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Australian cave medic emerges to his own tragic news
In the wake of yesterday’s euphoria following the final five team members being successfully evacuated from the Tham Luang caves, a sad epilogue. An Australian doctor, Richard Harris, partly responsible for looking after the Thai football team during their cave ordeal, emerged last night, exhausted but relieved they job was over. Some sad news awaited him. He was told that…
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Prawit apologises after insensitive comments about Chinese boat disaster
“They build their own ships, don’t follow our rules.” Thailand’s #2, deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan is again in hot water, this time for making comments about the Chinese that died in last Thursday’s boat disaster in Phuket, the second worst maritime disaster in Thailand (after the 2004 tsunami). He suggested that Chinese people are to be blamed for the tourist ferry…
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Phuket boat disaster toll: 42 survivors, 46 found dead, 1 remains missing
The Phuket PR Office has revealed the latest death toll for passengers who drowned following the sinking of ‘Phoenix’ south-west of Phuket last Thursday evening. Three bodies were recovered in the Monday and Tuesday recovery missions. The current total for people travelling on the boat is 89 tourists plus 14 boat crew and tour guides for the fateful trip. The…
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Team NOT tranquillised – PM
Let’s put this story to sleep. The PM Prayut Chan-o-cha denied that the young footballers trapped in Tham Luang cave were tranquilised before setting out on the journey through the convoluted cave system to freedom. He did, however, admitted that they took an anxiolytic, a drug to relieve anxiety. Anxiolytic drugs are commonly used before general anaesthetics or in treatments…
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Uttaradit: Waitress found murdered in boarding house
Police in Uttaradit, north of Bangkok near the Laos border, are still searching for a man after his estranged wife was found dead in a boarding house yesterday morning (Tuesday) with her throat slit. Police say 29 year old Kamolrat Ruangrit had been killed inside the bathroom of her unit in the province’s Mueang district. Investigators say that, besides having…
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American film crew already in Chiang Rai plotting movie
As the rescue mission around the cave swings into a huge clean up operation, a US film crew has already arrived in Chiang Rai. Two American producers have been sniffing around plotting a movie project about the 12 young Mu Pa Academy footballers and their assistant coach who were trapped in the cave for more than two weeks. The final…
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Boat tragedy suspected to be involved with zero-dollar tour company
An initial Tourist Police Bureau investigation is pointing to incriminating evidence that suggests that the ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Serenata’ were involved with the zero-dollar tour ‘Tranlee’ network. Tourist Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn told a Phuket media briefing yesterday that the crackdown on 11 suspected zero-dollar tour companies in Phuket last year, is believed to have links to the…
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Thirteen is a lucky number
All 12 young footballers and their assistant coach, who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for over two weeks, have been successfully and safely evacuated from the cave on day 3 of the mammoth rescue operation. According to the Thai Navy Seal’s Facebook page, the four divers, who accompanied the last members to be rescued from deep…
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Army sergeant shot dead in Narathiwat
More trouble in Thailand’s deep south today after an Army sergeant was shot dead while riding to work on his motorbike in Narathiwat this morning (Tuesday). Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, reports that 26 year old Sergeant Patanachai Suree was shot twice in the back while riding his motorcycle on a road in Moo…
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Phuket boat disaster: Investigation underway. One boat captain now in custody.
The Chinese boat manager of the ‘Serenata’ is now facing charges in addition to the captain of the ‘Phoenix, which also sunk, who is now in custody. A Russian jet-ski driver has also been charged. This is all in the wake of last Thursday’s ‘freak’ storm which hit the Andaman coast. Region 8 Police commander Lt General Sorasak Yenprem says, “the boat…
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Chiang Rai: Solid food but no TV – Doctors report on the first eight out of the cave
The eight members of the Mu Pa Academy football club, already rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in the past two days, are in good health mentally and physically. But attending doctors say all had high white blood cell counts and two initially showed indications of pneumonia. Senior health officials briefed reporters at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital this morning, saying…
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Phuket Hotels Association teams up with US Embassy to help eliminate single-use plastic
The Phuket Hotels Association has joined forces with the U.S. Embassy Science Fellowship (ESF) Program to tackle the critical issue of waste management in Phuket, with the aim of eliminating single-use plastics at the island’s hotels. Founded in 2001, the ESF Program promotes bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology. Since it was launched, nearly 300 scientists have…
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Chiang Rai: Rescuers prepare to bring out the final five
PHOTO: VOA Following last evening’s successful rescue of a further four members of the Mu Pa football team, bringing the total number safely out at 8, Thai and international divers are preparing to rescue at least another four today. Mission control spokesperson Narongsak Osotthanakorn described the rescue operation, so far, as a success. Last night the first of the four emerged…
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Media slammed for unethical reporting – Narongsak Osottanakorn
PHOTOS: Karl Vandenhole and The Nation “Unethical reporting by the media has hampered the rescue operation to retrieve the 13 trapped footballers from the Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai. Reporters have broken the law and the rights of their news sources to get the latest stories,” this from the Mission Control chief, Narongsak Osottanakorn. He yesterday issued a stern warning…
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Ekkapol Chanthawong – Parents are refusing to blame him
PHOTO: From video of Thai Navy Seals Facebook page Eight out, five to go. But Ekkapol Chanthawong, the assistant football coach of the Mu Pa team, trapped in Tham Luang cave since June 23, is being credited with keeping his young team alive during their ordeal. He’s 25, the rest of the young team are between 11 and 16 years…
