A POWER POLE crashed to earth about 2.30pm in central Phuket today, bringing another dozen poles toppling with it and leaving a large area without power ''for some considerable time.''

Nobody was hurt, but the chaos caused by the chain reaction blocked Wichitsongkran Road between traffic lights at the Ketho intersection and traffic lights at the Prince of Songkla T-junction, and left authorities with a major headache.

Workmen at the scene this afternoon reckoned it could take two days to clear up the mess. Restoration of power could take that long, too.

''I was riding a motorcycle along, heard three sharp cracks, then I saw the first pole go,'' one witness, Songkran Tanbud, told Phuketwan at the scene, ''then they all started to topple.''

Apart from the dozen that fell, some other poles remain standing, but leaning. Others are broken close to the top.

Residents in houses fronting the roadway were this afternoon gathered outside, watching as workmen began the huge task of removing the poles and repairing all the lines.

Fortunately, all the poles toppled towards the road, not onto the houses.

Authorities are still assessing the damage and unable yet to give an accurate guide as to when the road might reopen and the power might be restored.

Deepest concern is for convenience stores in the powerless zone, without refrigeration.

The cause of the chain-reaction is believed to have been a backhoe on a construction site, digging too close to one pole. Heavy showers early this afternoon apparently weakened the pole, and it toppled.

The first pole fell near the traffic lights at the T-junction turn off Wichitsongkran Road towards Prince of Songkla University.

About four poles nearby hit the ground, then a couple remained standing but damaged, and then a string of eight poles fell in a row, back towards the Ketho intersection, where traffic lights mark the right turn back to Phuket City.

Traffic was still flowing in the direction of Phuket City but motorists who usually use the route to get from Phuket City to Patong are advised to take an alternative route.