Storm Pabuk: One person dead as Thailand's worst storm in decades makes landfall
Thailand's first tropical storm in 30 years left one person dead as it uprooted trees and brought down power lines with winds of up to 50mph.
Thousands of tourists were left stranded when airports and ferry services were shut down before Pabuk made landfall in Pak Phanang in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat at 12.45pm local time on Friday (5.45am GMT).
A fisherman drowned when his boat capsized off the coast and officials have warned of torrential downpours, landslides, flash floods and coastal waves up to five metres high.
It was feared the storm, which affected tourist hotspots including Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, could be the worst since Typhoon Gay left 400 dead in 1989.
Meanwhile newlyweds Keith and Dawn Powell have told the Newcastle Chronicle how they have been left stranded in their villa on a steep hill in Koh Samui.
"It's a nightmare," said Keith. "I just hope our villa will hold up on this steep hill. The ground is very soft now after two days of non-stop raining. We are staying positive. The situation is bad but bearable at the moment."
Keith added: "It's deserted here. Just us, a German couple and a handful of Thai people and that is it. Staff are just acting normal which is just bizarre."
Tropical storms are unusual in this area of the world. The last, Tropical Storm Linda in 1997, caused flash flooding and at least 164 deaths in Thailand. It also left more than 3,000 people dead in Vietnam.
The worst of the storm is being felt in the mainland provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, where power in some areas has been out for several hours.
The west coast of southern Thailand and the popular islands of Phuket and Koh Phi Phi are still waiting for the storm to arrive as Pabuk moves west at around 8mph (13kmph).
Around 500 tourists were able to leave Koh Phi Phi earlier in the day with the assistance of the Thai Royal Navy.
The Prime Minister of Thailand has issued a statement about tropical storm Pabuk, saying he is monitoring the situation and is "concerned about the people", according to the National News Bureau of Thailand.
He asks everybody to cooperate with the work carried out by police, soldiers and volunteers "to alleviate the suffering for the people as much as possible and thoroughly."
Holidaymakers have criticised a lack of information from officials as the worst tropical storm in 30 years has battered southern Thailand.
Some British tourists are currently sheltering in hotels on popular islands off the east coast and have said they have received "absolute no advice from officials".
The Foreign Office has advised British nationals against all but essential travel to provinces on the Thai-Malaysia border, including areas such as Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
The storm was expected to bring five-metre high waves and winds up to 46mph, the Thai Met Office warned.
Forecasters have also warned of possible flash flooding in certain areas caused by "forest runoffs" from the rain.
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