Storm Pabuk: Tourists flee Thailand as tropical storm 'threatens 22-foot waves'
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Your support makes all the difference.Tropical Storm Pabuk is set to bring 40mph winds, heavy rains and dangerously high waves to a number of tourist spots on Friday, including the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Tens of thousands of tourists have reportedly escaped popular resort islands in Thailand ahead of the first tropical storm to hit the country's southern shores in almost 30 years.
Thai authorities suspended ferry services and began evacuations on Thursday as the storm bears down during the country's peak tourism season.
Rain was already falling around the Gulf of Thailand and officials warned that torrential downpours, strong winds and rough seas were expected in 16 provinces when Pabuk makes landfall late on Friday.
There are fears that the storm will be the worst to hit Thailand since 1989, when Typhoon Gay left more than 400 dead.
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Southern Thailand's tourist industry is a huge moneymaker and authorities have become particularly sensitive to visitors' safety since last July, when 47 Chinese tourists drowned when the boat they were on sank in rough seas near the popular resort of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. (AP)
In what was possibly related to the storm, a Russian tourist in Koh Samui drowned as he tried to rescue his daughter, who was struggling in strong surf.
Thai PBS television reported that the daughter survived but her father lost consciousness after being tossed against some rocks and could not be revived by rescuers. (AP)
On Samui island, beach guards hoisted red flags to warn people to stay out of the sea. Police patrolled beaches, although many were almost deserted.
Anne Britt Sodefjed, a tourist from Norway, said she wasn't worried.
"We have bought lights, yes, and some more water. And we know the hotel will look after us," she said. (AP)
Two natural gas production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand directly in the path of the storm suspended operations and had their personnel evacuated to shore, said the exploration and production arm of the That state oil company PTT. It said drilling rigs and vessels had been moved to unaffected areas, and gas production at a third platform remained operating to help meet energy needs. (AP)
Army trucks have been driving around remote seaside areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Thursday evening, searching for stragglers who had not yet been evacuated.
"We have prepared three shelters and currently have about 1,000 people in them," said local official Kriangsak Raksrithong.
Fishing is a major industry in the south of Thailand, and small boat owners were heeding the warning. Many dragged their vessels ashore, attaching ropes to the boats and having friends help tug them on to beaches.
Some hotel operators have reported a few early checkouts but said they are prepared for the storm.
"Since the morning we have prepared sand bunkers and we have barricaded glass windows. We have also prepared first aid kits, torches, water, food and fuel for the hotel's power generator," Ampawan Taopheng, manager of Lub D Koh Samui on Chaweng Beach, told NDTV.
Here is some advice from weather experts:
"Residents and vacationers should not let their guard down that Pabuk is not a typhoon," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. "The storm can still threaten lives and property by unloading torrential and flooding rainfall."
The last time a severe tropical storm hit Thailand was when Linda struck in late 1997. The strength of Pabuk is not expected to rival that of powerful Typhoon Gay from 1989.
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