Nan province is pioneering a new dimension in rainy-season tourism with the fourth Pua Mud Volleyball tournament, held August 15-16, 2025, in the rice fields. The event merges sports, agricultural heritage, and creative activities to enliven the Pua district while boosting travel and spreading income to local vendors and communities.

Organized by the Nan Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports alongside the Pua Tourism Promotion Association, Pua Facebook groups, the Pua Mud Volleyball Club, private enterprises, and tourism partners, the tournament operates under a competitive development and quality tourism advancement programme for fiscal year 2025. Now in its fourth year, the event reimagines Pua tourism during the green season, showcasing lush rice paddies, agricultural traditions, and local natural beauty through sport tourism and mud volleyball competition.

Throughout the event, the rice field was transformed into a celebration of sport and community spirit, with athletes and supporters bringing colour and energy. Beyond competition, activities included food and drink sales from local vendors, youth cultural performances, and live music, weaving sport into the fabric of tourism and local economy.

Tournament winners were crowned as follows: champions Nan Buri won 50,000 baht, first runners-up Chok Naphaphi won 30,000 baht, second runners-up Teng 1 VC won 10,000 baht, and third runners-up Luang Prabang won 5,000 baht. The fantasy costume competition prize of 5,000 baht went to Teng 1 VC, reflecting the event's philosophy of blending athletic competition with fun, creativity, and inclusive participation.

The fourth Pua Mud Volleyball tournament exemplifies how sport and creativity can drive tourism by building on local resources and identity to create fresh experiences open to all ages. It aims to stimulate off-season travel, distribute revenue across Pua and Nan, and elevate sport and creative tourism to establish the region as a premium destination.

Beyond the field, the event showcased collaboration between government, private sector, young people, communities, athletes, and local partners, who collectively transformed rice fields—central to Pua life—into a tourism story and added value. The tournament is more than muddy athletes; it represents a shared vision for developing the region's tourism economy.

On August 23, 2024, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasted thunderstorms and heavy rain over the next 24 hours across the northern, upper northeastern, central, and eastern regions due to a monsoon trough moving across the upper north and northern Laos, combined with the tropical storm Narra in the Tonkin Gulf and a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the upper Gulf of Thailand. Residents in affected areas should be alert to dangers from heavy and accumulated rainfall, which may cause flash floods, flash runoff, and overflowing banks, particularly in sloped terrain near water channels and low-lying areas. The upper Andaman Sea will experience fairly strong waves of 2-3 meters high, rising above 3 meters in thunderstorm areas, while the upper Gulf of Thailand will see waves around 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm zones. Fishermen in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand are advised to navigate carefully and avoid thunderstorm areas; small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should stay ashore during this period. Tropical storm Narra in the Tonkin Gulf is expected to move ashore in southern Guangxi Province, China, on August 24-25, 2024, and will not enter Thailand, so it will not directly affect Thai weather; travelers to those areas should check conditions before departing. The detailed forecast includes the northern region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uthai Thani, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, and Tak provinces, with temperatures of 22-27 degrees Celsius minimum and 32-34 degrees Celsius maximum; the upper northeastern region with 40 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, and Nakhon Phanom; the central region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi; and the eastern region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi, and Trat, with sea waves of 2 meters and exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. The southern east coast will experience 30 percent thunderstorms mainly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani provinces, with waves 1-2 meters high offshore, rising above 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

On August 22, Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of the Miss Universe Thailand pageant organization and CEO of Miss Universe Eastern, posted an Instagram story in Thai and English stating that he is urgently pursuing an arrest warrant against Fatima Bosse in a defamation, libel, and false information case, with clear supporting evidence. He attached a copy of a case report from Wat Phra Ya Kai Police Station. The two have been in an online dispute over licensing rights to the Miss Universe pageant. Itsaragrisil has previously affirmed in interviews that he holds full 100 percent authority over the Eastern region as CEO of Miss Universe Eastern, managing 95 countries.

