UPDATING All Day, Every Day
RISING floodwater blocked the road between Phuket and Khao Lak to all traffic early on Thursday, with landslips also reported. A detour is possible via Phang Nga Town. Bridges were cut and some residents required flying fox rescues as water rose rapidly. Parts of Phang Nga recorded an extremely heavy 288mm of rain in the 24 hours to 7am.
Original Report
PHUKET: Floods have struck the Andaman holiday coast with more rain set to douse Phuket and the surrounding region from today and Saturday.
Water levels are continuing to rise along the coast road north from Phuket and motorists are advised to postpone journeys if they can.
Small boats are also being advised not to put to sea by forecasters at the Phuket-based Southern Meteorological Centre (West Coast).
Takuapa, the largest west coast town in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, reported 83mm in 24 hours to midnight last night.
The photo album above depicts conditions in the nearby region, which includes the holiday hub of Khao Lak.
As the rain continues, the chances of landslips increases with soil becoming saturated and likely to slide on construction slopes especially.
The forecasters say there's a 70 percent chance of rain each day on Phuket between today and saturday. Waves of two to three metres should keep small boats close to shore.
The forecasts for Ranong, Phang Nga and Krabi are just as bad.
"waves ... should keep small boats close to shore": well said K Chutima, the warnings and the boatmen getting warned won't do it, the waves themselves will.
Posted by juswunderin on July 3, 2013 17:30