The renewed push comes as Phuket has already experienced heavier-than-normal rainfall since mid-May due to the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, causing waterlogging in several urban areas and along major roads.
Phuket City Municipality has upgraded its rainy season response plan for 2026, focusing on proactive water management measures including dredging canals, clearing drainage pipes, inspecting pumping systems and deploying officials to monitor flood-prone areas around the clock.
Phuket City Mayor Suppachoke Laongphet said the municipality was particularly concerned about flooding later in the rainy season, when prolonged rainfall could saturate the ground and increase the risk of flash flooding in urban areas.
“Phuket is a world-class tourist city. Managing the rainy season is not only about flood prevention, but also about maintaining confidence in the city’s economy, residents and tourists,” he said.
The municipality has also expanded the use of its ‘Phuket City Municipality’ mobile application, which tracks water levels at various locations and provides alerts during periods of heavy rain and flooding. Officials plan to install additional monitoring points in more high-risk areas across the city.
Many areas within Phuket Town, including low-lying communities, canal-side neighbourhoods and sections of the Old Town, have experienced recurring floods during periods of sustained rainfall in previous years.
Meanwhile, Rawai Municipality is accelerating four major flood prevention and drainage improvement projects aimed at reducing chronic flooding in vulnerable areas before the heaviest rains arrive between July and September.
Rawai Mayor Thames Kraitat on Monday (May 25) inspected progress on reinforced concrete drainage channels and other flood mitigation works in the southern Phuket subdistrict.
Officials said detailed surveys found drainage canals in Rawai varied significantly in width, with some narrowing to only 1.5 metres, causing poor water flow and recurring waterlogging during storms.
The municipality has redesigned sections of the drainage network to improve water flow and reduce water accumulation. Water pumps have also been installed at high-risk locations, while sandbags and emergency response teams have been prepared to assist residents 24 hours a day throughout the rainy season.
Rawai Municipality acknowledged the projects may not eliminate flooding entirely, but said they were expected to significantly reduce the severity and duration of flood events this year.
In Thalang, Srisoonthorn Municipality has continued annual dredging works along major canals and waterways, including Khlong Moo 6 in Baan Don, one of the area’s key drainage routes.
Srisoonthorn Mayor Chalermphon Kerdsap said the work had been carried out during the dry season to prepare for this year’s rains, with support from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), which supplied heavy machinery for the dredging operations.
Most major dredging work in flood-prone areas had already been completed, with only smaller canal sections remaining, he said.
The mayor noted that although the first major storm of the season had brought severe conditions, the area had avoided serious flooding.
He added that local authorities, community leaders and disaster prevention officials remained on standby for future storms and urged residents to monitor weather updates closely throughout the rainy season.
Patong Municipality has also moved to address flood risks, with Mayor Lalita Maneesri leading officials on an inspection of a private construction project at Soi Song Phan, also known as Soi Khok Mu, on Monday morning.
Municipal officials met with project managers and instructed them to urgently improve drainage systems at the site to prevent repeat flooding in nearby residential communities during heavy rainfall.
Across Phuket, officials have repeatedly urged residents not to dump rubbish into drains, canals and waterways, warning that blocked drainage systems remain one of the leading causes of urban flooding during storms.
Authorities also warned that increasingly unpredictable weather patterns linked to changing climate conditions mean long-term water management planning is becoming more critical for the island.
“Even if the rainy season ends earlier than usual, July and August remain the most concerning period because the ground becomes saturated,” Phuket City Municipality warned in its latest assessment.
Officials said ensuring Phuket remains operational during severe weather was essential not only for public safety, but also for protecting tourism and economic activity during the monsoon season.