Phang Nga –
A sudden flash flood swept through a popular tourist district in southern Thailand on Tuesday afternoon, inundating roads, shops, and restaurants in Khao Lak, a coastal town renowned for its beach resorts and vibrant shopping scene.
The deluge began around 2:00 p.m. local time when runoff from heavy rainfall in the Khao Lak mountain range surged into local canals. Witnesses reported the water turning reddish and rising rapidly, eventually spilling over the banks and flooding the Khao Lak Center shopping area. The floodwaters covered both sides of the main road for nearly 800 meters, stranding vehicles and causing traffic jams stretching close to a kilometer in each direction.
Local authorities said the water level reached over one meter in some areas, with strong currents damaging small vehicles, including electric cars and motorbikes.
At least five vehicles were reported stalled or swept aside. Emergency responders from the Phang Nga Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, Khao Lak Police, and the Tambon Khuk Khak Municipality were dispatched to assist stranded tourists and residents.
Many visitors were caught off guard while dining or shopping and had to abandon their plans. Tourists heading to the airport faced delays as shuttle vans were unable to pass through the flooded zone. Some were seen wading through knee-deep water, hauling luggage to reach vehicles waiting on the opposite side.
Phang Nga Deputy Governor Banchaa Thanuin and Takua Pa District Chief Pitchapat Rueangchatri arrived on site to oversee relief efforts. Preliminary assessments revealed widespread damage to restaurants, bars, motorbike rental shops, and nearby hotels. At Khao Lak Seaview Resort, floodwaters breached the rear of the property, causing structural damage to canal embankments.
Local vendor Noppakhun Jaichuay, who operates a shop in the Khao Lak Center, described the scene as unprecedented. “I’ve never seen anything like this in 30 years,” he said. “The rain was intense, and the canal overflowed so quickly. I warned tourists to leave as the water kept rising.”
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation and assess damage. The incident underscores the vulnerability of low-lying tourist zones to sudden weather events, especially during Thailand’s monsoon season.
