Month: January 2019

  • Phuket News

    Overloaded pickup truck rolls off road into Rawai jungle

    An overloaded pickup truck has rolled down into off-road jungle in Rawai today. The pickup driver sustained only minor injuries. The Chalong Police were notified of the incident on Patak Road in Soi Suksan 1, Rawai at 10.50am today. Patrol police and emergency responders arrived to find a damaged pickup truck head-long into a tree 10 metres from the roadside.…

    Read More »
  • Bangkok News

    Taxis are leading concern for tourists visiting Thailand

    Tourist police say that Taxi’s continue to be one of the most pressing issues for tourists visiting Thailand. In 2018, 12,679 taxi drivers were arrested by police, of which 5,668 drivers refused to pick up passengers, compared to 1,681 last year. 3,408 drivers refused to use their fare meter, compared to 255 last year and 1,659 who were overcharging, where…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Floods and blackouts along southern Gulf coast as storm moves away

    • Floods and blackouts have left nearly 30,000 people in evacuation shelters across southern Thailand • Relieved tourists stranded on islands further north were spared the worst and are now working on continuing their journeys • Pabuk packed winds of up to 75 kph (45 mph) and brought heavy rains and storm surges as it lashed the much of the southern…

    Read More »
  • Thailand News

    Election Commission throws onus for election date back on Government

    The Election Commission is throwing the ball back into government’s court, saying it can only set an election date after the government formally issues the Royal Decree announcing an election date. Over the past year the date of February has firmed, been confirmed by numerous Government officials, including the PM and his Deputies. The Election Commision president Ittiporn Boonpracong made…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    Pabuk: ‘War room’ set up to help tourists

    The Sports and Tourism Ministry has set up a war room to assist the many tourists whose plans were thrown into confusion in the wake of tropical storm Pabuk. The Government and authorities took extra precautions, closing airports and marine tourism, in preparedness to minimise potential danger to tourists as Pabuk approached. Santi Pawai, deputy permanent-secretary of the Tourism and…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: The worst is over as southern Thailand mops up

    The potential for any further problems associated with Tropical Storm Pabuk are diminished as the remnants of the storm continue to move westward and out to sea away from the Andaman Coast. The general consensus is that, whilst unseasonal and packing high wind speeds (for Thailand), the storm’s impact was less than predicted causing minimal damage to infrastructure in the…

    Read More »
  • Krabi News

    Pabuk: Now sits over Andaman Sea, moving west

    The south of Thailand awakes this morning to a wet and windy aftermath of tropical storm Pabuk. The storm centre has crossed the Peninsula and now sits west of Phang Nga province as it weakens and continues to move westerly away from the coast. Gale-force winds, storm surges and flash flooding are still predicted as the remnants of the weakening…

    Read More »
  • Bangkok News

    English teacher arrested after inner city organic marijuana farm raid

    A 46 year old English language teacher has been arrested for allegedly operating an organic marijuana farm and selling the produce online. He was arrested today after a raid on a four level building in Bangkok’s Phayathai inner city district. Police say that on the third floor of the building, officers found five litres of cannabis oil, 50 plastic pots…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Pabuk: One crew dead, another remains missing – trawler sinks off Pattani

    A boat crew has drowned with another still missing after a fishing trawler with six crew sank in rough seas off Pattani earlier today. The body of 47 year old Pramote Wongsuwan washed ashore around 11am. Another crewman, 51 year old Chalong Chanthana, is still missing. The four remaining captain and crew, aged between 34 and 41, were rescued after…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Pabuk makes landfall as it swirls across the Malay Peninsula

    PHOTO: The National The Meteorological Department is reporting that the outer arms of tropical storm Pabuk made landfall at 12.45 pm along the coast of Pak Phanang, district of Nakhon Si Thammarat today. The storm is weakening as it moves towards neighboring province Surat Thani to the north, moving at around 18 kilometers per hour, with maximum wind speeds of…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    Phuket Airport announces delayed or canceled flights – Pabuk

    Sixteen flights from three airways heading to Phuket have been delayed or canceled due to storm ‘Pabuk’ today. Pilot Officer Thanee Chuangchoo, General Manager of Phuket International Airport, says, “There has been a total of 16 flights from Bangkok Airways, Juneyao Airlines and Hainan Airlines which have been either canceled or delayed.” The Bangkok Airways flights into Phuket were all scheduled…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Tropical storm Pabuk claims first victim

    PHOTO: Abdulloh Benjakat A trawler has sunk off the coast of Pattani province due to stormy seas caused by tropical storm Pabuk. Reports say one fisherman has died with another missing. Four managed to make it back to shore safely. The body of Pramote Wondsuman has been identified, while the missing man is only known by his first name, ‘Chalong’. The…

