PHUKET: Phuket has given until it hurts. Bottled water and other essential basic items are growing harder to find on Phuket because Phuket people have given so generously to aid the Bangkok flood victims.

A few people on Phuket may also be hoarding some essentials.

Goods running short include bags of rice, which are being sent in large quantities to aid flood victims in Bangkok and further north, cooking oil, and some types of batteries.

Diminishing supplies of essentials were obvious today not just at Tesco-Lotus in Phuket City but also at the new Tesco 2 further north in Thalang.

Although a Tesco spokesperson said it was the same at all Tesco supermarkets throughout Thailand, at least one rival brand remains stocked.

Phuket's Commercial Office confirmed that some items were becoming harder to find. Supplies of essentials are also coming to Phuket in reduced quantities because of the great need of floods victims.

Deliveries from suppliers to Phuket have in some cases been cut in half because of the increased demand elsewhere, with millions affected by flooding.

Several convoys of bottled water, rice and other foodstuffs have been sent to Bangkok this week, with more planned. But authorities suggest that giving cash now makes better sense.

More than 340 people have died in the floods and almost 2.5 million have been displaced across 28 provinces.

There was no shortage of medical supplies on Phuket, Deputy Public Health Director Dr Wiwat Kitamoch told Phuketwan.

Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai, central Bangkok and other tourist destinations have not been affected. Bangkok's two airports are also operating as normal.

Those wishing to donate on Phuket should give through the Krungthai Bank account Phuket Aid for Flood Victims 805-0-39733-5