check

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19 April 2026, 09:09

US K9 seizes 100 Thai pork sandwiches at airport check

WASHINGTON — 18 April 2026, a US customs K9 unit has intercepted more than 100 Thai pork sandwiches in a traveller’s luggage, prompting authorities to reiterate strict bans on bringing meat products into the country.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations shared images on its official Facebook page of “Merla”, a beagle detection dog known for sniffing out prohibited agricultural items.

CBP said the dog discovered over 100 “ancient-style” Thai sandwiches filled with pork floss and bologna, concealed in a passenger’s baggage. The items, which also included pork and chicken products, were immediately seized and destroyed.

In a caption accompanying the post, CBP reminded travellers that all agricultural goods, including meat, must be declared upon entry into the United States.

Authorities warned that importing meat and processed animal products, including pork, chicken and beef in any form, is strictly prohibited. This extends to items such as pork floss, Chinese sausage, dried pork, fermented pork and even seasoning packets containing meat ingredients.

Failure to declare such items can result in fines of up to $10,000 (about 321,000 baht).

CBP said the measures are in place to prevent the spread of animal diseases such as African swine fever and avian influenza, which could severely impact US agriculture and ecosystems.

Other prohibited items include fresh produce, seeds, certain animal products, dangerous weapons and medicines without English labelling, officials added.

Lisa stuns Coachella crowd with surprise ‘Bad Angel’ set

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18 April 2026, 17:29

Lisa stuns Coachella crowd with surprise ‘Bad Angel’ set

CALIFORNIA — 18 April 2026, Lisa Lalisa Manobal delivered a surprise performance at Coachella’s second weekend, joining electronic artist Anyma on the main stage for their collaboration “Bad Angel”, thrilling fans after earlier disappointment over a cancelled show.

The appearance followed last week’s cancellation of Anyma’s set due to strong winds affecting stage safety, a decision made jointly by organisers and the artist. The move had fuelled speculation that Lisa would appear, leaving fans disheartened at the time.

Lisa had still attended the festival, drawing attention after being spotted watching fellow YG Entertainment artists, including BIGBANG members performing alongside Rosé.

During the second weekend, however, fans got the moment they had hoped for as Lisa emerged in an angel-inspired outfit for a dramatic on-stage reveal, performing “Bad Angel” with Anyma.

The performance drew loud reactions from the live audience and quickly went viral online, with the hashtag #LISA_COACHELLA trending in Thailand.

Monk expelled after alleged daily beer purchases

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18 April 2026, 16:55

Monk expelled after alleged daily beer purchases

KALASIN — 18 April 2026, a monk accused of repeatedly buying beer from a local shop has been expelled from a temple in northeastern Thailand after the behaviour sparked widespread criticism online, local officials said.

The case came to light after social media users shared images and accounts alleging the monk had been purchasing alcohol daily for nearly a year. A shop worker initially believed the drinks were being bought for labourers working at the temple, but later claimed the monk himself consumed them.

One post said the monk returned frequently to buy beer and later confronted shop staff angrily after residents reported the behaviour to local authorities, allegedly appearing intoxicated.

District chief Ommaree Yeewasri, along with police and administrative officials, ordered an investigation. Officers, village leaders and residents inspected the shop and confirmed that a monk identified as Phra Phirun, attached to a forest temple in Na Kham subdistrict, had purchased alcoholic beverages.

A subsequent check at the temple did not find the monk. Authorities conducted drug tests on four remaining monks, with all results negative.

The Na Kham subdistrict ecclesiastical chief said the monk had already been removed from the area and sent back to his original affiliation in Prasat district, Surin province.

Officials said no further irregularities were found, and the case has drawn attention to concerns over monastic conduct within local communities.

Thailand deports 106 Cambodian migrants at border crossing

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18 April 2026, 16:31

Thailand deports 106 Cambodian migrants at border crossing

SA KAEO, 18 April 2026 — Thai authorities on Friday deported 106 Cambodian nationals who had entered the country illegally, handing them over to officials at the Khlong Luek border crossing in Aranyaprathet district.

At 14:00, officers from the Thai-Cambodian Border Coordination Office, immigration police, paramilitary rangers, customs officials and related agencies carried out the repatriation at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge.

The group comprised 64 men, 25 women and 17 dependants. All had been arrested for illegal entry and residing in Thailand without permission.

