Durian depression cancels Full Moon Party
Officials cancelled Wednesday the internationally-popular Full Moon Party on the tourist island of Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani as tropical depression Durian made landfall on the island.
The weather office said Durian had weakened to a depression but Surat Thani authorities issued martime warning and advised boats not to put to sea.The depression was packing maximum gusts of 50 kilometres an hour at its centre and was moving west at 20 kilometres an hour. The Meteorological Department said the depression was expected now to make landfall at Lamae district in Chumphon and not Nakhon Si Thammarat as earlier predicted. Department Chumphon station chief Theerawat Theerarattapol said the depression would bring heavy rain until tomorrow and possible floods and landslides for Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Ranong. Strong winds and 2- to 4-metre swells in the Gulf of Thailand were forecast. Surat Thani's Koh Samui district chief Decha Kungsanan recommended small craft not put to sea. Ferry sailings to Koh Samui were not interrupted. Koh Pha-ngan district asked the Full Moon Party be postponed for public safety and the boat services be suspended, said official Buri Thammarat. Many tourists were reportedly stranded on Koh Pha-ngan, and Koh Tao when the boat services were cancelled. Region-11 disaster mitigation official Somchai Ramasut said Surat Thani was on 24-hour standby and rescue services were prepared for possible floods and landslides.
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