PHUKET: A lifeguard tower at a Phuket beach is likely to collapse in this weekend's wicked weather or coming monsoon storms unless the Royal Thai Navy rescues it quickly, Phuketwan learned at Surin yesterday.
Local lifeguards can see erosion now rapidly eating away the concrete foundations and fear freshly forecast severe waves and winds will bring the vital piece of safety equipment tumbling any time now.
''The beaches look wonderful because they have been cleared,'' one lifeguard said. ''But the towers are really essential and we are desperate for help.''
Old steel towers at other Phuket beaches are also rickety but Surin is perhaps the most substantial one - and the tower most at threat - unless the Navy can intercede and help to prop up the structure.
Long-term help is on the way with representatives from saferphuket.org talking today with lifeguard chiefs about their needs, and with the backing of corporate sponsors gradually being achieved.
On beaches like Surin, though, the savage storms of the low season have made the need for help far more desperate and urgent.
Lifeguards yesterday showed Phuketwan how far the previous high tide had surged up onto the newly cleared foreshore, hastening the undermining of the old tower.
''We can see so much more clearly with the beaches free from umbrellas and loungers,'' said lifeguard Sayan Bureerak. ''And if you can help us to save the tower, that would be great.''
At this time of the year especially, people can be lost in the troughs among the swells so a lifeguard in a tower can signal to rescuers and guide them to their target.
The team at saferphuket.org has been quietly working away behind the scenes with its Thai partners and the clearance of the beaches is expected to be accompanied very soon by positive news that will hearten everyone who wants to prevent needless drownings on Phuket.
Meanwhile, the Surin tower has to be saved. Phuketwan today asked the military to intervene.
The forecast for Phuket is alarming. A spokesman for the Phuket-based Southern Meteorological Centre (West Coast) predicts a 70 percent chance of rain today and through until Monday.
Small boats are advised to stay at anchor, with waves of up to four metres and winds gusting beyond 55kph.
PHOTO ALBUM Above A Surin lifeguard talks a tourist out of the dangerous seas - for the third time.
Latest from saferphuket.org:
Beaches
The just about to be launched international standard ISO 13009 is about well managed, high quality, sustainable beaches with full safety consideration. Phuket will, we hope, be the first island in the world to achieve this new standard, becoming a world leader, showing innovation and commitment to safety and quality.
Boats and Crew
The commercial leisure craft industry needs a complete overhaul in training, regulation and compliance. Phuket's natural geographical advantages mean it can be Asia's leading venue for training, preparing the people for this booming market. We need well regulated boats, run by highly trained people, to give utmost visitor satisfaction and to declare our credentials as worthy sector leaders.
saferphuket.org is the winner of the Phuketwan Phuket Innovation of the Year award for 2013.
Local lifeguards can see erosion now rapidly eating away the concrete foundations and fear freshly forecast severe waves and winds will bring the vital piece of safety equipment tumbling any time now.
''The beaches look wonderful because they have been cleared,'' one lifeguard said. ''But the towers are really essential and we are desperate for help.''
Old steel towers at other Phuket beaches are also rickety but Surin is perhaps the most substantial one - and the tower most at threat - unless the Navy can intercede and help to prop up the structure.
Long-term help is on the way with representatives from saferphuket.org talking today with lifeguard chiefs about their needs, and with the backing of corporate sponsors gradually being achieved.
On beaches like Surin, though, the savage storms of the low season have made the need for help far more desperate and urgent.
Lifeguards yesterday showed Phuketwan how far the previous high tide had surged up onto the newly cleared foreshore, hastening the undermining of the old tower.
''We can see so much more clearly with the beaches free from umbrellas and loungers,'' said lifeguard Sayan Bureerak. ''And if you can help us to save the tower, that would be great.''
At this time of the year especially, people can be lost in the troughs among the swells so a lifeguard in a tower can signal to rescuers and guide them to their target.
The team at saferphuket.org has been quietly working away behind the scenes with its Thai partners and the clearance of the beaches is expected to be accompanied very soon by positive news that will hearten everyone who wants to prevent needless drownings on Phuket.
Meanwhile, the Surin tower has to be saved. Phuketwan today asked the military to intervene.
The forecast for Phuket is alarming. A spokesman for the Phuket-based Southern Meteorological Centre (West Coast) predicts a 70 percent chance of rain today and through until Monday.
Small boats are advised to stay at anchor, with waves of up to four metres and winds gusting beyond 55kph.
PHOTO ALBUM Above A Surin lifeguard talks a tourist out of the dangerous seas - for the third time.
Latest from saferphuket.org:
Beaches
The just about to be launched international standard ISO 13009 is about well managed, high quality, sustainable beaches with full safety consideration. Phuket will, we hope, be the first island in the world to achieve this new standard, becoming a world leader, showing innovation and commitment to safety and quality.
Boats and Crew
The commercial leisure craft industry needs a complete overhaul in training, regulation and compliance. Phuket's natural geographical advantages mean it can be Asia's leading venue for training, preparing the people for this booming market. We need well regulated boats, run by highly trained people, to give utmost visitor satisfaction and to declare our credentials as worthy sector leaders.
saferphuket.org is the winner of the Phuketwan Phuket Innovation of the Year award for 2013.
Phuketwan today asked the military to intervene.
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Very appreciable step by PW!
Posted by Sue on July 11, 2014 12:16