Samui, Pha-ngan Islands declared disaster-stricken areas

SURAT THANI, THAILAND, December 6 (TNA) - Surat Thani Governor Chatpong Chatraphuti has declared Samui and Phangan Islands in the southern Thai resort province disaster-stricken areas, as a blackout on the islands has continued for three days with its total damage initially estimated at over one billion baht. The declaration on Thursday allows the governor to disburse a 50-million-baht disaster relief fund to help affected people, including international tourists. The provincial governor also inspected the repair of an underground power cable which is 240 millimeters in diameter in Baan Phang Ka on the Samui Island. The power line exploded Tuesday morning and caused the blackout. The repair was earlier expected to be complete at noon on December 6 but the completion has now been delayed indefinitely as the task is difficult. Warin Sisayanaren, a deputy regional chief of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), insisted, however, that the repair should be done within today. Meanwhile, Thanongsak Somwong, President of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, acknowledged that local tourism on the Samui and Pha-ngan Islands has been heavily affected, as several international visitors have canceled their stay and gradually left the islands, with total damage foreseen to have exceeded one billion baht so far. (TNA)