New Travel Warning for Thailand.

(Dive Travel Business News - January 7, 2012) -- The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued new travel advice for flood-hit Thailand. The last six months have been a difficult time for the Far Eastern nation, with excessive monsoon rains leaving many areas under water – and new downpours in the southern regions have led to the FCO publishing a new travel warning.

Recent downpours have caused mudslides in the south, and dangerously swollen seas in the Gulf of Thailand. Heavy rainfall has caused landslides and flooding in some districts of the far southern provinces of Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Phattalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Trang and Krabi. The west coast region of Krabi, in particular, is a significant destination for sun-seekers, who come for beaches that can often be quieter than more popular areas such as Phuket.

Last week saw the official death toll from the floods rise above 800, with Thailand’s head of state King Bhumibol Adulyadej decrying the chaos caused by the rising waters.

The latest heavy rains are another blow to Thailand, which has been beset by floods since the beginning of monsoon season as far back as last July. Large areas of central, northern and eastern Thailand were affected by flooding between September and December 2011.  The National Travel Health Network and Centre has issued advice and information about the possible increased risk from illness and disease in areas that have been affected by flooding. The UK government office advises travelers to get further information from their travel provider before travelling.

The FCO also advises against all travel to the Preah Vihear (Khaoi Pra Viharn in Thai) temple area and the Ta Krabey/Ta Moan temple area located on the Thai-Cambodian border due to the presence of troops in the area and the risk of outbreaks of fighting, and to remain alert to the local situation when travelling in other border regions and at land crossings between Thailand and Cambodia.

Other areas under travel advisory include provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla on the Thai-Malaysia border due to political unrest,  and sporadic outbreaks of fighting between armed groups on the Burmese side of the Thai/Burma border.

Additionally, the FCO warns of a high threat of terrorism in Thailand. Bomb and grenade attacks have been indiscriminate, including in places visited by expatriates and foreign travellers. Sporadic attacks continue in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. There were reports that bombs were defused in three locations on the outskirts of east Bangkok on 16 December  and there was a bomb scare in the Phra Nakon area of Bangkok on 6 December. Exercise caution, especially in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

Photo Courtesy:  blog.ssis.edu.vn

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