The Southern Border Security Command (Region 4 Forward) honored Sgt. Nattawut Surathat, a brave police officer who sacrificed his life for peace in Thailand's southern border region. On May 22, 2025, during civil unrest in Pattani Province, assailants used firearms to attack Sai Buri Police Station in Sai Buri District. Sgt. Nattawut Surathat, 29, a squad leader from Nong Chik Police Station who was stationed at Sai Buri Police Station, sustained critical injuries and died at the hospital that evening. At 22:10, Air Chief Marshal Ekwattiwit Chobchooprohl, spokesman for the Southern Border Security Command (Region 4 Forward), stated: "The Southern Border Security Command (Region 4 Forward) expresses deepest condolences for the loss of Sgt. Nattawut Surathat, a dedicated and courageous police officer who died from wounds sustained when assailants opened fire on Sai Buri Police Station in Pattani Province on May 22."

A house fire is believed to have been caused by an electric kettle left plugged in. The homeowner, a teacher, plugged in the kettle and then walked to her nearby mother's house, leaving her child asleep inside. The child heard unusual sounds before the electricity cut out throughout the house and ran after the mother, only to return and find the house engulfed in flames.

On May 22, 2569, police from Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat Station in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province received reports of a fire in Soi Pa Yang, Moo 4, Tambon Tha Ngiao, Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat District. Police Captain Kittishai Krainara reported the incident and coordinated with firefighters from Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality to rush to the scene and extinguish the fire.

When they arrived, the fire was burning intensely and had spread rapidly, completely destroying the entire house. Firefighters deployed water to control the blaze. The homeowner, a teacher at a local school, reported that after returning from work, she plugged in an electric kettle and then went to her mother's nearby house, leaving her child sleeping in a room. The child heard abnormal sounds before the house's electrical system shut down completely and ran after her.

Investigators from the station examined the scene and coordinated with forensic police. The homeowner was identified as Chidarat Jitsaman, a teacher at a local school. She explained that after returning from work in Nakhon Si Thammarat, she plugged in an electric kettle and went to her mother's nearby house, leaving her child sleeping in a room. The child heard abnormal sounds before the house's electrical system shut down completely and ran after her.

"When she returned to the house, the fire had spread severely and couldn't be controlled. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed. The cause is suspected to be an electrical short circuit or the electric kettle causing the fire. Officials will continue to investigate and gather evidence to determine the exact cause."

On May 22, 2026 at 7:50 p.m., Pattaya's Land Disaster Prevention Radio Center received a report of a car fire near Chai Phraks intersection in Jomtien on Sukhumvit Road in Sattahip subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. Two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters found a white 2025 sedan engulfed in flames, with local residents attempting to control the fire using chemical extinguishers, but without success. It took approximately 20 minutes of coordinated water spraying by the Pattaya fire department to control the blaze, leaving the vehicle completely destroyed. The driver, Alex, 25, a Russian national, stated that he was driving to a repair garage where the car was a regular customer. While just 100 meters away, he suddenly heard a loud explosion beneath the vehicle accompanied by smoke billowing out. He managed to coast the car to the garage entrance, turned off the engine, and jumped out. Within seconds, the vehicle burst into flames. The repair shop manager explained that Alex had previously taken the vehicle to a Bangkok auto shop for engine modifications. Upon returning, he noticed abnormal noises from the engine and called the garage requesting an inspection, but the fire broke out before he could arrive.

On May 22, 2025, reporters documented the progress of the fire at the A.J. Plus Hotel on Pattaya Soi 3 in the northern Pattaya area, Moo 6, Nai Klang Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri Province. At the time of the incident, approximately 240 guests from 120 rooms were forced to evacuate the building in chaos.

Four people were injured in total: three guests—two Thai women and one Indonesian boy—suffered smoke inhalation and injuries during evacuation. The fourth victim was Thawatchai, a 40-year-old hotel employee who attempted to contain the fire but sustained approximately 20% burns and smoke inhalation. His condition was serious and he was transported to a nearby hospital.

Hotel Managing Director Athinath Wattanaphrom revealed that preliminary staff interviews suggest the fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit somewhere on the rooftop, though the exact location remains unknown. He stated the hotel is awaiting official investigation results from relevant authorities.

Following the incident, the hotel evacuated all guests and temporarily arranged alternative accommodation at nearby hotels while awaiting safety inspections. The hotel apologized to all guests and emphasized that customer safety is the top priority, committing to full support for those affected. Initial damage assessment estimates total approximately 25 million baht.

Eight Thai nationals crossed back into Thailand after working at an online gambling casino in Laos for only 10 days before authorities shut it down. They attempted to smuggle 127 mobile phones across the Mekong River back to Nong Khai, claiming the devices were used to transfer funds between gambling website customers.

At 11:00 AM on May 22, 2025, officers from the Nong Khai Customs Office, Immigration Bureau, military, and police jointly apprehended Ms. Sukanya, 38; Mr. Manas, 32; Mr. Praphruek, 20; Mr. Niphon, 23; Ms. Hattairat, 24; Mr. Somphorn, 31; Mr. Chatchai, 36; and Ms. Orthhai, 24—all Thai nationals—along with 127 mobile phones.

During routine screening at the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border checkpoint in Muang Nong Khai, officers stopped a Hyundai vehicle (registration Kb 0437, Kamphaengphet) entering from Laos. The driver was Laotian with eight Thai passengers inside. Upon inspection of their luggage, officers discovered large quantities of hidden mobile phones, totaling 127 units, and detained all passengers.

Under interrogation, all eight confessed to traveling to operate an online gambling website at a Laos casino location. They launched the website on May 10, 2025, but it was shut down after just 10 days by Laotian authorities. They decided to return to Thailand to resettle. The mobile phones were equipment used to process financial transfers between gambling website customers and were being transported for potential future operations.

Authorities charged them with illegal importation of goods (mobile phones) without customs procedures. Police are investigating potential connections to scam operations and call centers, with the case being forwarded to Muang Nong Khai Police Station for further legal proceedings.

On May 22, 2025, Deputy Commander Theeyaphat Rangsipramanakul of Nong Khai Immigration, along with immigration officials, received custody of 102 Thai nationals suspected of involvement in scamming operations from Laos at the first Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint in Muang Nong Khai District. Among them was 33-year-old Phongthep from Nonthaburi, subject to arrest warrant No. 125/2566 issued on January 13, 2566, facing charges including fraud, impersonation, gang membership, transnational organized crime participation, computer fraud, and money laundering, with the Anti-Scamming Division handling the case.

During interrogation, Phongthep stated that in 2566, a friend named Aek invited him to work as a call center employee in Cambodia. He illegally crossed the border through Sakaew Province and was detained for 12 days upon arrival. When offered illegal work, Phongthep refused and was threatened for payment of 30,000 baht or to have relatives send money. Unable to comply, he was tortured with electric shocks and forced to read scripts impersonating a police officer receiving complaints for two months before escaping back to Thailand. In mid-April 2567, seeing an online job posting for packaging work in Laos, he crossed the border illegally through Nakhon Phanom Province to Savannakhet Province in Laos. Though employers provided accommodation, he was arrested by Lao authorities and deported to Thailand before starting work.