Stories tagged with safety
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Thai floods sicken more than 100,000
Intense prolonged rains in much of northern and central Thailand have created major flooding problems for nearly the entire upper part of the country. Flash floods have killed 14 people so far, and the stagnant waters have sickened more than 100,000 people with a range of health problems.
According to the Thai Ministry of Public Health, 121,407 people are currently ill from a variety of water-borne diseases, and the number looks set to rise dramatically in the coming days as more people make it to hospital. Most of the cases are types of skin fungus, followed by diarrhea, flu and assorted rashes, reported Prat Boonyawongvirot, Permanent Secretary for Public Health.
Over the past nine days, 36 of Thailand’s 76 provinces have been severely affected by rain and flooding. Residents who must wade through the water are being exposed to human waste, bacteria and parasitic leeches. "We urge that people travel through flooded areas by boat or wear long pants tied at the feet with plastic bags if they must wade through flood water," Prat said in a statement.
Posted by: Andrew on 22 Sep 2008, 18:56 -
Phuket Airport gets safety upgrades
Prompted by the tragic crash of a One-Two-Go flight on 16 September 2007 in Phuket, Phuket’s airport has decided to upgrade its safety system. A new wind shear alert system has been installed that covers the entire airport complex, airport director Wicha Noenlop stated. They have also been paying much greater attention to the safety maintenance records of aircraft and personnel.
Even though the deadly One-Two-Go crash was caused by pilot error, according to Thailand’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD), wind shear was heavily investigated as a contributing factor. Officials note that the pilot of the fatal flight was warned by Phuket’s air traffic controllers about strong wind shear just before the crash.
Wicha points out that Phuket has narrow runways and is surrounded by low mountains, which makes landings more difficult than at other airports. All domestic pilots who plan to fly in and out of Phuket Airport must pass tests of takeoff and landing at its runway before their license will be issued.
In addition, Phuket Airport has hired an additional 20 rescue workers, and safety standards on the runways have been intensified such as the regular removal of rubber deposits. The CAD and Aerothai check the airport’s navigation equipment more frequently as well. Training refresher courses are provided to help staff who work on the runways better identify potentially dangerous objects.
Posted by: Andrew on 20 Sep 2008, 10:29 -
Thailand declared safe for travel
Despite continuing political troubles in the Thai capital Bangkok, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has issued a statement stressing that Thailand is perfectly safe for travel. The protests are largely concentrated in a small part of Bangkok, while the rest of the kingdom continues to function as usual.
Despite the temporary state of emergency recently issued by the Thai prime minister, PATA has assured travellers that tourists are only advised to avoid the area around Government House in the capital. Throughout the other main tourist destinations in Thailand, things were business as usual.
The state of emergency in Bangkok doesn’t even restrict the movement of visitors within the city. Peter de Jong, the president of PATA, stated “many of Thailand's prospective visitors are understandably reluctant to travel when they hear about a state of emergency being declared and see images of violent clashes in media reports. The reality, however, is that life is continuing as normal in Bangkok and Thailand and that, as of today (September 3rd), there is minimal threat to the safety of visitors to the kingdom."
Despite the shutdowns are three of Thailand’s resort airports, planes are flying again and all hotels, resorts and attractions are open as usual.
Posted by: Andrew on 07 Sep 2008, 21:39 -
Chiang Mai suffering increased crime
In a sad new trend for Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’, street crime is on the rise. Recent crimes include a rash of muggings, something rarely heard of in this normally placid and laid-back travel destination.
Chiang Mai is undeniably a large city with most of the expected problems such as pollution and traffic congestion. But thanks to the kind nature of northern Thai residents, crime has rarely been considered one of the city’s main problems. But as economic woes continue to hit locals where it hurts, it appears that petty crime is about to rare its ugly head.
Three recent muggings are the latest in a string of crime that has put the city on alert. Two muggings occurred on the popular Sunday Walking Street, and the other in busy Wararot Market. The incidents at the Walking Street are the most shocking, as this special weekly pedestrian market is thronged with locals and tourists but has always been a peaceful environment.
