Year: 2005

  • Phuket NewsSeafood “safe to eat’ | Thaiger

    Seafood “safe to eat’

    PHUKET: The island’s health chief has confirmed that seafood supplies are safe to eat, though he has also reminded people not to eat raw seafood.Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office, told the Gazette that every kind of meat should be well cooked before being served. Such precautions apply at all times, not just now, he said.“I…

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  • Phuket NewsRicky Martin to tour Phuket | Thaiger

    Ricky Martin to tour Phuket

    PHUKET CITY: Latin American pop singer Ricky Martin will arrive in Thailand tomorrow to tour tsunami-hit areas and assist orphaned survivors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. The tour is being conducted through the People for Children project, which Martin heads though his Puerto Rico-based Ricky Martin Foundation. The group fights against sexual exploitation of children, but in Thailand…

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  • Phuket NewsCall for govt to sponsor F1 powerboat race | Thaiger

    Call for govt to sponsor F1 powerboat race

    PHUKET: Phuket Chamber of Commerce Chairman Pamuke Archariyachai has called for the government to commit 50 million baht in sponsorship for the F1 powerboat race in Phuket, as a way to attract tourists back to the island.K. Pamuke called for the support at a meeting, at Phuket Royal City Hotel, held to discuss ways to revive the tourism industry in…

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  • Phuket NewsGerman Foreign Minister visits Phuket | Thaiger

    German Foreign Minister visits Phuket

    PHUKET: German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer toured Phuket and Phang Nga at the weekend to assess the damage caused by the December 26 tsunami.Mr Fischer said a top priority should be identifying the bodies of people still classified as “missing”. Some two weeks after the waves hit shorelines around the Indian Ocean, 60 Germans were confirmed dead, while 700 more…

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  • Phuket NewsAppeal for relief supplies for second Khao Lak convoy | Thaiger

    Appeal for relief supplies for second Khao Lak convoy

    PHUKET: The organizers of a convoy filled with relief supplies sent to stricken areas of Phang Nga on January 7 say they have “barely scratched the surface” and are planning to send another convoy on Friday.The team, which sent of four six-wheeled trucks, two four-wheeled trucks and about six pickup trucks and cars full of supplies in the first convoy,…

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  • Phuket NewsFixing Kamala water “will take 2 months’ | Thaiger

    Fixing Kamala water “will take 2 months’

    KAMALA: Local authority staff are distributing water to residents of Kamala whose supplies have been rendered undrinkable after being contaminated during the tsunami.Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) Chairman Jaran Sararak told the Gazette that the OrBorTor had arranged for water to be delivered to villagers in Moo 3, where the existing water supply had been disrupted.He said he hoped that…

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  • Phuket NewsBritish Embassy office moves | Thaiger

    British Embassy office moves

    PHUKET: The British Embassy has announced that its office in Phuket, established to deal with the aftermath of the tsuanmi disaster, was today moved to the Royal Phuket City Hotel on Phang Nga Rd inPhuket City.The office may be reached 24 hours a day at Tel: 076-264473, 076-264474 or 076-264484 (Fax: 076-263993) and will be keep official office hours daily…

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  • Phuket NewsCandidates register for general election | Thaiger

    Candidates register for general election

    PHUKET: Tsunami or no, the four parliamentary candidates from the two big political parties turned up this morning to register their candidacies for the upcoming general election.With the Democrat Party candidates in blue, their Thai Rak Thai (TRT) opponents in red, all wearing yellow garlands and cheered on by enthusiastic supporters, the atmosphere was reminiscent of the final minutes before…

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  • Phuket NewsFantaSea closes temporarily | Thaiger

    FantaSea closes temporarily

    KAMALA: The Phuket FantaSea tourist attraction will be closed until January 18, because of the tsunami.Managing Director Pin Kewkacha said the Kamala-based attraction had sustained damage totaling 60 to 70 million baht, and that, in addition, it had lost between 150 million and 200 million baht in revenue because of the slump in the number of visitors.As a result, the…

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  • Phuket NewsPatong “clear of tsunami wreckage’ | Thaiger

    Patong “clear of tsunami wreckage’

