Surat Thani governor Chatpong Chatraphuti has declared Koh Samui and Phangan islands in the southern Thai resort province as disaster-stricken areas after blackout on the islands has continued for three days with its total damage initially estimated at over one billion baht (US$32.63 million).

Thai News Agency (TNA) reported that the declaration today allows the governor to disburse a 50-million-baht (US$1.63 million) disaster relief fund to help affected people, including international tourists.

Chatraphuti also inspected the repair of an underground power cable with a diameter of 240 millimetres in Baan Phang Ka on the Samui Island.

There was an explosion at the power line on Tuesday morning, causing the blackout. The repair was earlier expected to be completed at noon today but the completion has now been delayed indefinitely as the task is difficult.

Meanwhile, Thanongsak Somwong, the president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, noted that local tourism on the Samui and Pha-ngan Islands has been heavily affected, as several international visitors have cancelled their stay and gradually left the islands.

- Bernama