Anti-government protesters block Phuket's airport leaving thousands of foreign tourists stranded in the Thai resort
© AFP/File BANGKOK (AFP) - Up to 15,000 passengers have been stranded at the airport on the southern resort isle -- the gem of Thailand's tourism industry -- after protesters stormed the runway and blockaded the entrances on Friday.
"The airport resumed operations at about 11:00am (0400 GMT)," said Vicha Neunlop, director of Phuket International Airport, Thailand's second busiest airport.
"The first flight will land soon. All services at the airport are back to normal. Protesters started leaving the airport (this morning) -- there are not many left now," he told AFP.
Airports in Phuket, Krabi and Hat Yai were forced to close on Friday as protests that have brought chaos to Bangkok's government district spread to southern tourist spots.
Hat Yai airport reopened on Saturday, and local news reports said that Krabi was also preparing to reopen on Sunday, but officials were not immediately available to confirm that.
Thousands of protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have barricaded themselves in the grounds of Bangkok's main government compound, demanding Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej step down.
©AFP