Phuket on high tide alert: 49 areas in flood zone

Phuket Town is now on the flood watch radar alongside 48 other vulnerable areas, according to the Mineral Resources Department. The popular tourist hotspot is bracing itself for yet another battering from severe weather.

The department has listed 49 high-risk villages, with the Old Quarter and Chartered Bank community in the Mueang district topping the list. The department used cutting-edge models and geographic data to identify the areas most likely to face flooding and landslides.

The warning follows devastating landslides on August 23 that killed 13 people, injured 19, and wrecked over 50 homes. Officials have linked this disaster to deforestation on the Nak Koet hilltop for the Big Buddha statue.

With heavy rains and rough seas expected to continue through Saturday, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat has ordered all agencies to remain on high alert for flash floods, runoff, and landslides.

In related news, the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province has upped its water drainage rate to a staggering 1,449 cubic metres per second. This move comes ahead of anticipated rainfall from Tropical Storm Yagi, set to hit Thailand tomorrow. Water levels in 11 provinces, including Bangkok, could surge by up to 40 centimetres.

Thanet Somboon, head of the Royal Irrigation Department’s Bureau of Water Management and Hydrology, warns that heavy rain has already pummelled the north and northeast, including Chiang Rai, Phayao, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani. The eastern region and western South have also been drenched.

Expected storms

“Japan’s meteorological agency has predicted increased rainfall over the next seven days in the northern edge of the Northeast, the eastern region, and the western part of the South due to Tropical Storm Yagi, currently in the Philippines.”

Thailand is anticipated to experience the effects of the storm tomorrow, leading to increased rainfall in the northern parts of the north and northeast. Consequently, water levels are expected to rise in the Yom and Nan rivers, necessitating water drainage in Phrae and Sukhothai by tomorrow, September 5.

Thanet highlighted that this would be the first storm to impact Thailand this year, albeit indirectly, and noted that such events are typical for September. A mass of water from the north has reached the Chao Phraya Dam, which is trying to manage the situation without releasing excessive amounts of water. The dam has already increased its drainage rate from 1,399 to 1,449 cubic meters per second.

Meanwhile, RID’s acting director-general, Det Lekwichai, has cautioned the governors of 11 central provinces—Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Bangkok—to prepare for rising water levels. Some areas in Ang Thong and Ayutthaya could see water levels increase by between 25 and 40 centimetres, reported Bangkok Post.

The situation remains critical as the emergency services and government officials continue to monitor weather patterns and prepare for potential emergencies.