Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) engineers in Phuket are working hard to restore power to the island’s international airport, after about 10 high-tension utility poles were felled last night by heavy rain.

This morning (Thursday), police closed the old road to the airport in Thalang District to all traffic and asked motorists to use an alternative route. The utility poles fell across the road, making it impassable.

The collapse of the poles caused a power outage in the immediate area and PEA officials said they had to cut the power supply to the airport as well, while engineers work to re-erect the utility poles and restore the power supply. The work is expected to be completed this evening.

Meanwhile, a 200-metre stretch of the 4029 road, from Krathu to Pa Tong, has collapsed following a landslide yesterday, rendering one lane of the two-lane road impassable, following heavy rainfall since Sunday.

Governor Narong Woonsiew said that the road is important, especially during the high tourist season, and must be repaired and reopened immediately.