Southern Thailand braces for tropical storm Prabuk

Southern Thailand was on alert Thursday ahead of the arrival of Tropical Storm Pabuk, which is expected to plow through the Gulf of Thailand and across to the Andaman Sea over three days.

The storm was moving with sustained winds of 65kph through the tip of Indochina and was expected to hit the Gulf of Thailand Thursday, the Thai Meteorological Department said in a weather warning Thursday morning.

Waves are expected to reach 3-5 meters high in the Gulf, and 2-3 meters in the Andaman Sea.

“People in the Gulf should be aware of inshore surges. All ships should keep ashore lasting 5 January 2019,” the department said.

The warning said the storm will affect provinces of Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang and Satun from Thursday with “isolated torrential downpours and strong wind.”

From Friday, the same provinces plus Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Phangnga and Phuket will also be affected, according to the department.

Seatran Discovery ferries said on its website that most of their services had been canceled from Thursday to Saturday.

Lomprayah High Speed Catamarans said on its website that Thursday’s 18.15 Koh Pangan to Koh Tao crossing is canceled, as are all routes on Friday. They will resume again on Saturday from midday depending on conditions.

Many fisherman have pulled their boats out of the water and back from the beaches.