Twelve Northeast provinces get flood warning amid ‘heavy rains’ today, Fri
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Twelve provinces in the Northeast might be hit by floods, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Thursday.
The department issued a warning saying an active low-pressure cell from the upper Philippines had moved to the South China Sea and was expected to intensify as it makes landfall in Vietnam on Thursday and Friday.
This will bring more rain to the Northeast, the East and the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity on Friday and Saturday, the department forecast.
Moreover, there is a chance of heavy rains in the Northeast provinces of Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani.
The department advised people there to beware of severe conditions that may cause flash floods and overflows, especially those who live along foothills near waterways and lowlands.
It asked people to closely follow warnings and updates on the website http://www.tmd.go.th or via hotline 1182.
BQ.1.1, XBB variants have not spread in Thailand yet: Disease Control Dept
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
THE NATION
The Covid BQ.1.1 and XBB variants have not spread in Thailand, with most patients being infected with Omicron, the Disease Control Department (DDC) confirmed.
DDC acting director-general Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong said on Wednesday that both BQ.1.1 and XBB have reportedly been found in foreign countries and have spread quickly.
In Thailand, he said, most patients have been infected with the BA.5 Omicron subvariant, presently the main variant in the entire world. Tares said the number of patients has been on the decrease while prevention measures in several areas have been eased, but he nevertheless urged everyone to continue abiding by important measures in this new normal lifestyle, which include wearing masks in risky areas, washing one’s hands regularly and keeping a social distance. Meanwhile, those who are infected must isolate and treat themselves for at least five days.
He suggested wearing two layers of masks during travel or work and advised people with severe symptoms to visit a doctor.
Getting a booster dose could reduce the severity of the disease, he recommended.
The Public Health Ministry is administering Pfizer vaccines for children aged 6 months to 4 years, he added.
Meanwhile, virologist Dr Anan Jongkaewwattana posted on Facebook on Wednesday that the World Health Organisation had issued a statement saying Europe is facing a new wave of Covid-19, which is different from others as influenza is spreading simultaneously with Covid.
Covid-19 and influenza vaccines will be important for people in risk groups because the shots will keep severe symptoms at bay, Anan added.
PM, ministers mark Memorial Day for King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, accompanied by his wife Naraporn Chan-o-cha and other Cabinet ministers, offered alms to 89 monks to mark His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great Memorial Day on Thursday.
The almsgiving ceremony was held in front of Thai Khu Fah building at Government House in Bangkok’s Dusit district.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow reportedly attended the ceremony.
The government is also inviting people to welcome the King and the Queen at King Rama IX Memorial Park in Bangkok’s Dusit district at 5pm on Thursday.
Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana are scheduled to attend a ceremony to unveil the statue of HM the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the park.
Free boat trips for people who want welcome Their Majesties
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
Free boat trips are available for people who want to welcome the King and the Queen at King Rama IX Memorial Park in Bangkok’s Dusit district at 5pm on Thursday, the Public Relations Department said.
The department said people can take boat trips from three piers – Tha Chang, Wat Rakhang and Wat Arun –for free from 6am to 8pm. Boats leave every 15 minutes.
The department added that the Marine Department and E Smart Transport were also providing free electric boat trips to and from two piers – from Nonthaburi to Tha Chang at 8am and 9am and from Tha Chang to Nonthaburi at 6pm and 6.30pm.
Over 70 locals rescued after being trapped by flash flood in Sai Yok National Park
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2022
More than 70 locals in Kanchanaburi’s Sai Yok National Park were rescued on Wednesday after being stuck in three forests for five long days.
The rescue came after they ventured into the forests to collect “het khone”, or termite mushrooms, but could not get out due to a flash flood.
National park chief Supol Khamsano explained that the locals from a number of communities went to collect the mushrooms in three areas – around 30 in Dongsak forest, 20 in Huai Luek forest and another 20 in Khok Wua forest.
He said some other locals were able to overcome strong tides and exit the forests, but others, who were on motorcycles, had to wait for the floodwater to recede.
The rescue team had been instructed to deploy four-wheel-drive trucks to rescue them and get their motorcycles out, he said.
“Even though the operation was difficult, all locals were rescued and were able to return home,” he said.
Chula researchers find cassava solution for cat litter
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
A researcher at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Science has come up with the idea to make 100 per cent Made-in-Thailand cat litter absorbent from cassava and aims to export it to the global market.
The product effectively absorbs liquids and odours of cat urine, decomposes naturally, and is safe for cats and their owners. Also coming up is sand for cat litter that indicates disease.
With prices of agricultural produce in decline, Thai researchers have found a way to add value to crops like cassava turning them into cat litter that is a necessary commodity for pet care.
“I am a cat lover and have been using cat litter products for over a decade. I noticed that practically 100% of cat litter on the market is imported and wondered why we weren’t manufacturing the product locally. I looked around at the agricultural products we had and tried various options like paddy husk or sugar cane pulp and found cassava to be ideal,” Lunjakorn Amornkitbamrung, a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University disclosed to us the origins of the product now known by its trade name “Hide&Seek.”
