Asia (Page 2,410)

Passengers and crew quickly bring fire under control

A power bank explosion triggered chaos on a flight from Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammarat on Saturday morning, forcing passengers and crew to work together to extinguish a midair fire.

The incident was reported by an Amarin TV journalist, Pol Capt Sayan Srimai, who was among the passengers on Thai AirAsia flight FD3188.

About 30 minutes after departing from Don Mueang airport at 7.20am, passengers said they saw smoke and flames coming from the 15th row of the aircraft.

Despite the chaos and confusion, those aboard were able to come together and extinguish the blaze within two minutes.

The flight was able to continue and land safely at Nakhon Si Thammarat airport as scheduled with all 186 passengers on board.

An initial investigation found burn marks on the seats near the incident. Authorities believe an exploded power bank was the cause. The device belonged to a family of seven to eight people travelling for vacation. It had been stowed in the seat pocket when it suddenly ignited.

Police say frozen human semen smuggled into Laos and Cambodia

A man believed to be part of a transnational surrogacy network has been arrested in Nonthaburi for alleged involvement in smuggling frozen human semen into Laos.

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police arrested Theeraphong Chaisuk in front of a house in tambon Tha Sai of Muang district in Nonthaburi on Friday.

Mr Theeraphong, 33, was wanted on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court in April 2022. He is accused of asking other people to bring prohibited items — specifically semen, eggs or embryos — into and out of the country, CSD commander Pol Maj Gen Montree Theskhan said on Saturday.

The arrest is part of an investigation that began in 2017 with an arrest in the northeastern border province of Nong Khai. Customs officials there arrested a man at the Thai-Lao Friendship bridge while attempting to smuggle a small tank of nitrogen containing six vials of frozen human semen.

It was subsequently found that a major network that included Chinese nationals was hiring people to smuggle human semen to be delivered to clinics in Laos and Cambodia for surrogacy, said Pol Maj Gen Montree.

The clinics used the semen to inseminate Lao or Cambodian women hired to be surrogate mothers.

“Those involved wanted babies to have the nationalities of the surrogate mothers for legal purposes that would be used as a mechanism for laundering money for Chinese nationals running grey businesses,” aid the CSD commander.

“Police investigators have gathered evidence to seek court approval to arrest those involved.”

The arresting team subsequently learned that Mr Theeraphong was among those involved and was in hiding in Nonthaburi.

During questioning, Mr Theeraphong admitted to having been involved in the smuggling of semen. He told police he was responsible for supervising people to deliver semen to clinics in Laos and Cambodia.

Police said he claimed he had done the job from 2014 to 2017, delivering 100 vials of semen at a time, and was paid 16,000 baht for each delivery.

The suspect said surrogacy was not carried out in Thailand because obtaining permits was an uphill task and required high expenses. In neighbouring countries, he said, the laws were less strict and the cost was not high.

The suspect was held in police custody for legal action.

Steep terrain increases challenges of containing the blaze, say firefighters

MAE HONG SON – Forest fires in Namtok Mae Surin National Park are posing a threat to surrounding communities, prompting swift action from local authorities.

A firefighting team, led by park chief Pairoj Intamat, made their way up the mountains at 10am on Saturday, following reports of blazes in tambon Pha Bong in Muang district of the northern border province.

The contingent found that the fire had descended the mountainside, endangering a densely populated area.

A firebreak is being constructed to safeguard villages, but authorities have noted challenges in battling the blaze at its source due to steep cliffs.

Fire trucks are on standby in the communities for a rapid response if needed.

Taweechai Kantajai, head of the Mae Hong Son Fire Prevention and Forestry Development Unit, said village headmen reported forest fires spreading to populated areas, with most incidents currently under control.

So far, only a fire resulting from agricultural burning has caused damage to five rai (8,000 square metres) of land in Mai Sang Nam village of tambon Huay Pong, said Mr Taweechai.

According to data reported on Saturday morning, 18 hotspots had been detected throughout Mae Hong Son.

Officials say those rounded up in Tachileik will face prosecution before deportation is considered

Myanmar military and police have detained 148 Thais following a crackdown on scam call centres and online gambling operations in Tachileik, a border town across from Mae Sai in Chiang Rai.

The raids took place on three suspected illegal call centres situated behind the 1G1 Hotel on Thursday morning, the Tachileik News Agency reported.

According to the report, nearly 700 people were taken into custody, including one Chinese citizen, 540 Myanmar nationals and 148 Thais.

Authorities also seized a handful of computers, eight automobiles and 120 motorcycles.

The report indicated that some of the detained Thais worked as administrators of the centres and travelled back and forth between Thailand and Myanmar using temporary passes. They are currently undergoing questioning.

Myanmar authorities have reportedly said that all individuals detained will face prosecution before any consideration of extradition.

Under pressure from Beijing to crack down on Myanmar-based criminal operations that target mainly Chinese nationals, the military junta in recent months has stepped up arrests and deportations. Some 41,000 suspects were handed over to China last year, Chinese media reported in January.

More than 500 Thais who had been working at scam centres in Laukkaing in Shan State were repatriated late last year. Thai authorities said they had determined that 174 of them were victims of human trafficking.

Srettha says he did not talk about how former premier might help country

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin travelled in his new official car to meet convicted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra at the latter’s family mansion in Bangkok’s Bang Phlat district on Saturday. The visit follows Thaksin’s release from prison on parole last Sunday.

At 12.20pm, Mr Srettha arrived at Thaksin’s Chan Song La residence on Soi Charan Sanit Wong 69. He was travelling in the 7.59-million-baht Lexus LM 350h Executive 4-Seater with “Sor Ror 30” Bangkok licence plates. The vehicle was delivered to him at Government House on Saturday morning.

The prime minister, also the finance minister, was expected to have lunch with Thaksin during the visit.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Srettha told reporters that the former prime minister was happy and in a good mood but was still weak after his recent release from detention.

The health of Thaksin has been the subject of endless speculation since he was discharged last Sunday from Police General Hospital.

Mr Srettha said he did not talk about how the influential 74-year-old ex-premier would help the country. 

On Wednesday, Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen visited his long-time friend Thaksin at the same residence.

Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thaksin’s youngest daughter, also arrived at the house during Hun Sen’s visit, with security being heightened around the area.

Thaksin was released from prison on parole on Sunday, after serving half of a one-year prison sentence, reduced from eight years by royal clemency, for conflict of interest and abuse of power in office prior to 2006. He spent the entire six months in the Police Hospital in Bangkok.

On Friday, Pol Col Montri Boonyayothin, deputy chief of the Corrections Department, said Thaksin was allowed to take positions in politics and offer advice during his parole period.