Cambodian immigration officials and relevant authorities received the group at the midpoint of the bridge. The handover proceeded without incident, officials said.

Police probe dog carcass dumped in suitcase

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18 April 2026, 15:03

Police probe dog carcass dumped in suitcase in Pathum Thani

PATHUM THANI — 18 April 2026, police are investigating a suspected case of animal cruelty after a dog’s decomposing carcass was found stuffed inside a locked suitcase and dumped at a rubbish site in Pathum Thani province, with three men seen on CCTV being sought for questioning.

The case emerged after a black suitcase was discovered near a house in Soi 12/1 of Pruksa C housing estate in Khlong Sam, Khlong Luang district. Yellowish fluid was seen leaking from the bag, and maggots were visible. When opened, it contained a bloated dog carcass emitting a strong odour, alarming residents.

news126624 SLcIsxJ1kg1776494607 — Rattiya Tiaotrakul, deputy chair of the Watchdog Thailand Foundation, along with legal officers, filed a report with investigators at Khlong Luang police station.

At 10:00 on 18 April, Rattiya Tiaotrakul, deputy chair of the Watchdog Thailand Foundation, along with legal officers, filed a report with investigators at Khlong Luang police station, requesting a forensic examination to determine whether the dog’s head was missing and if the animal had been abused prior to death.

Officials later inspected the original dumping site at a refuse area within the Ai Yara durian market in Khlong Song subdistrict, but the suitcase had already been removed for further examination.

Rattiya said the case was highly unusual, noting that pet owners typically bury or cremate deceased animals rather than dispose of them in such a manner. If evidence of abuse is confirmed, legal action will be pursued under Thailand’s Animal Cruelty Prevention and Welfare Act, which carries penalties of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both.

news126624 xlC3mR4daW1776494607 — The decomposing dog carcass inside the suitcase.

The incident caused concern among residents and complicated the work of rescue teams, as it was initially unclear whether the suitcase contained hazardous material or human remains.

Porntep Taosanthea, 46, a vendor who found the suitcase, said he had picked it up from a rubbish area while looking for reusable items, unaware of its contents. He said the smell worsened after he brought it home, prompting neighbours to raise concerns before the discovery was made.

Police said CCTV footage shows three men believed to be involved in dumping the suitcase, and efforts are under way to identify and locate them for questioning as the investigation continues.

Police round up stray buffalo roaming road

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18 April 2026, 14:10

Police round up stray buffalo roaming road

SAMUT SONGKHRAM — 17 April 2026, police safely captured a stray buffalo that wandered onto a main road and returned it to its owner after the animal became disoriented and posed a potential danger to traffic, in an incident that later went viral online.

The buffalo was seen walking along Ekachai Road near the provincial prison, prompting concerned residents to alert local police. Officers arrived to assist, but the animal fled into the compound of the Samut Songkhram Provincial Police headquarters.

Local officials later contacted the owner, who was reportedly away in Chiang Mai at the time.

Police Lance Corporal Nukul Thapcharoen led the effort to capture the animal, drawing on his prior experience raising buffalo. He said the animal was initially highly agitated due to the unfamiliar surroundings and the number of people attempting to approach it.

He asked bystanders to step back to allow the buffalo to calm down before using a cable fashioned into a lasso to secure it.

Once the animal had settled, officers led it on foot for more than 2 kilometres in the dark, with assistance from a village headman and a caretaker, before safely returning it to its enclosure.

No injuries were reported.

Police Lance Corporal Nukul added that he felt proud to have fully carried out his duty in serving the public. He joked that the buffalo had probably wanted to go out and enjoy the Songkran festivities at night, but ended up losing its way and needing help from the police.

Family seeks 96-year-old man last seen heading to Bangkok

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18 April 2026, 12:27

Family seeks 96-year-old man last seen heading to Bangkok

RAYONG — 18 April 2025, a family in eastern Thailand has appealed for help to locate a 96-year-old man with memory loss who went missing from his home and was later traced travelling alone to Bangkok.

Angchan Samret filed a missing person report with Khao Chamao police on 18 April after his father, Cha-on Samret, disappeared from the family home on 17 April.

According to the family, they had been working in a durian orchard behind the house that morning, leaving the elderly man alone. When they returned, he was gone. Relatives searched throughout the day and night but were unable to find him.

