"It's quite scary being here because we don't know what's going to happen and there is no way to leave," American tourist Miranda Abidyer, 26, who is stranded on Koh Samui island, told CNN. The last time a tropical storm made landfall in Thailand was in 1962, when Tropical Storm Harriet claimed 900 lives. Those left are now preparing to ride out the storm, with residents on Koh Samui boarding up houses with wooden planks. Chinese tourists disembark at Surat Thani airport in southern Thailand after tour operators were forced to suspend boats to tourist islands due to Tropical Storm Pabuk. The storm is expected to bring strong winds, high waves and surf along with surge, and heavy rain with flooding.

Source: CNN January 04, 2019 06:07 UTC