Flooding Brings Phuket Town To A Standstill

[webfact]

Flooding brings Phuket Town to a standstill

Phuket Gazette

The scene on Yaowarat Road in front of Bangkok Phuket Hospital at about 7am. Photo: Natacha Kitchakarn

PHUKET: -- Severe flooding has affected large areas of Phuket this morning, with traffic brought to a standstill throughout Phuket Town and tailbacks of more than 10 kilometers on the main arteries leading into town.

The Phuket Gazette has spoken to many motorists across the island who were still attempting to reach their destinations. One family said they had not moved for almost an hour as the traffic came to standstill in Phuket Town.

Many others said they had decided to return home as the driving conditions were too dangerous.

The Gazette will bring more details as they are received.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16719.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-22

[webfact]

Motorists across Phuket urged to exercise caution

Phuket Gazette

Flooding across Thepkrasattri Road has slowed north-south traffic on the island to a crawl. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- Motorists across Phuket are urged to exercise caution today as flooding from last night's storm has affected areas across central and northern parts of the island.

Long tailbacks on Thepkrasattri Road are currently stretching from in front of the Isuzu showroom in Koh Kaew all the way back to the Watermark bakery on the bypass road in Bang Khu.

There have also been reports of flooding in Samkong in Phuket Town to as far south as the TOT building along Chao Fa West Road.

The Phuket Gazette has been told that the flooding in Chalong has dissipated and traffic is now flowing freely again, but traffic delays in Phuket Town are expected to extend later into today.

The wild weather last night saw heavy deluges lash the island in wind-driven sheets.

The Thai Meteorological Department weather monitoring station at Phuket Airport recorded 93mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period – 34mm was in a three-hour period.

Phuket Town suffered a much more severe lashing, with 177mm of rain drenching the town within 24 hours – 95mm of that in just three hours.

Traffic on the bypass road, usually hurtling along at over 100kmh in the right-hand lane, slowed to 50kmh and eventually came to a standstill earlier this morning. One vehicle, however, ended up in the median storm drain separating the traffic flow. Workers are retrieving the car this morning. The Gazette has yet to learn if anyone was injured.

The downpours last night followed the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issuing a “heavy rain” weather warning on Saturday after Tropical Storm Kai-Tak moved from Laos into Thailand.

More “isolated heavy showers” are forecast for the coming days.

Rather strong wind-waves of about two meters are likely in the Andaman Sea. All ships should exercise heightened caution over the next two days, the TMD warns.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16720.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-22

[ronthai]

Time to get the ski-jets out

[ozymandious]

Traffic on Thepkassatri southbound backed up from Tesco Thalang to Toyota Pearl @ bypass. :-[

[Colabamumbai]

Free swimming lessons.

[stevehaigh]

amazing, nothing like that here in rawai, i would guess 5cm last night at the most

[MAN2SIN2BKK]

Water looks a nice colour; all the shithouse tanks in the town centre have been emptied

[sunshine51]

It's rubber boat time!

And make sure your shots are up to date.

Edited August 22, 2012 by sunshine51

[Guest]

Water looks a nice colour; all the shithouse tanks in the town centre have been emptied

That's color of the soil here.

[stevenl]

amazing, nothing like that here in rawai, i would guess 5cm last night at the most

Much much more in my area of Rawai.

Edited August 22, 2012 by stevenl

[yourauntbob]

Hopefully no injuries are caused from it,

[starkey_rich]

amazing, nothing like that here in rawai, i would guess 5cm last night at the most

Much much more in my area of Rawai.

Yes and me .It's amazing how localized it can be down here.

The sun can be out when I leave home and 200 meters up the soi it is peeing down

[ALFREDO]

Enjoy fishing from your doorstep.

[Guest]

Enjoy fishing from your doorstep.

There are thousands of new properties with direct access to the Phuket Town lake. Come and order yours now, this offer is valid only for today!

[Guest]

Kathu, Phuket.

[Shot]

Time to get the ski-jets out

Can't, they all got burned up

[ALFREDO]

-oilinki-

Yeah, not everybody has an Indoor Pool with small waterfall!

