Tropical Storm Pabuk made landfall on Friday in the Pak Phanang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where trees crashed down on houses to cause widespread damage at 12.45pm local time (5.45am GMT). The storm is expected to be the worst in three decades, with winds of up to 50mph, as thousands shelter inland. Southern Thailand has already been hit by heavy rain, winds and surging seawater, as tourists and Thai residents are warned it could be the worst to hit the nation since 1989.
The storm has blown off roofs where it made landfall, but officials said it was losing speed.
The Thai Meteorological Department said: “It is expected to downgrade to be a tropical depression. People should beware of the severe conditions that cause forest runoffs and flash floods.”
The storm has claimed the life of one person on Friday who was among the crew of a fishing boat which capsized in strong winds near the coast of nearby Pattani province.
Another of the crew was missing, but four others were safe.
Officials have warned that torrential downpours, strong winds and rough seas were expected in 16 provinces.
The Surat Thani province which is home to the popular islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan is expected to be hit hard by the storm later on Friday.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department said the storm will lash southern Thailand’s east coast through Saturday.
Authorities have been making final rounds in coastal Nakhon Si Thammarat province, driving trucks through flooded streets with downed power lines and urging people to leave.
Officials said from a truck fitted with loudspeakers: “Anyone still inside. Please make noise and officials will help you out. You cannot stay here. You cannot stay here. It’s too dangerous.”
The storm is expected to pound the southern beach resorts during peak season, as many tourists have no choice but to wait out the storm with two major airports being shut down.
The Nakhon Si Thammarat airport announced it had closed, and low-cost Nok Airlines Pcl said it had cancelled all eight flights to and from the province.
The Surat Thani airport will also close from Friday afternoon to Saturday, cancelling flights by Nok Airlines, Lion Air, and Thai Smile, a subsidiary of national carrier Thai Airways.
Bangkok Airways Pcl also announced it had canceled all flights to and from the holiday destination of Koh Samui, where ferry services have also been suspended.
Holidaymakers are being advised against all but essential travel to provinces on the Thai-Malaysia border, including areas such as Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
The Thai Meteorological Department said in a statement on Friday: “The strong winds are forecast with waves up to 3 to 5 metres high in the Gulf and 2 to 3 metres high in the Andaman Sea. All ships (should) keep ashore.”
“Ten thousand tourists are still on Koh Phangan,” said Krikkrai Songthanee, district chief of Koh Phangan.
“But I talked to foreigners last night and they are not scared, they understand the situation.”
Two of the country’s biggest gas production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand have suspended operations and their personnel has been evacuated to shore, as they were in the direct path of the storm.
National energy company PTT Exploration and Production Pcl said it had suspended operations at Bangkok and Erawan.