Families Claim Bodies From Ladprao Beer Hall Fire

On July 13 at the Police Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine, relatives arrived to identify and claim bodies from the fire that broke out at a beer hall in Ladprao. Throughout the morning, families of confirmed victims and those still missing came forward to verify identities. The disaster has resulted in 27 deaths, 71 injuries, and 45 people unaccounted for.

One victim's sister spoke through tears about how police confirmed her brother's identity through fingerprint matching with their database. She came to claim his body for religious funeral rites.

She recounted that the night before, she had been drinking with her brother and friends at home. Near midnight, her brother drove off without saying where he was going. A close friend later called to tell her the bar where her brother used to drink had caught fire. She then tried calling her brother five times without success. On the sixth call, someone answered and said a fire had broken out, but could not confirm whether her brother was injured or dead. The caller asked her to come to the scene. When she arrived, she found her brother dead, lying face-down in the bathroom.

The Police Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine, along with the Pathumwan District Office, has set up a service center on the third floor to handle identity verification, body collection, and death certificate issuance. Relatives still searching for victims, missing persons, or injured can contact police at Phahon Yothin Station, where officers have photos of victims and personal effects such as clothing, phones, and bags to help identify individuals. Lists of injured persons currently receiving treatment at five nearby hospitals are also available.

For families unable to identify deceased relatives, officials recommend bringing direct family members—such as parents, siblings, or children—to undergo DNA testing for identification. The Potektung Foundation has also provided approximately 20,000 baht in funeral assistance to victims' families and is helping arrange body transportation for religious ceremonies in Bangkok and other provinces. Reports indicate that two police officers also died in the incident, though it remains unclear whether they were on duty or off-duty at the time.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Bangkok Thai authorities have issued a strong advisory to both domestic and international travelers, urging them not to carry or accept luggage or packages from strangers for transport abroad, as even unwitting involvement in transnational cannabis-smuggling networks could lead to severe legal consequences including up to ten years in Thai prison. The warning comes as […] Thailand Issues Urgent Warning to Travelers: Avoid Cannabis Smuggling Risks Amid Surge in Airport Arrests -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Bangkok, 13 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and AirAsia Group signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 9 July 2026 at Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to expand tourism cooperation and strengthen Thailand’s position as a quality regional destination under “Amazing Thailand: Feel All the Feelings”.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister, together with Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport; Mr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Mr. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports. The MOU was signed by Miss Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and South Pacific, and Mr. Ahmad AL Farouk Bin Ahmad Kamal, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Group Berhad.

Miss Pattaraanong said, “Malaysia is one of Thailand’s most important short-haul markets, supported by strong repeat travel and extensive air, land, and sea connectivity. This partnership brings together TAT’s destination marketing and AirAsia Group’s regional network to stimulate travel demand, open access to more Thai destinations, and attract higher-value visitor segments. It also supports reciprocal travel and long-term tourism growth between Thailand and Malaysia.”

The MOU covers cooperation from 2026 to 2029 in joint marketing and communications, route development, tourism trade engagement, media and influencer campaigns, and the exchange of market insights. While placing particular emphasis on Malaysia, the partnership will also support wider short-haul markets and TAT’s Value over Volume direction.

Malaysia is Thailand’s second-largest source market after China, with 2,135,591 arrivals recorded from 1 January to 7 July 2026. Proximity, high repeat visitation, and convenient transport links support strong demand for weekend and extended-holiday travel centred on shopping, gastronomy, culture, and leisure.

Key land gateways include Sadao, Su-ngai Kolok, Padang Besar, and Betong. The new road linking Sadao Customs House in Songkhla with the Bukit Kayu Hitam checkpoint in Kedah, Malaysia, was officially opened on 10 July by Thailand’s Prime Minister Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Together with the development of rail and maritime links, it is expected to further improve cross-border access.