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PM visits Chinese families and the injured at hospitals
Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha visited Vachira Phuket Hospital to meet some of the Chinese families who have lost their families members in the Phuket boat disaster. General Prayut arrived at Vachira Phuket Hospital at 2.30pm yesterday (July 9). The PM was talking to crying Chinese tourists who lost their family members and gave hugs readily whilst offering a sympathetic ear to…
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Chiang Rai: Day two’s rescues conclude with another four out of the cave
PHOTO: The Nation Four more of the teenage football team have emerged from the Tham Luang caves tonight, taken to a medivac tent for a quick examination then whisked away to the Chiang Rai hospital by helicopter. It’s been day two of the risky rescue mission that was forced on officials by looming rain and possibilities of rising flood waters…
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Chiang Rai: Team member 5 out of the caves
A young Mu Pa Academy footballer has emerged from Tham Luang cave at about 5pm, becoming the fifth teenager extracted from the cave in Chiang Rai province. The team member, whose name has not been revealed, was taken by ambulance from the cave in Mae Sai district before boarding a chopper to Chiang Rai Prachanukraw in Muang district. …
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PM visits Phuket to insist on better boat safety
Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered that every missing passenger, from the sunken ‘Phoenix’ boat, must be found. He has also directed officials to take care of all Chinese survivors and their families as their guests. “Measures to prevent a similar disaster must be implemented immediately. Every boat must follow official warnings.” The Prime Minister didn’t mince words when he spoke…
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Strong winds bring down trees and power poles, two cars damaged
Two power cables have been brought down in Koh Sirey today (July 9) after heavy rains around the island. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is warning that from July 9-15, heavy rain will affect Ranong, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun. “Small boats should stay ashore as strong winds and waves are expected, up to four metres high.” Persistent…
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Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa announces their new GM
Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa have today announced the appointment of Markus Kosch as the new GM. Markus most recently served as General Manager of Conrad Guangzhou in China. Commenting on his appointment, Markus said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to be at the helm of one of the largest resorts in Phuket.” A 22 year veteran in the…
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Chiang Rai: This afternoon’s media briefing
Snippets from this afternoon’s media briefing: • Governor says first four boys out of the cave are healthy and remain at hospital • They have been separated from relative. at this stage to prevent any potential infection • The boys have asked for Pat Ka Prao – Basil stir fried with rice • Officer’s radio frequency have now been jammed…
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Boat captains facing charges after Phuket boat disasters
The captains of the two boats ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Seraneta’, that sank off Phuket on Thursday early evening (July 5), have been charged. Read more HERE. 41 people are now confirmed dead, 15 still missing with hopes fading that any more survivors will be found. One body of a Chinese man has washed up on the shores of a Phang Nga beach…
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Chiang Rai: What we know – 2.30pm
Divers have been preparing over the past 12 hours to resume their extraction of the remaining 9 people still inside the cave. They re-entered the cave mouth at 11am this morning. On this basis, comparing to yesterday’s timing, we can expect more of the team to emerge from the caves early this evening, but that is pure speculation. A drone…
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Chinese join search for 14 missing. PM visits Phuket today.
PHOTO: A centre has been established at Phuket International Airport to ensure smooth flow of information and help for tourist victims and their relatives. by Salinee Parp Thai and Chinese authorities are continuing the search for the remaining 14 Chinese tourists still on the missing list after the “Phoenix” diving yacht sank into 47 metres of rough seas on the…
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Phuket: 42 found dead, 14 still missing – 13 were children
As we emerge into a wet and soggy Monday morning in Phuket, after three full days of frantic searching in the waters south west of the island, 13 bodies, of 41 which have already been recovered, were children who have drowned in the tragedy – 8 boys and 5 girls. Searching has been expanding to Phang Nga Bay and the waters…
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Two fishermen missing after Phuket storm
Two local fishermen from Rawai have been missing since heading out fishing on Thursday (July 5). The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command (NAC3) officers were notified yesterday morning (July 7) of the missing men. The two fishermen who remain missing are Prawit Salee and Saksri Naoprai. They headed off to the east of Koh Racha Yai at 2pm on…
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One boy emerged in a serious condition, now recovering
The condition of one of the Mu Pa footballers who were rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in Chiang Rai last evening, and initially was initially causing concerns with his health, is improving. He had been listed as red, signifying a ‘serious case’ after being trapped in Tham Luang cave since June 23. However officials now say he is recovering…
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First Mu Pa members emerge from Tham Luang cave
File Photo Police chatter at the Tham Luang cave suggests that the first two team members have emerged from the cave mouth. The first at 5.40pm and the second one 10 minutes later. They walked out on their own feet. Their successful retrieval bodes well for the other 11 members The Governor, acting as the official spokesperson, has not confirmed…
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15 people remain missing from the Phoenix boat sinking
PHOTO: Thai PBS It is now well into the third day of searching for the remaining 15 missing people following Thursday evening’s capsize and sinking of the boats ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Serenata’. Passengers on the Serenata were all recovered but 105 people off the Phoenix – passengers, crew, tour guides and captain – were either trapped inside or ended up in…
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