3 waterspouts seen offshore south of Phuket, Thailand

The Phuket News
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:32 UTC

Racha Yai Island

Three waterspouts, technically mini-tornadoes on water, threatened make landfall at Racha Yai island, about 25km south of Phuket, today (June 23).

Marcus Åkesson, PADI Instructor at Sea Fun Divers, was leading a dive tour at Racha Yai when he spotted the vortexes at about 11am.

Despite never witnessing firsthand what damage a waterspout can inflict, Mr Åkesson told The Phuket News that he did not feel that he was in danger.

"I was not worried at all. It felt so distant and slow moving," he said. "When it came closer, it started dissolving.

"I didn't see any damage from it. Never have. Today was the first time I have ever seen this weather phenomena."

The waterspouts hovered offshore while boats remain on anchor at Rach Yai, and while Santi Pawai, director of the Phuket office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, inspected buildings on the beach.