Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Tour Bus Crash Kills Over 14 People, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from the last week, Monday, December 4th, 2023, to Sunday, December 10th, 2023.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

Let’s get started and see what the top stories were!

1. December 5th, marks a day of special significance for the people of Thailand – it is Father’s Day, commemorated in honor of the late, great King Bhumibol Adulyadej, whose birthday falls on this date.

Thailand is gearing up to commemorate King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great’s Birthday Anniversary on December 5, a day also celebrated as National Day and Father’s Day.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Father’s Day.

2. Huai Yang police officers received an accident report of a coach bus colliding with roadside trees on the Phetkasem Road, Thap Sakae District, Prachuap Khiri Khan. There were 14 casualties and many injuries reported.

Automotive engineers, the Thai Department of Land Transport, and relevant agencies performed a field inspection of a Bangkok-Nathawi coach bus that had crashed into the roadside trees at the Hatwanakorn National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan.

The death toll rose to 15 as of December 10th, 2023.

3. Aon Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second son of His Royal Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, arrived in Thailand for his second visit in 2023 for Father’s Day.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, the second-eldest son of His Royal Majesty the King of Thailand, visited the Nong Nooch Garden in the Pattaya area on Saturday, December 9th.

Both Thais and foreigners have responded very positively on social media to the visit.

4. In extremely sad news, Kanchana Phattharachoke, the Director-General of the Thai Department of Information and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information and Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Natapanu Nopakun suddenly passed away after battling an undisclosed illness privately for some time.

Natapanu was a valuable source of communication and information for foreign tourists and ex-pats during the Covid-19 pandemic in Thailand. His daily perfect English briefings and clear, concise, and empathetic information delivery will be missed by many foreigners. He was a regular supporter of more rights and equality for foreign ex-pats in Thailand as well and his presence will be sorely missed by the foreign ex-pat community in Thailand.

5. Mr. Kowit Phakamas, the Director-General of the Thai Department of Cultural Promotion, publicly announced the registration of the Songkran Festival in Thailand as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Mr. Srettha Thavisin, the Thai Prime Minister, presided over the Songkran celebration of being officially recognised as UNESCO’s intangible humanity’s cultural heritage at the city square, Bangkok City Hall.

Songkran next year is shaping up to be likely the biggest festival yet although some readers will be happy to hear that there are no plans for non-stop thirty days of water play. Instead, various cultural, entertainment, religious, and other festivities will take place throughout April of 2024 in all the provinces of Thailand, staggered at different dates and times. The famous, but somewhat polarizing, water fights will be limited to the set “regular dates”, for most of the country April 13th-April 15th.

That’s all for this week, as always thanks for your support!

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The TPN National News, owned by our parent company TPN media.