Footage shows more than 1,500 tourists waiting to board a boat to flee a Thai island this morning as storm Pabuk approaches.

The holidaymakers queued up on Koh Phi Phi in the south of Thailand as the island was expected to be hit by heavy rain and winds of up to 100mph.

Boats took the tourists to the mainland in Krabi province, where officials were working today to give them all a place to stay.

Storm Pabuk is expected to hit land just after nightfall - around 7pm local time - in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand.

Deputy Governor of Krabi Somkuan Kanngern said: ''Many tourists were anxious and panicked about the tropical storm. They wanted to return to the shore. But many businesses were trying to persuade them to stay on the island.

''We intervened quickly and with the police we helped to calm the chaos and help to evacuate the island and bring the tourists to safety.

''There were more than 1,500 people that were put on a boat today and brought to Krabi. Hotels and temporary shelters will be prepared.''