A Malaysian tourist was attacked right in the market and had her bag stolen. Later the same day, a Canadian visitor had his pockets picked on the crowded street, a rare crime in Thailand. Police have arrested two men in relation to the muggings of the tourists. But locals are also becoming victims, as a Chiang Mai resident had her bag snatched in the popular Warorat Market. Thankfully, local police caught this thief as well.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Aug 2008, 11:27 -
New study shows fault lines under Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has felt a handful of earthquakes over the last couple of years, and a new study by Chiang Mai’s Earth Science Institute confirm that there are in fact fault lines under the northern Thai city. Researchers discovered two fault lines running roughly 5 kilometres underground running through the districts of Chiang Khon, Mae Ai, Chiang Saen, Hang Dong, Sansai and Fang; even stretching as far west as mae Hong Son Province.
Director of the Earth Science Institute Professor Samphan Singharajwarapan confirmed that while mild tremors in the area are common enough, a sizeable quake could put buildings in the area over 15 storeys at risk of collapse. The last quake to be flet in the city was a result of shifting earth beneath Sansai’s Maejo University which registered 4.6 on the Richter scale.
As a result of the study, local authorities are urging buildings under construction and those in the planning stages that if they plan to build high, no corners should be cut on fortifications against earthquakes.
Posted by: DaveB on 04 Jun 2008, 19:48 -
Thailand now considered more dangerous
In the annual Global Peace Index survey, Thailand slipped from the 105th position to the 118th as far as the safest countries in the region go. The handful of foreigners that have been raped in the last years, the latest case ending in the murder of a Scandinavian tourist, have made many would-be visitors think twice about a trip to the islands of Thailand.
Of the 24 criteria in the survey, Thailand was rock bottom in four categories, such as political instability, potential for terrorist attacks, levels of violent crime and respect for human rights. Only Burma scored lower than Thailand in these areas, with the survey covering the countries featured in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
''The world appears to be marginally more peaceful this year. This is encouraging, but it takes small steps by individual countries for the world to make greater strides on the road to peace,� says the founder of the travel index Steve Killelea.
Posted by: DaveB on 27 May 2008, 20:22 -
Home-made bomb found in Chiang Mai
Local Chiang Mai resident, 46-year old Nathee Ananpanyasuth averted a potential disaster when he found a homemade bomb on a street near his shop Friday morning. Nathee had parked his car when he spotted a suspicious package outside Saenfang Temple. He placed it in a rubbish bin before proceeding to his business, the Ronrungsap clothing shop in Warorot Market and called the police. The bomb squad arrived and confirmed the box did indeed contain a homemade explosive device fabricated from a coffee can.
A robot examined the device previous to police taking it to the open area at Thapae Gate and performing a controlled explosion. Police said the explosion radius was about 30 metres. To perform the explosion in such a central and busy area meant roads had to be closed for two hours, causing heavy traffic jams all around the roads surrounding the old city as well as the main arteries leading east towards the Ping River.
Police have said a full investigation into the incident is underway, and as of yet no person or group has claimed responsibility.
Posted by: DaveB on 25 Apr 2008, 19:33 -
No Alcohol campaign not getting through
Thailand currently ranks 5th on the list of countries in the world as far as the number of alcoholics is concerned, and at the recent Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year celebration, messages and campaigns warning citizens about the dangers of mixing alcohol and driving seemed to have fell on deaf ears. For the past couple of years, the Chiang Mai local government has initiated advertising campaigns informing locals and visitors of the number of deaths each year during Songkran directly related to alcohol. This year, the mayor applied designated alcohol free areas in the city where people could celebrate the New Year in a traditional way.
The message did not have the impact that organizers had hoped, as the ‘Enjoyment, Safety, No Alcohol’ campaign manager Teera Watcharapranee attests. She says thre were just as many deaths this year as last, and that road fatalities related to alcohol not only account for 50% of the accidents in Thailand, but it is costing the government as much as 2.8 percent of its gross domestic product every year.
Posted by: DaveB on 23 Apr 2008, 19:34 -
Australian woman raped after room invasion
A 20-year old Australian tourist that was raped in her guesthouse room has achieved some sense of justice, as the rapist has been caught by local Police on the Thai island of Ko Samui. The crime took place late in March when Tuckley Bobbird awoke in the early hours of the morning to find a man inside her room wielding a knife. He threatened to cut her while he raped here, then stole her wallet, passport and mobile phone.
After the incident, her two friends who were staying in the room next door accompanied Bobbird to the hospital, where tests confirmed she had been sexually assaulted. Police suspected that the assailant must be someone local who knew how to get in and out of the property without causing any disturbance. After finding the victim’s empty wallet not far from the guesthouse, her mobile phone was traced and the rapist was eventually apprehended.
