About 130 Thai and foreign tourists, mostly Chinese, were safely rescued yesterday after they became stranded on Racha Yai Island, off Phuket, due to rough seas and strong winds, making it impossible for the tourist speed boats to pick them up.
Alerted by a call for help, the Royal Thai Navy sent a coastal patrol vessel to the island to take the stranded tourists back to the shore of Phuket.
A naval officer said that the rescue mission was hampered by rough seas, but all the tourists were safely rescued.
Small boats have been advised not to venture out to sea from today until next Monday, due to the effects of a tropical depression which will cause heavy rainfall, rough seas and strong winds in the Andaman Sea.
Some tour boat operators have, however, been ignoring the advice.
