Navy to step up security on Phuket beaches to stop people from swimming in red-flag areas

Vice Admiral Surapol Kuptaphan, commander of the Third Naval Area Command, gave the order following reports of 10 tourists being submerged by big waves off Phuket beaches this week. Two tourists died in separate incidents – a Thai drowned at Karon Beach and a Chinese at Kamala Beach.
Surapol said the incidents happened because tourists ignored red flags that were raised by lifeguards to warn about hazardous conditions. He said it was lucky that lifeguards could help most swimmers in time.
He added that officers on the beaches would tell tourists to return to land if they were seen swimming in off-limits areas.