Tourist tragedies rock Phuket and Krabi amid wild weather
Rough surf and poor conditions spark urgent safety warnings along Thailand’s southern coastline
Thailand’s popular southern beach provinces turned deadly over the weekend as wild weather claimed the lives of two Chinese tourists in separate incidents in Phuket and Krabi.
A relaxing beach holiday ended in horror on Sunday, July 20, when 53 year old Wang Yang was killed after a massive tree branch collapsed on her during a violent thunderstorm at Koh Hey Beach in Phuket.
The incident happened around 5.30pm while Wang and her husband were sitting under the tree with a tour group.
Locals rushed the couple to the hospital before police arrived, but Wang later died from her injuries. Her husband sustained only minor wounds.
Officers from Chalong Police Station confirmed the tragedy and said the couple had arrived at the beach earlier that afternoon.
Just hours later, in neighbouring Krabi, Shin Yushi, a 34 year old Chinese tourist, drowned while swimming off the coast of Koh Lanta.
According to Mu Koh Lanta National Park Chief Chaiyaphreuk Weerawong, Shin was swimming with a friend when he was dragged out by strong waves and swept away in rough seas.
Rescue teams recovered his body approximately 1 kilometre from where he disappeared. He was pronounced dead at the scene and later transferred to Koh Lanta Hospital for an autopsy, reported Bangkok Post.
The double tragedy follows severe weather conditions sparked by tropical storm Wipha, which is currently moving through the South China Sea after slamming into mainland China. Phuket and Krabi were both battered by heavy rain and strong winds throughout the weekend.
The same turbulent conditions also sank a small boat delivering goods from Krabi to a resort on Koh Phi Phi. The captain was dramatically rescued after clinging to a floating plastic container for more than four hours. A nearby trawler eventually pulled him from the water, cold but alive.
Weather officials have urged tourists to be cautious as Thailand braces for more volatile weather in the days ahead. Flash storms and high seas are expected to continue affecting popular coastal destinations.
With peak tourism season looming, officials warn that taking safety precautions, including avoiding the sea during storms and steering clear of trees during high winds, could be the difference between life and death.
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