- Phuket News
Search continues today for survivors. 23 remain missing.
With the body count numbers still in flux, as the recovery mission continues, the Phuket PR Office says the official death toll is 33 tourists that have died with dozens still missing. Strong winds and high waves sunk the dive yacht Phoenix, packed with mainly Chinese visitors, late on Thursday afternoon when a weather front came in from the Andaman…
- Northern Thailand News
- Thailand News
Boat victims will receive 300,000 baht from Thai Government
As the search continues off the south-west coast of Phuket for survivors from tour boats that sank yesterday afternoon, Thai officials are already rolling out the PR machine. The Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat has already promised that families of the victims of the boat accidents in Phuket will receive 300,000 baht (9,000 USD) each from the Thai government.…
- Phuket News
Deputy PM foreshadows legal action against captain and owner of ‘Phoenix’
PHOTO: ‘Phoenix’ from Siraphop Srakaew Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is threatening legal action against the captain and the owner of the ‘Phoenix’, the ill-fated tourist boat that sank yesterday evening off the south-west coast of Phuket. General Prawit says the captain and owner of the Phoenix boat will be held responsible for the accident. ‘Phoenix’ sank with 105 people on…
- Phuket News
Phuket: Seventeen more bodies recovered. 39 remain missing
Navy sailors have located 17 more bodies from the sea off Phuket, raising the number of confirmed deaths in boat accidents to 18, while 39 Chinese tourists remain missing. Officials aboard HTMS Long Lom recovered 12 bodies at 10.50am near the location where the tour boat Phoenix sank after being slammed by huge waves on its way back to Phuket…
- Thailand News
Warm farewell for British cave-diver
By Suthinan Kongsin The Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat presented a certificate of honour to Briton Robert Charles Harper at Suvarnabhumi International Airport last night (Wednesday) as the cave expert, who played a crucial role in finding the 13 footballers, departed for home. In a spontaneous 11pm ceremony, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith also gave him a painting of Harper…
- Thailand News
Mae Hong Son: Plane crash. Injured trooper rushed to hospital, bodies retrieved.
Rescuers have rushed an injured Army trooper to hospital and retrieved three bodies after an Army Cessna 182 light aeroplane crashed in Mae Hong Son province near the Myanmar border on Thursday. A rescue team from the 17th Infantry Regiment, local defence volunteers from Ban Huay Pheung village, the Mae Hong Song Disaster Mitigation Office as well as a medical…
- Northern Thailand News
“Unrealistic and very risky.” Academic warns about cave rescue.
By Pratch Rujianrom Associate Professor Ariya Aruninta from Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok is warning that the focus on evacuating the trapped 13 by drying the cave was unrealistic and very risky. Draining water out of the Tham Luang cave is an impossible mission, she claims, even as the rescue operation makes headway and pumping water from the flooded cave has…
- Thailand News
Murder suspect arrested 24 hours before statute of limitations expired
A Trang murder suspect has been arrested in Satun yesterday, just 24 hours before the statute of limitations on the 20 year old murder case was due to expire. 41 year old Kredis Sombatthong, a resident of Trang’s Yan Ta Khao district, was arrested by Crime Suppression Division police in Satun’s Khun Ka Long district this morning (Thursday) under a…
- Travel
Trang airport terminal expansion on track for 2019 completion
The Trang International Airport passenger terminal expansion will be completed mid next year. The announcement comes from the director general of the Airports Department. Darun Saengchai says 116 million baht had been allocated to add another 3,000 square metres to the 6,000sqm facility, which was proving inadequate in high tourist season. The expansion would enable the terminal to accommodate 600…
- World News
Malaysian polygamist, who married 11 year old Thai girl, must face trial
A former UN committee member on the Rights of the Child, Sanphasit Koompraphant, is urging the police of both Malaysia and Thailand to take legal action against the 41 year old Malaysian man immediately who has ‘married’ an 11 year old Thai girl in Narathiwat province. He says the marriage has clearly violated the laws. He was responding to a report…
- Northern Thailand News
Can’t swim, can’t dive. But it’s the only option.
PHOTO: Army doctor Colonel Pak Loharachun on Wednesday prepares inside the cave to treat minor wounds sustained by the football team members – Thai Navy SEALS “The fittest of the survivors will be the first to come out, others will follow,” Narongsak Osotanakorn, Chiang Rai governor and head of the rescue operations, said yesterday. Rescuers do not want to delay…
- South Thailand News
Fourth Buddhist Yala rubber tapper injured in a week
PHOTOS: The Nation Police in Yala are reporting that another Yala rubber tapper has been killed by suspected Muslim militants in the southern border province. The incident happened this morning (Wednesday). The victim becomes the fourth Buddhist rubber tapper in a week to be attacked by suspected Malay-Muslim insurgents. Police said 46 year old Sukho Khamkaew was injured when a…
- Thailand News
His Majesty sends a special message to cave rescue teams
“When the mission is over, they should receive good hospitality as the Royal guests until they depart from Thailand.” – His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn His Majesty has sent a message, passed on to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, to those working to ring the footballers out of the cave. “Initial praises are good but please remain focused on the operation, which will…
- Northern Thailand News
Navy SEALS now taking care of the team inside the cave
PHOTO: Thai Navy SEALS Whilst the 13 footballers have now been found, weak but in relatively good condition and spirits, they are no closer to enjoying a hug from their parents, family or friends at the moment. Whilst they remain ‘close, yet so far’, every photo, video or voice heard is savoured. Parents of the boys trapped in the Chiang…
- Northern Thailand News
Options and opportunities – getting the football team out of the caves
PHOTOS: The Nation/Thai Navy Seals Facebook Page “…all of them are in the good hands of seven Navy SEALs, who will be with them and take care of them all the time.” Authorities are mulling whether they should wait for water levels to subside, which could take a long time, or use divers to bring the footballers out in a…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Alternatives being checked out for the evacuation of the 13 member team
Finding the 13 footballers 300 metres away from the ‘Pattaya Beach’ inside the caves is just the first step in the recovery operation. But the prospect of getting 13 weak individuals out through the inundated and tricky cave systems, a lot of it still underwater, is proving an enormous challenge for rescuers. So, rescue teams are continuing to search for…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Complicated process of evacuation begins
“Operation to rescue footballers a success but not over yet.” Chiang Rai Governor. “The operation to rescue the 13 missing Mu Pa Academy football club members was a success,” the head of the mission declared after all 13 members were found alive on Monday night on a ledge in the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai province. The discovery follows…
- Northern Thailand News
“Alert and in good spirits.” Team alive. Rescuers now face evacuation challenges.
