Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin on August 16 ordered relevant agencies to coordinate and accelerate wildfire control at the Kruen Marsh area in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Helicopter support has been arranged for aerial reconnaissance and firefighting operations, with personnel and public safety as the top priority. According to a report from Forestry Department Director Nikorn Silarojanant, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Forest Fire Control Center has been instructed to closely monitor the situation and maintain continuous operations including surveying, firebreak establishment, and water spraying to control the fire and prevent it from spreading. The Special Fire Hawk Operations Team from Nakhon Si Thammarat, along with personnel from the Yong Waterfall-Khao Luang Fire Control Station, Krabi Fire Control Station, and other relevant agencies, are conducting suppression efforts in the Ban Semet Ngam area in Krang Subdistrict, Cha-uat District, within the Little Andaman Wildlife Sanctuary. Personnel are currently using water spraying and firebreak methods to contain the fire while closely monitoring weather conditions and wind direction for effective operations. All agencies are coordinating closely and preparing personnel, equipment, and resources to accelerate control and prevent the fire from spreading to surrounding areas. The minister stated that the ministry will closely track the situation and mobilize resources from all agencies, including ground and aerial personnel, to effectively support wildfire suppression operations while safeguarding public and personnel safety and protecting the natural resources and ecosystems of the Kruen Marsh area.

Deputy Prime Minister Yasothorn Wongswat led a major Pheu Thai campaign rally on August 16, 2025, at Noen Yang Prachasamakkhi School in Kham Muang District to support Khaimook Lordtragul, a former Kalasin Provincial Administration Organization chairman seeking re-election. The rally attracted over 5,000 supporters and featured speeches from multiple Pheu Thai MPs representing Kalasin, who outlined the party's continued development agenda if Khaimook returns to office.

Pheu Thai core members, including party MPs from all four Kalasin electoral zones, took the stage to campaign for Khaimook, emphasizing road improvements, water management, drought and flood prevention, and infrastructure development. Deputy Prime Minister Yasothorn Wongswat highlighted how supporting Khaimook would strengthen the link between provincial administration and parliamentary work, boosting Pheu Thai's chances in upcoming legislative elections.

Khaimook pledged to continue development work across all villages and expressed confidence in her track record of community engagement and cultural preservation. She stated that if elected, she would maintain close contact with residents and push for Pheu Thai to win all six Kalasin parliamentary seats in the next election.

The campaign continued at a second rally venue in Kutchinarain District later that afternoon. Rival candidate Kamnanhit (Prasert Bunyuang), representing the competing slate, was also conducting grassroots campaigning as the race entered its final phase.

On 16 August 2025, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, spent a holiday break visiting Buriram province. He met with street vendors and residents, and shared a meal with Nevin Chidchob, chair of Buriram United Football Club, and Traisuli Trisornkul, the Prime Minister's Secretary-General.

The atmosphere was casual and friendly, with vendors and locals asking to take photographs with the PM and Nevin.

Anutin asked the vendors and residents how business was going and whether living standards had improved. The vendors responded positively about the Thai Help Thai Plus 60-40 programme, saying it helps with expenses and has increased sales at local shops, keeping money circulating in the community. Anutin smiled at their feedback and reiterated that any measure truly helping ordinary people is worth continuing, and that the government will pursue additional economic stimulus measures.

On August 16, 2025, at Khon Kaen Hall, Level 5 of Central Khon Kaen shopping center in Khon Kaen province, Nattareya Tveevongs, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, officially opened a traditional music performance in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the late Queen Mother. The event, titled "Folk Music of Loyalty, Forever in Our Hearts," was organized under a recreational awareness program designed to develop children and youth toward excellence in fiscal year 2025.

The performance was attended by Mongkhol Wimolrat, Director-General of the Department of Physical Education, along with department executives, Yuttana Pothiwihak, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen province, tourism and sports officials from the Northeast region, national artists, traditional music teachers, and more than 2,500 spectators.

The Department of Physical Education's Recreation Bureau organized traditional music performances to honor Her Majesty Queen Sirikit as part of a youth excellence program. Events were held on August 15, 2025, at Wat Pa Saeng Arun temple in Muang Khon Kaen district, and on August 16, 2025, at Khon Kaen Hall. In total, 12 performances were presented by over 1,200 participants.

