BANGKOK, Oct 16 (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Heavy overnight rain left Phuket old town under floodwater up to one metre deep and traffic chaos on Sunday.
A monsoon downpour that began Saturday evening (Oct 14) was still battering the tourism destination in the early hours of Sunday, causing flash floods to sweep across many parts of the island.
Among buildings submerged were the old town’s traditional Sino-Portuguese shophouses, a magnet for Thai and foreign tourists. Floods hit the Charter Bank Intersection, the Thep Kasattree-Thalang Intersection, Klang Road and the Clock Tower roundabout.
Phuket old town roads were submerged by floodwater up to one metre deep.
Roads in the Patong Beach area in Krathu district were also underwater, while flash-flooding cut the main road leading from Krathu’s Tambon Kamala to downtown Phuket.
Thailand's National Water Command Centre (NWCC) is also keeping a close eye on 24 dams nationwide as heavy rain has brought their reservoirs close to brimming point.
In its daily report on Sunday, the NWCC said it was monitoring the levels of Mae Ngad, Kiew Khor Ma, Kiew Lom, Mae Mok, Kwae Noi, Thap Sela, Pasak Jolasid, Krasiew, Huay Luang, Chulabhorn, Ubonrat, Lam Takong, Lam Phra Ploeng, Mool Bon, Lam Sae, Lam Nang Rong, Khun Dan, Klong Si Yad, Bang Phra, Nong Plalai, Narue Bodin, Bueng Boraped and Nong Han dams.
The centre said it would continue monitoring the dam levels even though the Thai Meteorological Department announced that the Sonca tropical storm had weakened into a low-pressure mass as of 1pm on Saturday.
The department said the low-pressure mass will only bring scattered rain or medium showers in the Northeast, East and Central provinces including Greater Bangkok.
The NWCC explained that the 24 dams had exceeded their capacity due to heavy rain triggered by tropical storms and the monsoon season.
It added that 34 provinces in Thailand are still flooded. - The Nation Thailand/ANN
