Turbulent sea damages fishing villages, beach roads, disrupts ferry services in South

Turbulent sea damages fishing villages, beach roads, disrupts ferry services in South



BANGKOK: -- High waves and turbulent sea in the Gulf of Thailand have damaged several finishing villages and beach roads lying along the coastlines, and also forced ferry and speedboat services to Samui and other southern islets to stop for safety reason.

Authorities said sea condition in Nakhon Si Thammarat become turbulent with waves as high as 2 – 3 metres lashing many coastal areas yesterday.

This has resulted in many fishing villages having to temporarily evacuate their homes and seek shelter deeper inland.

The condition was particularly bad in Tha Sala district where huge waves washed inland flooding 32 homes and beach roads making this the worse disaster in the area in five years.

Pak Phanang district similarly did not go unscathed with storm surges forcing at least one school to cancel classes and waves causing widespread damage to the Pak Phanang – Hua Sai coastal road.

The popular tourist destination of Samui Island in Surat Thani province was also similarly hit by the inclement weather which brought heavy rains and large waves some of which were reported as high as 3 – 4 meters.

Popular beaches such as Had Chaweng, Had Bor Phut and Had Lamai were made off-limits to tourists and locals alike.

Officials have to put red flag signs along all these beaches to warn off swimmers.

Ferries operating between the mainland and Samui as well as Pha Ngan were also forced to terminate service temporarily resulting in many tourist being stranded at piers.

Damages were also reported in Songkhla, Pattani, Narathiwat.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148146


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-26