The twelve boys and their coach have been discovered alive following nine days of frantic searching. They were trapped by floodwaters in a cave complex in the far north of Thailand. The governor of Chiang Rai Province said rescue workers were providing care and managing their extended stay whilst they await a supervised extraction. Divers reached the group after enlarging…
- Thailand News
Unregistered foreign workers to be detained and deported
Unregistered migrant workers are now being targeted in a crackdown following the deadline on June 30 for workers to get registered to be able to work in the Kingdom. The first batch of 22 unregistered foreign migrant workers rounded up in the Labour Ministry-led crackdown since July 1 will face legal action and then be deported. This from the Department…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Governor says searchers headed for key cave area
The latest news out of Chiang Rai as the search continues at a critical time. Chiang Rai’s Governor Narongsak Osottanakorn has confirmed that Navy SEALs and other divers had reached the T-junction inside Tham Luang Cave and would turn left and press on towards the area dubbed “Pattaya Beach” where the lost football squad are believed to be trapped. He…
- Phuket News
Koh Payu monkeys get a seafood feast
The Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) headed out to Koh Payu where 80 monkeys have been recently released to their new home. The visit was to check on their welfare and give them some seafood treats. On June 21, 80 monkeys, which had already been sterilised, were released onto Koh Payu,…
- World News
Thai and Chinese clash over damming of the Mekong
The Mekong River is shared my six countries and is the world’s twelfth longest river. But running through six going economies is causing a host of challenges and conflicts as to how to manage the river. Hydro-electric power is just one of the issues. Chinese experts who insist that hydropower projects on the Mekong River will benefit all stakeholders met…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Race against time
Yesterday’s progress… • The Royal Thai Navy’s SEALs set up a forward command in the third chamber of the Tham Luang cave. • The SEALs venture out of the third chamber to get closer to “Pattaya Beach” where the stranded footballers are thought to have gathered. • The water level in the cave reduces due to all-out drainage efforts, which…
- Northern Thailand News
Pattaya Beach, here we come – Navy SEALS getting closer
It’s full steam ahead to day as rescuer make an all-out-attempt to reach the area in the Tham Luang caves known as ‘Pattaya Beach’. The group of 13 has been stuck in the cave since they were caught in there eight days ago by sudden flooding rains. The Royal Thai Navy’s SEALs are now trying to dive through 800 metre…
- Northern Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Day Eight – full speed ahead to the middle of the caves
PHOTO: Practice drills to maximise the evacuation speeds when the missing team is found/The Naiton Day Eight: Saturday’s search milestones were the most significant to date with the rains easing, the floodwaters being removed and inroads into many sections of the cave from all sides of the mountain. Support teams outside the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai were yesterday…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai: Deeper and deeper. Navy SEALS get to the 3rd chamber.
PHOTOS: The Nation A SEAL unit of the Royal Thai Navy has reportedly reached a spot inside the Tham Luang, closer to where the stranded 13 are believed to be taking refuge. The search for the 12 young football players and their coach trapped in the Chiang Rai caves enters the second week today. A report on the Thai Navy SEAL webpage…
- Phuket News
Phuket Surf Series kicks off in Patong today
Surfing Thailand and the Phuket Surfing Club, is association with the Tourism Authority of Thailand is organising the “Phuket Surf Series 2018+ Khao Lak” that runs from today (June 30) to October 2018. This falls during the annual ‘Green’ or monsoon season in Thailand’s Southern Region, when swells out of the Bay of Bengal are most consistent for both beach…
- Thailand News
Songs of hope
Messages of support are pouring in from all corners of the country as the rescue mission for 12 boys and their football coach missing in a Chiang Rai cave reached its sixth day yesterday. Popular singers, YouTube stars and a national artist have lent their moral support to rescue efforts. National artist and a Sea Write winner Nawarat Pongpaiboon penned…
- Thailand News
Accessing from above. Scientists add their knowledge to the search.
By Pratch Rujivanarom in Chiang Rai Academics, experts in the local geography and local people are pitching in to provide scientific data about the Tham Luang cave network. This local intel will support the official rescue mission for the youth football team believed trapped inside. Those working on the rescue speak of a tough operation, a battle against nature, in…
