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Phuket haze causes flight delays
PHUKET: Despite earlier reports, more than a dozen flights were kept in a holding pattern over Phuket this morning due to the thick Indonesian haze currently blanketing the island. Three of the 15 flights were forced to land at Bangkok, Penang and Samui airports, while the others were cleared to land here after 10am, confirmed Amnuay Sarachart, deputy director of…
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Snorkelling tourist dies on Phuket day trip
PHUKET: Employees of a speedboat tour company were unable to save the life of a snorkelling client at Koh Kai yesterday evening. Despite their efforts, the 32-year-old Chinese tourist, Daliang Wang, was declared dead by medical staff upon arrival at Rassada Pier. “Employees explained that Mr Daliang was snorkelling when he was spotted struggling in the water. He appeared to…
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Free air pollution masks distributed at Phuket hospitals, government offices [video]
PHUKET: Government hospitals and offices on the island are handing out free air pollution masks due to the steadily thickening Indonesian haze that has settled over Phuket. Tourists are still going to Phuket’s beaches despite the health risks fromthe Indonesian haze. The reason: no one has told them a health warning hasbeen issued. Video: PGTV “Due to the current air…
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Video Report: Phuket air pollution steadily rising
PHUKET: The haze caused by Indonesian wildfires continues to cover Phuket with an average air pollution level of 163 micrograms (PM10) per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period, confirmed Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office. The new reading marks a steady increase from yesterday’s average of 136 PM10, which forced Phuket officials to issue a health warning…
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Illegal Chinese tour guides busted for bribing police
PHUKET: Police ensnared two illegal Chinese tour guides operating at Chalong Pier with additional charges after the pair attempted to bribe the officers 100,000 baht to secure their release yesterday. Locals informed police that Wenheng Wu, 24, and Boran Chen, 25, were displaying Chinese language tour fliers to potential clients on the pier for several days prior to the arrest.…
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Indonesia haze prompts Phuket boat warning
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office has issued a warning to all boat captains to beware of the decreased visibility caused by the Indonesian haze, which has blanketed the region. “Vision is limited to about one nautical mile. Therefore, all vessels must proceed with caution,” said Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, who signed the warning into effect yesterday. This morning,…
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Malaysia PM urges Indonesia to tackle fires, as haze moves to Thai sky
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia PM urges Indonesia to tackle fires, haze drifts to Thai sky Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on Indonesia to take action against peoplesetting fires that have caused choking smoke to drift across the region, with the sky over…
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Star Philippine boxer Pacquiao declares he’ll fight for Senate seat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Star Philippine boxer Pacquiao declares he’ll fight for Senate seat Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Philippine boxing world champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao has announced he will take up a new challenge by running for a Senate seat in national elections next year. Pacquiao, whose popularity…
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Armed security added to Rohingya shelter
PHANG NGA: Armed night guards have been placed at the Phang Nga Shelter for Children and Families after 14 Rohingya women and children fled the facility yesterday. “The increased security is to prevent human smugglers from targeting the women and attempting to help them escape the facility,” said Anan Dontri, director of the Phang Nga office of Social Development and…
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Officials issue health warning for Indonesian haze [video]
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. The haze situation grew so bad yesterday afternoon, that Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos handed out free face masks for his staff, local teachers and students. Video: PGTV “The average air pollution level for the…
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There’s money in trash [video]
PHUKET: The island’s monsoon-season seas continue to plaster popular beaches with rubbish, while the growing urban environment produces an average of 729 tonnes of trash a day. Though deemed unsightly by expats, locals and tourists, the mass of junk does provide a living for numerous individuals, families and communities. “About one ton of trash is swept onto two of Phuket’s…
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Wildlife sanctuary chief defends staff’s double pricing discrimination against Phuket man
PHUKET: A wildlife sanctuary chief this morning defended his staff’s double-pricing discrimination against a Phuket man at Krabi’s Emerald Pool on Saturday. “There were three tourists, two men and a woman. The two Thais were asked for 20 baht each for the fee and the other man was asked to pay 200 baht,” said Wutthipong Chusangrat, the chief of Khao…
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Haze: Air pollution levels spike in Phuket
PHUKET: Air pollution spiked to unsafe levels this afternoon due to Indonesian haze, confirmed Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office. “Air pollution on the island reached 175 micrograms per cubic meter by 2pm,” Dr Pornsri said. “However, the average level over the last 24 hours is well within the public safety standard of 120, so we have…
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After five years of negotiations, Pacific trade talks near deal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community After five years of negotiations, Pacific trade talks near deal Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A dozen Pacific nations closed in on a sweeping free trade pact on Sunday in Atlanta after abreakthrough over how long a monopoly pharmaceutical companies should be given on new biotech…
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World Bank trims 2015, 2016 East Asia forecasts, cites China, US rate risks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Bank trims 2015, 2016 East Asia forecasts, cites China, US rate risks Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The World Bank cut its 2015 and 2016 growth forecasts for developing East Asia and Pacific, and said the outlook was clouded by the risk of a sharp…
