KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The Pabuk Tropical Storm is now located about 55km south-west of Surat Thani, Thailand and moving to the west at a speed of 15km per hour.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the movement of the tropical storm is expected to cause strong winds and choppy seas in the waters of northern Melaka Straits.

Based on observation at 8pm Friday (Jan 4), MetMalaysia said the distance of the storm from the nearest town in this country is about 267km to the north-west of Padang Besar, Perlis.

Earlier, Bernama reported that ferry services to Langkawi from Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis will be operating as usual even though the popular resort island is expected to be affected by the storm on Saturday (Jan 5).

Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd operations manager Capt Baharin Baharom said so far, there had been no instructions from the Marine Department to halt operations.

The company operates 40 ferries.

The latest information on the ferry services can be obtained at its website at http://www.langkawiferryline.com.

There has been mass evacuations of tourists in Thailand's popular tourist islands in the Gulf of Siam. The storm is not expected to develop into a full-scale typhoon. - Bernama