Warning to Phuket Tourists: Don't swim!

PHUKET: -- Red flag warnings are in force along Phuket's west coast beaches, several of which have achieved notoriety in recent years for scores of drownings and near-drownings during the monsoon season (May through October).

Strong West/Southwesterly winds reaching speeds of 50-60kmph with waves rising to 4.5 metres in the waters off Phuket are expected to continue until Thursday.

In neighboring Malaysia, the Meteorology Department yesterday noted that the strong winds and rough sea conditions would pose a danger to all shipping and coastal activities off Phuket, including fishing and ferry services, Bernama reports.

The warning added that the winds and rough seas off Phuket would also prevail in the waters along Malaysia's west coast – off Perlis, Langkawi, Kedah and Penang – and would as well affect Thailand's Koh Samui and Malyasia's Palawan island, until Wednesday.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-07-26

I am sure Malaysia would like to get hold of unspoiled PALAWAN, as BORNEO is loosing its' appeal more and more due to deforestation and overdevelopment, but for the time being, PALAWAN is still part of the Philippines.....