As the third season of The White Lotus unfolded in Thailand, a recurring sense of doom loomed over the fictional resort, metaphorized by subtle references to a devastating tsunami.
One character envisions herself walking into a raging wave, while another shares a chilling clip of a tsunami hitting the region. (The news footage used in the show is actually real-life video from the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, one of the deadliest disasters in recorded history, which claimed an estimated 230,000 lives across 14 countries, including more than 5,000 in Thailand.)
While The White Lotus is fictional, its setting is not. The show was filmed at the picturesque Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui. The island was largely spared from the 2004 catastrophe, but that got us thinking: How likely could a future tsunami strike be in this area?
Situated on Thailand’s east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, the island of Koh Samui is naturally shielded from the type of tsunamis that can hit the country’s western shores. According to experts, a tsunami on Koh Samui is not impossible, but it would require a very specific and rare set of circumstances. For such a disaster to occur, a massive earthquake would have to strike in the South China Sea, particularly near the Philippines, with enough force to generate a powerful tsunami. However, based on historical data and geological studies, the likelihood of this happening is estimated to be less than once every 400 years.
Even in such a rare event, the Gulf of Thailand’s geography acts as a natural barrier against destructive waves. The seafloor in the region is relatively shallow and slopes gently, which would cause an incoming tsunami to lose much of its energy before reaching the coastline. This means that while a tsunami could theoretically form, it would likely be significantly weakened by the time it reached Koh Samui’s shores, reducing the potential impact.
While the real-life risk of a tsunami at The White Lotus’ filming location is minimal, Thailand as a whole remains prepared. The country has invested heavily in earthquake monitoring systems and tsunami detection buoys to ensure authorities receive immediate alerts to any potential threats.
Our final verdict here at weather.com: As Max’s latest season delivers a tidal wave of drama, in reality, the Four Seasons Koh Samui is unlikely to be in the danger zone.
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