BANGKOK, Jan 2 (TNA)- Thailand braces for Pabuk, the first tropical storm to directly hit the Gulf of Thailand in January in more than three decades.
Meteorological Department Director Phuwieng Prakhammint said the storm was expected to bring heavy rains, rough seas and coastal flooding in the southern coastal areas as well as the capital city of Bangkok.
“At 4.00 p.m. on 2 January 2019, tropical storm “PABUK” over the lower South China Sea located at latitude 6.0 degree north, longitude 108.0 degree east with maximum sustained winds of 65 km/hr,” the latest Department’s report says.
The Department forecast that the storm will move pass Chumphon and Surat Thani in southern Thailand Friday night. From Thursday through Saturday, it will extensively trigger torrential downpours in the south and Bangkok from Thursday onwards.
Mr. Phuwieng said strong winds and high waves were expected in both the Gulf and the Andaman Sea, urging people in coastal areas to exercise precaution and fishermen to stay ashore until Saturday.
He said it was unusual to experience a tropical storm in the Gulf of Thailand in January, while rejecting fear of storm strengthening into a typhoon.
The Director asked people to closely follow and heed the Department’s warning, assuring of the Department’s effective disaster warning system.
Koh Samui and Kho Tao in the Gulf would be directly hit, he warned. (TNA)