[rbrooks]

Where is that Farang NASA organization when you need them!

[travelmann]

"exercise caution"................funny!!

I like the people who rampage thru the water creating a tidal wave for everyone else. Typical selfish

[webfact]

Phuket schools close after floodwater hits

Phuket Gazette

Traffic delays in Phuket Town are expected to continue throughout today as municipal workers use pumps to drain the floodwater from the streets. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

Floodwater sweeps through the Radio Thailand staff accommodation compound in Rassada, north of Phuket Town. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Phuket City Municipality this morning announced that Phuket Wittayalai School and Satree Phuket School, both on the north side of Phuket Town, are closed today after heavy rains last night caused minor flooding across the island.

The news came as floodwater swept through several areas in nearby Rassada, affecting several housing developments, areas around Phuket Rajabhat University and the Radio Thailand staff accommodation.

Radio Thailand officers told the Phuket Gazette that rising floodwater damaged many household objects.

“Those who could move possessions to the second floor did so,” said one officer.

Power was not cut off to the homes.

Patong was also hit by minor flooding, with Phang Muang Sai Kor Road flooding as usual, causing traffic tailbacks in the area.

Patong Hospital Director Dr Phumin Silaphan told the Gazette that people can still access the hospital, located on the corner of Sai Nam Yen Road and Phang Muang Sai Kor Road.

“We are monitoring the water level. Water in front of the hospital is about half-a-wheel deep. We have no plan to move patients just yet,” he said.

Officers around the island are clearing the floodwater as quickly as possible.

Phuket City Municipality officers are using pumps to drain water from the streets, while Rassada Municipality has workers clearing debris that is blocking drains.

Rassada Mayor Phudit “Ko Noi” Raksarat told the Gazette, “As much as 40 per cent of Rassada municipal area has been affected by the floods, especially in Soi King Kaew.”

Reports are already coming in of floodwater dissipating and of water levels returning to normal.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2012/Phuket-schools-close-after-floodwater-hits-16722.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-08-22

[Shot]

Or let their children play in it

[Greer]

Oh not good - 95mm in 3 hours is pretty huge...

[hawker9000]

Wait a minute. I thought there wasn't supposed to BE any flooding this year.

[blueshark]

Kathu, Phuket.

That's it my love, get your hands in there, have a good wash, and don't forget to brush your teeth as well while your there.

The mind boggles, and then they will complain next week of dysentery and have no idea how they got it!!!

Edited August 22, 2012 by blueshark

[blueshark]

Wait a minute. I thought there wasn't supposed to BE any flooding this year.

Yeah that nut job Prime Minister mentioned there wouldn't be any. What she meant to say is shes had a chat with her Bro, and they have convinced themselves after talking for an hour it wouldn't happen. To back up their analysis and professional civil engineering plans they had a monk bless their train of thought.

It was all working well until.........

[masterbiker49]

Wait a minute. I thought there wasn't supposed to BE any flooding this year.

+ 1 U Beat me to it

[KarenBravo]

Glad my house is on top of a small hill and just in case, it's built on stilts.

[Jimi007]

amazing, nothing like that here in rawai, i would guess 5cm last night at the most

Much much more in my area of Rawai.

My rain gauge overflowed at 5 inches. The next door neighbors carport was flooded. It still looks like a lake over there. Soi Cokmakham was flooded for a while in areas as well.

[MILT]

.....and in my dream "God" appeared and spoke "Flee my children from the Babylon for I shall rain down wraths of fury and bring forth floods and murders and thievery and evil to mankind of all sorts said and unsaid until Babylon repents and cleanse it's self from the darkness that has made this place it's home".............

Then i woke up, took a swim, soaked up some rays whilst quietly sipping my Mai Tai fufu..

[svenivan]

Amazing Thailand !

"The downpours last night followed the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issuing a “heavy rain” weather warning on Saturday after Tropical Storm Kai-Tak moved from Laos into Thailand."

The tropical storm moved from Laos to Phuket without spilling much water on its way over Isaan, Northern Thailand and Central Thailand. It saved everything for the South!

Check this link in TMD : http://www.tmd.go.th/en/climate.php

Isaan is dry, very dry!