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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017079

The owner of the shophouse that caught fire in Bangkok’s Sampheng market is threatening to sue the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) for failing to maintain the transformer that blew up on Sunday.

According to witnesses, the transformer outside the three-storey shophouse burst into flames, which soon swept through a row of shophouses. The blaze, which killed two people and injured nine others, took firefighters more than two hours to control.

Suchart Kittirudeekul, owner of the shophouse, said the transformer had exploded several times before and said he warned the MEA about it last week, but nothing was done.

“Now, the fire has caused damages worth more than 10 million baht,” he said.

He said he had been operating his business at the shophouse for six years and that it had a fire insurance policy. He also said he would consult a lawyer before filing a lawsuit against MEA.

“The shophouse will be demolished as the building is now unusable,” he added.

Jittra Attjai, who works at a plastic bag shop nearby, said an MEA officer had checked and fixed cables in the area before the accident took place.

She said she and other people noticed sparks from the cables in front of the shop after MEA officials left.

“Later, some liquid gushed out of the transformer, before it exploded twice,” she said, adding that she immediately ran to the other side of the road to escape the fire.

“Then flames from the transformer quickly spread into the building,” she added.

The MEA has not announced the cause of the fire yet, saying the agency is cooperating with related agencies to find the real cause. It also claimed that the transformer’s automatic short-circuit protection system had been operating normally.

“MEA will provide aid to victims as soon as possible in line with the agency’s emergency measures,” it said.

MEA has also said it will cooperate with the Bangkok governor and other agencies to find the actual cause of the fire and will implement preventive measures to ensure people’s safety.

Published : June 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017076

Phuket authorities announced on Sunday that they were easing more Covid-19 restrictions now that the mask mandate has been lifted nationwide.

The announcement issued by Phuket Governor Narong Woonsiew said the following regulations would be effective immediately:

• Wearing facemasks outdoors is voluntary, except in crowded places and in areas with poor ventilation. Vulnerable people should still wear a facemask when near others to reduce the risk of infection and spread of the virus.

• Restaurants, pubs, bars, karaoke joints and similar entertainment venues can serve alcohol during their operating hours. However, they are required to strictly follow all disease-control measures stipulated by authorities.

• Public gatherings are allowed, but congregations of more than 2,000 people must be registered with the provincial communicable disease committee.

• Foreigners arriving in Phuket do not have to register via any channels.

• Disease control measures put in place before June 26 will be cancelled and replaced by the prime minister’s order dated June 23.

The governor has also tasked the provincial public health office to coordinate with other agencies to raise public awareness on how to stay safe as the country transitions into a post-pandemic era. The agency has also been instructed to draw up a risk management plan in case of a new outbreak.

Published : June 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017075

The prime minister has ordered related agencies to study the damages sustained as well as the structure of the shophouse that caught fire on Sunday morning in Bangkok’s Sampheng area. He is concerned about the building collapsing and causing more damage, the government spokesman said.

The blaze, which broke out at around 11.30am and took firefighters more than two hours to control, killed two and injured nine people, seven of whom were firefighters.

Witnesses told police the fire started when an old transformer in front of the building exploded, and flames quickly engulfed the shophouse. The fire then spread to four other shophouses in the vicinity and two cars parked in the area were also severely damaged.

“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed condolences and is urging people to be cautious when using electrical appliances as they can short circuit during the hot season,” government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday evening. “He has also tasked related agencies to investigate the building structure and other damages immediately, and provide aid to those affected.”

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sitthiphan, who was at the scene on Sunday evening, said he will coordinate with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to find out the cause of the fire, adding that there have been several reports of electrical malfunctions in the area before this incident.

“This is an expensive lesson we need to learn from,” he said. “We will try to move power cables underground as soon as possible to prevent such tragedies from happening again.”

Meanwhile, the Samphanthawong district office has set up a relief centre for those whose houses have sustained damage. Initially, each household will be given 49,500 baht in aid and relatives of the dead will be paid 29,700 each to cover funeral costs.

