PHUKET: A celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Civil Defense Volunteers was hosted by Governor Maitri Inthusut on Monday. Civil defence volunteers help law-enforcement officers fulfill a wide range of duties, such as manning checkpoints, monitoring election stations, administering urine drug tests and providing security for government buildings.
PHUKET: The revelation of the sinking of a third dive boat in the Andaman Sea within the last month has sparked concerns over fire safety issues on all Phuket tour boats. On February 2, the Phuket-based Bunmee I sank in Koh Lanta National Park after an electrical short circuit caused a fire to erupt in the engine room. Less than two weeks later, the MV Blue Star, also based in Phuket, sank in Myanmar waters under similar circumstances (story
A ROUTINE visa run to Penang late last month hit a speed bump at the Malaysian border when visa runners returned to the van from the immigration checkpoint to find their driver had absconded. It had been business as usual for the passengers until they reached the border checkpoint in Sadao on January 20.
PHUKET: Representatives of 15 countries are meeting in Phuket this week to discuss the safe management of used radioactive materials and the potential threats they present if mishandled. The United States, a producer and exporter of radioactive substances, sponsored the conference to discuss the handling of materials after they have been used by industry and hospitals, Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) Secretary General Suphan Seangthong said. “Thailand and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region buy radioactive substances from the US, so the Americans want to make sure we handle them properly,” Mr Suphan added.
PHUKET: The fire that caused the liveaboard dive boat MV Blue Star to sink in Myanmar waters was started by an electrical short circuit in the engine room, confirmed Ranong Marine Office Deputy Chief Pramuan Thessana this morning. “The dive boat left from Thap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak on January 29,” Mr Pramuan said. “It took the tourists on a diving trip to Mu Koh Surin National Park.
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office is offering a 10,000 baht reward for photographs of people dumping oil into the sea.
PHUKET: One Phuket teenager died and two were seriously injured after the motorbike they were driving slammed into a pick-up truck early this morning. The three friends had left school together to pick up supplies for a scout camping trip
PHUKET: A Phuket rubber farmer was struck and killed by a falling tree branch while tapping his trees early yesterday morning in Thalang. Jaroon Tankongkoy, 67, left for the rubber plantation at 3am, said his wife, Pranom Tankongkoy.
PHUKET: The new regulations to access Chalong Pier, a popular Phuket jump-off point for surrounding islands, will take effect on February 15. Local boat handlers on Saturday demanded unrestricted access to boats moored along the pier (story
PHUKET: Everyone has been safely rescued from a Phuket dive boat that sank in Myanmar waters, said the Managing Director of Chalong Sea Sports, Pekka Torri. However, the cause of the fire that erupted aboard the MV Blue Star and led to its sinking has yet to be confirmed.