    PATONG: Wreckage caused by the tsunami has now been cleared from the streets of Patong and dumped in a disused tinmine, Phunsak Naksena, Chief Administration officer of Patong Municipality told the Gazette today.“We have dumped all construction debris into a privately-owned tin mine,” said K. Phunsak. “Most car owners have already contacted their insurance companies to handle the disposal of…

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  • Phuket NewsHelp pours in for damaged schools

    Help pours in for damaged schools

    KAMALA: Financial assistance has been pouring in from Thailand and around the world to help rebuild Phuket schools damaged by the December 26 tsunami. The Education Ministry has already issued 800,000 baht in emergency funding to rebuild four schools damaged by the December 26 tsunami, said Damrong Boonchoti, Director of the Phuket Educational Area Office. Most of the funding will…

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  • Phuket NewsPlay equipment offered cheap to schools | Thaiger

    Play equipment offered cheap to schools

    PHUKET: A play-equipment manufacturer is offering a 50% discount on items bought to be donated to schools, nurseries and kindergartens to replace equipment lost to the tsunami. Wichana Praditpolkarn, Managing Director of Genius Kids, told the Gazette, “We feel that play equipment is important to the children since we heard that children feel sad and do not want to go…

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  • Phuket NewsGay Festival postponed until April | Thaiger

    Gay Festival postponed until April

    PATONG: The Phuket Gay Festival, originally scheduled to take place in February, has been postponed because of the tsunami. The event will now be run from April 7 to 10. Festival organizers have announced that although most gay venues escaped direct damage from the tsunami, two were hit, with one member of staff killed. An announcement on the organizer’s website…

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  • Phuket NewsFrance revises travel advisory | Thaiger

    France revises travel advisory

    PHUKET: The French Government has revised its travel warning on Thailand, pointing out that damage from the December 26 tsunami was localized and advising its citizens that travel to many places is safe. The advisory reads (Gazette translation): “The tidal wave of December 26 caused considerable destruction along the southwestern coast of Thailand (the provinces of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga,…

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  • Phuket NewsBizarre twists in UK travel advisory | Thaiger

    Bizarre twists in UK travel advisory

    PHUKET: In a bizarre twist possibly sparked more by politics than reality, Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) yesterday took Phuket off its list of places for British travelers to avoid, and then, within hours, put it back on.On its website, the FCO had advised, since the tsunami struck, against “all but essential travel to affected resorts and towns along…

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  • Phuket NewsSome dead may never be identified – Straw

    Some dead may never be identified – Straw

    PHUKET: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today that identification of tsunami victims may take months and, in some cases, identification may never be possible.Mr Straw was speaking during a visit to Phuket, where he met survivors and relatives of some of the thousands killed by the tsunami.He said the tsunami had claimed the lives of at least 49 Britons in…

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  • Phuket NewsJapanese rescuers leave for home | Thaiger

    Japanese rescuers leave for home

    PHUKET: In another sign that the island is moving into the recovery-and-rebuilding phase, 49 members of a Japanese rescue team flew back to Tokyo yesterday afternoon after briefing Rear Admiral Tana Bunnag, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command Based at Cape Panwa on what they had achieved. Team leader Toshimizu Ichigure said that 60 Japanese took part in the…

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  • Phuket NewsWoman rescued after tsunami “now missing’

    Woman rescued after tsunami “now missing’

    KHAO LAK: A German woman injured when the tsunami struck Khao Lak appears to have gone missing – after receiving hospital treatment for minor injuries. The family of Barbara Kuehne believe she may have been so traumatized by what she experienced during the tsunami that she has been unable to contact family, friends or consular representatives. Mrs Kuehne was separated…

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  • Phuket NewsCall for donations to rebuild schools | Thaiger

    Call for donations to rebuild schools

    PHUKET: Those interested in making donations for rebuilding Baan Kamala and Baan Kalim schools, both of which were badly damaged in the tsunami, can do so using the bank account information below. All proceeds will go toward reconstruction and providing scholarships to students who lost their parents in the tsunami. The first account, the Phuket Educational Area Relief Fund, will…

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  • Phuket NewsSwedish boy “missing, not kidnapped’

