Torrential rain wreaks havoc in Surat Thani, Koh Phangan hit hard (video)
Torrential rain drenched several districts in Surat Thani, a southern province of Thailand, leading to a significant runoff on the tourist hotspot of Koh Phangan yesterday, December 28. The deluge resulted in substantial disruptions, including a dramatic incident in Ban Thong Nai Pan, Ban Tai subdistrict, where a pickup truck belonging to Atsawin Busaba, a hotel worker, was carried away by the forceful waters.
The vehicle, fortunately empty at the time, was swept towards the mouth of a canal, narrowly avoiding being dragged out to sea.
Atsawin, witnessing the event, was powerless to intervene as the truck was engulfed by the torrent.
“I saw my truck being swept away but couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
A video capturing the truck’s plight quickly gained traction on social media, going viral. Atthawit Sukkhao, another resident, recounted witnessing a refrigerator and various household items being swept away before the truck was carried off by the strong current.
“The current was rising and very strong, so no one dared to help.”
Koh Phangan
The torrential conditions also inundated Ban Thong Nai Phan school on the island, submerging a school building and its canteen under 30 centimetres of water. The swift, forceful waters hindered staff efforts to relocate possessions to safer grounds, although the timing coincided with the new year holidays, sparing any disruption to classes.
Government offices in Koh Phangan, including the district office, police station, and Surat Thani Immigration Office, found themselves surrounded by floodwaters. Roads in front of prominent locations such as the Koh Phangan district hall, Super Cheap supermarket, and local convenience stores were rendered impassable for smaller vehicles due to the relentless runoff from the surrounding hills.
Once the rain subsided in the afternoon, officials began assessing the extent of the damage. Residents impacted by the floods are encouraged to contact the district office, Koh Phangan municipality, local police, or village leaders, along with the Kuson Sattha Koh Phangan Foundation for assistance.
In other parts of Surat Thani, the heavy rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems in Tha Chana district, particularly affecting village Moo 10 in tambon Samorthong, and caused road flooding. Similar conditions were reported in Chaiya district, where forest runoff compounded flooding in tambon Pak Mak.
In Wipawadi district, at Ban Thep Nimit, land erosion posed a severe threat, nearly sinking a garage and two pickup trucks into a nearby canal, as reported by locals, reported Bangkok Post.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued a warning indicating strong winds and rain are expected to persist until tomorrow across southern provinces, including Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, and Narathiwat. The northeastern monsoon sweeping across the Gulf of Thailand is generating waves between 2 and 3 metres high, with even taller waves anticipated in thunderstorms, prompting advisories for small boats to remain ashore.
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