Land travel accounts for about 70 per cent of Malaysian arrivals. TAT will continue to promote scenic driving routes and to work with sports car, classic car, off-road, big-bike, and family travel communities. Popular routes extend through Hat Yai, Yala, Satun, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phuket, Phang-nga, and Krabi.

TAT, together with government partners, will step up efforts to maximise the impact of this collaboration by organising a wide range of destination activities, including Cultural festivals, music and food events, walking streets, night markets and sporting activities. These initiatives are designed to inspire purpose-driven travel while introducing new experiences that enhance the diversity of Thailand’s tourism offerings. TAT is targeting 4,825,000 Malaysian arrivals in 2026.

The post TAT and AirAsia Group sign three-year tourism partnership appeared first on TAT Newsroom.

The Social Security Office (SSO) is in the final stretch of its election cycle for the 2569 Social Security Committee board, with registration closing in just two days. As of 9 a.m. on July 13, a total of 134 candidates have registered to run, comprising 52 from the employer side and 82 from the insured worker side.

Voter registration has climbed to 938,672 people, up from 921,612 the previous day. The employer faction added 136 registered voters (from 8,864 to 9,000), while the insured worker faction saw an increase of nearly 17,000 (from 912,748 to 929,672).

Candidates from the insured worker faction must be Thai nationals at least 18 years old, registered as insured persons under sections 33, 39, or 40 of the Social Security Act, with at least three months of contributions within the preceding six months. They must have no history of bankruptcy, legal incapacity, electoral disqualification, or convictions for electoral fraud or financial crimes. Similarly, employer-side candidates must be registered employers or their authorized representatives, meeting the same contribution requirements and disqualification standards.

Eligible voters from the insured worker faction must be Thai nationals registered as insured persons for at least six consecutive months with three months of contributions in the prior six months, and must register by July 15. Employer-side voters must be registered employers or their authorized representatives meeting identical requirements. The actual election is scheduled for September 27, 2569.

At 10:00 AM on July 13, 2025, at the Bangkok Metropolitan Council meeting room in the Auravatpatana Building at City Hall 2 in Din Daeng, Methavee Tharendarmong, a Bangkok Metropolitan Council member from Pathumwan district, chaired the proceedings in an interim capacity as the most senior member present.

The council's first meeting included the election of the 26th chair and the first and second deputy chairs to oversee the legislative branch and monitor the administration's performance.

Viputh Srivaauirai, a council member from Bang Rak district representing the Working People group, nominated Pattaraphon Kaengrungreongshai, a Bangkok Party member from Bang Sue district, for the chair position. Meanwhile, Somchai Tomplubulkul, a Democrat Party member from Khlong San district, nominated Wirat Kongkhaketr, also a Democrat Party member from Bangkok Yai district, to contest the position, arguing that council members should hear the vision of both candidates.

Pattaraphon stood to present her vision, emphasizing that the Bangkok council must be transparent and accountable with four main initiatives: (1) opening live broadcasts by amending meeting rules to stream all ordinary and extraordinary sessions, with the ability to close the feed for security or sensitive third-party matters; (2) automatic disclosure of voting records, currently requiring the chair's approval; (3) publishing attendance statistics of all members for transparency and public accountability; and (4) supporting member work efficiency by establishing an academic office and budget under the council's authority to help analyze budgets and provide data for drafting various ordinances.

Pattaraphon further stated that to make Bangkok's diverse city accessible to everyone, the council should open space for public budget proposals and expand the popular budget-hacking event from a small group initiative into a full council program, allowing citizens to understand and jointly oversee budget allocation and suggest future directions.

Regarding transparency for council members, she noted it is their right but offered various channels and systems, with a timeline to push these reforms by December of this year within her two-year term.

Wirat presented his vision, saying that without preparation but relying on his experience and ideas, leading the Bangkok council is not difficult. New members must understand the meeting rules, as Bangkok operates with three gears: the administration, civil service, and council. If each rotates in balance, citizens will benefit fully. As one of fifty cogs, he aims to rotate smoothly with the administration and civil service gears.