Phuket weather forecast prompts flood, landslide, tour boat warnings

PHUKET: Blue skies over Phuket this afternoon herald a welcome reprieve to the deluges that doused the island over the weekend and throughout today.

By 1pm this afternoon, humidity had reached 98 per cent and more than 47mm of rainfall had been dumped on Phuket Town and the surrounding areas (see report in Thai here).

The rainfall is set to lighten up over the coming days, reported the Thai Meteorological Department Phuket office, but warned that more heavy rain is due to arrive before the weekend.

San Jantharawong, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), warned that the impending heavy rain also brings a warning for small boats to stay ashore during heavy weather.

He also urged tourists not to swim where red flags are posted on the beaches.

“Heavy rains fell across about 60 per cent of Phuket today, and with waves reaching up to three meters amid wind speeds up to 30kmh, we have warned all small boats – including tourist speedboats – not to leave shore during heavy weather,” Mr San said.

“We have also asked for red flags to be posted on the beaches to warn tourists of areas where it is dangerous to swim. People should not ignore these red flags.”

Meanwhile, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut warned of potential landslides in the Patong area.

“Minor landslides near the Chao Por Suea Shrine [Tiger Temple] on Patong Hill have been cleared,” he said. “But all residents and officers should keep an eye out for possible landslides at construction sites.”

The governor also urged people to keep up to date with weather reports and warnings from the TMD (click here).

Governor Maitri’s landslide warning follows a Mercedes-Benz, a tuk-tuk and four other vehicles being crushed in a landslide after a deluge of rain saturated a Patong construction site on Friday (story here).

No injuries were reported in the incident.

— Natthaphol Wittayarungrote