The first tropical storm of 2019, Pabuk, will make landfall on Friday.
A big storm, moving from Vietnam, will batter the coast of southern Thailand this weekend, with ferries cancelled and warnings to citizens to stay away from areas where large waves are expected to cause structural damage.
The first tropical storm of 2019, Pabuk, will make landfall on Friday.
It is expected that areas in the storm’s path will suffer damage from strong gales and intense downpours of up to 300 millimetres. Waves as high as seven metres are expected in the Gulf of Thailand.
Areas likely to experience gale force winds include Phetchaburi, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Ranong, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.
A spokesman for the Met Dept told The Nation, “We suggest people in these areas, especially those who live by the sea and low-lying areas, to evacuate to safer places.”
Authorities are stockpiling equipment and supplies and urging citizens to stay alert and comply with the official instructions.
Surat Thani ferry operators have cancelled routes to Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Samui. Other ferry operators are also staying in port until the storm passes.