Rain brings flooding in Patong

PATONG: About 10 hours of torrential rain overnight left many streets and businesses in Patong flooded. Patong Municipality councilor Surasak Maneesri said the worst flooding was in Rat-U-Thit 200 Phi Rd at the junction near Sai Namyen School, where the water reached 80 centimeters, while lower parts of the beach road were flooded to a depth of 20 centimeters. “There are always floods in Patong when there is heavy rain but this time was exceptional because the rain lasted so long. “We are currently laying drains all around Patong but they are not finished yet. And the rain swept a lot of rubbish into the drains that do exist.” The drainage project will be finished next year, he added. “This morning we tried to drain off some of the floodwater by digging up private land opposite Christin Massage, and we called fire engines from Kathu Municipality to help pump out the water,” K. Surasak told the Gazette. The only other flooding reported in Phuket was in Thalang. Jaroen Pumpaka, assistant district officer, told the Gazette that he had received a report of minor flooding on the airport road caused by a private building project that did not have drainage ditches. The problem was solved within the hour, after the project owner hastily dug ditches, he said.