Bomb blast
Military personnel on April 2 examine the remains of a scrap metal shop in Lat Plakhao Soi 72 in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. Seven people were killed and at least 10 injured when a World War II-era bomb that had been brought to the shop as scrap metal exploded.
Songkran supply
More bus services added
Buses will make an additional 2,000 round trips from Bangkok to the provinces to meet an expected jump in traffic during the upcoming Songkran festival.
Transport official Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said on April 2 that the state-run bus agency would boost the number of inter-provincial bus and van services from 5,000 to 7,000 round trips a day between April 11 and 17.
The extra bus and van services could serve about 200,000 Songkran revellers per day, Wutthichart said, adding that no passengers should be left stranded at bus terminals during the festival.
Below standard
Chiang Mai water inspected
Water quality at Tha Phae in Chiang Mai is sub-standard and needs improvement before people can safely use it during the Songkran festival, the Department of Pollution Control said on April 2.
Tha Phae forms part of the moat that surrounds the ancient city’s inner area. The water’s oxygen level was below safe standards, according to Regional Environment Office official Rapeesak Malairungsakul.
On March 27 the department collected water samples from 10 popular spots around the city. It found that four of them, including Tha Phae, had less than the standard amount of oxygen in the water.
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Young moms
Pregnancy rates revealed
About 130,000 adolescent women across Thailand became pregnant last year. The National Economic and Social Development Board reported the news on April 1. High teenage pregnancy rates were mostly found in Chon Buri, Samut Sakhon, Rayong and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Vocabulary
- sub-standard (adj): not as good as normal; not acceptable
moat (n): a deep wide channel dug around a castle, etc. and filled with water to make it more difficult for enemies to attack
adolescent (n): a young person who is developing from a child into an adult