Published : June 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017073

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (June 27) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 1,735 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, one of whom has arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 15, while 2,138 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,292,455.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,515,890 – 4,462,388 of whom have recovered, 22,895 are still in hospitals and 30,607 have died.

Separately, another 14,100 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 32,992 their second shot and 76,815 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 139,546,745.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 549.02 million on Monday, 524.02 million of whom have recovered, 18.66 million are active cases (36,343 in severe condition) and 6.35 million have died (up by 499).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 88.79 million, followed by India with 43.41 million, Brazil with 32.08 million, France with 30.51 million and Germany with 27.77 million.

Published : June 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017070

Another charred body was found on the second floor of a three-story shophouse building in Bangkok’s Sampheng area on Sunday, raising the death toll in the fire to two, police said.

The two bodies, both burned beyond recognition, were believed those of missing workers at Ratchawong Rungruang Co Ltd. Their friend, who escaped the fire, told police that a male worker, identified as Phetduang, 34, and a female worker named Jiraphat Soommark, 52, went missing during the blaze.

The bodies have been removed for identification.

Firefighters battling the blaze found a charred body near a shelf on the ground floor of the shop, which sells cloth, plastic and paper bags as well as packaging boxes. The second body was discovered on the second floor after the fire had been extinguished.

Twenty fire engines attended the scene after Chakkawad police station was alerted to the blaze at 11.30am.

Witnesses told police the fire started in an electricity transformer in front of the building and spread quickly to the second floor before engulfing the ground floor and third floor. Goods stored on the ground and second floors apparently contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

Two cars parked in front of the shop also suffered severe fire damage.

Firefighters used 20 hoses to try to control the blaze before calling for another fire engine from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to help douse the flames.

They took over three hours to put out the fire, which also left nine local residents and volunteer firefighters in need of treatment for smoke inhalation. They were sent to the nearby Klang Hospital and Hua Chiew Hospital for treatment.

Jittra Atjai, 34, an employee of the shop, told police that a team of Metropolitan Electricity Authority workers came to fix power cables in front of the shop at 11am. The cables were close to the second floor of the shophouse building.

Jittra said after the MEA workers left, she heard sounds of a short circuit from the power cables so she came out to take a look.

She said she and other vendors were criticising the MEA workers for not tidying the cables away, leading to the short circuit, when they witnessed liquid pouring from the transformer, followed by two explosions.

She said she ran for her life to the opposite side of the road and watched in horror as the fire spread from the transformer to the building.

She said her two friends were working inside.

The building has been declared off-limits for a safety inspection over fears it might collapse.

Published : June 26, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017069

A project selling rice topped with curry at 25 baht per dish will launch on Monday to help people facing hardship from rising food prices, the Thai Restaurant Association (TRA) said on Sunday.

The project will kick off at PT filling stations across Bangkok and surrounding areas with cooperation from several partners, said TRA president Thaniwan Kulmongkol.

She added that the association also has guidelines for restaurants on how to soften the impact of rising costs for ingredients and liquid petroleum gas (LPG).

“Appropriate guidelines to assist small restaurant operators will be considered to enable all parties to coexist,” she said, without elaborating.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a gradual price increase for LPG from the current 363 baht per 15-kilo cylinder to 408 baht. The price will be raised three times between July 1 and September 30.

Published : June 26, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017068

Most Thais are worried about the legalisation of marijuana, and many believe it will do more harm than good, a recent opinion survey found.

Suan Dusit Poll collected opinions from a random group of 2,390 people between June 20 and 23. The results were announced on Sunday by researcher Pornphan Buathong.

In the poll, respondents were asked if they were concerned about cannabis being legalised on June 9. Of the respondents, 32.85 per cent said they were “very concerned”, 37.78 per cent were “rather concerned”, 16.27 per cent said they were “rather unconcerned” and 13.10 per cent were “not concerned at all”.

