Stories tagged with rescue
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Pattaya shows it can rescue tourists
In a planned display of its ability to deal with a marine crisis, Pattaya’s Tourist Police gave a demonstration of how it goes about rescuing visitors who encounter trouble while at sea. The purpose of the exercise drill was to increase tourist confidence ahead of the coming winter high season when many enjoy Pattaya's watersports.
Nearly every emergency crew and police force was involved in the rescue, including the coast guard, air force, police, and local hospitals. The exercise involved a boat heading to Koh Larn that began to sink off the north side of the island. After the captain dialed Pattaya’s emergency hotline (1155), para-motor volunteers located the distressed boat and fired a flare to signal its position.
Three rescue boats went out to retrieve the 10 tourists and take them to local hospital. All relevant rescue departments were also notified and went into action. The radio centre was then informed that one tourist was missing, prompting the helicopter search and rescue team to fly over the area. A severely injured tourist was found and pulled from the sea with a net, then ferried to hospital.
All in all it was a successful and smooth rescue operation, demonstrating that Pattaya is well-prepared in case of a sea emergency. Now if they could just do something about the ladyboy thieves…
Posted by: Andrew on 22 Sep 2008, 10:55 -
Aid workers stranded in Bangkok
Following the intense disaster in Burma caused by Cyclone Nargis, thousands of aid workers have made it as far as the Thai capital of Bangkok, only to find that their entry visas for Myanmar aren’t coming as easily as they should be, especially in light of these extreme circumstances.
One aid worker, Pierre Fouillant, a veteran of over 10 disaster aid missions, is calling the Myanmar government’s slow issue of a business visa a crime against humanity. Myanmar’s ruling military junta will issue no such thing as an emergency visa, so he like countless others, is waiting in Bangkok for a business visa. The shocking fact that the embassy remained closed this pat Friday due to a Thai holiday has left Fouillant shocked and disgusted. He says, "I've never seen delays like this, never. It’s a crime against humanity. It should be against the law. It's like they are taking a gun and shooting their own people."
As of now, aid workers applying through the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok for visas are still waiting.
Posted by: DaveB on 13 May 2008, 17:10