On Tuesday (Oct 30), Phuket City Municipality announced the initiation of the first phase of the project designed to upgrade street drainage to avert floods in Soi Phaniang, Soi Samkong 1 and the surrounding area.
The part of Samkong north of Yaowarat Rd has gained notoriety as one of the worst-hit during seasonal rains. In October last year, during exceptionally heavy downpours, both Phuket Governor Narong Wonciew and his wife Wandee (Bunwandee) Woonciew visited the area to provide assistance to residents. Both the Governor and the president of Phuket Red Cross at that time witnessed firsthand the extent of flooding in the community.
The first phase of the flood prevention project is scheduled to run from Nov 1, 2022, through Jan 31, 2023. The work will take place at a water pump situated on the northern bank of the Bang Yai Canal, opposite Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
As Phuket City Municipality explained, the work will be carried out from 8am to 6pm and may disrupt the daily routines of residents and local traffic. The municipality apologised for any inconvenience this might cause.
There has been no information provided yet about the subsequent phases of the flood prevention project. The pump is located around 200 meters south of the entrance to Soi Phanieng and Soi Samkong 1. While the suffering community is technically in tambon Rassada, the pump is on the territory under Phuket City Municipality’s jurisdiction.