Weather warning: Tourists cautioned about small boat tours from Phuket today

PHUKET: A small boat warning has been issued until tomorrow due to expected big waves caused by the annual southwest monsoons.

“My biggest concern is for small boat operators, especially tour boats carrying a lot of tourists. Wave heights are expected to reach three meters today. Boat operators must be very cautious and check the forecast regularly,” said San Jantharawong, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

The treacherous sea conditions continue to keep Kata and Karon beaches closed.

“We’ve have red flags installed all over the beach, but tourists are still going in,” Uten Singson, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard, told the Phuket Gazette this morning.

“For now, we just have red flags up because it’s high tide. As soon as the tide goes out we’ll put up the ‘No swimming’ rope again.

“We’ll do our best to guard people, but they are putting their lives at risk if they go in,” Mr Uten said.

Additionally, flash flood and landslide warnings were issued to every local administration in Phuket.

“Heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon should not seriously affect Phuket, but we’ve sent out the flood and landslide warning as a precaution,” Mr San said.

Conditions are expected to improve slightly tomorrow.

— Chutharat Plerin