PHOTO: Chaiwat Satyaem

Strong winds have knocked down four high-voltage poles in the south-central province of Prachuap Khiri Khan, damaging roadside shops and buildings. The disruption damaged local power and electrical appliances in many homes in the Pran Buri district, south of Hua Hin, on Saturday. The damage happened whilst the Thai Meteorological Department was issuing more warnings of strong winds in the Gulf of Thailand.

The strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf of Thailand and the South. The strong winds rise the waves about 2-3 meters high in the upper Gulf from Chumphon southwards and 2-4 metres high in the lower from Surat Thani downward. Residents along the Gulf’s shore should watch for inshore surges. All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats in the Gulf keep ashore.

One of the poles fell onto the roof of a shop, forcing neighbours and relatives to rescue a woman, Chalinee Milintanut, who was trapped inside. Her younger sister, Ananya Suksamran, said strong winds had hammered the district all morning before the power pole fell onto her shop, trapping Chalinee inside.

The manager of the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Pran Buri office said four power poles, a transformer and some cables were damaged by the winds. Authorities expected to finish removing the damaged poles and installing new ones late Saturday, according to The Bangkok Post. 400-500 homes were expected to lose power during the work.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

The government is looking at reviving deep sea-port projects in the south of Thailand. They were shelved two years ago as the government bowed to public opposition at the time.

The Transport Ministry is considering reviving the Pak Bara, Satun, and Songkhla deep-sea port projects. Both projects are in the south of the country. The projects have been shelved at this stage due to strong protests by locals and environment groups.

Thai PBS World reports the the Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has asked the Marine Department to dust off the files on the two infrastructure projects. He has asked that they begin by approaching local communities living around the two deep sea port zones to convince them of the value of the development, the benefits for their localities and the country as a whole.

Feasibility studies have already been completed but additional environment impact assessments may be required to convince opponents of the projects. They will also be necessary to get approval from Cabinet.

Speaking about the 12 billion baht Pak Bara deep-sea port project, Mr. Saksayam says project design and feasibility studies were completed in 2017.

“The project was in the process of gathering opinions from all stakeholders when resistance from local people and non-governmental organisations emerged, forcing the suspension of public hearings.”

According to the Marine Department, the land bridge linking Songkhla deep-sea port with the Pak Nara deep-sea port in Satun, and southward to Penang in Malaysia, will reduce the distance of travel and save transport costs for cargo from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans, as opposed to travelling through the Malacca Straits.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

PHOTO: Chiang Rai Times

A woman is recovering in hospital in Hat Yai, southern Thailand, after being set on fire by family members who accused her of stealing 300 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice) from them.

The Chiang Rai Times reports that Malai Chumpraman, aged 50, earns money as a scrap metal collector. Her husband is serving time for drugs offences.

Several family members accused Malai of stealing 300 grams of crystal meth they had hidden near her shelter, in a village in Songkhla province. The drug had reportedly been left there for a buyer to pick up.

Arrest warrants have been issued for 41 year old Solae Jisawat, his wife Jantira Binsaho, aged 36, and their relatives, 26 year old Yongyut Chumpraman and Patraporn Petcharat, aged 29, who are wanted on charges of illegal detention and attempted murder. A 17 year old family member has already been arrested and has confessed to delivering Malai to the other four.

It’s reported the group assaulted her and poured petrol on her while demanding she return the stolen drugs. When she told them she’d already dissolved the crystal meth in water, they set her on fire. Malai managed to escape and was found hiding in the back of a truck early the following morning and taken to Hat Yai hospital.

The Chiang Rai Times reports that the last two years has seen a ten-fold increase in high-purity crystal methamphetamine seizures in Thailand, which is understood to be produced on an industrial scale in neighbouring Myanmar in an area called the Golden Triangle, before being trafficked through northern Thailand and sold across the Asia-Pacific region, from South Korea to New Zealand.

SOURCE: Chiang Rai Times