Due to the impact of Typhoon “Vipa,” the Thai islands of Phuket and Krabi were hit by a violent storm on July 20th, resulting in the tragic deaths of 2 Chinese tourists.
According to a report by the Bangkok Post on July 21st, the Phuket Police Station disclosed that a 53-year-old Chinese woman named Wang was killed by a falling tree on a beach in Phuket on the 20th. Wang and her husband were lying on a beach chair under a tree when a sudden strong wind uprooted the tree, striking them both. Wang was killed instantly, while her husband sustained minor injuries.
Following the incident, the daughter of the deceased posted on Xiaohongshu seeking advice on how to handle her mother’s affairs abroad. In the post, the daughter mentioned that they had planned to return home on July 21st, but the unexpected tragedy struck a day earlier. After the accident, the travel agency provided assistance in handling the necessary procedures. On the morning of the 21st, they sought help from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, where they were given a list of law firms. However, encountering difficulties in reaching out to the law firms, the daughter turned to Xiaohongshu for help.
In response to this, the Consular Office of the Chinese Consulate-General in Songkhla stationed in Phuket stated to Upstream News that they had received requests for assistance from the affected tourists. Due to privacy concerns, the office was unable to provide further details.
Mr. Jiang, a Chinese tourist who unintentionally captured the moment the tree fell, informed Upstream News that he had provided the related video and timestamp to the female tourist seeking help.
Recalling the events of that day, Mr. Jiang mentioned that around 3:30 pm on the 20th, he was taking photos with friends on the Coral Island beach when heavy rain began and strong winds picked up. “The sky turned black, and the wind carried sand with it. We took shelter at a nearby restaurant, where I happened to record the (falling tree) video.” He also stated that they did not notice anyone being struck at that moment, and only learned about the incident around 10 pm on the 21st.
On the afternoon of the 21st, the female tourist informed reporters that they were currently processing the death certificate for her mother and declined further interviews.
On the 22nd, the female tourist provided an update, indicating that after a day of visiting the police station, hospital, civil affairs bureau, and other places, they had obtained the death certificate. The hospital provided the contact information of a Thai transport company, and they planned to repatriate her mother’s body from Bangkok to Beijing next Monday, with a cost of 110,000 baht (approximately 22,000 RMB).
On the day Wang died, in the nearby province of Krabi, a 34-year-old Chinese man also tragically perished on Koh Lanta Island. As reported by Purple Cow News, the man was swimming in the sea during the typhoon and got swept away by strong waves, with his body discovered one kilometer offshore.
Furthermore, the local maritime authorities reported that a cargo ship had sunk due to severe sea conditions. The crew members clung to plastic barrels in the sea for at least four hours before being rescued by a fishing boat.
On the 21st, the Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning stating that due to the influence of Typhoon “Vipa,” about half of Thailand’s regions would experience strong winds and heavy rainfall in the coming days. The five provinces in the northeast, east, and south regions would be most affected by the storm. The heavy rainfall and strong winds could trigger landslides in mountainous provinces and cause flooding, as well as generate high sea waves along coastal areas.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of natural disasters and the importance of being cautious and prepared when traveling to areas prone to such weather conditions.