Fatima Bosse is the 74th Miss Universe of the world and won the title while competing in Thailand in 2025. The Mexican beauty holds a bachelor's degree in fashion design from Iberoamerican University. She comes from a family of business and political figures; her father, Bernardo Bosch Hernandez, is an accomplished engineer and senior executive at Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company.

On August 22, officers from Rangae Police Station in Narathiwat Province warned residents throughout the province and surrounding areas to report sightings of a government pickup truck stolen during an incident at Bongo Subdistrict Administration Office in Rangae District, Narathiwat Province. The incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. that evening.

According to initial reports, approximately 30 armed assailants attacked the Bongo Subdistrict Administration Office, restrained and bound security personnel, then set fire to the building before fleeing with a gray 2013 Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck bearing license plate Ngo 2474 Narathiwat heading toward Chulaphorn Development 5. Security forces are actively tracking the vehicle and monitoring routes to intercept it and prevent its use in further incidents.

Police advised the public that stolen vehicles may have their color changed, license plates altered, or exterior appearance modified to conceal identity. Residents are urged to exercise caution and avoid approaching, following, or confronting suspicious vehicles. Instead, people should note any details they can safely observe and immediately contact police at 191, 1341, or the Vehicle and Motorcycle Theft Prevention Center at 073-274850.

Since around 8:00 p.m., multiple incidents of civil unrest have been reported across Rangae District, Narathiwat Province. Security units are investigating the incidents, with the following preliminary reports:

1. An explosion and gunfire incident occurred at a child development center in Bukebiero Village, Marubotak Subdistrict, Rangae District, Narathiwat Province. Damage assessment is ongoing.

2. The burning of Bongo Subdistrict Administration Office and theft of a vehicle in Bongo Subdistrict, Rangae District, Narathiwat Province involved approximately 30 assailants who overpowered security staff, bound them, then set fire to the office before stealing a gray 2013 Mitsubishi Triton with license plate Ngo 2474 Narathiwat and fleeing toward Chulaphorn Development 5. Tracking and investigation are underway.

3. A tire burning incident was reported at Mosuawa Village in Bongo Subdistrict, Rangae District, Narathiwat Province. Investigation details are pending.

4. An explosion occurred on a connecting route between Kampongpare Village, Marubotak Subdistrict and Kuchingluopa Village, Chalerm Subdistrict, Rangae District. No injuries were initially reported. Investigation is ongoing.

5. A truck fire was reported at Aanae Bridge in Bongo Subdistrict, Rangae District, Narathiwat Province. Details, damage assessment, and circumstances are under investigation.

Narathiwat Provincial Police declared a curfew until 6 a.m. following continuous disturbances across the province. Starting around 8 p.m. on August 22, 2026, incidents of unrest spread to multiple areas of Narathiwat, with reports of explosions, fires, burning of vehicle tires, and attacks on government facilities. Security officials are working to control the situation and investigate details.

At least 11 major incident sites have been reported across Narathiwat Province, including areas in Rangae, Srisalak, Muang Narathiwat, Bajah, and Tachai districts. Incidents include explosions near the border between Marlbotak and Chalerm subdistricts with no initial reports of injuries, vehicle tire fires on bypass roads toward Narathiwat Airport, a power pole blast in Srisalak District, arson at a community meeting hall in Chanapheuak District, and damage to a roadside shelter near the transport office in Sukhirin District.

The Narathiwat Task Force announced a curfew prohibiting people from leaving their homes from 10:15 p.m. on August 22 until 6 a.m. on August 23, 2026, to escalate situation control. The Songkhla Province Region 4 Forward Command urges the public to exercise caution, avoid incident areas and restricted zones, and refrain from sharing images, videos, or real-time location information of officials' operations. Citizens can report suspicious activity or objects by calling the Region 4 hotline at 1341 or 191. The situation remains under investigation with ongoing coordination among relevant agencies.