Phuket governor inspects Patong flood damage four days after disaster

Phuket Governor Chotinarin Koetsom visited areas of Patong affected by flooding and mudslides on 30 October, four days after heavy rain damaged more than 100 households, shops and businesses and caused estimated losses of at least B100 million.

The governor inspected Soi Nanai 5, 7 and 8 at about 10am, accompanied by Acting Phuket Provincial Palad Siwat Rawangkul, Kathu District Chief Wittaya Jitsupap and Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri. Mud had inundated homes and blocked local roads in the area.

The Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office said recovery operations were in their fifth day and about 70% complete. Major roads had reopened, while crews continued removing mud from smaller lanes and individual homes. Local administrative organisations, the military, Patong Municipality and territorial defence volunteers were involved in the clean-up.

The Third Naval Area Command provided personnel, medical teams and mobile field kitchens. Chotinarin also visited a field kitchen at Wat Suwan Khiri Wong, also known as Wat Patong, where meals were being prepared three times a day for affected residents and emergency workers.

The provincial public relations office said another 100 Volunteer Defense Corps members had been mobilised from Bangkok to join about 300 already working in affected areas. Support from Ranong involved 18 local administrative organisations and security agencies.

The visit followed criticism in Parliament over the governor’s absence when the disaster struck on Monday, 26 October. Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee asked why Chotinarin had been overseas and whether he had been ordered to return to lead the response.

Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit, responding on behalf of Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said the governor had been in South Korea for a previously scheduled meeting concerning tourism cities. Worasit said local agencies had response plans, data and heavy machinery ready, allowing them to begin clearing affected areas.

Chalermpong challenged that explanation, saying the governor had recently returned from China and knew heavy rain was forecast. The MP said Chotinarin could have cancelled the South Korea trip and sent a vice-governor instead. “The suffering of the people cannot wait,” Chalermpong said.

During the inspection, Chotinarin called for stricter enforcement of land-use and urban-planning regulations, particularly on slopes and in areas vulnerable to landslides. He said excavation and land grading on private property and Agricultural Land Reform Office land must comply with regulations and receive the necessary authorisation.

He also said the province had established a command structure assigning responsibility for field operations, logistics, budgets and communications.

Chalermpong also questioned the lack of a landslide warning system for high-risk areas, despite disaster-risk maps having been maintained since 2020. He called for reviews of excavation, land-filling and construction permits in high-risk parts of Kathu, Patong and Karon, as well as a survey of public waterways.

Worasit said Patong Municipality had ordered work to stop at the land-modification and excavation site under investigation. Authorities were reviewing relevant laws and examining whether nearby hotels had contributed to the landslide.

The deputy minister said planned measures included drainage improvements in Kamala, Chalong and Phuket Town, along with a warning system using soil-movement sensors and flash-flood detection equipment. The proposed system is intended to provide two to three hours’ warning of potential flash floods.

The provincial public relations office reported that 210 insurance claims had been filed across Phuket by 8am on 30 October: 45 in Mueang district, 158 in Kathu district and seven in Thalang district. Worasit said the government had arranged insurance coverage for disasters occurring after 1 October, with initial assistance of B10,000 followed by compensation based on assessments of actual damage to homes.

Chalermpong said he would continue monitoring the allocation of relief and emergency funds.