Published on June 06, 2005

EARTHQUAKES

Tremors cause panic in Uttaradit, Lamphun; no damage reported

Earthquakes measuring 3.3 and 3 on the Richter Scale were recorded in two northern provinces yesterday.

“People felt the tremor and panicked,” Adisorn Fungkajorn, who heads a seismic station in the North, said. He added that these were just small earthquakes and therefore unlikely to cause any damage.

Meteorologist Vorapoj Kunawiwattanakura said the 3.3 quake occurred at 6.02am in Uttaradit’s Thong Saen Khan district, followed by the 3.0 quake in Lamphun’s Li district.

HEALTH

Beriberi warning for fishermen

The Public Health Ministry yesterday warned fishermen to protect themselves against beriberi – a disease caused by vitamin deficiency which can be fatal.

“We have received reports of two deaths already,” the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Vichai Tienthavon said.

According to Vichai, 24 crewmen from the same fishing boat had to undergo a medical check-up on April 7 because two of their colleagues were suffering from symptoms of the disease including swelling.

The crewmen, who had spent a total of 17 months at sea, said they had not eaten any fruit or vegetables during the last five months.

The check-up found that 11 of them were suffering from beriberi, caused by inadequate bodily stores of thiamine (vitamin B1).

However, after the ailing crewmen were given vitamin B1, they all recovered fully.

ATTEMPTED SILENCING

Journalist under SID protection

A local journalist who survived an attempt on his life last week is being protected by the Special Investigation Department (SID).

The murder attempt is believed to have been connected with his disclosure of alleged illegal forest encroachment, Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop said yesterday.

Suwat called on reporter Manop Rattanajaroonporn, who covers Phang Nga affairs for Matichon newspaper, in hospital yesterday.

Manop was wounded last Wednesday when attacked by a gunman.

The journalist yesterday said he thought the attack had something to do with his disclosure of irregularities in which some local influential figures had been issued titles for forested land in Phang Nga’s Kapong district.

Suwat said the SID was protecting Manop because he was a witness in a criminal case. The justice minister also gave the reporter Bt10,000, as victim’s compensation in a criminal case.

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