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.

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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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthammaphand is preparing to launch the "Thai Rice Curry Helps Thailand" program to reduce living costs by offering meals at no more than 40 baht per plate, targeting 100,000 restaurants with subsidies of 3,000–10,000 baht each for a three-month pilot beginning in August.

A reporter surveyed food business operators in Chai Nat province and found mixed reactions. Amnaj Thongdonnian, 42, owner of the popular "Oe Rice Curry" restaurant on Phaholyothin Road, disagreed with the program, citing varying operational costs across businesses including rent, wages, and ingredient prices. He argued that government subsidies are insufficient to cover actual expenses.

"The program may look good to consumers, but it won't improve conditions for restaurants," Amnaj said. "What the government should urgently do is control prices of raw materials at source—rice, meat, vegetables, coconut milk, and cooking gas—which keep rising. Addressing root causes would be more sustainable and fair to all parties."

Riders and low-income workers, however, praised the initiative as beneficial for their daily struggles with rising living costs. The current "Thai Helps Thai Plus" program at Oe Rice Curry is already popular, with over half the customer base using it.

Despite consumer enthusiasm, restaurant owners remain concerned about maintaining quality and quantity under cost constraints, and are awaiting clarity from the government on support measures and incentives to ensure business survival in the current economic conditions.