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Water blocks a usually-busy road in Phuket City at peak hour today

Phuket Storms Flood Patong, Phuket City, Douse Airport

Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Today's Updating Report

PHUKET: Heavy flooding struck Patong and Phuket City today, swilling through Phuket's downtown streets to bring traffic to a halt.

Downpours were also deluging other parts of Phuket. In Patong, a spokesperson said waters were knee-deep outside the Patong Hospital.

Cars were unable to use the road behind the Jungceylon shopping mall, residents told Phuketwan.

And the Phuket-based Southern Meteorological Centre (West Coast) warned that the intense stormy weather could continue until Monday.

The weather warning reached Level 5 - the top level, with Level 4 ''Heavy.'' There was an 80 percent chance of heavy rain all day, a forecaster said.

Small boats are advised to stay close to shore on Phuket - especially following the sinking of a tourist speedboat last month between Phi Phi and Phuket with passengers left to wait for rescue in the water.

Phuket International Airport and northern Phuket was particularly hard hit, the meteorologists said, with 30mm within an hour.

Emergency services across Phuket were on standby with officials fearing landslips or even the possibility of people needing to be rescued.

Flooded on Phuket? Tell Us in Comments Below


Floods reached new peaks in Phuket City in August, bursting canal banks and driving hundreds of families from their homes.

Just last week Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana opting to spend as much as 100 million baht to implement flood defence measures.

As the rain continued to fall, it became obvious that those measures cannot come fast enough.

Phuketwan gave readers 24 hours' notice of the storms with yesterday's accurate report forecasting bad weather.

Comments

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Have double-seated sea kayaks for rent with 20% increase for delivery in flooded areas.
Any request will be considered to first come first served.....

Posted by Whistle-Blower on September 26, 2012 08:50

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Hope Patong Hosital's 69 million baht upgrade, also includes flood control? When they are standing in waist deep water, which will happen more frequently, they will know why they should have rather made provision for flood control, not increasing rooms.

Posted by Robin on September 26, 2012 09:37

Editor Comment:

The use of the word ''they'' is a little mystifying. The people in charge of the hospital are not the same people who build the roads.

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Yes, San Sabai flood o' mud once again, if anything muddier each time now.

Posted by ssresident on September 26, 2012 09:53

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Has K Whistle-B entered the notorious "you damaged my kayak" rip-off scheme?!

Posted by juswunderin on September 26, 2012 10:12

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The "They" Ed are the hospital administrators and the building contractors who would rather take money for more patients, than protect their asset from flood damage in the future.
When they flooded out, who will come swimming in, the patients, I don't think so. Let them sink beneath the waves, this problem was addressed last year and have the bugs prepared for the future, no.

Posted by Robin on September 26, 2012 10:48

Editor Comment:

Patong needs more hospital beds, Robin, as the hospital's management rightfully acknowledges. The people responsible for the roads are the ones who should keep the water out. That's what taxes are for.

How is your moat and drawbridge?

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Today is only the start. WindGuru and Windfinder websites are both predicting 100+mm of rain from midnight tonight, for next 24 hours.

Posted by Weatherman on September 26, 2012 11:13

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After living here for more than ten years, I do not live near mountains. I do not live closer than 5 km from either shore, west nor east and I am subscribed to the tsunami watch sms service. I am fine thanks. What about all the thousands of people who are not like me, should we not try to look after their wellbeing too? If not, I say sink or swim. We cannot save everybody.

I forgot to add, taxes are to make the rich persons richer and screw the little or common people. You do not have to be a Forrest Gump to see this one coming.
What are taxes for . . . to enrich the already rich and give nothing back to the people who really need the upgraded infrastructure.
Taxes are for BKK to get wealthy off patong and phuket. I write with small leters because these two places are not worthy of capital letters.

Posted by Robin on September 26, 2012 12:47

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Another songs lyrics here, "Boop boop dittum dattum wattum, choo (3x)
And they swam and they swam all over the dam ".

Posted by Dunbl on September 26, 2012 13:51

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There is an area in the Phillipine (also many others) that is very prone to flooding during typhoon season, this year how ever two districts never had problems, they had banned the use of plastic bags and styrofoam six months earlier, not saying thats the solution but all the garbage does block the drains.

Posted by michael on September 26, 2012 14:30

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Whistle-blower as the owner and/or manager of a diving co., it's highly doubtful that the scope of your company services (let alone your work permit) as laid out in appropriate legal docs. covers kayak rental services. It's companies like this 'moonlighting' in all varieties of services as they please that makes problems for those of us operating companies within the bounds of their legal mandated services. Just saying...

Posted by barry on September 26, 2012 22:00

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Let's see should I comment on the pathetic opportunist looking to make money on the side from people's misfortune after spending years here railing on others who do the same? Or on the hypocrisy of casting generalizations on the editorial "they" for being selfish and then justifying it with "let them eat cake, everyone for themselves".

No, let's just hope the flooding and misfortune is minimal and try to remember that the disaster of others today might be your disaster tomorrow. Also that given the population growth, development and tourism growth of this island it would be hard for anyone anywhere to keep up with the infrastructure needed. Especially when the largest portion of your tax revenue goes to Bangkok and does not come back. Honestly, I am happy to be here. Could it be better? Sure but I don't see much constructive in these comments.

Posted by Martin on September 26, 2012 23:13

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Patong and phuket will survive. Here in the UK we also have bad floods. I think the weather patterns are changing as the years go by. Everyone will cope any where in the world. I luv patong/phuket best place in the world.

Posted by steve on September 27, 2012 04:59

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Your Government is keeping the truth from you. The Sunda Plate, tectonic, is sinking, and these floods will not go away. They will get worse. Google sunda plate changes OR jakarta sinking. You don't have to believe the internet, though. Just look for yourself, make your own enquiries.

Posted by Anonymous on November 22, 2012 07:38


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