Phuket gets heavy rain, rough seas for weekend

PHUKET: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket office has warned of heavy rain and rough seas this weekend.

“We received an official weather report from the Thai Meteorological Department [TMD] forecasting an increase in heavy rainfall,” said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the DDPM Phuket office.

“The report also said that there will be strong southwest monsoon conditions prevailing over the Andaman Sea, which will cause strong wind waves.”

The current sea conditions have already forced lifeguards to close some parts of Kata and Karon beaches.

“I’ve installed red flags and roped of ‘No Swimming’ sections of the beach that are dangerous,” Uten Singsom, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard, told the Phuket Gazette today.

“It is our job to guard people. However, with this kind of weather during the monsoon season, it’s always safest to just stay out of the water. At the very least, tourists should be entering the water with caution.”

Though the island is preparing for heavy rain, the DDPM has yet to issue any landslide or flood warnings.

“The TMD has issued a warning for all boats to proceed with caution, and small boats to stay ashore until July 8,” Mr Santhawat.

“However, we’ve yet to issue a formal order in Phuket, which means that if tour boat operators are going out, they should be especially careful.”

— Chutharat Plerin