TV/radio news, text & videos about Phuket, Phang Nga & Krabi

[TV Channel 11]

to your readers/members:

If you would like another source of news about Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi and other stories, you are welcome to watch Andaman News on TV channel 11 in Phuket (on local VHF band not cable), or listen on Radio Thailand in Phuket FM90.5 at same time, 8.30-9am each weekday
or you read or quote from our news, at http://www.thaisnews.com/show_eachnews.php?catnewsid=16

eg see text below from our program this morning:


Andaman News TV11 Phuket 8.30am Wednesday June 8th 2005

A boat capsized in the Andaman Sea due to a heavy storm and claimed 1 life.


The accident occurred yesterday morning in the wake of a big storm and waves forcing a 23.8 metre long steel scuba boat, called Bubble Blue, with a team of 18 marine divers comprising volunteers and park officials who made a planned an 8 day live-abroad trip out to survey for buoy locations. They had just left Phuket on Monday night.

Later at around noon, a fishing boat, Pichai Tavorn 4, ( ¾ÔªÑ¶ÒÇà ) spotted the crew floating in the water, and they were rescued, although one member was found dead due to panic. All however wore life jackets. After the Royal Thai Navy was notified, they sent out a helicopter while marine police rushed to help the survivor’s boat to come ashore at Phuket Deep Sea Port.

According to the Pichai Tavorn 4 Captain, all 18 survivors were fatigued and one woman had died. The fishing crew prepared a warm meal for them while the marine police boat escorted the fishing boat to the Phuket Deep Sea Port.

In another case, the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet was informed that another small fishing boat called ‘Nod’ capsized near Thab Lamu ( ·ÑºÅÐÁØ ) so the helicopter rescue team went out for a search operation but without success.


A big storm forced an old tree to fall down on a house.

The incident occurred around 9am yesterday when Phuket City was hit by a big windy storm for around 30 minutes. The forceful storm blew down a 100 year old tree which fell on and damaged 3 houses. One of the house owners, 64 year old Sawai Petchtongnuan ( äÊÇ à¾ªÃ·Í§¹ÇÅ ) was fortunate to manage to escape while there were no people in the other 2 houses. Officials from Phuket City Office and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office stepped in to help remove the tree.




More than 400 businesses in Phuket have shut down after tsunami.

During a meeting of the social security sub-committee meeting to discuss measures to assist tsunami affected business and social security members, chaired by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura, the meeting was briefed by Yowalak Yangyuen, ( àÂÒÇÅѡɳì ÂÑè§Â×¹ ) Chief of Provincial Social Security Office who said that 460 businesses and work places had reported the closure of their businesses after the Tsunami.

Yaowalak went on to say that 1,084 employees lost their jobs during January to April. Despite assistance packages introduced, there are still obstacles in regulations and terms, especially in the Labour Industry’s loans to rebuild business as it has to follow the banks’ rules.

Phuket Chamber of Commerce representative Tanate Tantipiriyakit ( ¸à¹È µÑ¹µÔ¾ÔÃÔÂСԨ ) pointed out that banks are still applying the same regulations as before the tsunami.



800 officials from provincial administrative bodies are expected at seminar in Phuket in support of tourism.

More than 800 provincial officials from all over Thailand are expected to attend the three-day seminar scheduled to be held in August, to boost the island’s tourism. The President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, Anchalee Vanich Theppabutr emphasized the purpose of the seminar as boosting up the dramatic low bookings in Phuket hotels and accommodation between June and July which have sunk to less than 10% as tourists choose to travel elsewhere after the tsunami, she said. She stressed that the island’s tourist industry is now in crisis and it is necessary to find ways to rectify the situation, so the forthcoming seminar, which she plans to seek cooperation from the Federation of Provincial Administration Organisation for, is expected to help improve business on the island, Mrs. Anchalee said.



SME Bank’s Phuket branch provides over 400 million baht in loans for local enterprises

The Small and Medium Enterprises Bank of Thailand, Phuket branch manager Sumet Oplod ( ÊØàÁ¸ âÍ»ÅÍ´ ) said during January to May, the bank has approved 94.17 million baht in loans to 247 customers, out of 369. They are mostly hotel accommodation and tourism related businesses, with 2% per year interest rates and 3 year periods of return.

Mr Sumet also revealed that 49 tsunami affected customers have been approved 1 year grace periods before repaying, worth over 400 million baht.

According to Mr Sumet, German KFW company has sent Mr Peter Lindlein, a consultant to inspect the damage in Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, to present information to its board for further assistance.


Sea Gypsies claimed not to have received any proper assistance.

Around 100 sea gypsies or Thai Mai, resident of Rawai sub-district of Phuket, yesterday gathered at the Provincial Hall to seek help from the Governor. The group claimed that they have not received support funds from responsible agencies. The group also said that 65 tsunami affected students of Wat Sawang Arom ( ÇÑ´ÊÇèÒ§ÍÒÃÁ¹ì ) were told that money would be transferred into their bank accounts, but the balances remain at zero.

The group left the Provincial Hall after senior officials asked to talk to 3 of them to present themselves to responsible agencies.


Top English Football Clubs & international boxers are confirmed to visit Phuket

During the recent ASEM Youth Cup held at Surakul stadium, the Chief of PR for the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Mr Sunthorn Jarumon, ( Êع·Ã ¨ÒÃØÁ¹µì ) confirmed to Andaman News that the 3 top English football clubs, Everton, Manchester City, and Bolton, are still coming to Phuket for a kids clinic around the 20th July, plus games in Bangkok, as the Minister is going to England this week to firm up the details and also watch a Thai Polo team play in London:
Voice ****

Mr Sunthorn also mentioned that a Muay Thai boxing tournament is being arranged for Phuket featuring over 300 boxers from around the world:
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So there are several exciting sports and clinics coming up in Phuket. Stay tuned to our programme in the coming weeks for more details.

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You can read or copy any news from http://www.thaisnews.com/show_eachnews.php?catnewsid=16
each weekday.
or for previous days, change the date in the address line eg for yesterday 7 June put:
http://www.thaisnews.com/show_eachne...ate=07-06-2005

Yesterday we also had, for the first time, mini-videos from the program available for download - about 2 heartwarming stories:
'Exclusive interview with Nigel Willgrass and John Pemberton who have raised a lot of money for their Thai helpers and a new special education center in Phuket' at
http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=131627

& 'Special Report - Patong Child Day Care Centre to get specially designed building' at
http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=131507

or
click on 'English' or www.thaisnews.com/show_eachnews.php?catnewsid=12 for more stories from Bangkok.

If you do quote us elsewhere please credit www.thaisnews.com or TV Channel 11 Phuket.
Thanks!