CCTV footage reviewed on the morning of 18 April showed the man walking more than 3 kilometres from his home along the Khao Chamao–Ban Na road in Klaeng district.

The footage also captured him flagging down a sidecar motorcycle taxi and asking to be taken to a bus stop for a Klaeng–Mo Chit route to Bangkok.

A ticket seller confirmed that the man purchased a ticket to the capital and got off at Mo Chit Bus Terminal on 17 April. His whereabouts after arriving in Bangkok remain unknown.

Cha-on, who suffers from memory loss, was carrying about 1,000 baht in cash and had no mobile phone.

The family is urging anyone who may have seen him to take him to the nearest police station or contact his son, Angchan, on 081-895-0153 at any time. They said they are ready to travel immediately to bring him home.

Crowds flock to Si Chang ‘carry women into sea’ rite

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18 April 2026, 10:53

Crowds flock to Si Chang ‘carry women into sea’ rite

CHONBURI — 18 April 2026 — Thai and foreign tourists joined locals on Saturday for the annual Songkran “carry women into the sea” tradition on Koh Kham Yai in Si Chang district, a longstanding cultural event unique to the island community.

Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwong presided over the opening of the Koh Si Chang Songkran festival, known locally as “Wan Lai Koh Kham”, held on the beach of Koh Kham Yai in Tha Thewawong subdistrict. Residents and visitors turned out in force to take part.

The tradition, held every year on 18 April, dates back to the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), over a hundred years ago. Koh Kham Yai lies about 1 kilometre from the Si Chang district centre and can be reached by a 45-minute boat journey from Jarin Pier in Si Racha.

Festivities include merit-making and alms-giving, ritual bathing of Buddha images, ceremonial offerings, sand pagoda building, traditional games, rowing competitions and sea boxing. The highlight is the “carry women into the sea” ritual, which draws the most attention and participation.

Crowds flock to Si Chang ‘carry women into sea rite 2 — Sand castle with flowers decoration spelled “Koh Kham”

During the ceremony, men, both young and elderly, ask permission to lift women into the sea, offering blessings as they do so. Elderly participants are also carried into the water by younger relatives as a gesture of respect and to receive blessings for the New Year.

The event reflects the island’s fishing heritage, as locals typically spend much of their time at sea. Songkran provides a rare opportunity for families to reunite, with many returning home from elsewhere to celebrate, mend relationships and seek forgiveness.

Female tourists, including foreigners, often join in the ritual without reservation, adding to the lively and inclusive atmosphere. The unusual custom has attracted growing international interest, with many visitors staying overnight on Koh Si Chang to take part and share their experiences abroad.

Locals say the tradition has been carefully preserved over generations, remaining both a source of community pride and a distinctive cultural attraction that continues to draw global attention.

Storm topples 24 poles, cuts power across Prachinburi

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18 April 2026, 10:10

Storm topples 24 poles, cuts power across Prachinburi

PRACHINBURI — 18 April 2026, a summer storm battered Kabin Buri district, toppling 24 electricity poles and paralysing traffic along Suwannason Road, while widespread power outages affected large parts of the province. Electricity was restored late at night, though clearance work continued.

At 1:00 on 18 April, local reporters said the storm struck the district on the evening of 17 April, with strong winds bringing down seven 115-kilovolt high-voltage steel poles and 17 low-voltage concrete poles, totalling 24.

The incident occurred near Khok Hom intersection on the inbound stretch towards Suan Nom Klao along the old Suwannason Road (Highway 33) in Muang Kao subdistrict. Fallen poles blocked one lane of traffic and disrupted the power distribution system, causing widespread blackouts across Prachinburi.

Bandit Panthum, manager of the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Kabin Buri office, said high-voltage poles carrying 20,000 volts collapsed and obstructed one inbound lane towards the municipal market. Crane trucks were deployed to remove debris and urgently repair the power system to ease disruption for residents.

Acting Sub Lt Thanongsak Suwannathami, head of the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said Governor Weeraphan Dee-on had ordered relevant agencies, including disaster officials, the electricity authority, the highways department, Kabin Buri police and a rescue foundation, to coordinate operations.

Officials isolated damaged sections and managed the system to successfully restore electricity at about 20:00 on 17 April.

As of late night, one traffic lane remained closed to allow cranes and technicians to clear fallen poles and equipment. Lighting units were deployed to support overnight operations. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

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