The situation for the stranded tourists from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland on Koh Samui, Koh Pangnan and Koh Tao stabilized during Thursday. The rain has stopped but it is still clowdy. Some roads are open again on Koh Samui, the airport and ferrys are running normally.
The Danish Embassy tells Scandasia today that about 50 Danish citizens were staying on the three islands Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Pangnan, where the Royal Thai Navy on Wednesday had evacuated tourists and locals. It is not clear if any of them got evacuated by the navy operation or got off the islands by other transportation.
Some may also have decided to stay in the drenched islands instead of returning to dryer surroundings, Tove Wihlborg Andersen from the Danish Embassy in Bangkok says.
The Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok have been in contact with six stranded tourist while the Embassy of Sweden got about 400 phone call and emails. None have reported to be in any kind of personal danger. It was not possible to get in contact with the Embassy of Finland in Bangkok.
Most of the Danes are taking the situation very easy, Tove Wihlborg Andersen tells.
During March, Krabi received no less than 900 ml. of rain.
“Normally it would be about 25-50 ml.” says Finn Rasmussen, owner of Café Europa in Krabi.
Wednesday, tourists who were stuck in Krabi, were offered the opportunity go to Phuket by bus to the airport, while Krabi airport was still closed. From Phuket airport there were direct flights to Bangkok.
Today, Thursday, Krabi Airport is open again, but the province remains out of public water supply.
“It is ironic, that what we are in need of now is water,” says Finn Rasmussen from Krabi.
A mudslide on Thursday morning destroyed a whole village in the area of Khao Phanom, north of Krabi and south of Surat Thani. It killed three people and six Thais are still reported missing by the Thai authorities. About 300 to 400 people lived in the area.
The heavy rain the last couple of days has caused erosion from the mountains in several districts of Phang Nga, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
“Unofficially, about 100 people are missing from the destructive mudslide. We don’t know if they are dead or if they went to other places.” says Finn Rasmussen.
No tourists are among the missing persons.
In Khanom district in Nakhon Si Thammarat south of Surat Thani, the rain on Thursday finally stopped after five days of heavy rain.
“It will probably last 1 to 2 days before the water has disappeared and everything is back to normal,” reports Kristian Olsen, Sunshine Development in Khanom.
That is if the rain really has stopped for real. Fingers crossed,” he adds.
According to the Thai Meteorological Department the heavy and torrential rain will continue. People in southern Thailand are advised to still beware of possible flooding. The risk areas includes the provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun.
More than 15 people have lost their lives due to the massive flooding in the southern area of Thailand.
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Pictures from Khanom in Nakhon Si Thammarat by: Kristian Olsen
