The situation is back to a very acceptable 'normal', although there are of course some areas where work continues on the clean-up process.

•  All beaches are open and clean; umbrellas and tourists are back on the beaches.
•  Tours to Phang Nga Bay have resumed.
•  All-day tours have resumed. Operators are staying away from Tongsai bay on Phi Phi island for the moment.
•  Few, if any, uninjured tourists are leaving of their own accord.

*** Phuket has no shortages of food or water! Electricity, communications, transport etc are all functioning normally.

*** Hygiene and sanitary conditions: There is no evidence of any danger or concern about disease. Informed opinion is that there is no danger.
•  TAT Governor K.Juthamas Siriwan said there was no official warning
•  None of the foreign embassies have any information about unsafe sanitary conditions
•  Red Cross also have no knowledge of any reason to worry

Official statement: Mr Watchara Apornsiri, Director of the Phuket Royal Irrigation Project and a Phuket native, has stated that the sea water at Phuket's beaches is clean, uncontaminated and safe for swimming. The tsunami appears to have had a "cleansing" effect and many beaches look like they did 20 years ago.

THE BEACHES
Northern beach resorts from Maiton to Bangtao have all suffered some damage, to varying degrees. Generally beaches have all been cleared and most resort areas are operating to one degree or another.

Surin Beach suffered almost no damage. Hotels, restaurants, bars and the beach are all operating. The beach looks stunning.

Today Laem Sing beach was decked out with loungers and umbrellas. Business as usual - but cleaner.

Kamala Beach was one of the worst hit areas on Phuket. We understand the beach has now been cleared, but the town still has some way to go as of today. People are working hard on the clean-up operation, but some time before restaurants, bars etc are anywhere near normal. Worth noting that Kamala hotels and guest houses in the lower slopes of the hills behind are undamaged.

Patong Beach along the beach road and the small roads leading off were badly affected. Clean-up operation is well underway, but it will be some time before many of the bars and restaurants open again. HOWEVER, behind the beach road, and in the main entertainment area, things are either back to normal or very close (see latest photos of Patong at night on 3 Jan). And Patong Beach looks pristine in a way most cannot remember!

Karon Beach suffered minor damage along the seafront, a bit more severe at the southern end. This long, long stretch of sand is now pristine and uncrowded.

Kata Beach suffered some fairly heavy damage at the southern and northern ends, but all has been cleared up and those places damaged are under repair. Just back from the beach the restaurants, shops, bars and resorts are all untouched. The beach is clean.

Kata Noi Beach, like Karon, escaped serious damage and it's business as usual.

On Ao Sane Beach, Ao Sane Bungalows were badly damaged. We are informed that the yachties moored in Nai Harn Bay have pitched in and are helping rebuild. Even so, they held their annual New Year's Eve BBQ party with 40 people. Further along, at Jungle Beach we understand Baan Krating's 30 bungalows are still all operational

Nai Harn Beach lost a lot of the small restaurants behind the beach, although we have seen photographs of people eating so it looks as though some are back in business already. The beach itself has been cleaned up and looks superb - with a whole fleet of cruising yachts anchored there this morning.

Rawai, Chalong, Cape Panwa, Ao Yon were all only slightly affected and its business as usual...

ISLANDS OFF PHUKET
Koh yao Noi was quite badly affected based on reports we received. However, this update came in today: "Everything is back to almost normal here. Island Resort is open again and the others are all functioning."