Samui, Pha-Ngan Islands Declared Disaster Zones

[webfact]

Samui, Pha-ngan islands declared disaster zones

By Digital Media

SURAT THANI, Dec 6 - Surat Thani provincial governor Chatpong Chatputi has declared Samui and Pha-ngan islands disaster zones today following a three-day blackout as the authorities continue attempting to restore power on the two popular southern Thailand island destinations.

The governor said the decision was to facilitate the Bt50 million emergency budget reimbursement to help relieve those affected by the blackout. He also called a meeting of agencies concerned to prepare measures to help residents and tourists.

The two islands lost electricity Tuesday morning when a high-voltage underground cable ruptured. Efforts to restore electricity is underway, but while electrical power was expected to resume this afternoon, it is now seen as delayed indefinitely.

Warin Sitsayanaren, a senior Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) official, earlier gave assurances that the power supply would be restored today.

Meanwhile, Thanongsak Somwong, chief of the Samui Tourism Association, said the blackout has severely impacted the two popular resort islands as a large number of Thai and foreign tourists have abruptly cancelled their holidays and left the island after the blackout.

Damage is estimated to exceed one billion baht. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-06

[Samui Coconut]

So how do you disburse this amount and how do you calculate who gets what (if any) ?

[Gulfsailor]

That will make an interesting conversation between Surat governor and Bangkok government;

Governor: hi there, we have a serious disaster here. We would like some of that money reserved in the emergency fund for situations lik this.

Answer: yeah, about that..... We may be a little short at the moment:

[laurentbkk]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

[Kananga]

Any excuse to dip into a fund.

[sscsamui]

NObody on Samui that truly lost money from the Black out will see Any of that 50 Million Baht... Ever...

[Samui Coconut]

NObody on Samui that truly lost money from the Black out will see Any of that 50 Million Baht... Ever...

Whilst I hope you are wrong, I think you are right!

[BusyBee123]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

not so easy when you have a baby to be patient!

[BookMan]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

not so easy when you have a baby to be patient!

A good point and it is not like you plan for the power to be out for days on end

[webfact]

Blackout impact on two Gulf of Thailand tourist havens ‘temporary’

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 6 – The impact on the tourism and hospitality industry on the Gulf of Thailand’s Samui and Pha-ngan islands will be short-lived if the loss of power to the twin tourism magnets since Tuesday morning is urgently restored, a leading hotelier said.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Surapong Techaruvichit said the damage to Thailand’s hospitality sector will last only a few days if electricity distribution is back to normal today.

The Surat Thani provincial administration declared the two islands under its jurisdiction disaster zones on the third day of the blackout.

The Bangkok-based hotel association chief described the electrical disruption as a force majeure, an act of nature that could not be foreseen, but he said government agencies must be prepared to prevent such an incident in the future.

The Provincial Electricity Authority has clarified that the problem arose from a rupture of a high-voltage underground cable on Samui Island.

Major hotels on the islands are equipped with their own power generators, and new supplies of fuel were rushed to the islands to be sufficient for the instantly-increased consumption.

Mr Surapong would not estimate the financial losses from the three-day loss of electricity, but noted that the high season on the two islands has passed.

Tourism on Samui and Pha-ngan normally reaches its peak in July-September while the current occupancy rate is 50-60 per cent.

The THA president added that Thailand’s overall tourism is enjoying a 10-12 per cent increase this year with the highest number of hotel reservations in Phuket and Phang-nga in the South, and Chiang Mai in the North.

Inbound tourists were reported at 17.6 million persons in January-October this year and it should be up to 21 million by year end, higher than the targeted 20.6 million persons, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-06

[MaxLee]

Rupture, rupture= COOOOOOORRRRRRRUPTUUUUURE

Bangkok governor to Samui Governor: Yo, screw you and your pitiful island, we give you no money, too busy with promoting Bangkok , OOOOONLYYYYY BAAAAAANGKOK this year

[Tropicalevo]

Blackout impact on two Gulf of Thailand tourist havens ‘temporary’

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 6 – The impact on the tourism and hospitality industry on the Gulf of Thailand’s Samui and Pha-ngan islands will be short-lived if the loss of power to the twin tourism magnets since Tuesday morning is urgently restored, a leading hotelier said.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Surapong Techaruvichit said the damage to Thailand’s hospitality sector will last only a few days if electricity distribution is back to normal today.

