Thailand Live Friday 1 Apr 2011

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Storms smash Phuket fishing boats

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His Majesty King Donates Life Packages to Flood Victims in South

His Majesty the King has graciously donated relief packages to flood victims in the South as hundreds of thousands of Thais continue to suffer from natural disasters.

His Majesty the King has graciously asked his representative, Ditsatorn Watcharothai, president of the Rajaprajanigroh Foundation Under the Royal Patronage, to provide 1,000 relief items to flood-hit locals in Trang Province.

As for the latest developments in Trang, rainfall continues to wreak havoc in the province since forcing the local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to declare it a disaster zone.

More than 60,000 people have been affected.

The worst-hit areas are Muang, Hauyyot, Ratsada, Wangwiset, and Kantang as run-off from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province has completely inundated the province.

The water level in some areas has risen as high as three meters.

More than 1,000 villages are said to have been completely isolated after the flooding and landslides destroyed roads and communication systems.

News reports added that four sub-districts in Muang District suffered from the collapse of a dam on the bank of the Trang River.

Strong currents swarmed into the four communities forcing the local residents to flee to higher ground or evacuate all together.

Three houses along the river have been completely destroyed, and many more have been partially damaged.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-01

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Flood-Related Death Toll In Thailand Reaches 21

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Phuket expats to get microchip implants in new surveillance scheme

TRACKING FOREIGNERS: The microchip tracking device (above) to be

used in the new monitoring scheme. Tourists are exempt from the

surveillance.

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1,246 schools affected by southern flood

BANGKOK, 1 April 2011 (NNT) – Over 1,200 schools in seven southern provinces are affected by the persisting flood while total damages are initially estimated at over 467 million baht, according to the Ministry of Education.

Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat elaborated that out of the 1,246 schools affected by the flood, 821 are under the Office of the Basic Education. Some vocational schools are also reportedly damaged but the data are still unavailable.

Some universities have been inundated such as Thaksin University Phatthalung Campus, Walailak University, Maejo University Chumphon Campus and Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University. In addition, 18 informal education institutes and other private schools are also damaged by flood.

Mr Chinnaworn said he has assigned executives of educational institutes to rehabilitate their premises by 1 May 2011 when the new semester commences. He has also set up an assistance center in which bigger schools will help smaller ones in rehabilitation efforts.

In addition, the minister also tasked vocational schools with establishing ‘Fix It Center’ in order for their students to help provide repair services for people after the flood. Supportive budgets will be allocated for the operation of the new repair centers.

-- NNT 2011-04-01

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Bodies of Mudslide Victims Found in Krabi Province

Rescue workers are rushing to search for those who are still missing following a mudslide in Khao Phanom District of Krabi Province.

Five bodies have been found so far.

The rescue workers, officials, and soldiers are desperately searching for survivors following a mudslide in Khao Phanom District of Krabi Province.

Their rescue efforts have been greatly hampered as roads have been cut off by flooding and landslides and the telecommunication system has failed.

Meanwhile, five bodies have been pulled from the ruins so far.

The flood assistance center in the province has dispatched more than 120 rescue workers, officials, and soldiers to search for those who are still missing.

Meanwhile, the provincial administration has been providing residents affected by the flooding with dried foods and other essential items.

The Department of Mineral Resources has issued a warning of more possible floods and mudslides in many areas in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phattalung, Songkhla, Ranong Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat provinces.

The department expects the flood situation will improve once the rainfall stops either today or tomorrow.

-- Tan Network 2011-04-01

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AFP: Thai flood toll reaches 25

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Nearly 14,000 vehicles sold at Motor Show, so far

By The Nation

The 32th Bangkok International Motor Show's vehicle bookings in the first 7 days ran up to 13,775 units, while the organiser believed that the target of 28,000 vehicles would be achieved throughout the 14-day event.

Grandprix International, the organiser, announced that during March 24-30, Toyota was the camp with the highest booking number, 3,337 units or 24.52 per cent. Trailing behind was Honda, which this year heavily promoted a new model, Brio. The camp secured the bookings for 2,676 units.

The motor show will run until April 5. The organiser expects bookings to be close to last year's level at 27,878 units.

-- The Nation 2011-04-01

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Thai Travel Update: Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport remains closed & Trains on Southern Line go as far as Chumphon only. /via@RichardBarrow

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Man killed in motorbike and petrol tanker accident in North Pattaya

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Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya donates Bt1 million to government to help flood victims in southern provinces /MCOT

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Two Cameroon Nationals arrested by Pattaya Police on drug dealing offences

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House Speaker Chai jokes public should catch MPs if they see them on street, in response to failed House meetings from lack of quorum /TAN_Network

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SET index closed at 1064.35, up 16.87; Bt/USD30.14; GBP48.22; AUD31.01; EUR42.60; CAD31.01; HKD3.87; SGD23.76; JPY35.90

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Herbie Hancock Live in Bangkok

Sunday May 8

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AFP: Thai customs seize two tonnes of ivory worth over US$3.3 million

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Phuket Police arrest snatch thief in Patong

IN CUSTODY: Suspect Manop denies the charges.

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AFP: Thai inflation rises to 3.14 percent in March

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Strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocks Greece

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to be continued

Thailand Live Saturday 2 April