PHUKET: The Director of Phuket's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has blamed construction and garbage for much of the flood damage of the past 24 hours - and said that Phuket needs to be better prepared for wild weather.

''People never give enough thought to this kind of eventuality,'' said the DDPM's San Janthawong.

''Co-operation is needed to make sure garbage doesn't block drains and every local council must make sure construction sites are strictly controlled.''

Phuket this evening was mopping up after the intense downpour that briefly halted flights at Phuket International Airport, flooded Patong literally waste-deep in places, destroyed houses in a landslip and cut power to much of the west coast.

Families in at least one Chalong village, with their homes still filled with water, were bedding down under tents tonight.

Most tragic of all, the family of a 20-year-old British tourist was mourning his death by electrocution in a ''live'' puddle in Soi Bangla about 6am. A friend was fortunate to escape with less severe shock.

With more rain forecast and the possibility of more flooding, Patong pharmacy owner Bongkotmas Ruangsri echoed the views of many shopkeepers when she said: ''Patong is just not prepared for this kind of thing.

''Other centres prone to flooding have the capacity to get the sick in and out, and to rescue those in potential danger. I did not see any council vehicles or vessels.''

Khun Bongkotmas was busily shifting goods in her '90 Pharmacy' shop upstairs to where they will stay dry, and where she was planning to spend tonight in case of a second serious bout of flooding.

''I've been here four years and never seen anything like it,'' she said.

The DDPM's Khun San said that it was plain today that every Phuket council needed an excavator that could clear canals in an emergency.

''One of the key difficulties is that the canals are frequently narrowed by greedy land owners seeking to maximise the space on their land,'' he said.

''The result is that when there's an exceptional downpour, the water cannot escape.''

Landslips were another fear, especially with the forecast for more rain this week, he said.

''Every local council needs to make sure construction sites conform to the rules,'' he said. ''There has to be serious action on this issue, or there will be disastrous landslips one day.''

At least two houses and a vehicle were badly damaged today in a landslip in central Kathu.

''Owners of land where building took place always deny responsibility. ''The law is full of loopholes,'' he said.

''Anyone who leaves Phuket for six months and then returns notes the rapid pace of change.''

Around the Phuket region, other provinces were also badly affected by the wild weather. The road between Phang Nga and Surat Thani was cut, the holiday centre of Khao Lak reported severe flooding, and more rain was forecast for the entire Andaman coast until Sunday.