The victims recovered include a Russian man and woman, a Thai woman from Sakon Nakhon Province and six Myanmar nationals (three men and three women), Vice Governor Sattha said.
The relentless downpours throughout Thursday night (Aug 22) 200 dumped millimetres of rainfall on the area, Vice Governor Sattha confirmed.
Phuket authorities have declared nine villages in three subdistricts as disaster zones due to flooding and mudslides, he added.
The affected areas include Moo 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Karon; Moo 1 and 2 in Rawai; and Moo 8, 9, and 10 in Chalong.
The declaration enables government agencies, local administrative organisations and private sectors to coordinate disaster relief efforts in the impacted areas, Vice Governor Sattha explained.
The search for the missing individuals continues as rescue teams work against time to locate them, he added.
BEACH ROAD COLLAPSES
Karon Mayor Jadet Wicharasorn today inspected the site along Karon Beach where the beach road and embankment collapsed due to the heavy rain.
Mayor Jadet inspected the area in front of the Karon Municipality offices after the collapse caused significant damage.
He explained that heavy rain began in Karon at 11pm Thursday night, leading to widespread flooding by 3am.
At around 5:15am, disaster prevention officers informed him of the deadly landslide in Soi Patak, in Moo 2, Karon. The landslide originated from the Big Buddha atop the Nakkerd Hills and affected the road near Karon Beach, causing the road and embankment to collapse.
Initial investigations suggest that the collapse occurred because water from the mountain could not drain into the sea fast enough. This caused water to back up through the drainage pipes, leading to flooding along the embankment, which eventually gave way under the pressure.
Mayor Jadet said that repairing the damage was a top priority and would begin immediately.
After ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected residents, a meeting with relevant government agencies will be held to plan the restoration. The initial plan is to rebuild the embankment to prevent future coastal erosion, Mayor Jadet added.