Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thailand tourist islands flood in deadly rains

Unseasonal cold and heavy rains have swept through the south of the country.

THAILAND (BBC) - Flooding across the south of Thailand has killed at least 11 people and stranded thousands of tourists. See pictures (Thailand floods).

Police told the BBC that landslides in Krabi have killed two people and left at least 20 people missing. The airport on the tourist island of Samui has been closed. Koh Tao has also become inaccessible due to heavy seas. "It was so deep trucks were floating." The Thai navy has sent its only aircraft carrier to the area to help rescue people stranded by the unseasonal cold and rain.

'Thailand

Unusual weather in what should be a hot season has seen rainstorms drenching the towns in most of 14 southern provinces. The provinces of Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Trang, Krabi, and Phatthalung have been the hardest hit. Rising floodwaters have hampered relief efforts. Officials in Krabi said they are checking reports that landslides have buried several villages. Tourists stuck: Air travel, road, and rail links have been flooded and electricity cut to many areas. More

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