HUNDREDS of Australian travellers remained in limbo in Thailand last night as protesters seeking to overthrow the Government forced the closure of three airports.
The resort island of Phuket was the first airport to be shut, followed by Krabi and Hat Yai in the south as protests spread across the country, stranded 15,000 people yesterday.
Jetstar diverted its Sydney-Phuket flight to Bangkok on Friday night, leaving travellers such as Amy Senguesa, 20, and Tom Hamilton, 21, stranded.
After a two-week holiday they are due to resume their studies at Adelaide University tomorrow but yesterday were unsure how they could even leave Phuket.
"Boats, ferries, buses and trains - everything is booked out or cancelled. We have no idea how to get off the island," Ms Senguesa told The Sun-Herald yesterday. "It is lovely here but now we want to go."
Mr Hamilton has to sit a test on thermodynamics tomorrow. "I guess I won't make it but at least I have a good excuse," he said.
Yesterday about 45 protesters used bolt cutters to break into Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's abandoned office after five days of occupying the grounds surrounding the building.
The so-called People's Alliance for Democracy has led thousands of protesters in anti-government rallies since May, but they stepped up their campaign on Tuesday as they marched into the Government House compound and set up camp.
A Jetstar spokeswoman said 265 Australian passengers booked on the return flight from Phuket to Sydney had been provided with accommodation as they waited for the airport to re-open.
"Once we've got the advice from DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade] and the airport is open then we will know that we can operate out," she said.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said Australians should stay away from the political rallies or "concentrations of military personnel and follow any instructions issued by local authorities".
"Our embassy in Bangkok is monitoring the situation closely and is in touch with local authorities," he said.
"Our post in Bangkok is not aware of any safety concerns for Australian travellers, but continues to monitor the situation."
More than 5000 protesters invaded Phuket International Airport on Friday, storming its runways and preventing passengers from going in or out.
Sources from Phuket said that tourists with outbound flights had been forced to walk several kilometres with their luggage and climb over spiked security fences to get out of the airport.