The key facts
- Red danger level declared on the morning of October 29 due to rising water in the Bang Yai canal
- The Khok Tanot road in Karon is closed; in Chalong some sections are impassable for cars and motorcycles
- Forecast: thunderstorms over 70% of the western coast of southern Thailand, waves above two meters
Red alert and rising water in the canal
The Phuket municipality declared a red danger level on the morning of October 29 due to the rapid rise of water in the Bang Yai canal, reports Life.ru citing The Nation. Residents of neighborhoods along the banks were advised to urgently move their belongings higher — first of all, to remove electrical appliances and valuables from the potential flooding zone. The canal's level is rising due to heavy rains and water inflow from neighboring districts; according to the authorities' warning, continued rainfall could lead to homes being flooded.
Transport problems on the island
The bad weather has already complicated traffic on the island. The Khok Tanot road in Karon was temporarily closed, and in Chalong water has made certain sections impassable for cars and motorcycles — drivers were asked to choose alternative routes. According to the Thai Meteorological Department's forecast, thunderstorms will affect 70% of the western coast of southern Thailand, very heavy rainfall is expected in some parts of Phuket, and in thunderstorm areas wave heights may exceed two meters.
Consequences of the October 26 downpours
This is already the second wave of bad weather in a few days: earlier, on the night of October 26, mudslides hit Patong, damaging houses, shops and cars. According to the Russian Union of Travel Industry at the time, no Russian tourists were among the victims. Thus, the current red alert has been declared against the backdrop of consequences of the recent downpours that have not yet been resolved, which increases the strain on the infrastructure of the island popular with Russian vacationers.
