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General News
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2006-12-23 23:27:05-05
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High Waves hit Thailand coast again
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Bangkok, Dec 24: As the second anniversary of the Asian tsunami approaches, strong waves as high as four meters continued to hit southern coastal provinces along the Gulf of Thailand Saturday, scattering and sinking small fishing craft and leaving many villagers homeless. The El Nino weather phenomenon has been blamed for the unusually high waves that are ravaging the coastlines of six southern provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, according to marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat. El Nino, which creates ocean warming in the Pacific, has caused a slight increase in the sea water temperature in the Gulf, said the Kasetsart University lecturer. "A clash between the cold air mass from China and warm sea water in the Gulf has created a strong surf that attacks the coastlines," said Thon. At the moment, the water temperature in the Pacific Ocean can be measured at 26-27 degrees Celsius, or two degrees warmer than its normal temperature of 24-25 degrees Celsius. This is an indicator of the looming El Nino, he said. Many countries in the region have already been affected by El Nino, which is also causing less rainfall in some Pacific rim countries. El Nino's impact on Thailand, however, would become more severe in the middle of next year, when the water temperature in the Gulf would rise by about 2 degrees Celsius, Thon said. In Surat Thani province, Sai Kaew beach -- a popular destination among foreign tourists -- was swept Friday along a seven-kilometre stretch of beach, wiping out 30 fishermen's homes and two restaurants. Three fishing boats were destroyed and even coral reefs were damaged. A road along the beach in further down province of Pattani was also damaged because of the huge waves which were as high as three metres, causing hardships to several hundreds of villagers as they could no longer travel and use the road, reports TNA. In nearby Songkhla province, villagers living along the seashore prepared to evacuate as high waves continued to lash the coast. A number of houses were destroyed and the weather service warned of continuing strong waves in the Gulf for one or two more days.
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