News

Kalasin pagoda collapse – Initial investigation points to three factors

Published

11 months ago

June 5, 2018

Kalasin pagoda collapse – Initial investigation points to three factors | The Thaiger

The collapse of an ancient pagoda under restoration at Wat Kud Wa in Kalasin’s Kuchinarai district yesterday morning, resulting in the death of one worker and four others being injured, stemmed from three main causes.

Authorities begun a probe into the Pagoda’s collapse almost immediately yesterday.

Kalasin’s public works and city planning officer, Weerachai Kaewhawong, cites three factors: construction work had strayed from the original plan; there had been changes to the construction materials used in order to save costs; and there was a lack of supervision by engineers to ensure structural stability.

Referring to his initial inspection of the pagoda and surrounding building, Weerachai said the site had been modified periodically since 2014 and the pillars supporting the building roof were too small to support the resulting weight.

Commenting that the initial investigation had also found that the construction work undertaken was not carried out in accordance with the original restoration plan made by an architect, and had not been supervised by an engineer, he declared that officials would undertake a further inspection of the construction materials used – especially in regard to the reinforced-metal framework and the cement mixture.

Monday’s collapse led to the death of 56 year old worker Wan Prakhieo while four other workers sustained broken limbs.

Police, meanwhile, have also established that Wan and his fellow workers were working on the pagoda’s pavilion during a morning downpour when the building collapsed on them.

Kalasin pagoda collapse - Initial investigation points to three factors | News by The Thaiger

SOURCE: The Nation

Phuket

Residents protest the Phuket Governor over water shortages

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

Residents protest the Phuket Governor over water shortages | The Thaiger

Local residents in Rassada have picketed the Phuket Provincial City hall to demand answers from the Phuket Governor over the current water shortages.

Phuket Governor Pakkaphong Tavipattana told the media yesterday they are managing to solve water shortage problems in Phuket throughout this dry season.

Whilst claiming that there was no ‘drought crisis’ in Phuket the Governor said… “All local administrative organisations must use their own plans to solve the drought by yourself.”

The Governor even mentioned the ‘C’ word, whilst denying that there was any ‘Crisis’, blaming the media for beating up the story and saying the bad publicity will damage the island’s tourist reputation.

The ‘shortage’ or ‘management problems’, or whatever you want to call it, are problems stemming from earlier inaction to foresee the water shortage problems and manage them appropriately. Instead of a plan to ration water earlier in the year, the island now faces critical water shortages with tankers rolling across the Sarasin Bridge in a convoy to assist in the non-crisis.

Today 15 water trucks from Rassada Municipality, the Phuket Water Work Authority (PWA), the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office (DDPM), The Department of Rural Road Phuket Office and the Water Resources Region Office 10 Surat Thani rolled into Rassada. These water trucks are helping to distribute free water for residents in the east Phuket Town area.

Locals in Rassada, who have suffered most water shortages in Phuket, are now receiving free water instead of having to buy water following their protest.

Residents in Kathu, Chalong, Rawai, Koh Kaew, Thalang and parts of Phuket Town have been complaining over the past month that their water supply has been either cut off completely or reduced to a trickle.

So, no matter what Phuket’s Governor wants to call it, thousands of residents around the island have been struggling with basic water supplies for up to two months.

On February 6 this year, the Phuket Water Authority announced water restrictions.

And then the day after, cancelled them.

In retrospect, the rationing would have been prudent water management and would have avoided the need for Rassada residents to protest and water trucks to be rolling across the Sarasin Bridge.

Residents protest the Phuket Governor over water shortages | News by The Thaiger

Krabi

British national and five Burmese arrested in Krabi over working illegally

Published

3 hours ago

April 24, 2019

Kritsada Mueanhawong

British national and five Burmese arrested in Krabi over working illegally | The Thaiger

Koh Phi Phi Police have been cracking down on illegal workers on the island’s and have arrested a British national along with five Burmese yesterday in Krabi.

Police arrested 28 year old British man Benjamin Richard Stone at a restaurant on Koh Phi Phi yesterday.
The arrested follows police receiving a tip-off that the suspect was illegally selling tour packages to tourists without a work permit. He is facing charges of illegally working in Thailand. Stone is currently denying the charge.

Immigration Police discovered that Stone entered Thailand on February 4 as a tourist. He was coming from Malaysia and arrived at the Phuket International Airport.

Police have also arrested another five Burmese citizens for working illegally.

Koh Samui

Raid on 18 foreign-owned Koh Samui hotels, owners arrested

Published

5 hours ago

April 24, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Raid on 18 foreign-owned Koh Samui hotels, owners arrested | The Thaiger

FILE PHOTO

Army, police and municipal officials have raided 18 hotels on Koh Samui claiming that they are illegally owned by foreigners. The hotels in questions are on a mountainside on the Gulf island, the second largest island in Thailand.

Officials carried out the search and raids on Chaweng Noi Mountain in Moo 6 village in Tambon Bophut and found that 18 luxury mansions had been modified as hotels to cater to foreign tourists.

None of the 18 hotels were licensed and all are co-owned by businessmen from several countries, according to officials, including the UK, Germany, France, Russia, Belgium, Israel and Austria. Officials said the foreigners used Thais as nominees by stating their names as co-owners.

The inspection was carried out following complaints from licensed hotels that they had seen a large decrease in patrons after the new hotels began operating. Hoteliers said the new hotels had an unfair advantage because they were not paying the same taxes, or operating under the sale rules, as the licensed hotels.

Officials found the 18 hotels had proper land deeds but had not been registered as hotels.

Bophut police station took legal action against foreign executives of the four companies that were operating four of the 18 hotels. They have been charged with operating without a hotel license and working in a business – food and beverage – that is reserved for Thais.

Police said they will summon executives of the remaining 14 hotels to face charges. The executives are all living abroad.

SOURCE: The Nation