Landslide closes Phuket hill road, airport route flooded

PHUKET: The Kathu-Patong Road was closed after a landslide on Wednesday, with air passengers warned to leave for Phuket airport several hours in advance because of flooding on the road.

Patong police closed the Kathu-Patong Road to traffic from 4pm as its foundation was seriously eroded, with rain-soaked soil sliding away from under a 250-metre-long section of the Patong mountain road in Kathu district.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said it would take highway officials seven days - after the rain stops - to temporarily repair the route to allow traffic to pass. Permanent repair would take about six months.

There were detours but motorists' travel time would be raised by several hours, he said.  

Landslides were also reported elsewhere on the southern tourist island as the rain contnued. Torrential downpours have already caused flooding on lower ground. Local officials expected the rain to continue into Thursday or Friday. 

The management of Phuket airport said people heading there should leave 3-4 hours earlier than normal because of flooding on roads to the airport, including Thepkasattri Road (Highway 402).