Storm Pabuk: One person dead as Thailand's worst storm in decades makes landfall

Tens of thousands of tourists are believed to have fled the popular resort islands in Thailand as Tropical Storm Pabuk approached - but many others remained behind to see it out. Here is our report from Thursday.

Tropical Storm Pabuk made landfall over Pak Phanang in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat at 12.45pm local time on Friday (5.45am GMT), according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

The storm was moving northwest at a speed of 18kmph and had maximum winds of 75kmph (46mph).

Officials have warned of torrential downpours, landslides, flash floods and coastal waves up to five metres high. The affected areas on Friday include Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarart, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

A fisherman has drowned after a boat capsized in strong winds off the coast of Pattani province, according to officials.

Another member of the crew is missing, but four others are safe.

Thai rescue workers carry the body of a fisherman who drowned at sea following heavy downpours and high waves caused by tropical storm Pabuk. (EPA/ABDULLAH WANGNI) 

The storm has also uprooted trees and blown down roofs and electricity poles. However it is expected to be downgraded to a "tropical depression" as it makes its way across southern Thailand.

A fallen tree is seen as tropical storm Pabuk approaches the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat (REUTERS/Krittapas Chaipimon)

Fallen electricity poles along a road in southern Thailand (REUTERS/Krittapas Chaipimon) 

A total of 6,176 people have been evacuated to shelters from Nakhon Si Thammarat as well as the provinces of Pattani, Songkhla and Yala, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has said.

Two major airports, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani, have closed and Bangkok Airways said it had canceled all flights to and from the holiday destination of Koh Samui, where ferry services have also been suspended.

Officials have advised people to stay indoors and leave high-risk areas for higher ground.

On the island of Koh Samui, tourists are sheltering from the heavy rain and winds. Not everybody is staying inside, however...

Paul Bains, 44, originally from Pontefract, Yorkshire, is currently on holiday with his family on the Koh Sumui and has been livestreaming the storm from his holiday resort.

Mr Bains told the Press Association: "We are safe in our hotel room, it's been wet all day and the wind has risen since lunchtime but having been in tropical storms in the Philippines and Hong Kong it's not the worst weather by far we have been in.

"Had a couple of issues trying to get flights re-booked as Bangkok Airlines hadn't officially cancelled the flights on a computer system. So Malaysian Airways couldn't re-book us for free at first but a couple of phone calls sorted that out.

"We've felt safe the entire time and feel people have been a bit hysterical on social media."

Samuel and Miranda Abidyer, who are among the tourists sheltering on Koh Samui, told the BBC they "cannot wait to get off this island".

The couple have been told the storm will last until Saturday afternoon local time. "We are just waiting really," said Miranda. "We came for Sam's 30th birthday and now we can't get off."

Sam added that they had taped up their windows and brought in supplies but were thankful that they were on higher ground rather than down on the beach.

Katie Preston, 23, and her partner Liam Bland, 29, from Hartlepool are stranded on the island of Koh Phangan after they were allowed to take the last boat out before services were stopped.

The couple have criticised the lack of information they've received. "We hadn't heard about any storm and none of the staff we spoke to at Samui airport or at the boats mentioned it so we didn't know it was going to happen," Ms Preston said.

"When we were walking to the hotel we thought it seemed quiet but didn't think much of it until we read everyone had left and ours was the last boat over to Phangan before they were suspending [the] service.

"We haven't heard anything from any officials, I've only asked the hotel receptionist what we do if we need to leave, asking if someone will get us all out or if we make our own way - he said to just go ourselves and when I asked where to he said he's not sure."

The latest update from the Thai Meteorological Department is that the tropical storm's sustained winds have decreased in speed to 65kph (40mph) as it heads towards the province of Surat Thani. At 5pm local time it was over the district of Chang Klang.

"This will affect the South with widespread rainfalls, and torrential downpours are possible much of the area," it says. "People should beware of the severe conditions that cause forest runoffs and flash floods especially over tonight."