Heavy rain on Thursday evening (Aug 22) extended into Friday morning, leading to flash floods and a landslide that hit Soi Patak 2 in Karon.
A total of 13 people lost their lives, officials confirmed, as the search and rescue effort was halted yesterday by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
There were a further 19 people injured and a total of 209 households left reeling with heavy damage following the landslide that prompted Phuket authorities to declare nine villages in three subdistricts of Chalong, Rawai and Karon as disaster zones due to flooding and mudslides.
Local residents have been lauded by officials for the generosity that have displayed in extending help and support to those impacted by the disaster.
Many kind-hearted people headed to the disaster relief zone in Karon yesterday to donate much-needed goods, including drinking water, clothes and mattresses.
Additionally, a 24-hour medical center has been set up to assist those impacted as well as a mobile kitchen managed by Phang Nga Naval Base, from the Third Naval Area, which is serving 300 lunch boxes of hot food a day to those in need.
In regards to properties damaged in the area, officials confirmed a thorough inspection needs to be conducted before any claims for compensation can be made through the relevant channels, in accordance with government regulations.
Yesterday, Chatda Thaiset, the Deputy Interior Minister, visited Karon to inspect the situation and lend support and encouragement to those impacted as well as those involved with the clean-up operation.