    Read More »
  • Thailand News

    40 more people died during Seven Days of Danger

    463 people died due to traffic collisions and chaos over the past week – the seven days of danger – with drink diving and speeding, again, the major cause of traffic incidents. The death toll was up by 40 from last year’s count of 423 and close to the 2017 record of 478. Drink-driving was listed as the cause of…

    Read More »
  • Krabi News

    Pabuk: 2,000 tourists on Koh Phi Phi moved to Krabi mainland

    PHOTOS: Krabi PR Office About 2,000 tourists on Phi Phi Island moved up on land. Some are Phuket tourists who are currently unable to return to the island due to the ban on boats leaving port. The Ao Nang Tourist Police say that lots of tourists from Phi Phi Island have been arriving at a pier in Krabi City as…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk edges closer to southern Thailand

    PHOTO: Aljazeera “Officials expect the conditions to persist into Saturday.” Aljazeera is reporting that tropical storm Pabuk is forecast to make landfall on Friday evening in Nakhon Si Thammarat coastal islands bringing torrential downpours and strong winds to more than a dozen other provinces in the south. The region is home to one of the world’s biggest natural rubber plantations…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    120 foreign tourists being brought back from Koh Racha – Pabuk

    PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office A boat, organised by officials, is bringing back 120 foreign tourists who have been visiting Koh Racha. The Phuket Governor Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana says, “Officials have been notified that 120 foreign tourists were stuck on Koh Racha. A boat from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Phuket Office was sent this morning to pick…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Warnings for coastal residents to stay indoors

    by Pratch Rujivanarom Strong gale conditions and surging seas are pounding the coastlines of three provinces this afternoon. The Meteorological Department is warning residentsto stay indoors and away from the coast. The provinces affected so far include Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla. Department director-general Phuwieng Prakhammintara says Tropical Storm Pabuk was expected to have greater affect on southern coastlines as…

    Read More »
  • Bangkok News

    Suicide at Bangkok’s Terminal 21 shopping mall as Italian man jumps from escalator

    PHOTO: Living + Nomad 44 year old Federico Maistrello fell to his death yesterday after jumping from an escalator at Bangkok’s Terminal 21 shopping mall. CCTV footage of the incident shows the Italian man coming down the escalators from the sixth to the fifth floor when he decided to jump. He fell in full view of shoppers in the central…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Surging up the coast towards Koh Samui

    PHOTO: Vikasa Yoga Retreat The tropical storm ‘Pabuk’ is due to make landfall on the Surat Thani islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao later this afternoon, after sweeping up the southern Gulf coast this morning. At this stage authorities report plenty of rain and strong winds but limited damage. When the storm hits Samui later today it…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    British motorbike driver dies after collision with power pole in Chalong

    A British male motorbike driver has died after colliding with a power pole in Soi Ta-iad (Soi Steroid) in Chalong. The Chalong Police were notified of the incident at 8.40pm last night at an electricity pole in Soi Ta-iad. Police and Emergency responders arrived to find a Kawasaki Ninja 250CC motorbike crashed on the road near the power pole. The…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Pabuk: Koh Tao awakens to ‘business as usual’

    Our Koh Tao ‘man on the spot’, Adrian, says that the island currently has heavy rains with some wind, and thunder but that wind is not currently strong. He reports that people are going around their business as usual. “Yesterday a lot of people left the island as we saw the last two ferries leaving around 3pm and they…

    Read More »
  • Thailand News

    Deputy PM throws doubt on election date

    by Chanwanpen and Somroutai Sapsomboon The NCPO has throw a curved ball at the Election Commission, placing the onus on the Commission’s committee to decide the date of the general election whilst taking into account the preparations for the royal coronation ceremony. There’s also been suggestions of a month’s delay from the election’s tentative date of February 24. Deputy PM…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    Pabuk: Ships ‘must’ remain at shore – Phuket Governor

    Phuket’s Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana has issued an official warning that ships ‘must’ remain on shore in every district connecting to the Andaman Sea in Phuket. Governor Phakkaphong says, “The warning notifications are for controlling, taking care, precaution, reducing risk and preventing an avoidable disaster off the coast of Phuket.” “For maintaining national security, peace, life and property, Phuket applies the…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Regular updates throughout today following the storm up the coast

    Storm Watch – 8.30am Rough seas off the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday afternoon as tropical storm Pabuk approached land. Tens of thousands of tourists have been evacuated from local coastal communities and some tourists have evacuated the popular islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan which are in the path of the storm today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h86FqX2CzBc Storm Watch…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Friday awakes with the storm surging up the Gulf coastline