When asked if they thought legalisation would have more pros than cons, 52.76 per cent said cons would outweigh pros, 30.17 per cent said there would be as many pros as cons, while 17.07 per cent said the pros would outdo cons.

As for listing their concerns about the legalisation of ganja, 84.58 per cent said people still lack knowledge of correct usage, 82.16 per cent are worried children will have easy access to the drug, while 73.73 per cent pointed out that there is still no law regulating the use of marijuana. Respondents were allowed to choose more than one answer to this question.

As for ideas on what can be done to control consumption, 88.38 per cent said children and youth should be prohibited from using the herb and it should not be available anywhere near schools. Meanwhile, 82.26 per cent proposed that the authorities provide correct information about ganja and closely monitor its usage in public areas. Of the respondents, 81.67 per cent also proposed a ban on exaggerated claims and ads related to marijuana.

When asked to name the pros of cannabis, 74.96 per cent said it was good for medical purposes, 46.46 per cent said it can be used as a cash crop, while 45.38 per cent said it could help keep some people out of the hospital.

Meanwhile, a resounding 60.54 per cent believe the legalisation of marijuana is related to politics, 27.99 per cent said it was “somewhat” related, while the remainder saw no link at all.

Published : June 26, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017066

One person was killed and six others suffered from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in Bangkok’s Sampheng market on Sunday.

Ashophouse in the area caught fire at around 11.30am, and it took firefighters nearly two hours to control the blaze, police said.

While fighting the blaze, firefighters found a charred body on the ground floor of the shop, which covered three shophouses. The three shophouses were completely destroyed by the fire, which also spread to another three units nearby.

The shophouse where the fire broke out is located on Ratchawong Road in Bangkok’s Samphanthawong district.

The body had not been identified as of press time, while the six persons – four men and two women – who suffered injuries from smoke inhalation were rushed to Hua Chiew Hospital and Klang Hospital.

People in the neighbourhood said they heard an explosion and saw flames erupting in the transformer outside the building before engulfing the shop.

The forensics department has yet to establish the cause of the fire despite reports of the transformer exploding.

Published : June 26, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017059

Flames swept through a row of shophouses near Bangkok’s Sampeng Market on Sunday morning, burning down six units. No casualties were reported as of press time.

The 199 emergency radio centre alerted rescue units about the fire at 11.30am. It reported that the fire had apparently broken out in a three-storey building before quickly sweeping through other units.

The building where the fire started is located near the pier on Ratchawong Road.

Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to get the blaze under control, though the debris was still smouldering as of press time.

Upon learning of the blaze, Pol Colonel Chakphet Ployphetnil, deputy commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, and officers from Chakkawad Police Station arrived to investigate the incident.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt was also reportedly on his way to the scene as of press time.

Sampheng is a densely populated neighbourhood in Bangkok’s Chinatown area. It is known for its open-air Sampheng Market, where street stalls sell everything from clothes to household items and souvenirs. The area is also known for its traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies.

Published : June 26, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017057

The policy of using valuable trees as collateral for bank loans has achieved so much success that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is encouraging villagers to plant more such trees.

Trees that can be used as collateral include teak, tamarind, ebony, Burmese ebony, durian and jackfruit.

Government deputy spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said on Sunday that Prayut had learned of the policy’s success from the Business Development Department, which has been educating rural community leaders and community enterprises about the benefits of planting valuable trees.

The department, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Ministry, said that more and more villagers are showing interest in the scheme, Ratchada said.

She added that this tree-growing scheme is part of Prayut’s policy to boost green areas in the country, as well as give villagers a means of obtaining loans.

As of May 20, 146,000 trees have been registered as collateral for 137 million baht worth of loans. Of them, 318 were registered with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative for 3 million baht worth of loans, 23,000 trees with Krung Thai Bank for 128 million baht and 120,000 trees with small financial organisations for 6 million baht.

“The prime minister attaches importance to growing valuable trees, because not only will they make the country greener, but they can also be used as collateral for loans,” she said.

Published : June 26, 2022

By : THE NATION