Phuket authorities confirm flooding recently ‘worst recorded’
“The worst in history,” officials have confirmed that thousands of houses have been damaged. Two bridges have become unused and all costs of damage have not. To evaluate
At least 2,000 homes in Thalang were directly affected by the floods last Friday and Saturday, with more than 127mm of rainfall drenching Phuket Town the surrounding areas within a 24-hour period. Residents in Kamala were evacuated as a precaution against being buried by a landslide after a landslip damaged several multi-story villas under construction on a hillside there, while schools and residents were evacuated to safe zones in Srisoonthorn, in the heart of Thalang.
Residents in Rassada, however, were not so lucky as a landslide there brought sodden earth crashing through the walls of 10 homes there. The two bridges on either side of Baan Bang Rong in Pa Khlok were closed as raging torrents of runoff within hours eroded the soil underneath, with emergency repairs carried out overnight to reconnect the residents who were cut off by the bridge failures.
Police and disaster officials deployed flat-bottomed boats to provide assistance and deliver relief supplies to residents in flood-struck areas across the island. Families in danger were moved to temporary shelters until the waters subsided and they could return to their homes. In all, disaster officials received reports of 28 flash floods on Friday alone, with more areas affected by Saturday.
“As always, in every emergency situation, people should pay close attention to the news and follow any instructions given for their own safety,” Mr. Prapan advised. “Also, don’t just believe what people post on social media. Use your common sense and own judgment before reacting and sharing what might not be true or even damaging to others,” he urged.
After extensive consultation with a team of officials assembled to address the flood issue, Governor Norraphat announced that THB115 million, about US$3.5 million, was to be spent on a flood-prevention project, which will include installing pipes and pump stations, to increase the flow of runoff into the bay at Sapam.
The project aims to reduce the volume of runoff flowing into Bang Yai Canal, and through Phuket Town, where bridges came under intense pressure as the Bang Yai Canal came dangerously close to bursting its banks, which officials feared could cause immeasurable damage to the city. Source: Coconuts Bangkok