Mr Surapong would not estimate the financial losses from the three-day loss of electricity, but noted that the high season on the two islands has passed.

Tourism on Samui and Pha-ngan normally reaches its peak in July-September while the current occupancy rate is 50-60 per cent.

-- TNA 2012-12-06

So Christmas is not high season? You could have fooled me. Villas fully booked, people looking for accomodation every day (almost) and difficult to get a rental car now.

[Thai at Heart]

Blackout impact on two Gulf of Thailand tourist havens ‘temporary’

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Dec 6 – The impact on the tourism and hospitality industry on the Gulf of Thailand’s Samui and Pha-ngan islands will be short-lived if the loss of power to the twin tourism magnets since Tuesday morning is urgently restored, a leading hotelier said.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Surapong Techaruvichit said the damage to Thailand’s hospitality sector will last only a few days if electricity distribution is back to normal today.

The Surat Thani provincial administration declared the two islands under its jurisdiction disaster zones on the third day of the blackout.

The Bangkok-based hotel association chief described the electrical disruption as a force majeure, an act of nature that could not be foreseen, but he said government agencies must be prepared to prevent such an incident in the future.

The Provincial Electricity Authority has clarified that the problem arose from a rupture of a high-voltage underground cable on Samui Island.

Major hotels on the islands are equipped with their own power generators, and new supplies of fuel were rushed to the islands to be sufficient for the instantly-increased consumption.

Mr Surapong would not estimate the financial losses from the three-day loss of electricity, but noted that the high season on the two islands has passed.

Tourism on Samui and Pha-ngan normally reaches its peak in July-September while the current occupancy rate is 50-60 per cent.

The THA president added that Thailand’s overall tourism is enjoying a 10-12 per cent increase this year with the highest number of hotel reservations in Phuket and Phang-nga in the South, and Chiang Mai in the North.

Inbound tourists were reported at 17.6 million persons in January-October this year and it should be up to 21 million by year end, higher than the targeted 20.6 million persons, he said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-12-06

Glad to hear that it isn't permenant.

[Rancid]

In a way the tourists can experince what the place was like 30 years ago, little bit of roughing it adds to the adventure. As to funds to the affected, seems the only ones truly sufferring turns out to be the politicians, bureaucrats and the rich. Hopefully a spare billion tossed their way should help alleviate their distress and pay their analyst bills.

[Renbe]

I feel sorry for all the tourists that flew from all over the world to enjoy a well deserved vacation on wonderful Samui. I hope the Surat Thani Provincial Electricity Authority will be able to solve the problem soon.

[PoodMaiDai]

[Mr Surapong would not estimate the financial losses from the three-day loss of electricity

Meh, 50 million baht should cover all the damages that I am unable to tell you about.

[amykat]

I feel sorry for the tourists. As a resident of Thailand, I guess you can expect things like this to happen from time to time. But as a tourist who flew half way around the world to come to Samui, and many of whom are paying for nice accomodations, they are now getting near zero for their money, and if they leave early ...well, how many pre-paid hotels do you know in Thailand, who will give you a refund?

No aircon (this alone would ruin my vacation to any hot country), no satellite TV, no refrig, no hot water, no internet, probably very limited food in the restaurants, might as well have stayed in some 500 baht huts, if they have those anymore!

Then they have to pay extra to change their flight, fly somewhere else, find something new to do, etc.

[hearditallbefore]

any decent bungalo has a generator, and some resorts run off of a generator year round on pha ngan

[Moruya]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

I've been on other islands when the power goes. Imagine life in a hot, humid place with no water to wash, no air con, pool water going green, food storage looking scary....

I think most of us can put up with no lights, no TV, etc. But some things are essential for beyond a 24 hours window.

When it smells like Cairo airport, time to depart

[dasy]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

I've been on other islands when the power goes. Imagine life in a hot, humid place with no water to wash, no air con, pool water going green, food storage looking scary....

