Phuket buses, planes resume services to the South

PHUKET: The sun shining on Phuket brought good news for travelers this morning when bus and plane services from Phuket to destinations throughout the South resumed.

Nearly 100 foreigners expecting to board flights to Koh Samui and other travelers bound for southern provinces by bus were left stranded this week due to the lethal flooding in the region.

Phuket Airport director Pratuang Sornkham told the Gazette that flights from Phuket to Koh Samui were initially suspended on Tuesday.

“Flooding has forced the airport at Surat Thani to close. About 100 passengers, 90% of them foreigners, have been stuck in Phuket,” he said.

Bangkok Airways confirmed to the Gazette that flights to Samui resumed this morning and that the backlog of passengers has been cleared, with all arriving safely on Phuket’s sister isle in the Gulf.

The good news for Phuket flight passengers however, did not stop Airports of Thailand officers from roaming the arrival and departure halls seeking donations from travelers to help flood victims.

Donation boxes have placed throughout the airport to support the cause.

Meanwhile, Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) Chief Kanok Siripanichkorn today also confirmed that bus services from Phuket to Trang, Phattalung, Haad Yai, Satun, Sungai Kolok and Betong have resumed.

Buses 441 Phuket to Trang, 442 to Phattalung, 443 to Haad Yai, 734 to Satun, 746 to Sungai Kolok and 775 to Betong were all temporarily suspended due to the destinations being seriously affected by flooding.

The services resumed 9am today, Chief Kanok said.