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Men rescue cobra from fishing net
PHUKET: Ruam Jai Foundation rescue workers carefully untangled a two-meter-long cobra from a discarded fishing net in Chalong this morning. “A Myanmar worker found the cobra ensnared in the net near the bathroom of the worker camp on Soi Palai,” said Sayan Thammapan, Ruam Jai Rescue Foundation team leader. “He was on the way to the bathroom when he stumbled…
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Boat Lagoon prepared for community boom (video)
PHUKET: Boat Arcade will continue to focus on children’s activities and their needs in the second phase of the project, following the recent completion of the first phase, where the area has been developed as the ‘East Coast Edutainment and Family Center,’ confirmed Kanittha Prasopsirikul, managing director of ‘By Kanittha’ Company and Boat Arcade’s public relations representative. The marketing strategy…
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Woman drowns at Patong Beach
PHUKET: A Myanmar national drowned at Patong Beach after locals were unable to stop her from running into the water last night. Thi Da, 38, had allegedly told her employer that she was in debt and was contemplating jumping into the sea, Maj Pathapee Srichai of the Patong Police told the Gazette. “People in the area saw Ms Thi Da…
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Opinion: I write for the trees
PHUKET: Construction is underway for the much anticipated and loathed underpass at the Bang Khu intersection with cranes in full swing and excavators making their rounds on what little patches of green are still left. While sitting at the red light recently, I was daydreaming of the beautiful new home that all the little shrubs, flowers and bushes would be…
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Lifeguards rescue Russian from deadly seas
PHUKET: A 24-year-old Russian tourist was rescued from a no-swimming zone at Surin Beach by lifeguards on Saturday evening. “We had some swim zones set up for tourist to enjoy. However, other areas, such as the one the Russian was in, were marked off with red flags,” Surin Beach Chief Lifeguard Viroon Chuasaman told the Phuket Gazette today. “There was…
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Indonesia police say aircraft debris spotted in Papua
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia police say aircraft debris spotted in Papua Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An Indonesian search and rescue plane reported spotting debris in Papua province on Monday believed to be from a crashed aircraft with 54 people on board, the local police chief said. The debris…
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Hungry Ghost Festival to begin
PHUKET: Phuket’s traditional Chinese Por Tor, also known as the annual Hungry Ghost Festival, is set to start on August 26. It is believed that the spirits of ancestors visit their relatives for 15 days during the ninth month of the Chinese calendar. Believers will prepare food for the spirits in order to express their gratitude for their ancestors, said…
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Swiss national dies at Nai Harn Beach
PHUKET: A 71-year-old Swiss national died while swimming at Nai Harn Beach yesterday morning. Ernst Krummenacher had gone out for a swim before lifeguards had arrived at the beach, explained Maj Patiwat Yodkwan of the Chalong Police. “Mrs Krummenacher said that her husband started calling for help shortly after entering the water. She and friends hurried to help him and…
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Finance: Time to reinvest in bank stocks, ETFs
PHUKET: Bond yield curves have grown steeper and this means it is a good time to take a closer look at investing in bank stocks or bank ETFs, but risk-adverse investors will still need to be selective when choosing what to invest in. STEEPER CURVES ARE GOOD FOR BANKS To begin with some investing basics, short-term interest rates are set…
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Turkish tourist busted with 99 fake bank cards
PHUKET: Krabi Police arrested a Turkish tourist and a Thai woman for the possession of 99 fake ATM cards in Krabi Town yesterday. Teke Onur Mustarfa, 36, and Kanitha Saramee, 45, have both denied the charges of making and using fake bank cards. “We received a tip-off from Siam Commercial Bank about suspicious withdrawals,” Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee…
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Phuket “debt settlers’ found with grenade
PHUKET: Three people were charged for the possession of a M65 grenade following their return from ‘clearing up’ a debt problem at a karaoke in Srisoonthorn. Officers searched the vehicle after flagging it as suspicious when it approached a checkpoint just south of Tesco Thalang at about 1:30am yesterday. “The vehicle suddenly slowed down before reaching the checkpoint, which seemed…
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China investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China investigates cause of blasts at Tianjin port, firms assess damage Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Investigators are searching for clues to identify what caused two huge explosions at a warehouse used to store toxic chemicals and gas at a busy port in northeast China, as…
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Four injured in Patong Hill bus crash
PHUKET: Four people were injured after a tour bus crashed into a taxi on Patong Hill at about 9am today. “The bus was exiting Patong and had almost crested the hill, when it suddenly started rolling backward,” said Sen Sgt Maj Amnuay Niewthong of the Patong Police. “It crossed into the opposite lane, hit a taxi and finally came to…
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Beach Police start patrols today
PHUKET: Island officers hit the beaches on two wheels today as the Phuket Provincial Police deployed the ‘Phuket Beach Police’ this morning. “Beach Police officers are just regular officers assigned to beach patrol. They will have the power to make arrests while on duty,” confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit. “The idea is to boost tourists’ and locals’ confidence…
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Opinion: After the flood
PHUKET: Recent flooding in many parts of the island will have come as little surprise to long-time Phuket residents, who have witnessed so many of the island’s natural drainage courses bulldozed and covered with concrete or asphalt over the years. Water-related issues seem to increasingly dominate our collective, social-media-driven reality. We are told that ‘El Nino’ was responsible for the…
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Patong officer transferred over police brutality allegation