“Cassava becomes very sticky when soaked. This is the quality that is needed when it comes to cat litter which needs to solidify and be absorbent. It is also a natural substance that can be discarded simply by flushing it down the lavatory.”
Not only has this innovation done wonders in increasing crop value for cassava farmers, but it also assures cat lovers who look for a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly product.
It comes as no surprise that the cassava cat litter has received numerous awards such as the Best Inventions in Agriculture and Biology for the 2022 Fiscal Year organized by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), the 2021 Young Scientist Award from the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology, and The Prime Minister’s Export Award for 2021 from the Ministry of Commerce.
Cassava cat litter – a new and healthy option There is much to choose from in the cat litter market today from volcanic ash to pine pellets and even tofu litter. “Hide&Seek” cassava cat litter is the latest option that Dr. Lunjakorn is confident about when it comes to cats raised in condominium units or other limited spaces.
Made from 100% cassava, The product is chemical free and is therefore safe for feline friends and their owners. It also doesn’t produce dust from soil, rocks, or sands that can be toxic when inhaled.
It solidifies easily which means it can be cleaned up and flushed away since it decomposes naturally.
Most importantly, the cassava cat litter is better at absorbing odours than other products on the market that are made from other materials.”
Generating income for the Thai farmers As a researcher specializing in chemistry, Lunjakorn was able to find the right technology to produce cat litter from cassava.
The process began with breaking down the root crop into small pieces and drying them before crushing them into powder. The next step would be to use adequate heat and pressure to get small pellets used for cat litter.
The benefit of using plant-based raw materials is that the crops can be replaced.
This is quite different from the products made from the quarried Bentonite clay which is a form of destruction of natural resources.”
Replacement cultivation of cassava crops provides farmers with a steady income all year round. Lunjakorn intends to set up a cat litter factory in Chon Buri Province where cassava is planted.
“We’ve had talks with the farmers and assured them that we’d offer a price of over 10 baht per kilogram which is higher than the normal price they get at 4-5 baht. For that, they must cooperate by planting cassava with the desired quality to be used for the manufacturing of our product.”
Thai cat litter in the global market The cat litter market is highly competitive. The Thai market alone is worth 800 million baht per year whereas the world market stands at around 280 billion baht per year.
“The market is highly competitive. The challenge is to find the right strategies to make our product known so that more people buy it,” said Lunjakorn.
“Hide&Seek” has been on the market for about 2 years. In its first year, its total sales reached 5 million baht and the amount doubled in the second year.
Aside from the local market, the product has been exported to countries like Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia and will soon be available in Italy and Japan as well.
Plans are underway to turn other crops into cat litter With the success of cassava cat litter, other entrepreneurs are considering the option of adding value to their crops.
According to Lunjakorn, this might be possible with sugarcane pulp or paddy husk but they don’t have the same level of stickiness which means some substances like tapioca flour might need to be added to the formula.
“We’ve had several people consulting us on various possibilities of turning materials like hemp or paddy husk into cat litter. These possibilities need to be studied so that other formulas can be developed in the future.”
Cat litter of the future might help indicate your cat’s health problems Right now, Lunjakorn is hard at work on some improvements to his cat litter product.
“We are hoping to increase the value of our cat litter with an added feature that will enable cat owners to detect anything unusual with their cat early on before the condition worsens. The cat can then be taken to the vet in time to get treatment.
The product being researched makes it possible to check the pH and glucose levels from the cat’s urine which shows results from the change in colouration for such ailments as kidney disease, urinary tract infection, and diabetes.
The extended research project is being funded by the National Research Council of Thailand’s Pilot Project for the Thai Inventors/ World Inventors Project for 2022 with Associate Professor Kanet Wongravee of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University as the head of the project.
The research is expected to be completed by the end of this year when a new product will be introduced to the market.
A 2.7 – kilogram bag of “Hide&Seek” cassava cat litter costs 220-250 baht and can last for 3 weeks per cat. The product is on sale at pet shops in various department stores and the product is also available at Thonglor Pet Hospital where it is branded as Dr Choice and produced by OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing).
Heartbroken parents collect toddlers’ ashes after cremation
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
Grief-stricken relatives of 19 Nong Bua Lamphu massacre victims collected ashes of their loved ones at Wat Rat Samakee in Na Klang district on Wednesday.
A royally sponsored mass cremation for 19 of the 36 victims was held at the temple on Tuesday morning.
Of those cremated, 18 were toddlers who were killed in their sleep at a nursery in the Northeast province’s Na Klang district.
Parents of the victims said they would keep the ashes to make merit for 100 days.
One couple said their pet dog had whined for their child all night before following them to the temple today.
After the collection of ashes, the monks led relatives to offer alms at the temple’s monastery in a bid to make merit for the victims.