    30,000 people are estimated to have been evacuated from coastal districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat whilst some tourists are taking precautions of leaving the Gulf holiday islands, airports close, boats remain at mooring and schools are shut. Thailand’s southern Gulf coast prepares for winds up to 95kph, heavy downpours and floods. From Nakhon Si Thammarat up to Chumpon provinces, emergency…

    Read More »
  • Krabi News

    Krabi boats banned from leaving ports due to storm ‘Pabuk’

    PHOTOS: Krabi PR Office Krabi ferries and tour boats are being banned from leaving port while some national parks are being closed for tourist safety with the approaching tropical storm ‘Pabuk’. The Krabi PR Office is reporting that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Krabi Office has issued an order that bans fishing boats, passenger boats and speed boats…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Thai woman, who won lottery in 2017 and donated 2 million baht, wins again

    PHOTO: Shin Min Daily News 53 year old Suwana from Ang Thong in the south of Thailand, can’t believe her luck, as she wins top lottery prize for the second year running. In 2017, she was the lucky winner of 30 million baht – the top prize – and has since proceeded to donate over 2 million baht to build…

    Read More »
  • Krabi News

    Pabuk: Koh Phi Phi travellers stranded

    Koh Phi Phi officials have cancelled all ferry services to and from the island as of today as a precaution in light of the tropical storm Pabuk approaching the Malay Peninsula. Tourists who are now on Phi Phi will have to stay there until the boats are allowed to leave port again, probably Sunday. Krabi Tourist Police say that all…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Precautions taken in the south for Pabuk

    FILE PHOTO With the impending arrival of tropical storm ‘Pabuk’, everyone in the coastal regions are bracing for landfall. Koh Samui officials have been ordered to monitor all shipping and tour boats, while all tourists spots and national parks have been told to prepare to close. Phuket airport is already on high alert, urging all passengers to double check their…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    Similan National Park to be temporary closed due to tropical storm ‘Pabuk’

    The Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga is to be temporary closed for two days, tomorrow and Saturday, for tourist safety with the approaching tropical storm ‘Pabuk’. Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga announced yesterday that ‘PABUK’ is moving to north-west which will affect the southern part of Thailand from today until Saturday. For tourists safety, the…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    Pabuk: Phuket Airport, ready for the approaching storm

    FILE PHOTO Travellers passing through Phuket International Airport in the next few days are being urged to check their flights. Phuket is bracing for some poor weather and heavy unseasonal rains brought on by tropical storm Pabuk. The storm is likely to make landfall in the Gulf island of Koh Samui before heading to Chumpon where it is likely to…

    Read More »
  • Food

    Bangkok Tonight: La Casa Nostra restaurant pop-up at Small’s Bar

    If you live in Bangkok I know that it can be easy to very overwhelmed by all the choices around you, whether it is food, drink or partying, you have a lot of options, but not tonight. Tonight head down to Sathorn’s Soi Suam Plu, for a very special pop-up event being hosted at one of Bangkok’s most celebrated and…

    Read More »
  • Thailand video news

    PABUK a tropical storm, not a typhoon

    Keep up-to-date with the latest 2019 Pabuk storm coverage on The Thaiger.

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Heading for Koh Samui, Surat Thani

    The projections of ventusky.com show ‘Pabuk’ making its way up the Gulf of Thailand in a north-westerly direction. According to the map model, the storm is likely heading for Koh Samui and likely to make mainland landfall further up the coast around Chumpon. But the fallout from the storm will certainly affect the entire southern coastline from Nakhon Si Thammarat,…

    Read More »
  • South Thailand News

    Pabuk: A very rare event – Remembering ‘Harriet’ in 1962.

    The last major tropical storm to hit the southern coastal Gulf region in January was back in 1962. It started, just like Pabuk, as a weather system off the western coast of the Philippines. In this case on October 19, 1962. After making its way across the South China Sea and scooting across the bottom of southern Vietnam, the system…

    Read More »
  • Koh Samui News

    Pabuk: Tourists flee Gulf islands of Koh Phangan, Samui and Koh Tao

    “Waves could reach seven meters high in the Gulf of Thailand.” Thousands are departing some of the tourist hot spots including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao as the region’s first tropical storm for January in 30 years heads northwest across the Gulf of Thailand. Tens of thousands of tourists are reported to be fleeing the Thai resort islands of Koh…

    Read More »
  • Phuket News

    No restriction on tourist numbers visiting Similan Island for three months

    The Phuket Administrative Court has issued a temporary order for the Similan Islands. The order overturns a recent restriction on tourist numbers on the island for three months. Yesterday the Phuket Administrative Court ruled to temporarily stop the restriction of tourist numbers visiting the Similan Island from January 1 to March 31. The President of Similan Surin Tour Operators, Nipon…

    Read More »