Phuket declares Karon a disaster zone and orders immediate evacuations as landslide threats escalate

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued severe-level warnings and ordered immediate evacuations for high-risk zones in Karon and Patong following relentless heavy rainfall across Phuket.

According to The Standard (in Thai), authorities have officially declared the Karon area a disaster zone due to the imminent threat of landslides and flash floods. The DDPM has also deployed emergency Cell Broadcast alerts to mobile phones in Phuket's Mueang and Thalang districts, as well as neighboring Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat, instructing residents to move belongings to higher ground.

In Patong, where recent landslides caused an estimated 100 million baht in damages, Mayor Lalita Maneesri has ordered the evacuation of residents in vulnerable zones, according to The Phuket Express.

What this means for you

If you live in a designated high-risk zone in Karon or Patong, you must follow local evacuation orders immediately. For expats and residents whose homes or belongings have already sustained damage, financial relief is available, but the window to act is closing.

The Thai government has confirmed that flood and landslide victims in Phuket qualify for disaster insurance compensation. Here is what you need to know:

• The payout: Eligible households can receive an initial compensation of 10,000 baht.
• The deadline: You must submit your claim documents to local authorities by November 6, 2026.
• Rent relief: The National Housing Authority has also introduced rent reductions and debt suspension measures for affected residents in state housing.

Floodwater health risks and Bangkok tides

Beyond property damage, health officials are urging residents to avoid wading through floodwaters or wet soil. Thai PBS News reports a severe outbreak of Melioidosis, commonly known as "soil fever." The bacterial infection has already claimed 136 lives and infected over 3,100 people in Thailand this year. If you must walk through flooded streets, wear protective boots and wash thoroughly afterward.

Finally, if you are relocating to or currently living in the capital, be aware that the flooding risk extends beyond the southern islands. Authorities have issued an urgent tidal flooding alert for Bangkok and six central provinces, which remains in effect until November 5.