Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, Jan 4, 2019 (AFP) - Tourists marooned on Thai islands hunkered down Friday as Tropical Storm Pabuk struck the kingdom, forcing airports and ferries to close and bringing power blackouts, heavy rains and massive sea swells. Meteorologists said Pabuk, the first tropical storm in decades to strike during the peak holiday season, made landfall in southern Thailand on Friday afternoon. The eye of the storm passed over Nakhon Si Thammarat, sparing the tourist islands to the north from a direct hit. ”But all tourist islands in the Gulf of Thailand including Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao will be affected because Pabuk is huge,” said Phuwieng Prakhammintara, head of the Thai Meteorological Department. Earlier as it churned through the Gulf of Thailand, Pabuk stirred huge waves up to five metres high (16 feet).

Source: The Star January 04, 2019 09:45 UTC