I think most of us can put up with no lights, no TV, etc. But some things are essential for beyond a 24 hours window.

When it smells like Cairo airport, time to depart

It has always been like that when there was no electricity on both islands no sweat just know where to get your stuff....from the guys with the generators and....the daily ice supply ...by boat in huge blocks not the fancy little ones but.....you did not pay 5000 Baht to get there by plane.

[Moruya]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

I've been on other islands when the power goes. Imagine life in a hot, humid place with no water to wash, no air con, pool water going green, food storage looking scary....

I think most of us can put up with no lights, no TV, etc. But some things are essential for beyond a 24 hours window.

When it smells like Cairo airport, time to depart

It has always been like that when there was no electricity on both islands no sweat just know where to get your stuff....from the guys with the generators and....the daily ice supply ...by boat in huge blocks not the fancy little ones but.....you did not pay 5000 Baht to get there by plane.

Aye. Those were the days before commercialism rogered ecology until his eyes popped out.

Nowadays if you pay the price you expect the conveniences.

[EvilDrSomkid]

Samui, Pha-ngan islands declared disaster zones

They have been for the last 15 years.

[Johpa]

When it smells like Cairo airport, time to depart

And thus I have not been back to Samui in nearly 20 years. Not that all of Samui stank back then, but the Chaweng area certainly was becoming odoriferous by then.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

The idiot doesn't have a clue. High season runs from Dec-Apr. July-Aug is an interim 'mini high season' due to European holidays.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

any decent bungalo has a generator, and some resorts run off of a generator year round on pha ngan

Only those resorts on beaches not yet connected by govt road, ie on the east coast. The rest of the island has been fully connected for ages.

[LuukKoeyKorat]

Phangan is getting power for 4 hours a day - 2 in the afternoon, 2 in the evening. Just about long enough to chill the defrosted food......as well as play havoc with fridge and freezer electrics

[marstons]

how can they know how much will it cost just now as it seems they still dont have electricity .... strange .... I dont think people cancel their holidays , those electric stuff happen anywhere and usually for short time , ok 2 days is a bit long .. be patient nothing else .

No electric also means no water as its pumped electrically into tanks in most places or from wells. No water and no electric for 2 days is a big deal in a hot climate, no way would i be heading for Samui right now.

[btunes]

In a way the tourists can experince what the place was like 30 years ago, little bit of roughing it adds to the adventure. As to funds to the affected, seems the only ones truly sufferring turns out to be the politicians, bureaucrats and the rich. Hopefully a spare billion tossed their way should help alleviate their distress and pay their analyst bills.

Dude ...EVERY body uses water here....hello.

[samuijimmy]

It's really not been that bad, and hardly warm enough to need AC anyway .... at the moment... some resorts (certainly the larger ones, have back up generators anyway) ... restaurants use gas for cooking... so candle light at dinner, no big deal!

Looks like it might be fixed enough to keep power going longer than a couple of hours! Any tourist I have spoken too, not been that bothered .... it's been sunny pleasant (not overly hot days, for 5 days now .... )

Yes, a few inconveniences.... last few days... people survive... !

[animatic]

It's really not been that bad, and hardly warm enough to need AC anyway .... at the moment... some resorts (certainly the larger ones, have back up generators anyway) ... restaurants use gas for cooking... so candle light at dinner, no big deal!

Looks like it might be fixed enough to keep power going longer than a couple of hours! Any tourist I have spoken too, not been that bothered .... it's been sunny pleasant (not overly hot days, for 5 days now .... )

Yes, a few inconveniences.... last few days... people survive... !

Well... other than those with medical issues like Sleep Apnea that require electric power.

believe me, 3 days without power with bad Apnea and you are no longer safe to driver a car,

your blood pressure has gone up 30% or more every night and you risk stroke and heart attacks.

Running a personal generator at night becomes mandatory,

and the search for fuel during the day,becomes a mandatory exercise in survival.

Then there are things like SIDS baby monitors and other things for people not in a hospital,

but needing 24/7 electric to keep functional.