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Police hunt Phuket arsonist
PHUKET: Police are hunting an arsonist who set a motorbike ablaze in Thalang last night. “The 47-year-old owner of the bike, Natee Manabut, and his wife woke up last night to find the Honda Wave 100 parked in front of their house engulfed in flames,” Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police said. “They called for help and splashed water…
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Officials capture escaped Rohingya women, children
PHANG NGA: Officers were able to recover all 14 Rohingya women and children who escaped by a rope made of clothes from the second floor of the Phang Nga Shelter for Children and Families this morning. The escaped refugees ranged from a 5-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl to women up to 32 years old. “We received a reporter right after…
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A Decade Ago: Reining back mediums as poo spreads
PHUKET: The lead story on page one a decade ago, in what has become a familiar cry, was the Governor urging spirit mediums – the people who endure swords, needles and an assortment other objects thrust through their cheeks while possessed by the gods – to practice restraint. Five years later, it was the Assistant Director at the Tourism Authority…
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DDPM Phuket issues weather warning
PHUKET: Officials have issued a heavy rain, flood, strong wind and landslide warning for Phuket. The warning will remain in place until Wednesday. “We issued a warning to all local governments on the island today. They have been asked to beware of weather conditions from the effects of tropical cyclone Mujigae, which could possibly lead to flash floods, landslides and…
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Budget deadlock broken in time for Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: A collective sigh was let out yesterday by those in charge of the Vegetarian Festival, as well as local hospital employees, teachers and many more who were waiting for the deadlock over the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) 2016 budget to be broken. “A solution had to be finalized. The OrBorJor is one of the central government bodies of…
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Haze descends on Phuket
PHUKET: Air quality levels are rapidly dropping in Phuket as an Indonesian haze again sweeps across the island. “Air pollution levels are likely to go beyond what is deemed safe for the public, 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. Over the last measured…
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Opinion: Moral conflict over tea money
PHUKET: There are always stories of people who allegedly slip the immigration police money in their passport to cross the border into Thailand, whether it’s because they don’t have proper documentation or are perhaps nervous about the police giving them a hard time. Recently a friend of mine went on a visa run to secure her non-B visa. She had…
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Phuket celebrates ‘Golden Week’ to promote Chinese tourism
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport launched the island’s ‘Golden Week’ campaign yesterday to celebrate the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. To get the seven-day party started off right, Phuket’s new governor, Chamroen Tipayapongtada (story here) and Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan welcomed to the island 260 mainland Chinese visitors arriving on direct flights from Guiyang and Shenzhen. The lucky…
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New police commander eager to suppress crime
PHUKET: The new Region 8 police commander arrived on the island yesterday and has vowed to tackle crime as well as support the region’s tourism. “What I aim to concentrate on is crime suppression, violent criminals, drugs and human trafficking. At the same time, I will support tourism, as we know there are so many tourist attractions on the island,”…
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Promthep Cape paragliders sail into trouble
PHUKET: Rawai municipality is looking into complaints about paragliders blocking public land on Phuket’s iconic Promthep Cape. “[A recent] complaint stated that visitors were being told to get out of paragliders’ way while they were taking off,” said Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The municipality is now moving to solve the problem by calling members of the paragliding club for a…
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Finance: Dodge a crash with right investment
PHUKET: For those of you who have been reading my columns for some time now, you probably know that I am not the biggest fan of the stock market at the moment. You may think I am an idiot because I have spent years waiting patiently for the next crash while the markets continue to march on to new highs.…
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Rescue workers struggle to bag mammoth python
PHUKET: It took rescue workers more than 20 minutes to remove a feasting five-meter-long python from a Phuket Town hen house last night. “It was quite a big snake, probably 40 kilograms, and had already eaten one chicken by the time we arrived,” said Natakorn Komutphon, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. The homeowner on Soi Roongrawee, near Vachira Phuket Hospital,…
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Police bust escaped Cambodian fishermen for pirated sunglasses
PHUKET: Three escaped Cambodian fishermen were arrested on Kata Beach for peddling fake name brand sunglasses to tourists yesterday. “We received a letter from the Damrongtham Center [ombudsman’s office] that tourists had been conned into buying pirated sunglasses by migrant workers on Kata Beach,” said Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Samran Yukunthorn. “The three said that they used to…
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Opinion: Big smiles in the Land of ?
PHUKET: It is a pleasure to see that the ‘Ministry of Farang Affairs’ resonates with our readers, with each weekly installment serving up a new, and wry, view on the expat experience here in Thailand. Drawn up by well-known satirist Stephff at Gazette partner publication The Nation, these cartoons mark a considerable departure from his usual political work. They instead…
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Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon ready to kick off
PHUKET: Those taking part in the new Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon 2015 will be running through the streets of Patong on October 18. “This is part of a four-province series of marathons,” said Kritthaput Khumboonraung of the corporate social responsibility team at Muang Thai Insurance, which is organizing the event. “We have already held one event in Bangkok and one…
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