26-year old Somchai Daunglai has been implied in other cases in the area of theft form tourists and is now in police custody.
Posted by: DaveB on 16 Apr 2008, 18:49 -
Australian lifeguards give courses in Phuket
The rainy season on the Thai island of Phuket will be rolling into town next month, and the period immediately preceding the wet season means hazardous swimming off of Phuket’s shores for all but the most experienced and strong of swimmers. Local lifeguards are undergoing a few days of supplemental training with help from the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club from Australia’s New South Wales state.
Avoca Beach SLSC’s John Mitchell says, “Being a surf lifesaver in Australia is very serious. The Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club has about 800 lifeguards, ranging from children right through to elderly people, who help to take care of tourists on the beach. We want to raise the skills of Phuket lifeguards to international standards, so we are training them in how to rescue people who are in trouble in the water and how to use the latest lifeguard equipment.�
Visitors to the island will be happy to know of the extensive training of the lifeguards, who after their SLSC training can spot various problems before they materialize, such as recognizing drifting currents in surf and swim zones.
Posted by: DaveB on 16 Apr 2008, 18:47 -
Is Thailand still safe?
The arrest of the man responsible for the death of a 27-year old Swedish tourist has allowed some to breathe a sigh of relief, but with this latest tourist killing, questions about Thailand’s safety have been brought up. The murder on a Phuket beach of Hanna Backland was the latest in a recent spate of foreigners that have lost their lives while on holiday in Thailand, and at least when it comes to women at risk, authorities have initiated a program that supplies women with whistles they can blow if they are in any danger.
Commander of the National Tourist Police Choochart Suwannakom said, "We will issue the whistles first in risky areas such as beaches, valleys, mountains, national parks, waterfalls and other risky spots."
But will this be enough when Backlund’s murderer was quoted as saying, "she resisted and I had to kill her,� after his rape attempt went awry. Still Choochart says confidently, "I believe security in Thailand is better than in many other countries."
Posted by: DaveB on 08 Apr 2008, 17:22 -
Sweden may issuing travel warnings
Sweden’s Phuket consulate and the embassy in Bangkok may post warnings on their official websites, advising Swedish women of the dangers while traveling in Thailand.
The move follows the increasing number of attacks on women in recent years and warnings on other country’s embassy websites, such as the British Embassy.
The latest incident - the murder of 26-year-old Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund at Mai Khao Beach in March – has prompted Swedish authorities to consider the idea.
General Consul Christina Palm at the Swedish Consulate in Phuket said, 'we are considering posting a general warning on our website addressing the dangers one faces when traveling in Thailand.'
The British Embassy currently warns of sexual offenses committed against foreign women and men. It focuses mainly on female travelers to 'maintain a high state of personal awareness' while in Thailand.
Governor of Phuket, Niran Kalayanamit, recently said that the murder of Miss Backlund murder had hurt Phuket’s reputation.
Other recent hi-profile attacks against Swedish female tourists in Thailand include the rape of a 12-year-old girl on Koh Samui in January 2006, and the attempted rape of a woman the same year.
One plan put forward by a Phuket's Tourist Police Commander Maj Gen Choochart Suwannakom was to distribute whistles to foreign female tourists at prominent beach resorts; a suggestion which a Danish officer at the Nordic Police Liaison Office in Bangkok described as 'pathetic'.
Tourism is very important for Thailand, bringing in around US$16 billion in 2007; the greatest earner of foreign currency for the country.
Safety tips in Thailand
Phuket Tourist GuidePosted by: Andrew on 07 Apr 2008, 13:37 -
Road accidents claim 2 in Kamala, Patong
In two separate incidents in as many days, Phuket witnessed two serious road accidents. This morning’s accident resulted in two deaths when a 10-wheeler truck overturned while delivering mattresses to Phuket from Bangkok.
When word came in to Kamala police station around 09:00 that there had been an accident, lt Col Warit Jado rushed to the scene to find one of the three passengers was already dead. The man identified as Yantra was under the wreckage, having been asleep at the time of the crash. The second passenger, Yeesa was still conscious when ambulances arrived, and though he was severely injured, he was rushed to Patong Hospital. Wangsen Yeemang, the man driving the truck suffered minor injuries, but will be charged with negligent driving resulting in death.
