Backhoe loaders were seen at the beach transferring the muddy sediment from boats and burying it in the sand. Officer at the site said the sediment was from the navigation channel dredging at Hua Hin–Pattaya ferry pier.

The operation was undertaken by the Marine Department.

Jeau Khaeyai, the head of Ban Paknampran Local Fisheries Association, said that local people had not been informed about the operation and he wanted the related agencies to explain why there was no prior notification before the work was carried out.

“Although the beach is part of the Marine Department’s administration, this is the beautiful beach, which is both the tourist attraction and important fishing spot for people in Pranburi District. Operations likes this can also damage the ecosystem significantly,” Jeau said.

Two weeks ago, the Marine Department faced complaints from local fishermen at Ban Huadon in Hua Hin District, as the department’s workers disposed the sediment from a dredging operation on top of the artificial reef that was the main fishing area for local fishermen. Following the complaints the department halted the operation.

Suranaree Wittaya School began accepting applications on Wednesday with the last date for prospective candidates being April 4.

This year marks the first time in decades that persons without teaching licences can apply for teaching jobs in some fields – those not covered directly by teacher-training institutes and in fields where there is an acute shortage of teachers.

“We have 374 assistant-teacher posts available in 25 academic fields. Of these, six fields will welcome persons without teaching licences because there is a shortage of teaching staff,” said Paisan Wuttilanon, who heads the Nakhon Ratchasima Educational Service Area 1 Office.

The six fields are: mathematics, English language, science, physics, Finance/accounting, and chemistry.

By 2pm, the number of applicants in Nakhon Ratchasima had soared to over 7,000.

In Phang Nga province, 66 assistant-teacher posts are available. More than 500 candidates submitted their applications on the first day of the application period.

Many candidates had to leave the application venue disappointed because of a last-minute change in rule.

On Tuesday, the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission revised its new rule on the qualifications of eligible applicants in the face of huge pressure from education faculty deans.

Initially, the new rule was designed to welcome non-holders of teaching licences in all fields – not just select fields.

But following stiff opposition from teacher-training institutes, the rule was amended just a day before it took effect.

Upon learning about the sudden illness of Rapeeporn Nasa-arn, 25, the Thai Embassy in Seoul sent officials to provide assistance to her and coordinated with her family concerning their travelling to South Korea.

The Embassy has since learned that many South Koreans and Thais have extended help to Rapeeporn. The propritor of the hotel where she was staying before falling ill has offered an accommodation to Rapeeporn’s father who has travelled to Korea, Bussadee said.

Her former university, the Thai Chamber of Commerce University, has agreed to provide financial assistance as well.

In addition, Thai Airways International has stated that it was ready to help transport the woman back to Thailand given doctors’ permission. Rajavithee Hospital staff have said they will provide medical treatment for Rapeeporn when she returns to Thailand.

During her trip to South Korea, Rapeeporn suffered a medical emergency and fell into a coma at a hospital in the country. Her relatives in Kalasin province have asked for help because the medical expenses are very high.

Bussadee recommended that Thais travelling abroad should have travel insurance to ensure their illnesses would be covered in emergencies.

Meanwhile, local authorities in her home province held a meeting and approved donating money to be used for the family’s trip to South Korea.

Her grandfather Thongorn Nongsoda said her father Theerapong Nasa-arn had already travelled to South Korea on Tuesday, adding that in a telephone conversation Theerapong had said Rapeeporn was in a better condition and responding to medical treatment.

Total donations from local authorities in Kalasin reportedly amounted to about Bt200,000.

Chamlong Phummalai, 49, is believed to be hiding in a province near Bangkok after allegedly killing the C4-ranked official, who had worked for the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel at the council – better known as Khurusapha, police said.

Police alleged that Chamlong had told friends at a party that he would try to settle a dispute with the victim, whom he described as his girlfriend.

Police alleged that he told friends the victim had tried to distance herself from him to be with another man, and if he failed to win her back he would shoot her dead and kill himself.

Police have applied for an arrest warrant for Chamlong.

Police may also charge him with forgery for allegedly using his brother’s identity to get the Khurusapa job.

A Facebook fan page (facebook.com/welove8riew) reported that 14-year-old Somdech’s mother and grandmother said they were proud of the boy – who had been in a coma with brain injuries following the March 17 accident – could help seven people via the organ donations to the Thai Red Cross Society, as suggested by a doctor.

“If we cremated his body, that would be the end of the story. But at that time, my boy’s organs could still save many other lives and it would become a great merit for his soul. I would also be glad that others got his organs,” the boy’s mother Yong Sirisuk said.

The organ donations included his heart, eyes, liver and kidneys.

Social media users thanked Somdech and gave encouragement to his family.

The Thai Red Cross Society Organ Donation Centre in Bangkok will hold an organ donation campaign on Saturday.

The centre will also host a merit-making ceremony for deceased persons who donated organs and related activities at the ground-floor conference room of the Padtayapatana Building at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine.