Flash floods inundate Phuket after heavy overnight rain, mudslides hit Patong

Flash floods inundated several areas of Phuket, Thailand, on Monday (26 October) following heavy overnight rain, officials said, the latest flooding to hit the country since mid-September.

All three districts of the island province, including capital Phuket City, were affected, the Associated Press reported. Water levels started to recede by late morning, but lower-lying areas remained flooded and small vehicles were advised to avoid them, according to the provincial deputy governor, Romdon Hayiawae.

Patong, in Kathu district, was among the worst hit. As much as 142.8 millimetres of rain pounded Phuket over 24 hours, the Bangkok Post reported, sending runoff carrying rocks and mud into communities and tourist areas, damaging roads at Na Nai 5 and 8, shattering shopfront windows and inundating vehicles. The Nation reported a flash flood swept into the Nanai area of Patong at about 3.05am local time, with water rushing down Khao 50 Pi hill and depositing debris across roads and homes.

Some parts of the province were also hit by mudslides, and officials were clearing debris to keep it out of canals and waterways, the Associated Press reported. About 100 households were affected, and there were no reports of casualties, Romdon said.

The Thai Meteorological Department warned of heavy and continuous rain in the south until Wednesday (28 October), which could trigger more flash floods and landslides. Flooding has battered many parts of Thailand since mid-September, with at least 83 people reported killed as of Monday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Sources: Associated Press via The Hindu (https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/flash-floods-inundate-several-areas-of-thailands-phuket-island-after-heavy-rain/article71625917.ece); Bangkok Post (https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3343779/rain-runoff-rocks-and-mud-slam-phuket); The Nation (https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072737).