Flooding on Phuket and weather warning for rest of Thailand

Phuket was hit by massive downpours on Friday, causing unavoidable flooding. There were also dangerous mudslides, landslides and air traffic had to deal with considerable delays. More disaster is on the way, the Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning for the whole of Thailand the next 24 hours could be quite raging.

Flooding has caused extensive damage in several places on Phuket. Authorities have deployed water pumps in Ra Wai, Pa Tong, Si Sunthon and Pa Khlok. The director of the airport says that ten flights were delayed yesterday morning due to poor visibility.

Part of Phra Metta Road and Ratuthit Songroipi Road was impassable. In the evening the situation improved somewhat.

Weather forecast rest of Thailand

Typhoon Doksuri, which has caused great damage in Vietnam and Laos, moves to the northeast of Thailand, but weakens it to a tropical storm. From tomorrow to Monday, a lot of rain is expected in the North and Northeast. The storm is entering the country at Nakhon Pathom, Bung Kan, Nong Khai and Nan.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation says authorities in 52 provinces are expecting heavy rain, possible flooding and landslides. Emergency centers are set up in higher places and supplies are stocked if evacuation is necessary.

The Royal Irrigation Department monitors the water level in reservoirs. When extra water has to be discharged, a warning is given. The four major reservoirs along the Chao Phraya are at 64 percent of their capacity. They can still store about 9 billion cubic meters of water. This weekend, the Ubonrat dam in Khon Kaen discharges 25 million cubic meters of water every day. An attempt is being made to increase this to 34 million. The reservoir is now 75 percent full.

Source: Bangkok Post