PHUKET: The police officer charged for allegedly beating a Patong bouncer in June has been transferred to Surat Thani while the investigation is underway, Patong Police Superintendent Chaiwat Auikam told the Phuket Gazette. The investigation follows more than 100 Patong nightlife employees protesting on the street on June 10, after Hollywood Discotheque security guard Kamolchai Singhakerd was allegedly beaten by…
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Special Report: Understanding Phuket corruption
PHUKET: Though the recently deceased Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising will no longer be called to task for alleged corruption in the development of the PPAO Hospital, the case will continue, confirms Preechanun Pumlek, Chief of the Phuket office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). To see the much respected and loved elected official removed from office…
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Phuket Marine Police offer boat-taxi service
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Police were in the boat-taxi business for three days as they helped Nai Yang residents get from their homes to work this week. “The floods were very bad in the area, so we started taking residents from their homes to dry land so they could go to work, and then back to their homes in the…
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Local swimmers make splash at FINA
PHUKET: Future Olympians, who are on a year-long FINA swimming scholarship at Thanyapura while they prepare for the Rio Olympics, stormed to victory in the pool in Kazan, Russia breaking a total of eight national records from four different countries. “The debut of the ‘FINA Road to Rio’ group has been such a success so far, with five swimmers from…
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Fresh funds to put Chalong Dam construction back online
PHUKET: A 180-million-baht budget has been allocated to restart the stalled-out Chalong Dam project, which was originally slated for completion in 2013, revealed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong in an exclusive interview earlier this week. “The project stopped due to budget issues, as it ended up costing significantly more than was planned,” Governor Nisit said. “With the newly allocated budget, the…
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Corruption charges dropped against recently deceased PPAO President
PHUKET: The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is dropping its case against Paiboon Upatising, the recently deceased President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO). However, the investigation into alleged PPAO corruption will move forward. “The complaint was brought to us by the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand [OAG]. However, I have to decline to explain what specifically the…
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Saddle up to “Bike for Mom’
PHUKET: People throughout Thailand, including Phuket, will mark the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd Birthday with a mass bicycling event entitled ‘Bike for Mom 2015’ on Sunday (August 16). The event is being held in response to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s wish to express his gratitude and loyalty to Her Majesty the Queen on…
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AoT yet to set Phuket launch date for APPS
PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AoT) has yet to confirm the exact Phuket launch date for the Advance Passenger Processing System (APPS), which will see all international passengers paying an additional 35 baht for background checks. “Initially, the APPS was expected to be launched in December. However, AoT was informed that airlines had already sold many tickets in advance for that…
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Search continues for missing Korean tourist
PHUKET: Rescue workers have resumed their search for a Korean tourist who went missing in the heavy surf off Kata Noi yesterday evening. “Seo Seungin, 45, was swimming in a red-flag area with his girlfriend when he went missing,” said Supachai Janphet, chief of Karon Municipality Tourist Rescue Center. “The area is watched by hotel lifeguards, but they didn’t see…
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What’s the short-term fix for Phuket public transport?
PHUKET: A number of projects have been put in motion to improve the public transport sector following the cleanup of the taxi mafia by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last year. There are many long-term projects that have been on the table for years, such as the light-rail system. However, there have also been several new initiatives,…
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Phuket Poll: Short-term impact on public transport
PHUKET: A number of projects have been put in motion to improve the public transport sector following the cleanup of the taxi mafia by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) last year. There are many long-term projects that have been on the table for years, such as the light-rail system. However, there have also been a several new…
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HM the Queen’s birthday celebrations underway
PHUKET: Celebrations of the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday, which is also National Mother’s Day, began early this morning. At 7:10am, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong led the island’s top officials in offering alms to 84 monks at Sanam Chai (Chai Field) near Provincial Hall. Those attending the special occasion dressed in blue in honor of HM…
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Heavy rains increase damage to closed road
PHUKET: A road in Koh Kaew has been closed for safety reasons due to its poor quality of construction and the island’s recent heavy rains. Soi Koh Kaew 33, a main route from Thepkrasattri Road past the Phuket Gazette offices to the British International School, is now closed to all traffic after local officials deemed it too dangerous to use.…
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Another heavy weather warning issued for Phuket
PHUKET: The Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a new flash flood, landslide and heavy weather warning for an additional four days, DDPM Phuket Office Chief Santhawat Riwleung confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. “We are anticipating heavy rains, which could lead to further flash floods and landslides from today to August 14,” Mr Santhawat said. “Please…
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Pink Panther laid to rest in Phuket
PHUKET: Thousands of people turned out to mourn the death of former Phuket senator and suspended Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising as he was laid to rest at a Catholic graveyard in Phuket Town yesterday. Adviser to the Minister of Interior Siwa Sangmanee attended the funeral as the guest of honor and headed the ceremony of putting…
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