Phuket badly flooded after hours of heavy rain
TOURISTS and locals alike got badly drenched with some being stuck in traffic for hours after Phuket was lashed by torrential from 4 a.m. till 8.30 a.m. this morning (August 23, 2018), the Thai-language daily Matichon reported.
Some parts of key roads running through the island got badly flooded as officials were unable to drain floodwater fast enough. Particularly bad was Thepkasatri road in front of Super Cheap store, intersections at the old Standard Chartered Bank building and Tesco Lotus.
As the flooding occurred during rush hour, it led to hours-long traffic congestion on some roads, particularly inbound to Phuket town. Police were on hand to help out at all routes.
In Phuket town Bang Yai canal, which starts at Kathu waterfall and after passing the town enters the sea at Saphan Hin cape, overflowed at many points particularly Dibuk road intersection, in front of Ford showroom, at Baan Hongyok and the old Standard Chartered Bank building.
Municipality officials are working on quickly draining the water into the sea while it continued to drizzle.
Meanwhile the Thai Meteorological Department said that during August 23-29, a monsoon trough will lie across Myanmar, Laos and upper Vietnam while a southwestly monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand will strengthen.
More rain is likely over Thailand with isolated heavy rain in the North, the Northeast, the Central, the East and the South and people should beware of severe conditions.
The Andaman Sea will have moderate wind and waves, with the latter being about 2 meters high, In the Gulf the waves will be 1-2 meters high. All ships in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf should proceed with caution.
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Top and first-in-text: Heavy rain lashes Phuket at dawn today. Photo: Thai News Agency
Below: Flooding in Phuket town after the heavy rain eased. Photo: Matichon
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