Since 2010, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has graciously presented championship trophies to winners across various age categories in annual competitions—an honor and distinction for all participants. The Recreation Bureau has scheduled the traditional music competition in August each year to coincide with Her Majesty's birth month, continuing this tradition annually.

Nattareya Tveevongs stated: "This event brings together the loyalty and dedication of children, youth, teachers, instructors, artists, and traditional music networks from across the Northeast, including musicians from the Danchang Club and Sai Thani. Through meaningful performances and songs, they honor Her Majesty's legacy while preserving the nation's cultural heritage. We hope this traditional music festival will inspire young people to take pride in Thai arts and culture, safeguard local wisdom, and ensure our national heritage endures for generations to come."

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is launching its Golden Savings Bond series with units of 500 baht each, beginning August 17, 2025. The bond issue comprises 300 million units divided into 30 categories of 10 million units each, with a total value of 150 billion baht and a two-year deposit term. Upon maturity, depositors will receive interest of 1.15 baht per unit, equivalent to an annual rate of 0.115 percent.

Monthly drawings will take place 24 times and include a first prize of 20 million baht, two second prizes of 1 million baht each, and 300,000 third prizes of 300 baht each for matching the last three digits. Additionally, 10 special prizes of 1 million baht will be awarded, with five drawn in October and five in November 2025. Total monthly prizes can reach 117 million baht, with 300,008 prizes per draw.

Depositors placing 1,000 units or more (500,000 baht minimum) will have a chance to win the monthly last-three-digit lottery. The bond opens for deposits from August 17, 2025 onwards through the BAAC Mobile app and at BAAC branch counters nationwide. Interest and prize winnings are tax-exempt for individuals.

The first drawing will be held on September 16, 2025, with subsequent draws on the 16th of each month for 24 total draws, except January when the draw occurs on the 17th. Depositors who place funds by the 15th of the month are eligible for that month's prize drawing. Results and live broadcasts of the drawings can be viewed on the BAAC website (www.baac.or.th), the BAAC Thailand Facebook page, and the BAAC Thailand YouTube channel. Prize money will be transferred automatically to depositors' linked savings accounts the day following each draw.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — A 52-year-old man died after reportedly suffering heatstroke while clearing grass and weeds in a rice field in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

At around 10:53 on Sunday, Hook 31 Korat rescue volunteers at the Kham Sakaesaeng unit were alerted by Pol. Lt. Col. Thiwakorn Chaemklang, an investigator at Kham Sakaesaeng Police Station, about a man found dead in a rice field in Ban Nong Thuriang, Non Mueang subdistrict, Kham Sakaesaeng district.

The field was located some distance from the road, forcing rescuers to leave their vehicle by the roadside and walk into the area carrying rescue equipment and a stretcher.

At the scene, rescuers found a man lying dead in a water channel along a field embankment. He was wearing black trousers and a long-sleeved blue shirt and had a waist bag.

Police ordered the body to be brought out of the water channel for examination, while police officers, local officials and villagers observed the process.

A mobile phone and the man's national identification card were found inside the waist bag. He was identified as Boonnam Chiansanthia, 52, a resident of Huai Thalaeng district, Nakhon Ratchasima.

No wounds or signs of assault were found on his body.

Relatives told authorities that Boonnam was originally from Huai Thalaeng district but had moved to Kham Sakaesaeng after marrying a local woman.

Before leaving home at around 08:00, he told his family that he was going to clear grass and weeds in the rice field.

When he had not returned by late morning, his family went looking for him and found him dead at the scene. They then alerted the village headman, who contacted police and rescue workers.

Authorities initially suspected that Boonnam had suffered heatstroke due to the hot and humid weather. He may have become dizzy, lost consciousness and fallen face-down into the water channel, where he was unable to help himself and went unnoticed until his death.

Rescuers took the body to Kham Sakaesaeng Hospital for a forensic examination to determine the exact cause of death. The body will then be released to relatives for religious rites.