Efforts continued to end long blackout on Koh Samui

SURAT THANI, THAILAND, December 6 (TNA) - Authorities hope for restored power supply on globally-renowned Samui and Pha-ngan Islands in the southern Thai resort Surat Thani province by this afternoon. Watthana Phaekul, an assistant director of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat province, told reporters Thrusday that PEA staff have tried to solve the problem, but landslides on Wednesday delayed the installation of power poles. Watthana said that the PEA wishes to resume power supply on the Samui Island by Thursday afternoon; while it has deployed 25 mobile generators on the island to relieve the hardships of local people. The blackout started Tuesday morning when an underground power cable with a 240-millimeter-long diameter exploded in Baan Phang Ka of the Taling Ngam locality on the Samui Island. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan revealed that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is worried over the problem and has ordered the PEA to urgently resume power supply and police to ensure security on the affected islands. (TNA)