Storm strands 200 tourists on Koh Tao

More than 200 tourists, most of them foreigners, have been stranded on an island in the Gulf of Thailand for six days due to rain, strong winds and rough seas.

Tourists were still unable to leave Surat Thani’s Koh Tao yesterday as poor weather conditions continued, local officials said.

Marine Police and Navy officials were working on a plan to rescue the tourists.

Operators of small tourist boats halted services yesterday, and only ferries between the mainland and the islands of Samui and Pha-ngan were operating as usual.

Rainstorms yesterday also caused Bangkok Airways to cancel flights between the mainland and Samui.

Meanwhile, 26 fishermen from three trawlers who went missing when their boats capsized during a heavy storm on Wednesday remained unaccounted for yesterday.

The Navy yesterday called off a search in waters off Samui due to poor visibility, which also hampered aerial searches.

So far, seven crewmembers – one Thai and six Burmese nationals – from one of the fishing boats have been rescued in a joint operation by the Navy, Marine Police and local officials.

Vice Admiral Nopporn Achavakom, commander of the First Naval Fleet, said yesterday that two ships had been sent to the area to help in the search as well as provide emergency rescue services to vessels in distress.

Meanwhile, Satun Governor Anon Phromnart said yesterday that tourists had returned to the province’s island of Tarutao, off the Andaman Sea coast, after strong winds and high waves subsided.

--The Nation 2003-10-24

Hah , that'll teach those "backpacker types" !

actually chonabot, most people on koh tao are divers, not really "backpacker types" as diving is pretty expensive and koh tao isn't actually that cheap. as someone living on koh phangan (full of the dreaded "backpacker type") I can understand your dislike --I never stay on Khao San, but then I never stay on Sukhumvit either.  anyway, the storm wasn't much fun, pissed down rain for a week, imagine it ruined diving for koh tao people! apparently the boats are running to koh tao today, last year the Navy had to evacuate. ahh, island life!

I spent 6 months there , most of them are too stoned to dive.

recently? I understand koh tao has been going through some major transformations over the past year. and doesn't 6 months in koh tao make you a suspected "backpacker type"?  ???

This was back in 1991 , I spent far to much to be considered a backpacker.

Yeah, but did you live like the locals, eat nothing but rice, and reject all things western, man?

I ate everything but rice.

What sort of luggage did you use?

Was it the type that fits onto the back neatly like a pack?

Twas a samsonite satchel I believe.

You didn't carry one of those HUGE mobile phones did you?

I dunno, sounds suspicious. I've been here since 89, koh tao in 91 was backpacker/hippie/stoner haven (things have cleaned up a bit since then). what were you doing there if you weren't a backpacker? hmmm.... ???

I dunno, sounds suspicious. I've been here since 89, koh tao in 91 was backpacker/hippie/stoner haven (things have cleaned up a bit since then). what were you doing there if you weren't a backpacker? hmmm.... ???

I refuse to answer that question due to the fact that I was stoned , and also due to the fact that , "what the frig has it got to do with you?"

Check my alibi with Pan and Ot who run New Way bungalows.

 

to paraphrase, "I think he does protest too much".

Not really , but you are starting to pi$$ me off with your continued questioning of what started out as a light hearted quip from myself.

What exactly are you implying ?

btw it's " I think he doth/not dose"

 

relax, sounds like you take things far too seriously.   just ribbing you, don't take it so personally!

I DO take my credibility seriously  , dammit it's all I have left!!!!

   

ps Koh Tao not that cheap you say?

80 baht per nigh aint pairng thats for sure.

try 600-1000, and if you don't dive with their company and the island is busy, you don't get a room. no more 80B rooms around here, even the nasty cheapo rooms that used to be 80 baht are now 150.

and hey, credibility isn't all its cracked up to be.