LATEST: Clean up
Emergency services have done a remarkable job over the past 24 hours cleaning up debris and clearing roads around Phuket in the wake of Saturday night’s storm that hit many parts of the island.
Emergency services, including volunteer groups, police and marine police have swung into action, especially around Phuket Town where canals overflowed and put some of the Phuket Old Town streets under a metre of water in places. Photos from Newshawk Phuket.
More rain is expected around the island for the rest of this week. Yesterday marine authorities closed Similar Islands down until at least Tuesday night.
And Typhoon Nesat is expected to bring further rains to the far north of Thailand later this week and into the weekend.
UPDATE:
“Due to extensive flooding across the island provincial authorities recommend arriving 3-4 hours prior to your flight departure. “
The road to the airport could take 2-3 times longer than normal due to flooding on sections of Thepkasattri Road.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Some late season storms have hit Phuket over the past 24 hours, creating mayhem and stretching emergency services around the island. A land slide has blocked parts of the road, with an electric pole falling on the road, between Kamala and Patong.
Rain continues to fall today with officials urging people to stay home unless they absolutely need to travel at this time. Many roads are closed off to just one lane as emergency responders try to clear debris. Drivers are finding access on main arterial roads cut off this morning as flood waters continue to disrupt traffic.
There were heavy rains across the island last night and major flooding on many of the roads, including in Phuket Town where motorcycles and cars have been destroyed by the flooding waters. Around Samkong there has been heavy flooding cutting off access.
Several Burmese worker’s camps, often built in low-lying coastal areas, have been completely inundated and access cut off.
More rain will continue to today across the island. This radar screenshot from the Thailand Meteorological Department this morning at 7.30am. Winds are flowing from the west and northwest, bringing in moist air from the Andaman Sea.
In Patong the crowds gathering for the long weekend have found themselves cut off with their hotels getting flooded. Around the Laguna area and Cherngtalay, heavy rain have caused flooding in many coastal communities.
Some of Phuket’s hotels, particularly in Patong, had been looking forward to their busiest weekend since the start of the Covid pandemic, but long-weekend guests have ended up trying to keep out of the heavy rains and avoiding flooded areas.
PHOTO: Patong to Kamala Road – Newshawk Phuket
