Guest wowpow Posted December 6, 2006 Posted December 6, 2006 BREAKING NEWS: Depression 'Durian' hits Thai south; 5,000 tourists stranded BANGKOK, Dec 6 (TNA) - The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of the depression "Durian," saying it was to make a landfall in the southern provinces of Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat on Wednesday. Following its passage across the Philippines and then Vietnam, Thailand's weather department said the depression, downgraded from its earlier status after losing much of its destructive capacity, still packs 50 kilometre per hour winds in the Gulf of Thailand, and is moving westward at a speed of 20 kilometres an hour. The weather authjorities forecast that the storm would trigger heavy rain in Prachuap Khirikhan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, and Songkhla. Local residents living in at-risk areas in these provinces should brace for heavy downpours Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 6-7). Strong winds and waves as high as two to four metres are expected in the Gulf of Thailand, with small boats advised to stay ashore. Meanwhile, the storm has caused heavy rain in the tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, and Koh Tao, and prompted all boat services to halt their operations. Only ferry services to and from Samui island still operating. About 5,000 tourists have been left stranded on Pha-ngan and Tao islands. --TNA 2006-12-06 visa thaivisa.com Quote
