Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, April 13th to Sunday, April 19th 2026.
They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.
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A report by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) showed strong nationwide tourism activity for the Songkran Festival 2026, exceeding expectations across all regions during the 11–15 April period.
Thailand’s Songkran 2026 Projects US$ 909M Revenue Nationwide, Increasing Year Over Year
2. Authorities have released a summary of the annual road safety statistics from the intensive control period during the Songkran festival, April 10–16, 2026. The Kingdom nationwide recorded 242 fatalities, 1,242 accidents, and 1,200 injuries.
3. As Thailand celebrates its annual New Year festivities, the terms “Songkran” and “Wan Lai” often surface, sparking curiosity about their differences.
Songkran vs. Wan Lai: Thailands New Year Celebrations Explained, Why Dates are Different in Chonburi
4. A viral accident happened at the popular Yinyom Beach Viewpoint in Jomtien, Pattaya, when an 83-year-old Swedish man lost control of his pickup truck, possibly due to a medical emergency, plowing into parked motorcycles, destroying a railing, and injuring a tourist before plunging off a 3-meter drop onto the beach below.
5. On the evening of April 12th, 2026, a violent brawl involving a group of local motorbike taxi drivers and foreign tourists sparked widespread outrage on social media after graphic video footage was shared online.
Pattaya police have summoned four individuals for questioning following a violent incident in which a group of men, believed to be motorcycle taxi drivers, assaulted a foreign tourist.
6. A pair of video clips circulating on social media has triggered widespread anger and criticism in Pattaya after appearing to show three young men of apparent Middle Eastern descent assaulting an older European tourist while he was playing with water on Walking Street.
7. A tragic shooting occurred in the early hours of April 19th, 2026, when reportedly a drunken off duty/out of uniform Pattaya police investigator allegedly fired his service weapon, killing the owner of a cannabis shop in an alley under a popular entertainment venue in Walking Street in South Pattaya.
A senior investigator from Pattaya City Police Station has been charged with murder and firearms offences after allegedly shooting and killing a 41-year-old cannabis shop owner during a late-night drinking dispute in the popular Walking Street area.
8. Phuket has declared an emergency assistance zone as crews battle a stubborn blaze at the municipal landfill near Saphan Hin, which has been burning for two consecutive days.
UPDATE: Phuket Declares Emergency Zone as Landfill Fire Rages
Phuket, Thailand’s world-renowned island destination, is facing a mounting environmental challenge that threatens both its residents and its reputation as a tourist haven.
9. Authorities have released a summary of road safety statistics in Phuket from the intensive control period during the Songkran festival, April 10–16, 2026. Despite heightened enforcement, the province recorded 32 accidents, resulting in 29 injuries requiring hospital admission and 5 fatalities.
Phuket Records Five Fatalities in Songkran Seven Days of Danger
10. Provincial officials in Phuket convened a meeting to review lessons learned from this year’s Songkran celebrations.
Phuket Authorities Tighten Oversight on Risky Tourist Behavior During Songkran