    Swedish boy “missing, not kidnapped’

    PHUKET: A 12-year-old Swedish tsunami victim feared abducted from a Phang Nga hospital was not kidnapped, but is instead still missing, police said last night.Pol Lt Col Virit Kamolrat of Phuket Tourist Police told a press conference last night that a boy taken from Tai Muang Hospital by an older German man was not Kristian Walker of Sweden, but another…

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  • Phuket News10,000 attend tsunami memorial

    10,000 attend tsunami memorial

    SAPHAN HIN: A somber memorial service for the survivors of the December 26 tsunami was held at Saphan Hin Sports Stadium last night.The ceremony began with Islamic, Christian and Buddhist services, followed by condolence speeches by Senate President Sukhon Chaleekreua and Wiset Juphibal, President of the Phuket Society, which organized the ceremony. Listening to them were about 10,000 people dressed…

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  • Phuket NewsLabor Minister hands out B26m in aid | Thaiger

    Labor Minister hands out B26m in aid

    PHUKET: Labor Minister Uraiwan Thienthong visited six Phuket hospitals yesterday, distributing more than 26 million baht to help the facilities cope with the financial burden of treating victims of the December 26 tsunami. Together with Labor Ministry Civil Service Inspector Nakorn Silpa-archa and Phuket Vice Governor Winai Buapradit, K. Uraiwan handed over checks in the following amounts:Government hospitals: Wachira Phuket…

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  • Phuket NewsMisleading reports about missing toddler

    Misleading reports about missing toddler

    PHUKET: A number of misleading emails and media reports are circulating about Hannes Bergstrom, the 20-month-old Swedish toddler who was taken to Phuket International Hospital after the tsunami, and could not at first be identified. Hannes was, however, indentified and reunited with family members after his plight was featured in the Gazette Online on December 27, 2004 (see story here).…

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  • Phuket NewsAppeal for more items for Khao Lak | Thaiger

    Appeal for more items for Khao Lak

    PHUKET: The organizers of a convoy of relief supplies for 700 homeless families in the Khao Lak area and for others further north have appealed for donations of more items to fill the vehicle, which leaves tomorrow.What follows is a list of items requested by the Khuk Khak Tambon Administration Organization and the Takua Pa District Office, with the approximate…

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  • Phuket NewsB75m budget for homeless victims | Thaiger

    B75m budget for homeless victims

    PHUKET: The central government has budgeted 75 million baht to construct new homes for some 4,000 families left homeless in the six provinces affected by the December 26 tsunami. Speaking at a press conference at the Governor’s Office this afternoon, Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula said the aid will come from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Finance Ministry and private donations.K.…

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  • Phuket NewsNo disease outbreaks in Phuket – health chief

    No disease outbreaks in Phuket – health chief

    PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has confirmed that there have been no reports of epidemic diseases on the island, but has warned people to take precautions with drinking water.In particular, Dr Wanchai Sattayawuthipong warned people in coastal areas affected by the December 26 tsunami to refrain from drinking well water in order to prevent the…

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  • Phuket NewsNow everyone can drive | Thaiger

    Now everyone can drive

    PHUKET: AirAsia (motto “Now everyone can fly”) has announced that it is terminating its direct Phuket-Singapore flights effective today, due to lack of demand following the tsunami disaster of December 26.Public Relations Executive Jacqueline Mercader told the Gazette today that the number of passengers in recent days had fallen to as few as three per flight, and that the company…

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  • Phuket NewsUS pledges support for tsunami warning system

    US pledges support for tsunami warning system

    PHUKET: Gen Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, today pledged US support for the development of a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean.Speaking at Phuket Provincial Hall this afternoon, Gen Powell said, “Tsunamis of the kind we saw [on December 26] are not that common in this part of the world, so perhaps enough attention hasn’t been given…

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  • Phuket NewsEmbassy staff contact numbers | Thaiger

