Hazardous rip currents force closures of popular Phuket beaches
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Dangerous rip currents at Kata and Karon have forced lifeguards to rope off sections of the beaches in an effort to keep swimmers from entering the most hazardous areas of surf Tuesday.
“Nobody should swim in the sea right now, the water is extremely dangerous,” Uten Singsom, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard, told the Phuket Gazette this morning.
Other areas of the beaches are marked with red “No Swimming” flags.
Uten appealed to local hotels to help keep guests safe.
“Hotels should inform their guests not to swim where red flags are installed,” Mr Uten said.
Despite the ropes and flags, some beachgoers are still sneaking into the sea, he added.
“Even though we blow whistles and call them back to shore, they ignore us,”Uten said.
Phuket Gazette
