Thai Navy rescues hundreds of stranded holidaymakers

BANGKOK, March 31 – Thailand’s sole aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet carrying 753 tourists, including 551 foreign visitors from Koh Tao Island in Surat Thani province to safety docked at the Sattahip naval base in the eastern province of Chonburi Thursday as Thailand’s flood crisis took its toll on the southern provinces leaving at least 20 people dead.

Meanwhile, HTMS Chao Phraya is enroute to Sattahip naval base carrying another 500 tourists from the southern island. The navy’s other frigates are continue on the high seas to help tourists left stranded on other southern islands.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand helped locate accommodation for foreign tourists who cannot fly home at the moment and helped reschedule flights for some others.

Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways flights to Samui Island are again operational with good visibility at Samui Airport.

MCOT