Storm turns into damp squib

PHUKET: Tropical Storm Muifa, which killed some 65 people in the Philippines and was expected to hit Surat Thani, bringing wet and windy weather to Phuket, veered to the north yesterday evening and made landfall in Chumphon.

The storm, which had weakened to a tropical depression by the time it hit the Thai coast, dumped heavy rain on the east coast of the peninsula but had little to no effect on the west coast, including Phuket.

Early this morning, the storm center was reported heading north along the Gulf Coast at 17 miles per hour, with wind gusts of 40mph.

The storm has dissipated considerably since it made landfall and is not likely to have any effect on Phuket.