Thanat Thammisukol, head of consumer protection at the Consumer Foundation (FCL) and coordinator for Bangkok's consumer organization, expressed condolences to victims and families of the major fire at the Brew Pub at Ladprao near Ladprao Soi 1 on July 13, 2026. He detailed victims' legal rights to claim full damages and compensation through civil law, criminal proceedings, and state welfare.

Civil damages claims can include all medical treatment costs (past and future), lost income during recovery, pain and suffering compensation, and disability or permanent injury damages. For fatalities, victims' families can claim funeral costs, lost financial support for dependents, and compensation for damaged property like vehicles or phones.

Victims are also eligible for state disaster relief funds from Bangkok's Jatujak District Office, the Justice Fund for legal assistance, social security benefits if employed by the establishment, and compensation from the venue's liability insurance without waiting for court proceedings to conclude. Victims should immediately preserve all medical documents, register with authorities at Phahon Yothin Police Station (02-5122447-9) or the temporary assistance center at Phahon Yothin MRT, and consider joining collective legal action if needed.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 13 July 2026: Police are investigating the death of a 45-year-old man whose skeletal remains were found behind a village in Sikhiu district after he had been missing for about 10 days.

Officers from Sikhiu Police Station responded after villagers reported finding human skeletal remains in a wooded area behind Non Kum village, Moo 2, Mittraphap subdistrict. Rescue workers and relevant authorities were dispatched to examine the scene.

The deceased was identified as Khane Ngamphonkrang, 45. His body had decomposed, leaving skeletal remains along with clothing and personal belongings.

Relatives who arrived at the scene identified the remains based on the personal items found nearby, confirming they belonged to Khane, who had been reported missing since 30 June 2026.

The remains were sent to Sikhiu Hospital for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

A relative said Khane regularly went fishing and had searched for him every day after he disappeared. During the initial search, the family found his motorcycle parked near the area where the remains were later discovered but could not locate him.

The family continued searching until villagers reported finding skeletal remains. Upon arriving at the scene, they recognized Khane's bag and personal belongings, confirming his identity.

Police said they are continuing their investigation and will await the autopsy results before determining the cause of death.

A mother who lost her beloved son in the Mountain B nightclub fire five years ago remains emotionally shattered after learning of the Ladprao beer hall fire, which claimed 27 lives and injured more than fifty people. The recent disaster has prompted painful comparisons to the earlier nightclub tragedy, with Nichapa Wongpakpaiboon sharing photographs from the Ladprao beer hall aftermath that captured personal belongings and a mobile phone still receiving incoming calls from worried family members.

In an emotional post, a woman who lost her son in the Mountain B fire expressed her anguish over the repeated tragedy, stating that such disasters are preventable. She recounted how her military-trained son, despite his physical strength, had no escape route and died from blood infection after suffering severe burns. Her family has endured five years of grief while their court case remains unresolved, and she challenged venue owners and officials to imagine losing their own children in similar circumstances.

She appealed to all stakeholders to prioritize customer safety over business profits and to implement genuine prevention measures. The mother expressed sympathy for the families affected by the recent fire while questioning whether those responsible would develop a true sense of accountability. She stressed that no amount of compensation could replace the loss of a loved one, and that families devastated by such preventable tragedies suffer lifelong emotional and psychological trauma that no amount of compensation can heal.

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.