He told local media, “I tried to wake my friends up before the accident happened, but they kept sleeping. After the truck overturned, I first had to find a way out of the wreckage.�
Last night another accident claimed a life, when the brakes failed on a tour bus, resulting in the bus crashing into the front of an abandoned house, sandwiching a car in between.
Local resident Simon Rooke told reporters, “There was glass everywhere, people everywhere and a coach half on road and half in the housing plot. I assume the coach was coming into Patong alongside the temple, then braked before taking the corner. The brakes must have failed, causing it to veer straight through into the end of Pisit Gorani Rd.
Seeing the carnage when driving past I said to my mate that there could probably be at least 10 dead in that.... mostly motorbikes waiting at the intersection waiting to go up the mountain…Had it been a weekday, it would have been much worse.�
Posted by: DaveB on 14 Mar 2008, 18:19 -
Pattaya crash victim back home
A UK tourist who badly injured himself after crashing his motorbike in Pattaya several months ago has finally made it back home.
Thirty-eight year old Richard Price, from Dover, ended up in a coma after bashing his head during the crash last November and unfortunately had no travel insurance.
He was unable to fly back to the UK as his mother could not afford the hefty fee for him to be flown with a paramedic.
The accident left him in a coma for weeks and he also suffered other complications, including partial brain damage. His hospital bills have spiraled to in excess of £30,000 – nearly two million baht.
Luckily for Mr Price, though, BBC South East Today viewers had been donating money towards his flight back to the UK and he eventually arrived back at Heathrow last week.
Mrs Price said on his arrival that she was very grateful to the people who had helped to fund the cost of Richard’s journey home.
‘Everyone's been absolutely fantastic. Without them I couldn't have done it, and I owe them so much,’ she said.
Posted by: Andrew on 05 Feb 2008, 21:06 -
Chiang Mai suffering increased crime
In a sad new trend for Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’, street crime is on the rise. Recent crimes include a rash of muggings, something rarely heard of in this normally placid and laid-back travel destination.
Chiang Mai is undeniably a large city with most of the expected problems such as pollution and traffic congestion. But thanks to the kind nature of northern Thai residents, crime has rarely been considered one of the city’s main problems. But as economic woes continue to hit locals where it hurts, it appears that petty crime is about to rare its ugly head.
Three recent muggings are the latest in a string of crime that has put the city on alert. Two muggings occurred on the popular Sunday Walking Street, and the other in busy Wararot Market. The incidents at the Walking Street are the most shocking, as this special weekly pedestrian market is thronged with locals and tourists but has always been a peaceful environment.
A Malaysian tourist was attacked right in the market and had her bag stolen. Later the same day, a Canadian visitor had his pockets picked on the crowded street, a rare crime in Thailand. Police have arrested two men in relation to the muggings of the tourists. But locals are also becoming victims, as a Chiang Mai resident had her bag snatched in the popular Warorat Market. Thankfully, local police caught this thief as well.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Jan 2008, 12:42 -
Chiang Mai suffering increased crime
In a sad new trend for Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ‘Rose of the North’, street crime is on the rise. Recent crimes include a rash of muggings, something rarely heard of in this normally placid and laid-back travel destination.
Chiang Mai is undeniably a large city with most of the expected problems such as pollution and traffic congestion. But thanks to the kind nature of northern Thai residents, crime has rarely been considered one of the city’s main problems. But as economic woes continue to hit locals where it hurts, it appears that petty crime is about to rare its ugly head.
Three recent muggings are the latest in a string of crime that has put the city on alert. Two muggings occurred on the popular Sunday Walking Street, and the other in busy Wararot Market. The incidents at the Walking Street are the most shocking, as this special weekly pedestrian market is thronged with locals and tourists but has always been a peaceful environment.
A Malaysian tourist was attacked right in the market and had her bag stolen. Later the same day, a Canadian visitor had his pockets picked on the crowded street, a rare crime in Thailand. Police have arrested two men in relation to the muggings of the tourists. But locals are also becoming victims, as a Chiang Mai resident had her bag snatched in the popular Warorat Market. Thankfully, local police caught this thief as well.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Jan 2008, 12:42 -
Another Yala bomb
37 civilians were wounded, six critically, when a bomb exploded in Yala's busy morning market on Tuesday morning. Southern militants detonated the device which was planted on a stolen motorcycle and parked near the market.
The market was crowded with food vendors and shoppers when it exploded at 06:40, said Yala Pol Col Poomphet Phiphatphetpoom.
The bomb was hidden inside a motorcycle, which was reported stolen the night before, and detonated by mobile phone, Poomphet said.
