The information you provide is strictly for use by the TAT News Room [www.TATnews.org] in sending news and updates to you and will not be shared, exchanged or traded with third parties. Thank you.
 
 
 
 
 

FLOODING ON SAMUI ISLAND (KOH SAMUI)
As of 8 November 2007

 
 
The island of Koh Samui has been hit by torrential rain that has continued unabated since 6 November 2007. This has resulted in heavy flooding. Sections of the coastal ring road that connects the whole island have been rendered impassable to motorcycles, cars and pickup trucks. There have been reports of particularly heavy flooding in the following areas:
  • The beachfront road along Chaweng Beach
  • Talat Laem Din Road
  • The road in front of the Chaweng petrol station
Heavy rain continued throughout the morning of 8 November. Skies were overcast. Waves along the shore line were relatively small, but in deeper waters waves were as much as two metres, and small boats have been advised not to set out to sea.
   
On 8 November, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Samui Tourist Information Office conducted a survey in the early afternoon and reported heavy flooding in the following areas.
  • Floodwaters at the section of the Chaweng beachfront road in front of Poppies Hotel, Central Samui hotel and leading to the intersection that leads to Chaweng Beach measured a metre deep.
  • The section of the Chaweng beachfront road in front of Nova Chaweng Beach Hotel, Big C retail outlet, Koh Samui Highway District Office and Mae Nam Post Office.
  • The entrance to Lamai Beach nearest to the PTT petrol station was also flooded. However to avoid the flooded section of the road, provincial authorities have constructed a bypass.
  • Floodwaters in the Talat Dao, Talat Laem Din area of Chaweng Beach are a metre deep. The road is closed to traffic.

Businesses, including hotels, shops and other retail outlets, in the Chaweng Beach area have been impacted. Hotels have reported cancellations. Upon arrival, guests booked into hotels located in the affected areas have had to transfer to alternative hotels.

The impact of the initial flooding, caused by heavy and persistent rainfall, has been exacerbated by poor drainage. Construction projects in the area have partly contributed to the obstruction of public drainage systems so it is taking much longer for floodwaters to recede.

Relief efforts are under way. All available resources, including the district and municipal authorities, village headmen (kamnan), the police force, army personnel and the Surat Thani relief agencies, have been mobilized to provide assistance to tourists and local residents.
   

AIR TRAVEL: BANGKOK AIRWAYS
Although Samui Airport authorities have not issued an official statement or announcement regarding the cancellation or suspension for safety reasons of flights departing from the airport, Bangkok Airways has been closely monitoring weather conditions and opted to delay flights scheduled to depart from Samui Airport from 6.00 pm on 7 November to the morning of 8 November.

On 8 November, a total of six Bangkok Airways flights departed from Samui Airport – four to Bangkok, one to U-Tapao and one to Phuket. Some 320 passengers have been delayed on Samui. The airline is doing what it can to assist stranded passengers, including the provision of accommodation at specially-discounted room rates at hotels such as the Beach House Hotel and Samui Palm Beach Hotel, as well as complimentary airport-hotel transfers.

   

FERRY SERVICES CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED
Given the large size of the ferries, the hourly Don Sak-Koh Samui-Don Sak ferry service operated by Raja Ferry and SeaTran Ferry have not been impacted by weather conditions and continue to operate normally. The crossing takes about 90 minutes.

For the latest updates, please contact:
Raja Ferry
Tel: +66 (0) 77 471 151 or +66 (0) 423 190 - 1
SeaTran Ferry
Tel: +66 (0) 77 471 174 – 7
   
TRANSFERS AND TRIPS BY BOAT
  • Catamaran trips on the Koh Samui - Koh Pha-Ngan - Koh Tao – Chumphon – Bangkok route with services offered by Lom Phraya Express Boat and SeaTran Discovery are also operating normally with two trips per day at 8.00 am and noon.
  • The daily Surat Thani – Koh Samui – Koh Pha-Ngan – Koh Tao shuttle boat services offered by Songserm Express Boat is operating normally and departs from Surat Thani at 8.00 am daily.
  • Speed-boat transfers between Samui and Koh Tao have been temporarily suspended.
TRAVEL AROUND TOWN
Travel by taxi and songthaew, the local mode of transportation in which shuttle bus transfers are provided in modified small pickup trucks, continues uninterrupted on most routes.

It is well known that Koh Samui and the Gulf of Thailand are subject to seasonal monsoons at this time of year. This is far from peak season for Samui, with reduced visitor arrivals. Average ccupancy rates are running at 35% of capacity.

Visitors planning a trip to Samui may contact TAT’s Tourist Information Centre on the island for updated weather reports prior to booking a trip.

TAT’s Tourist Information Centre on Samui will continue to provide regular updates until the situation returns to normal.

Contact information:
TAT’s Tourist Information Centre, Samui
Tel: +66 (0) 77 420 720 – 2

 
 
 

a
Copyright Tourism Authority of Thailand. All Rights Reserved.
Please click