Posts published in “Thailand”

Derailed Freight Train Causes Mayhem in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province A Bangkok-bound freight train caused chaos in Prachuap Khiri Khan province when it derailed on Saturday morning. Despite nobody being injured in the incident, services on three southern routes were disrupted. The seven-car freight train from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok derailed near the Bang Saphan railway station, 100 metres before it was due to arrive. Two carriages, numbers 3 and 4, had veered off the rails, disrupting services on the Lang Suan-Thon Buri, Thon Buri-Lang Suan and Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal-Surat Thani routes. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) public relations director Ekkarat Sriarayanpong announced that railway workers were accelerating the repair work, and that it was scheduled to be completed around 2pm. Passengers on the affected routes had to make alternative arrangements using cars to travel from Chumphon to Thon Buri, Ban Krud to Saphan Noi, and Ban Krud…

On March 26th, Areegator Inc. organised a workshop tour in Pathum Thani province to offer their members an array of comprehensive facilities to help boost their sales and income, in line with its mission of “growing together”. The workshop was held at Novotel Bangkok Future Park Rangsit, with over 70 members enthusiastically participating in the event. Attendees had a chance to learn about the current trends in the insurance industry and the ways in which social media could be used to help them increase their selling capabilities. This workshop was lead by Teerawat Sajarone, the VP of Insurance Broker Strategy, and was very well received by all attendees. Throughout the course of the workshop, the attendees were engaged in feedbacks, idea exchange and discussion, which helped to leverage the efficiency of the Areegator platform. Areegator is an online insurance selling platform which follows the concept of “sincerity, understanding and growing…

Police in Chon Buri, Thailand were shocked to discover the body of Chen Pu Lin, a 33-year-old Chinese tour agent, late on Monday night. Lin had fallen to his death from the rooftop of the Mantra Pura Hotel in Pattaya. Police and rescuers who attended the scene concluded that Lin had plunged from the top of the three-storey hotel, with the only clues to the tragedy being his body lying in a pool of blood and a broken window in his third floor accommodation. Investigators from the hotel found traces of a forced entry at room 355, which Lin was staying in, however, no obvious signs of robbery were present. Witnesses reported that Lin had been part of a four-man party from a Chinese tour agency, and on the night of his death, he had chosen to remain in his room claiming he was unwell. Forensic police have since been…

A massive explosion shook the small town of Muang in Samut Songkhram on Tuesday morning, as the oil tanker Smooth Sea 22 caught fire at a nearby dockyard. The boat had been undergoing regular maintenance at Ruammitr Dockyard in tambon Laem Yai, and thankfully all of its tanks were empty at the time of the blast. Unfortunately, the damage caused was still immense, with glass window panes being shattered in houses located up to several kilometres away. Efforts quickly began to contain the blaze, however eight workers from the dockyard were missing in the aftermath, leaving local residents and the authorities deeply concerned. The Marine Department is now investigating the cause of the fire and has launched a full search to locate the missing dockyard workers. In a statement they said: “We are doing all we can to put this incident behind us as soon as possible and to ensure…

Koh Samui Bridge Project to Be Studied The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) is preparing to study the feasibility of building a bridge linking mainland Thailand to the picturesque island of Koh Samui. Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk recently visited the island to research the proposed bridge site and gain insight from locals on the project. The potential bridge, if approved, is expected to start construction in 2028 and set to be completed two years later. Mr. Surachet, during a lecture to local administrative organisations, the municipal office, state offices and local tourism businesses, discussed the importance of providing Koh Samui with an overland transport option. The forum heard how the current only modes of travel, air and boat connection, cannot guarantee 24-hour access to the island, especially during the rainy season. This travel limitation works against the island’s high-value tourism and public health in emergency cases. Many of the local…

Bangkok has not abandoned its responsibility to care for Benchakitti Forest Park, said governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Monday, in response to public complaints about wilting trees in the park. Several trees in the 300-rai public park in Klong Toei district are drooping, indicating a lack of watering and proper care, according to photos widely shared on social media. On Sunday, the Facebook page “Benchakitti Forest Park” posted photos of volunteer soldiers spraying water on the park’s trees. The posts prompted netizens to wonder why the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was failing to maintain the park. Chadchart responded on Monday by stating that park maintenance had been outsourced. “Benchakitti Park is managed by a private company because it also serves as a learning center and has a complex design,” Chadchart explained. “Taking care of such a delicate public park is not the same as maintaining a golf course, where grass and…

The French Embassy in Thailand has started a new cultural exchange program called “Sawasdee France” to strengthen the countries’ long-standing relationship. A party was held at the French Embassy over the weekend to kick off the program. There, businesses, educational institutions, and members of the Franco-Thai community set up booths and displays for the public to look at. People could also look at the art around the ambassador’s house. Eve Lubin, the French Embassy’s Counsellor for Culture and Cooperation, said that the embassy has been working to encourage the exchange of arts and culture between the two countries since 2004. At first, this was done through an event called La Fete (“The Party”). It has now decided to add more to what it has to offer. “It was a big success, but over time we saw that the activities went beyond parties and art swaps,” she said. “Through [Sawasdee France],…

The Highways Department has completed a 699.54 million baht upgrade of a critical section of Highway No. 1 in Phayao province to improve transportation and tourism in the North. The department announced that it had completed the repaving of 27.88 kilometers of the four-lane highway known as the Phaholyothin highway. The highway is a vital link between Thailand and Laos. According to officials, the highway has been repaved from kilometer marker 814+000 to 881+325, passing through Ngao district in Lampang, Muang and Mae Jai districts in Phayao, and Phan district in Chiang Rai. Each side of the road has two 3.50 metre wide lanes. The asphalt became 15 centimetres thicker as a result of the upgrade. The Highways Department stated that the highway had been upgraded to improve safety because it connects Thailand and Laos. The upgrade is also part of the government’s strategy to hasten Thailand’s entry into the…