Storm warning for Northeast, Central region this weekend
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
Thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast to sweep the Northeast and Central Thailand on Saturday and Sunday due to the influence of a cyclone that is moving toward Vietnam and will make landfall on Friday, the Storm & Disaster Warning Facebook page reported on Wednesday.
It said the storm is expected to be named “Nesat”, according to the rotating list of tropical cyclones in the western north Pacific Ocean. The storm will be downgraded into a depression as it moves through Laos on Saturday and later become a low-pressure cell on Sunday.
This condition will cause thunderstorms and heavy rains in several provinces in the Northeast and Central region this weekend, the page warned.
It advised people to closely follow Thai Meteorological Department weather forecasts.
The department, however, had not mentioned the cyclones in its 7-day weather forecast issued on Tuesday. The forecast only said the active low-pressure cell over eastern Philippines is expected to move into the South China Sea and near the southern Vietnamese coast from Thursday to Friday.
“As a consequence, more rains are expected on Friday and Saturday in the Northeast, the East and the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, with isolated heavy showers in the lower Northeast,” the department had said.
North, Northeast to be gripped by cold weather, especially in the morning
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
THE NATION
Cold weather is covering the North and the Northeast, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.
It explained that a moderate high-pressure system from China is covering upper Thailand, bringing a reduction in temperatures coupled with strong winds especially in the Northeast.
Meanwhile, a monsoon trough is bringing heavy rains to some areas in the East and the South.
The department advised people in the area to beware of heavy showers and accumulated rain water that might cause flash floods.
It said winds in the Gulf of Thailand would cause 1-2-metre-high waves and more than 2 metres during thunderstorms. Here’s the weather forecast until 6am on Thursday:
North
Cold weather in the morning, slightly reduced temperatures, light rains in some areas
Lowest temperature 20-23 degrees Celsius, highest 29-33 degrees
10-20kph eastern wind
Northeast
Cold weather in the morning, slightly reduced temperatures, strong winds
Light rain in some areas, especially in lower areas
Lowest temperature 18-22 degrees Celsius, highest 29-32 degrees
10-30kph northeast wind
Central
Thunderstorms in 20 per cent of the area, mostly in Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon
Slightly reduced temperatures
Lowest temperature 22-23 degrees Celsius, highest 29-32 degrees
10-20kph east wind
East
Thunderstorms in 20 per cent of the area, mostly in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat
Slightly reduced temperatures
Lowest temperature 22-24 degrees Celsius, highest 30-33 degrees
15-35kph northeast wind
1-2-metre-high waves or higher than 2 metres in areas with thunderstorms
South (east coast)
Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area and heavy rains in some areas
Lowest temperature 21-24 degrees, highest temperature 30-33 degrees in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, and Narathiwat
15-35kph northeast wind upward from Chumphon
15-35kph of wind turbulence downward from Surat Thani
1-2-metre-high waves or higher than 2 metres in areas with thunderstorms
South (west coast)
Thunderstorms in 40 per cent of the area, mostly in Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun
Lowest temperature 23-25 degrees Celsius, highest 30-33 degrees
15-30kph northwest wind
1-metre-high waves or higher than 1 metre in areas with thunderstorms
Bangkok and its vicinity
Thunderstorms in 20 per cent of the area, with slightly reduced temperatures
Lowest temperature 23-24 degrees Celsius, highest 30-32 degrees
Government okays THB5.11-bn budget for health centre in Phuket to boost medical tourism
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2022
The Cabinet has approved a budget of 5.116 billion baht to build the Andaman International Health Centre in Phuket province to boost medical tourism and promote Thailand as a medical hub in the region, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Anek Laothamatas said on Wednesday.
Anek said the ministry had proposed the plan to build the centre which targets generating an additional 62 billion baht revenue for the tourism industry annually from 400,000 Thai and foreign patients each year.
The budget will be used to build a 300-bed tertiary specialised hospital, an international medical centre and a health college to produce specialist-level health professionals, including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, medical technicians, and alternative medicine professionals.
The college aims to produce up to 110 health professionals per year in fields that are in high demand in the southern region. After graduation, they can either work at the Andaman International Health Centre or at any health facilities in other southern provinces to provide training to local health professionals at up to 1,000 people per year, said Anek.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Sirirurg Songsivilai, added that the 300-bed hospital would be named Songklanagarind Hospital Phuket and can treat at least 300,000 outpatients per year, plus accepting 100,000 transferred patients from other hospitals in the Andaman area annually who require specialised care.
“The international medical centre will offer premium services for both Thai and foreign medical tourists seeking high-quality care of international standard in diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and health promotion,” said Sirirurg. “The centre will also feature the most advanced dentistry centre in the Southern region and is expected to generate income of over 1.6 billion baht per year, with about 300 million baht from dentistry services.”
The Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry estimates that the Andaman International Health Centre will help generate 10 per cent, or 62 billion baht, per year additional income for Phuket’s overall tourism industry. The construction is expected to start in 2023 and will take five years to complete.
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