No new Thai province created in July

"King Rama 10 has bestowed the name 'Krasae Sin' on the country's newest province," reads the Thai-language claim shared on Facebook on July 8, 2023.

The post says Krasae Sin, a district in southern Thailand would become the country's 78th province.

It is currently part of Songkhla province (archived link).

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Screenshot from the false post, captured on August 25, 2023

A similar false claim has also been shared on Facebook here, here and on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Many users appeared to believe the claim, leaving comments that read "long live the king".

'Impossible'

But Mahamapisakri Wamae, Deputy Governor of Songkhla province told AFP on August 25 that Krasae Sin district has not submitted an application to become a province (archived link).

He said a qualifying territory would need to send its proposal to the province it belongs to before the proposal is forwarded on the Ministry of the Interior. The ministry then submits it to the Thai cabinet for approval.

"Looking at it with logic and reason, it is impossible," Mahamapisakri added.

A 1981 cabinet resolution states new provinces must meet requirements that include having a total area of more than 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) and a population of more than 300,000 (archived link).

According to official data available on the Krasae Sin district website, the district covers 114 square kilometres and its total population is 15,000 (archived link).

Other specific characteristics such as history, natural environment or security are also taken into consideration.

Thailand's newest Bueng Kan province -- established in 2011 -- was split from Nong Khai province in part to make it easier for the government to manage the long land border between Thailand and Laos, according to the 2011 Bueng Kan Province Establishment Act (archived link).

AFP did not find any report on the Secretariat of the Cabinet website or the Thai Royal Gazette as of August 29 about the establishment of Krasae Sin as a new province (archived links here and here).

Thailand's Board of Investment website also says the kingdom has 77 provinces, not 78 as the posts claim (archived link).

AFP has previously debunked a similar claim that Thailand had created seven new provinces.