Phuket municipalities step up flood prevention works as heavier monsoon rain hits island

Phuket municipalities are accelerating flood prevention and drainage improvement works after the island experienced heavier-than-normal rainfall since mid-May, causing waterlogging in several urban areas and along major roads.

Phuket City Municipality has upgraded its rainy season response plan for 2026, focusing on dredging canals, clearing drainage pipes, inspecting pumping systems and deploying officials to monitor flood-prone areas around the clock.

Phuket City Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet said the municipality was especially concerned about flooding later in the rainy season, when prolonged rain could saturate the ground and raise the risk of flash flooding in urban areas.

He said rainy season management was important not only for flood prevention, but also for maintaining confidence among residents, tourists and the local economy.

The municipality has also expanded use of its “Phuket City Municipality” mobile application, which tracks water levels at various locations and sends alerts during heavy rain and flooding. Officials plan to add monitoring points in more high-risk areas across the city.

Flooding has repeatedly affected parts of Phuket Town in previous years, including low-lying communities, canal-side neighbourhoods and sections of the Old Town during sustained rainfall.

In Rawai, the municipality is speeding up four major flood prevention and drainage projects before the heaviest rains expected between July and September. Rawai Mayor Thames Kraitat inspected work on reinforced concrete drainage channels and other flood mitigation measures on Monday, May 25.

Officials said surveys found that some Rawai drainage canals narrowed to only 1.5 metres, restricting water flow and contributing to recurring waterlogging during storms. The municipality has redesigned parts of the drainage network, installed water pumps at high-risk locations and prepared sandbags and emergency response teams to assist residents 24 hours a day throughout the rainy season.

Rawai Municipality said the projects were not expected to eliminate flooding entirely, but should significantly reduce the severity and duration of flood events this year.

In Thalang, Srisoonthorn Municipality has continued annual dredging along major canals and waterways, including Khlong Moo 6 in Baan Don, one of the area’s main drainage routes. Srisoonthorn Mayor Chalermphon Kerdsap said most major dredging in flood-prone areas had already been completed, with only smaller canal sections remaining.

He said the work was carried out during the dry season with support from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, which provided heavy machinery. He added that although the first major storm of the season brought severe conditions, the area avoided serious flooding.

Patong Municipality has also moved to address flood risks. Mayor Lalita Maneesri led officials on an inspection of a private construction project at Soi Song Phan, or Soi Khok Mu, on Monday morning. Municipal officials instructed project managers to urgently improve drainage at the site to prevent repeat flooding in nearby residential communities during heavy rain.

Authorities across Phuket have continued to urge residents not to dump rubbish into drains, canals and waterways, warning that blocked drainage systems remain one of the main causes of urban flooding during storms.

Officials also said increasingly unpredictable weather linked to changing climate conditions was making long-term water management more critical for the island. Phuket City Municipality said July and August remained the most concerning period because the ground becomes saturated, even if the rainy season ends earlier than usual.

Authorities said keeping Phuket operational during severe weather was essential for public safety as well as for protecting tourism and economic activity during the monsoon season.