Officials in Phuket are stepping up beach safety measures in response to 5 drownings in under a week. The Bangkok Post reports that Pairoj Srilamoon, chief of Mueang District, says a total of 12 people have drowned at the island’s beaches since the start of the year.

 

The five people who were reported drowned between July 28 and August 3 were a Senegalese tourist who went swimming at Freedom Beach, 2 Indian tourists who drowned at Karon Beach, a Thai worker recently arrived on the island, who drowned at Surin Beach, and a Russian tourist who also drowned at Surin Beach.

 

Pairoj points out that red flags have been placed at Surin Beach to let people know that swimming is prohibited due to the dangerous conditions, with strong waves and high winds prevalent at this time of year. Despite this, Pairoj says some people ignore the warnings.

 

By Peter Roche

 

Full story: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/spate-of-drownings-on-phuket-prompts-officials-to-take-action/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-08-07

 

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Stepping up ...

... Red Flags out, what else can be done ?   If people are that stupid, maybe a good thing they no longer walk among us, or drive vehicles among us.

 

You'll never fix stupid.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Despite this, Pairoj says some people ignore the warnings.

Exchange the red flags for images of sharks?

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Stepping up ...

... Red Flags out, what else can be done ?   If people are that stupid, maybe a good thing they no longer walk among us, or drive vehicles among us.

 

You'll never fix stupid.

You beat me to that one - add to it the enormous choppy waves and grey skys should be a clue!!

Charles Darwin - where are you when we need you?

3 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Stepping up ...

... Red Flags out, what else can be done ?   If people are that stupid, maybe a good thing they no longer walk among us, or drive vehicles among us.

 

You'll never fix stupid.

Some things never change.

I had some involvement training with Phuket Surf Lifesaving when we lived there 2009-10. Two of my pics (excuse poor quality) of south Karon beach at mid-tide June 2009, easy to see how at high tide a swimmer would get quite a surprise dropping from shallow to over their head in the space of a few metres. That sudden drop the result of a spell of heavy seas, was done again in a matter of weeks.

 

An old thread from this forum 2009 More Phuket Drownings 'inevitable' states ten drownings at Karon beach that monsoon season. "Beach guards had warned Mr Lukin and his friends not to swim in the sea, but they were ignored, Mr Winai said."

 

Yet still people still chose to ignore the flags.

 

There were five drownings in one four day spell that month, taking the Phuket total to 33 for the first half of 2009.