UPDATE
Sever storms pounded Phuket, dumping heavy rain all over the island before noon today. The Phuket Meteorological Office said there was no sign of rain easing.
Original Report
PHUKET: Savage monsoon storms were pounding Phuket and the Andaman coast today with no relief in sight until the weekend at the earliest.
Ranong, hit this week by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake, was shaken then stirred as the worst of the floods isolated the province from neighboring Chumphon and the regular route to Bangkok.
Phuket Land Transport Department officials said buses between Phuket and the capital were being diverted around Ranong and the Chumphon flooding.
Although the route usually taken by visa runners from Phuket north to Ranong township and the border with Burma remained open this morning, authorities in Ranong said five urban centres had been affected by flooding up to 2.25 metres deep.
Anyone from Phuket planning a road trip north would be well advised to postpone it, Phuket meteorological officials said today.
They warned that rain was being forecast over 70-80 percent of Phuket, Phang Nga and Ranong, with storms gusting up to 45 kph and waves of up to three metres. No respite is likely for several days at least.
Some schools in Ranong have been closed because of the flooding and the province could sink deeper towards disaster if the monsoon lashing continues for more than a couple of days.
On Phuket, meanwhile, tourists face the prospect of finding things to do indoors rather than venturing out into weather than has deterred outdoor activities for days and shows no sign yet of improving.
Mother Nature is very unhappy lately and is sounding her warnings.
Especially at what is being done to her Island and it's surrounds.
Are you listening, Phuket-People?
Posted by Hugh Jarse on June 6, 2012 12:18