Soaked: Flash floods fury leaves Phuket in deep water
Phuket woke up underwater yesterday as torrential overnight downpours triggered flash floods, swamped roads and sparked fresh fears of landslides, turning paradise into panic.
Parts of of the popular holiday resort resembled rivers rather than roads yesterday morning, April 15, after relentless rain pummelled the island overnight, flooding key areas and prompting landslide warnings across southern Thailand.
Among the hardest-hit were Koh Sirey, technically part of the mainland but separated by a narrow canal, and Tambon Karon, both in Mueang district. These areas have already endured a soggy season of back-to-back deluges.
Motorists struggled as roads across the island turned into mini-canals. In Tambon Karon, local officials issued an alert at 8.23am warning that several central routes were now submerged and urged residents to brace for floodwaters entering their homes.
The Phuket Times reported widespread damage in the Pracha Udom Community on Koh Sirey, where rising water levels left locals scrambling to save belongings.
Meanwhile, roads near the Tha Kraeng intersection in central Mueang district were deemed impassable for small vehicles, further choking traffic in an already waterlogged province, The Nation reported.
Officials are keeping a close eye on risk zones, especially around the Nak Kerd Mountain Range, where sodden hillsides could give way in a repeat of previous deadly landslides, said a local disaster response officer.
“We’re urging everyone in high-risk areas to remain alert and follow official updates closely.”
The Meteorological Department of Thailand issued heavy rain and flash flood warnings for six southern provinces, Phuket, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, and Satun, until at least Tuesday, April 22. The department blamed the deluge on converging westerly and south-easterly winds stirring up storms over the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand.
Tourists and residents are advised to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary travel, and tune into local weather channels as the storms show no sign of letting up.
Looks like the sun might need a holiday of its own.
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