The attack on the market in Yala follows the violent attack on a Thai patrol in Narathiwat province on Monday which left eight soldiers dead.
The patrol was a protection unit for teachers which was surprised by more than 20 insurgents in the Chanae district of Narathiwat province, according to Army spokesman Col Akara Thiprote.
The insurgents first detonated a bomb under the army’s Humvee before executing the soldiers, one of which was decapitated. The patrol was returning to base after escorting teachers - who have been frequently targeted - to a government school.
It is probable the insurgents live locally in Muslim communities making it very difficult to identify them. ‘We really need some good intelligence to guide us,’ Akara said.
‘These people will bury their guns and turn into ordinary villagers before we reach them. It is not easy.’
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Jan 2008, 11:56 -
Road accidents serve a warning
Several recent accidents, resulting in at least two deaths, have highlighted the dangers of driving on Phuket’s roads when visiting the holiday island. While statistics are similar to the rest of Thailand, it does result in many foreigners not making it home alive during their vacation.
On Wednesday evening a 25 year old Russian women died when the vehicle she was travelling in rolled at a trecherous bend in Thepkrasattri Rd in Baan Makprok area. A second passenger is in critical condition in hospital.
Separately a German national, Werner Theisen, was instantly killed when his vehicle collided head on with a pickup truck he was trying to avoid. According to Pol Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduang from Thalang Police Station and eye witnesses, the pickup had been illegally travelling in the wrong lane while overtaking dangerously, this forced Mr Theisen to swerve out the way and he brushed an oncoming vehicle, lost control and hit the pickup head on. The driver of the offending vehicle was not injured.
An American man was also hospitalised with serious injuries after the motorcycle he was riding he collided with the back of pickup causing other vehicles to collide while trying to avoid the accident. No one was killed although four vehicles where badly damaged as a result.
Road accidents are fairly common in Thailand due to reckless driving and poor road safety law enforcement. Foreigners are regularly involved in accidents with a significant number of fatalities each year.
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Nov 2007, 11:26 -
Tips for tourists in Thailand
Ko Samui is one Thailand’s top destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists, and as such the island attracts a certain undesirable element. To assure visitors to the beautiful island enjoy their stay entirely and don’t have their holidays ruined by something silly like a stolen wallet or passport, the Ko Samui Rotary Club, with the help of the Ko Samui Police Department have made up a pamphlet outlining some tips to minimize the possibility of having trouble during a visit.
The pamphlet will be handed out to debarking passengers at the airport, whether they are Thai or foreign. Inside, numbers for embassies, hospitals and police are included, as well as some common sense reminders such as: never accept offers of drinks from stangers, keep close attention to your valuables in public transport or at touristy spots, copy your passport, et cetera.
Visitors are also encouraged to report any strange behaviour to local tourist police. You can do this anonymously through www.samuitouristpolice.com.
Head of Ko Samui Tourist Police, major Satha bhorn Sanga-unsuk says, “We have to know about the crime in order for us to do anything about it. We have procedures that must be followed so please come report any crime so that we can take action. If you are a foreigner and you need help, we should be the first people to contact. My goal is to reduce crime, not write a report after the crime has happened.�
Posted by: DaveB on 04 Oct 2007, 13:00 -
Samui taxi scams still all too common
An unadulterated cheer rang through the collective unconscious of the travelling branch of humanity last month, in what was a blow struck for all of us who have been blatantly ripped off by a taxi driver while on holiday.
On August 6th, on the island of Ko Samui in Thailand, a supposedly metered taxi driver who had gouged his passengers was arrested, and tourists around the island clinked glasses.
Being ripped off in taxis is often the biggest annoyance while travelling in certain countries, and as an Australian tourist wrote to the Samui Express, Samui was no exception.
He writes: “We have traveled to Samui many times (four so far) from Australia and have always found the taxis to be the biggest problem we have to deal with as tourists. I have never, not once, been offered a metered fare on Samui. I have asked many times and been told, ‘The meters don’t work’ or ‘Meter is not for tourists, you pay different fare’ or ‘Meters don’t apply on Samui.’�
The meter/no-meter scam is all too common, but it seems Samui cabbies have become downright malicious in some cases by giving back fake bills to tourists or simply driving off with the money as soon as the fares have left the cab. There; you've been warned.
Posted by: DaveB on 21 Sep 2007, 09:56