Freak waves batter beaches in Thailand's south

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ENVIRONMENT
Freak waves batter beaches in the south
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- SHOPS, HOTELS and extensive sections of two seawalls were badly damaged in Krabi and Phang Nga provinces after severe waves and rainstorms hit Thailand's south-west coast.

On Sunday, high waves pounded the shore at Khao Lak, damaging local business premises at Bang Niang beach. Meanwhile, a 300-metre-long section of seawall on Nopparat Thara beach and parts of a seawall on Tham Phranang beach at Railay Bay in Krabi were hit by bad weather yesterday.

Tourist numbers in Krabi have reportedly shrunk by 20-30 per cent, while visitors have been warned not to swim in the sea and small boats remain moored onshore. Yesterday people continued to repair the damage at Bang Niang beach, while Takua Pa district clerk Damrong Chimthab inspected the cracked seawalls, which have now been strengthened with piles of sandbags.

Krich Sitthibutr, 44, who runs a fish farm at Ban Nai Rai Bay in the district, said the remarkably high tides - said to be the highest of the decade - had caused Bt100,000 in damage to his farm.

Phang Nga disaster prevention official Somkiat Inthonkham said the high waves were a result of the annual monsoon and seasonal high tides - not from an earthquake in the Indian Ocean. To compound the damage from the waves, gusty winds also damaged 100 homes and 20 rai of farmland in Phang Nga, Somkiat said.

In Trang's Sikao district, the three-metre-high waves that hit Pak Meng beach on Friday eased to a height of one-metre. However, authorities in the area said they would continue to monitor the situation for a further two days as tourist businesses by the beach clean up their premises.

-- The Nation 2014-06-17

[thumper101]

Hasn't anyone told them that 'freak waves' are not normally associated with storms.... They are phenominal rogue waves that normally occur far out to sea in mid ocean and come out of the blue as a result of combined phenomina that come together that whip up a very rare single wave of much larger proportions than its surrounding sea state..

I think they meant the 'storm' cuased the damage.

Edited June 16, 2014 by thumper101

[Paulzed]

300-metre-long section of seawall on Nopparat Thara beach.

That beach has two tides everyday and the water always pounds the sea wall during high tide.

I think there was a bit of exaggeration going on in this story.

[keestha]

Bang Niang Beach, Khao Lak

[lemonjelly]

Better than the waves of freaks on the Pattaya beaches.

[mervyn yap]

Wooohoooo time to go surfing.

[monkey4u]

Bang Niang Beach, Khao Lak

What crazy person would plant tree's in the surf

[cloghead]

Wooohoooo time to go surfing.

Only if you like small wind-slop. But...last weekend was perfect at both Freedom Beach and Nai Harn--head high+ and occasional offshore (or no) wind.

Cowabunga

[kingstonkid]

Better than the waves of freaks on the Pattaya beaches.

I always thought the pattaya FREAKS were on the STREETS WALKING ????????

[atyclb]

Despite the terriblely strong wrong wind usually associated with thai surf it it quite good just for exercise value. the waves in the pic do not look very impressive at all. thais should see cortez bank or some spots in portugal to know what big waves are.

[Chao Lao Beach]

Yes, the annual SouthWest Monsoon is here.

[Joe Mamma]

Bang Niang Beach, Khao Lak

What crazy person would plant tree's in the surf

Johnny applestick up the ass.

[keestha]

Bang Niang Beach, Khao Lak

What crazy person would plant tree's in the surf

When these trees were planted, they were several meters inland. The high water line in this area has been moving further and further inland for a very long time.

[Justanotherpassword]

Better than the waves of freaks on the Pattaya beaches.

Yes, we are relieved you have left.

[Neurath]

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Better than the waves of freaks on the Pattaya beaches.

Yes, we are relieved you have left.

Tide went out.