NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Jan 4 (TNA) – Two airports in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani have been closed until noon tomorrow as tropical storm Pabuk has lashed the eastern coast of Thailand’s southern provinces.
Massive sea swells and torrential rain hit Pak Panang district in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the storm made landfall, causing floods and blackouts.
Nakhon Si Thammarat airport has extended its closure to noon tomorrow (Jan5) and switched to backup generators since 1.30 p.m. today.
Surat Thani airport has been also shut down until noon tomorrow.
Pak Panang school has been under one metre of water. The school’s roof was blown off and window glass was broken by wind gusts.
The Education Ministry reported three schools were damaged by the storm and 1,482 schools have been closed.
As the storm is moving to the western coast, over a thousand of tourists on resort islands such as Phi Phi in Krabi and Racha in Phuket have been picked up back to the mainland ahead of the storm. Officials said there would be no one left stranded. (TNA)
