The flooding was exacerbated by rainwater flowing down off the Nakkerd Hills surrounding Patong Bay. Roads were blocked and motorcyclists and drivers were forced to wait until the flooding subsided before continuing their journeys.
The car park outside Kathu Police station was one of the worst affected spots. Local media sources reported that motorcycles in it were swamped up to their handlebars and the interior flooring of low-slung saloon cars was awash.
The floodwaters soon subsided once the rain stopped and travellers were able to resume their journeys. May is typically one of the wettest months in the Andaman Sea region of southern Thailand and sudden downpours are the norm.
The earlier part of May usually marks the onset of the annual rainy season. The Southwest Thailand Meteorological Centre says Phuket will see more thunderstorms this week and there is a distinct likelihood of more flash-floods.
Torrential rain floods busy Phuket resort town
News in Asia
A torrential downpour left parts of Phuket Island’s resort of Patong under 50-centimetres of water on Saturday. The storm struck just after 13:00 and roads flooded as the runoff was just too much for storm-drains to handle.