Thailand Flood,Mostly Tourists Stranded on Samui Island

Thailand flood has killed at least 11 people and stranded thousands of tourists. The flooding has affected more than 716,000 people, the country’s disaster prevention agency said. Victims were either swept away by the rising waters, or buried in mudslides as the unseasonably wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around a million people in what should be one of the hottest months of the year. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva flew to the south to visit Thailand-flood-hit areas on Wednesday morning.

All flights were cancelled and ferry services to the tourist islands of Koh Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao were suspended as waves reached 4 metres high in the Gulf of Thailand due to Thailand flood. Surat Thani, the largest of the southern provinces, has received 855 mm (2.8 feet) of rain since Saturday.

Deputy Primie Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said in a related development that about one million people in the southern provinces had been affected by heavy flooding. He added, “There are roughly one million people affected in many provinces. At first we thought the flood would last a day or two, but now it has already been one week”.

Local residents in low-lying areas and along slopes and hillsides in 11 southern provinces are warned of possible mudslides and flash floods. Bangkok Airways said there were 2,000 people, mostly tourists, stranded on Samui island either at the airport or in hotels after the airline cancelled flights for two days in a row due to Thailand flood.