PHUKET: An elderly Swedish woman was found dead in the waters off Ao Nang in Krabi yesterday, one of many recent drownings in Phuket and Krabi.

The unnamed 68-year-old, was found face down 10 meters off of Long Beach in Ao Nang at about 1:00pm, said Muang Krabi Police Lt Niwat Timket.

“Our tentative investigation revealed that she had been staying in a bungalow on Klong Muang beach and had a can of beer before going out alone for a swim,” Lt Niwat said.

PHUKET: The tricky subject of transportation overshadowed other matters at a meeting intended to address concerns over Phuket International Airport’s expansion project.

The meeting which was held at Kata Beach Resort last Thursday, was well attended by both public and private sector representatives from Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket.

Chairing the meeting were Tuyaratt Achariyachai, Chairwoman of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism, Pratuang Sornkham, Director of Phuket Airport and Chaturongkapon Sodmanee, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) executive vice president of engineering and information technology.

PHUKET: Continuing my series of articles answering questions that I hear most often… the next question has to do with internet speeds here in Phuket, as measured on the Phuket Internet Speed reporting site

PHUKET: The bankruptcy of one of the largest tour operators in Russia has left thousands of Russian tourists stranded around the globe, including 340 in Phuket.

Soopakij Chearavanont, Russian Honorary Consul for Greater Phuket, said the sudden bankruptcy of Lanta Tour Voyage has cost Phuket resorts from tens to hundreds of thousands of baht.

Most of the Russians stranded bought tours of 10 days or longer, staying at resorts in Patong and Kata-Karon, he said.

PHUKET: A large fired completely destroyed a home and a row of rental flats in Phuket last night.

Thung Thong Police were notified of a blaze on Soi Bangthong, about 50 meters from the Family Mart convenience store on Phra Barami Road on the Kathu side of Patong Hill, at about 8pm.

Arriving at the scene, duty officer Capt Sakchai Choonyong and fellow officers found one house and a nearby row of eight single-story flats in flames.

PHUKET: Schoolkids in Phuket are taking pharmaceutical drugs after ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) smoking sessions in an attempt to turn up negative in urine tests for the drug, local officials have revealed

Muang District Chief Supachai Pochanakul described the trend of growing drug abuse by schoolchildren in Muang District as “very worrying”.

The statement follows a recent round-up of 19 truant school children in secondary schools, 15 of whom tested positive for ya bah (methamphetamine pills).

Mr Supachai said the drug of choice among the children was ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), typically bought from suppliers in Patong, on the west coast of Phuket.

PHUKET: Day Four of The Bay Regatta saw sailors greeted with sunny skies and good wind as they left their anchorage off the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort and headed back to Ao Chalong for the regatta’s final party and awards ceremony at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC). The colourful spinnakers stood out proud as the fleet made the crossing from Krabi to southern Phuket.

Impressive course designs weaving through the stunning scenery and karst topography of Phang Nga Bay, combined with the fantastic parties, made this year’s regatta another great success.

PHUKET: It is sad that Phuket’s two specially-trained drug dogs have been suspended from “active duty” for lack of dedicated handlers, especially given the time invested in their training and the phenomenal results displayed by the beagle Bebe during her first day on the job last July.

[See page 6, this week's issue of the Phuket Gazette. Digital subscribers click here to download the full

PHUKET: A woman in Phuket with a Chinese tour group drowned in Rawai on Thursday.

The body of 57-year-old Xianmei Wang was found floating off of Koh Hei at about 2pm that day, Chalong Police said.

Also known as Coral Island, Koh Hei is a popular destination for snorkelers and divers on group tours.

PHUKET: The reckless truck driver who