Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was set today to visit the Moo 7 village where Phuketwan reporters interviewed survivors of the Krabi disaster.


A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

nationmultimedia.com Massive landslide destroys 100 households; many still missing; Floods continue to wreak havoc; 710,000 now affected; Satun and Phuket get warning. Days of downpours triggered a leviathan landslide that swallowed up an entire village of about 100 households in Krabi's Khao Phanom district, leaving 10 residents reported dead and many more missing.

BANGKOK Hospital Phuket has opened an appeal for items to aid the survivors of flooding and mudslides in provinces neighboring Phuket. Phuketwan reporters on the spot to cover the natural disaster that struck in Krabi said survivors needed blankets to cope with the unseasonable cold, as well as food and clothing. Drop-off boxes are in the Phuket City hospital's reception area.

Phuketwan yesterday sent two photojournalists to cover the Phuket region disaster in Krabi. Look for more reports and photographs today.

bangkokpost.com Mountain run-off and landslides hit villages in tambon Na Khao in Krabi's Khao Phanom district and washed away up to 50 homes, provincial governor Prasit Osathanont said. Hours after the landslides struck, rescue workers were still sifting through the mud in a desperate search for other victims.

dailymail.co.uk Severe flooding and mudslides in southern Thailand have killed 21 people, stranded thousands of tourists and threatened to delay shipments of rubber in the world's largest rubber-producing country, authorities said. More rain is expected in the next few days.

smh.com.au Australians are among more than 15,000 tourists trapped on holiday islands after storms and floods hit southern Thailand, killing at least 15 people and destroying villages. Victims were either swept away by the rising waters, or buried in mudslides as the unseasonably wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around a million people in what should be one of the hottest months of the year.

afp A photograph of a maid carrying a soldier's rucksack as she walked behind him has sparked outrage in Singapore and concern that recruits to its armed forces are a pampered lot. Local daily the New Paper surveyed 23 national servicemen and found that 22 of them had their maids wash and iron their army uniforms, while 17 had their domestic helpers clean their rooms for them.

dailymail.co.uk Libyan rebel forces retreated in disarray as the battle in the east swung dramatically in favor of Colonel Gaddafi. The oil town of Brega changed hands for the sixth time in six weeks, as regime troops backed by heavy artillery won back most of the ground they had lost in recent days.

bbc.co.uk Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa is in Britain and "no longer willing" to work for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the Foreign Office says.

echo-news.co.uk Briton Peter Chambers, 59, was savagely attacked by a gang, who were on motorbikes, just metres from his home in Chonburi. Mr Chambers was badly beaten and was taken to hospital where he remained in a coma for two-weeks befire dying. No one has been arrested.

bernama.com The Bali Process Ministerial Conference has called for participants' cooperation in drawing up practical measures to tackle issues related to human trafficking and international crime in the Asia-Pacific region.

scmp.com Japan was considering plans to drape shattered nuclear reactor buildings with special radiation-blocking covers, and pump contaminated water into a tanker.

bangkokpost.com Thai AirAsia aims to enlarge its fleet with 10 additional jetliners to its current 40 in order to penetrate the vast burgeoning markets of India and China. Tony Fernandes, group chief executive of AirAsia, said: "We can use these additional planes to fly to India where we just scratched the surface, and China too."

cnn.com Police in Indonesia have sent a team to confirm that Pakistan has arrested a top suspect in the Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people in 2002, a top Indonesian police official told CNN. They will try to establish that the suspect in custody is Umar Patek, one of Southeast Asia's most wanted men.

afp World's highest hotel opened its doors in Hong Kong, housed in the city's tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbor. Towering some 118 floors and 490 metres above the bustling city, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel is making a grand comeback after temporarily closing in 2008.

abc.net.au An Australian publisher arrested on immigration and assault charges in Burma has defended himself against the allegations. Ross Dunkley says he is dismayed by allegations that he raped and tortured a young Burmese woman.



IBAP with Indochine's Michael Ma as the guest speaker is at Indochine on April 8.

MORE than 5000 runners from around the world are expected to test their mettle in the Laguna Phuket International Marathon on June 12, with Thai-German star Mario Maurer and contestants from the latest season of 'The Biggest Loser Asia' taking part.

PHUKET Navy League is planning a free Independence Day event on Sunday July 3 from 10am to 7pm at Headstart International School, across the street from Makro, near Central Festival in Phuket City.

Unti March 31 Four days of traditional longboat races, Koh Panyee, Phang Nga
April 1 Turtle release, Banyan Tree seafront, Laguna Phuket
April 9-10 Phuket 'mini concert' to aid Japan
April 8-10 Phuket Bike Week, Patong
April 12-17 Phuket International Cricket Sixes
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn
July 20-24 Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
October Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon
December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket