Tourists left stranded as severe flooding strikes Thailand, leaving Koh Samui cut off

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Drenched: Torrential rains have left many parts of southern Thailand flooded


British holidaymakers are today caught up in heavy flooding in Thailand, after torrential rains swept across the south of the country, killing up to 11 people, displacing over 700,000 others, and causing wide-spread damage.

The rain, which has been falling for five days, has hit eight provinces, including the tourist zones of Krabi, Surat Thani and Phang Nga, as well as Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Chumphon and Songkhla.


Fighting the tide: Hundreds of British tourists have been caught up in the deluge

The popular tourist island of Koh Samui has been particularly affected.

Flights to the island - Thailand's third largest - have been suspended, while boat and ferry services to the mainland have also been placed on hold, leaving thousands stranded.

Many foreign travellers spent last night at the airport after flights were suspended indefinitely because of the rising waters. The runway is reportedly, while the terminal building is using a back-up generator for power.


Soldiering on: A tourist braves the outdoors in Koh Samui. All flights to the island have been suspended


Over 50 flights, both domestic and international, have already been cancelled - although two flights reportedly managed to take off for Bangkok earlier this morning, rescuing 376 passengers.

Some households on the island have reported food shortages.

The Thai National Disaster Warning Center has forecast heavy rain until Thursday.


Struggling to stay afloat: Thousands of holidaymakers are stranded on Koh Samui


Other affected areas include the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, also popular with holidaymakers.

The situation is proving sufficiently serious for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to update its travel advice for Thailand, warning of a continued risk of flash flooding and mudslides.

The downpour has been so unrelenting that residents in Krabi have been forced to take refuge in temples.

'It has rained severely in the last couple of days,' says Sombat Morakot, a local official in the west-coast town. "I have never seen something like this before. And when it rained, it flushed soil and logs down to villages.'


Captured: A crocodile, which escaped from a zoo, has had to be restrained in Nakhon Si Thammarat province


British photographer Marco Ryan is among those stranded. Writing on Twitter, he has commented: 'Stuck in Koh Samui. Storms creating havoc. Water to 6ft in hotels.

Streets disappeared. No electricity, water, web or flights. Extraordinary.'
Virgin Holidays has revealed that about a dozen of its travellers are caught up in the floods.

A spokeswoman says: 'Virgin Holidays has been proactively contacting its customers via our team in Thailand currently either already in Koh Samui, or due to travel there today, to ensure their wellbeing.

'Where customers have not left us their contact details, we are liaising with their hotels.

'We will continue to monitor the situation and will update them accordingly.'

The extreme weather has even had unfortunate consequences for local wildlife.

The high waters saw a crocodile escape from a zoo in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The 8ft creature had to be restrained with a cloth over its eyes and a rope around its head after venturing into a residential area.


source: dailymail