Thailand Orders Tourist Assistance Amid Phuket Flooding

Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul has instructed relevant agencies to assist visitors affected by flooding on Phuket, where heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and landslides, damaging properties and forcing evacuations in Patong.

Speaking on October 29, the minister said he had directed the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Tourist Police to help affected visitors, prioritise their safety and coordinate their response with provincial authorities.

No tourist injuries had been reported at the time of the announcement, although some visitors were caught up in floodwater flowing down from the hills. Tourists were moved to safer locations during the flooding, and many were later able to return to their accommodation as conditions improved.

Flooding damages properties in Patong

The flooding began on October 26 after heavy overnight rain triggered flash floods and mudslides in several parts of Phuket.

In Patong, water runoff carried soil, rocks and mud into residential and commercial areas, particularly around Na Nai 5 and Na Nai 8 roads. Homes, shops, hotels, cars and motorcycles were damaged, while debris covered several roads.

More than 100 households and businesses in Patong were reportedly affected. Preliminary estimates put the damage at around 100 million baht.

The situation prompted Patong Municipality to order evacuations in high-risk areas after a landslide sent soil and rocks onto Na Nai 3 Road, forcing the road to close.

Mayor Lalita Maneesri said municipal personnel had been mobilised to help residents. Shuttle vehicles were arranged for people needing to leave areas around Na Nai 3 and Na Nai 8 roads.

The municipality also designated safer parking areas and advised residents to avoid roads affected by landslides and locations vulnerable to further flash flooding.

Municipal staff, volunteers and forestry officers continued monitoring conditions, particularly around Na Nai 8 Road, amid concerns about additional rainfall and possible landslides.

Minister expects limited impact on tourism

Surasak acknowledged that the flooding had disrupted tourism and caused damage in some areas. However, Phuket had not yet completed an assessment of the total economic losses.

The minister said he expected the overall economic impact to remain limited and did not anticipate that the flooding would prompt tourists to postpone or cancel planned trips to Phuket.