by Kittipong Maneerit

More foreigners detained and likely to be deported. Seems to be a never-ending supply of illegal foreigners hiding in Thailand. X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner has been an almost weekly campaign to round up and deport overstaying and illegal foreigners over the past two years.

Another 490 foreigners were caught this week in the latest Immigration Police dragnet involving simultaneous raids at 229 locations around the country.

It was the 46th such crackdown bringing the total number of locations searched to 7,145 and the number of arrests to 8,400.

Immigration Police Bureau announced that 338 of the people arrested were charged for entering Thailand illegally – 110 from Laos, 141 from Myanmar, 85 from Cambodia and one each from Vietnam and India.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is inviting Bangkokians to join in “60+ Earth Hour 2019”, by turning off electrical appliances and lights for one hour from 8.30-9.30pm on Saturday, March 30.

The rest of Thailand is also invited to join in the annual environmental initiative. The BMA has participated in Earth Hour since 2008 by encouraging Thais to switch off lights to show their concern for the planet.

The BMA says they’re joining 262 organisations to participate in the event. Bangkok’s main celebration venue will be Central World Plaza on March 30.

The BMA say that last year’s event, when 121 organisations and establishments took part, was a success with 2,002 megawatt reduction in power usage during the ‘lights-off’ hour which was calculated to have a cash value of 7.86 million baht or a reduction of 1,026 tons of carbon dioxide.

Started as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now celebrated in 188 countries as a global moment of solidarity and action to save the planet.

PHOTO: @fm91trafficpro

A sudden and brief summer storm swiftly passed through Bangkok’s Lak Si and Don Mueang areas yesterday afternoon.

The storm left some damage in its trail, including toppled small trees on Soi Vibhavadi 60, clogged drains and an under-construction Vibhavadi-Rangsit pedestrian bridge’s metal scaffold falling onto a car at Lak Si Intersection.

The stormy weather took place around 3.30pm and lasted over 10 minutes.

The Thai Meteorological Department had previously warned about storms, gusty winds, hail stones and lightening in upper Thailand from March 23-25 and continues to warn people to avoid open fields, big trees or billboards during the storms.

Forecast for the Central areas of Thailand…

Up to March 23, hot to very hot during the day. Minimum temperature 23-27°C. Maximum temperature 36-40°C. During March 24 – 27 2019, hot during the day. Isolated to scattered thunderstorm with isolated gusty and hail. Minimum temperature 22-26°C. Maximum temperature 33-38°C. Southeasterly wind 10-15 km/hr.

SOURCES: The Nation | TMD