Flooded Samui Returns to Normal
After torrential floods ruined Samui’s weekend, stranding more than 1000 visitors on the island, the situation has almost returned to normal. Flights which were grounded due to adverse weather on Thursday resumed over the weekend, and high waters have begun receding.
The Island was declared a disaster zone after torrential rains pelted Surat Thani province all week. It left central Chaweng beach area under 70cms of water and has caused damage estimated at 100 million baht. The Thai airforce was brought in to help with relief, and six-wheeled trucks were needed to evacuate some people.
Although tourists were in no real danger, many found themselves unable to leave after Bangkok airways suspended all 72 flights on Thursday, mindful of the recent air disaster at Phuket airport caused by bad weather. Their tropical ‘open air’ terminal proved inadequate as a temporary shelter for stranded passengers.
“Never have I seen rain like it before – not even when Hurricane Katrina whistled by me! The cloud cover has been so thick midday is like twilight.� Said one local resident on a web forum.
The storms have been battering the south for more than a week, and although a lull had brough clear sunny weather on Sunday, more clouds had appeared overnight. The flood waters have mostly receded by an expensive clean up operation is now needed on the eve of the tourist season.
“Last week's flooding on Koh Samui had caused up to 100 million baht in damage to roads and public utilities on the resort island�, mayor Warakorn Rattanarak said yesterday. The island is however, still open for business and many resorts remain unaffected. But cloudy weather is forecast for the next week.