Rough seas were seen off the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand this afternoon as tropical storm Pabuk approached land. Tens of thousands of tourists evacuated the popular islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan which are in the path of the monsoon. Residents in the area were braced for destruction as 60mph winds lashed the area and 22ft high waves were expected to batter the coast.