Tropical storm “Pabuk” has reached Thailand. Tens of thousands of tourists have left the Islands to the South of the country on Wednesday.
Red flag on the island of Koh Samui: tourist places are bracing for possibly the worst storm in decades
Tens of thousands of tourists fled the Thai holiday Islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao before the tropical storm “Pabuk”, the to bring heavy rains, strong Winds and seven-metre-high waves. The Islands, especially in the Christmas and new year season very popular, empty since Wednesday. The tourists were brought by ferry to the südthailändische mainland.
Between 30,000 and 50,000 tourists to the Islands should have left since new year’s eve. Several thousand guests were brave remained to the storm, said the mayor of the island of Koh Tao, known for its tropical coral reefs.
The inhabitants on the coast of the province of Nakorn Si Thammarat in the storm “Pabuk” met this Thursday on the country, would be brought to safety, informed the Ministry of emergency situations of the country. In the coming days the storm will reach the with tourists popular holiday destinations, Phuket, Ko Samui and Krabi, it said.
“Pabuk” was moved with a speed of 65 kilometers per hour through the southern Gulf of Thailand to the mainland. The Thai weather Agency warned that he could be destructive, such as tropical storm “Harriet”, killed in 1962, nearly one thousand people in the country.
Until Saturday, 5. January, announced heavy rains for the South of the country, including in the tourist areas of Phuket, Krabi, and Islands in the Gulf of Thailand like Koh Samui. Boats are not allowed to expire. Also Swimming in the sea have banned the authorities in the face of strong winds and waves.
cd/ks (dpa, afp)