A WILD STORM lashed Phuket today, causing chaos across the island and making Patong Hill impassable for a time.

Raging torrents of muddy run-offs, sweeping rocks downhill, stopped traffic and threatened to push cars back towards Phuket City.

Along the beach road in Patong, drains were blocked and the route to Kalim and Kamala became too deep for vehicles to ford.

Tuk-tuks and cars stalled in the water. Yet on Patong beach, tourists had decided to not let the storm spoil their day. They frolicked in the waves.

It was ideal weather for landslips. Could Phuket, with the Asamha Bucha Day alcohol ban in place, be both wet and dry at the same time?

Apparently so.

Phuketwan took a series of dramatic photos of the wild weather, which can be seen in the Photo Album above

Phuket being Phuket, while the noon fury lashed a band across the island from Phuket City to Patong and stretched south as well, residents in Cherng Talay reported thunder, yet very few drops.

A good samaritan helped to clear the drains as the tailback in Patong stretched over the hill towards Kailm, a policeman took possession of a washed-off registration plate . . .

. . . and by late afternoon, the furious Phuket storm was just a large pool of water or two.

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