PHUKET: A freak storm on Phuket dumped a huge amount of rain on the holiday island in less than an hour, triggering unprecedented floods in some areas tonight.

At the Panya restaurant on the west coast road north of Patong, patrons enjoying dinner found themselves with their feet in water.

Within the space of a few minutes, as the deluge continued, cooks had to abandon the kitchen. It was the first time the staff at the well-known restaurant could recall being flooded out.

The amazing example of a sudden, high-impact burst of rain would have caused flash floods in other parts of Phuket as well, said meteorologists.

''There was so much rain within the space of an hour after 6pm that Phuket's drains would have found it impossible to clear the water,'' one forecaster said.

With the Fourth Asian Beach Games formally opened this afternoon, it was agreed that Phuket takes the gold for sudden changes in weather.

Meanwhile at the Panya, diners were forced to move on to conclude their meals elsewhere.