    Embassy staff contact numbers

    PHUKET: Following is a list of embassy staff from 41 countries responsible for looking after their nationals in the aftermath of the tsunami in the six Andaman coast provinces of Thailand:Australia:Robin Hamilton: 01-8165709Ms Sudamani: 01-8366131Austria:Edwin Ferner: 01-8145965Belgium:Ronny Elaut: 01-8339986Canada:Diego Tremblay: 01-8438275Sukanya Racharit: 01-8352690China:Pan Guangxie: 01-6555884Mo Yaohing: 01-8214771Hua Jinzhou: 01-9903858Li Tuzong: 09-8766052Denmark:Ulrik Helwek-Jarsen: 01-8558159France:Michel Frebourg: 09-8101084Finland:Heikki Tuunanen, Jussi Koskela, Khaikhae Louwithawas:…

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  • Phuket NewsEarly warning center “by end of January’ | Thaiger

    Early warning center “by end of January’

    PHUKET: A disaster warning center aimed at reducing the death and injury rate in any future tsunami may be established as early as the end of this month, the Gazette has learned.Smith Dharmasaroja, newly assigned to the office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for examining what can be learned from the events of December 26, told a press conference…

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  • Phuket NewsDelivery of relief items to Takua Pa | Thaiger

    Delivery of relief items to Takua Pa

    PHUKET: The organizers of a relief delivery to Khao Lak (story here) have announced that they will also be pleased to deliver items for Takua Pa (story here) on behalf of those unable to make delivery themselves. Items for Khao Lak (crockery, cutlery, camping gas stoves and non-electric rice cookers) and items for Takua Pa (baby formula, baby bottles, toys, children’s shoes,…

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  • Phuket NewsCall for info on missing persons | Thaiger

    Call for info on missing persons

    BANGKOK: Nordic embassies in Bangkok, representing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, have called for all people with information about possible missing nationals to contact them.In a press release sent to the Gazette, the embassies pointed out that people seriously injured or too young to report themselves may be listed as still missing.Anyone with information of such people should notify…

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  • Phuket NewsTAT pushing hard to help recovery | Thaiger

    TAT pushing hard to help recovery

    PHUKET CITY: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Juthamas Siriwan said today that any delay in recovering from the December 26 tsunami will cost the country 10 billion baht a month in lost tourism revenue.As a result, she said, “We are in a hurry to let people abroad know that [any danger from] the tsunami has already passed, and many…

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  • Phuket NewsKhao Lak needs cooking implements | Thaiger

    Khao Lak needs cooking implements

    KHAO LAK: Volunteers gathering relief for survivors in the devastated area around Khao Lak have appealed for items urgently needed there. These include: Cooking Utensils – Pots and pans, woks, plates, bowls, mugs, forks and spoons; Cooking Oil; Simple gas stoves (like those used for camping); Simple rice cookers (non electric). A collection point for such items has been set…

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  • Phuket NewsRelief items needed urgently in Takua Pa | Thaiger

    Relief items needed urgently in Takua Pa

    TAKUA PA: The Gazette has received an urgent plea from volunteers working with tsunami survivors at the Takua Pa District office for the following: Milk powder for babies; Milk bottles for babies; Toys to occupy children; Children’s shoes, e.g. flip-flops; Mosquito nets; and Sarongs. Anyone who can purchase some of these items and deliver them to Takua Pa District Office will be…

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  • Phuket NewsAccount details for relief donations | Thaiger

    Account details for relief donations

    PHUKET: The following are account details for those wishing to make monetary donations to help victims of the tsunami disaster in Phuket and surrounding areas. – Rotary Club of Patong: Siam Commercial Bank Public Ltd, Chao Fa Branch (Phuket); Account number: 633-2-49365-8; Account name: Rotary Club of Patong Beach (Tsunami Relief Fund); Swift Code: SICOTHBK; Telex number: 20455 SIAMFX TH…

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  • Phuket NewsIdentification Documents found on beach at Koh Lanta | Thaiger

    Identification Documents found on beach at Koh Lanta

    A driver’s license and ID card belonging to a Marion Reijerink have been found on the beach on Koh Lanta. They are currently in the hands of FD Luca who has posted a notice at https://thethaiger.com/classifieds/details.asp?thequerytype=&id=48434&Cat=54 and who can be contacted at lucafd@yahoo.com

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