Heavy Rain Causes Surat Thani Landslide;

[churchill]

SURAT THANI, July 12 (TNA) – Thailand’s southern provinces have been hit by heavy rains, with landslides blocking a road in Surat Thani, while a passenger boat capsised off Phangnga.

Overnight heavy rains in the southern province of Surat Thani triggered a landslide in Phanom district, causing mud and dirt to block a road. Traffic has been cut off and the area was declared a danger zone. Landslides may occur again, as a similar incident had occurred earlier.

Khaosok National Park in Surat Thani has closed from July 12-16 and banned tourists from entering at risk areas such as waterfalls and a cave. Some tourists were evacuated from danger zones following incessant rain.

Meanwhile, a captain and all four crew members were rescued after a passenger boat capsized off the southern province of Phangnga due to heavy rain and strong wind.

No passengers were on board as the boat had dropped tourists on Phi Phi island and was returning to Phuket.

The southern office of the meteorological department issued a warning for five southern provinces to brace for heavy rain, strong winds and rough sea. Small boats are advised to stay ashore.

Wanchai Sakudomchai, metereological director, said the southwest monsoon has prevailed in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, triggering heavy rain in some areas.

Local residents in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Phatthalung are warned to beware of flash flood in the next two days. (TNA)

-- TNA 12/07/09http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=10744

[perkie173]

Are we safe on Samui or does anyone know if floods are expected here too? The weather has been pretty bad since Saturday but not as bad as some of the pictures I've seen on Thai news pages. I went Scuba Diving on Saturday to Koh Tao. It took us over an hour longer to get there than normal because the sea was so rough. Is it time to stock up on bread and cheese just yet?

[brzy]

I think we are safe here in Mui remember its the rainy season for large parts of Thailand although the wind is a bit... kite surfing anybody