NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Jan 4 (TNA) – Coastal villages have been evacuated in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the center of tropical storm Pabuk will pass this evening.
The Khanap Nak child care center in Pak Panang district is used as a temporary evacuation center for the elderly, women and children, who left homes after heavy rain and stronger wind and more powerful waves since last night.
Officials are providing more food for evacuees and more are expected to seek refuge there later today.
Three more evacuation shelters were opened in Khanap Nak sub-district. More than 100 people have already moved in.
The Meteorological Department said the storm was moving west into the Gulf of Thailand with maximum winds of about 70 kilometres per hour. Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani are expected to be hardest hit.
In Surat Thani, local residents along the coast in Don Sak district have been evacuated to safe areas. The province set up 304 evacuation centres.
The province is on alert for storm surges and possible flash flood in Chaiya and Phanom districts.
Ferry service is suspended and all boats are banned from leaving shore.
Surat Thani Airport remains opened as of now however Bangkok Airways cancels all flights to/from Samui island.
The Department of Airports has monitored the weather condition and will decide if it is needed to shut down Surat Thani Airport later today.
Nakhon Si Thammarat airport has been closed to all flights today. (TNA)
