Heavy rain hits Koh Phangan Island

Heavy rain pounded several districts in this southern Thai province and triggered runoff on the tourist island of Koh Phangan on Saturday.

In Ban Thong Nai Pan in Ban Tai sub-district on the island, surging runoff from surrounding hills carried away the pickup truck of Atsawin Busaba, a hotel employee. It became stuck at the mouth of a canal before reaching the sea.

Fortunately, no one was inside the vehicle. Mr Atsawin said he saw his truck being swept away but he was unable to do anything to stop it.

A video showing the pickup being swept away was posted on social media and went viral online.

Atthawit Sukkhao reported seeing a refrigerator and other household items carried away by the current. Soon after, the pickup truck floated away as well. However, no one dared to help as the current was rising and very strong.

Ban Thong Nai Phan school on the island was also inundated. One school building and its canteen were under 30 centimetres of water. The strong current rapidly entered the compound, preventing school staff from moving belongings to higher ground in time. Fortunately, the school was closed for the New Year holidays.

The water also surrounded government offices including the Koh Phangan district office, the police station and the Surat Thani Immigration Office on the island.

Floodwaters on the main road in front of the Koh Phangan district hall, Super Cheap supermarket and convenience stores also kept rising due to mountain runoff. The road was impassable for small vehicles.

Officials began surveying the damage after the rain stopped in the afternoon. People affected by the floods can report to the district office, Koh Phangan municipality, the police, or village headmen and the Kuson Sattha Koh Phangan Foundation.

Elsewhere, in Tha Chana district of Surat Thani, heavy rain overwhelmed drainage outlets at village Moo 10 in tambon Samorthong, sending excessive water to flood roads. In Chaiya district, the flooding and forest runoff hit tambon Pak Mak.

At Ban Thep Nimit in Wipawadi district, land erosion nearly sank a garage and two pickup trucks into a canal, local residents reported.

The Meteorological Department issued a warning on Saturday for strong winds and rain until Monday in southern provinces including Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat.

The northeastern monsoon is blowing over the Gulf of Thailand, causing strong waves, with heights of 2–3 metres and waves exceeding 3m in areas experiencing thunderstorms. Small boats have been advised to stay ashore. 

Read the full story at Bangkok Post – Heavy rain and runoff hit Koh Phangan which was brought to us by Google Alerts.

Photo credit @ Bangkok Post | A pickup truck is swept into the sea at Thong Nai Phan on Koh Phangan on Saturday as heavy rain pounded several districts in Surat Thani province. (Photo: Koh Phangan Facebook)