Fortunately no cars or people were hit as the poles crashed down, domino-style, leaving the road strewn with broken poles and cables.
The poles were all part of a new line and although cable had already been strung between them, the power – happily – had yet to be turned on.
Staff from the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority were quickly on the scene and cleared the road by dawn, but it took another 19 hours before all the poles were replaced.
Two houses were damaged by the falling poles. Kanya Sripitak said one fell on her kitchen, while another crashed onto a neighbour's home. No one was injured. The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority has agreed to pay for all the damage.