BANGKOK -- Flash floods on Monday inundated several areas of the island of Phuket in Thailand , one of the country's major tourist destinations, following heavy rainfall overnight, officials said. All three districts of the southern island province, including its capital, Phuket City, were impacted by the flooding. Water levels started to recede by late morning, but some lower-lying areas remained flooded and small vehicles were advised to avoid those areas, according to the provincial deputy governor, Romdon Hayiawae.
He said some parts of the province were also hit with mudslides and officials were working to clear the debris to prevent it from falling into canals and obstructing waterways. Photos and videos shared on social media show floodwaters flowing into residential areas and filling up several roads, making them impassable. Vehicles are seen partially buried in piles of mud and rocks left behind by the flooding. Popular Reads Amy Acton says Trump, Vance should 'look at the facts' after Ramaswamy attack ad 9 hours ago Many feared trapped as a tall building collapses in Kenya Oct 23 Airman killed rappelling from Alamodome's ceiling in Salute to Armed Forces ceremony Oct 19 About 100 households were affected.
There were no reports of casualties, Romdon said. The Thai Meteorological Department warned of heavy and continuous rain in the southern region until Wednesday, which could trigger more flash floods and landslides. Flooding has battered many parts of Thailand since mid-September and at least 83 people were reported killed as of Monday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The Thai capital of Bangkok was inundated in late September after days of torrential rain, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing severe disruptions.
AP reports flash floods and mudslides on Phuket after overnight rain, within a flood season that has killed at least 83 people in Thailand since mid-September. It never once says that warming makes heavy rainfall and flooding like this more frequent or more severe, so a reader takes the floods as weather alone.
Leaves out the climate link
Serious
“following heavy rainfall overnight”
Why this matters
AP gives the overnight heavy rainfall as the whole cause of the Phuket floods, with no word on the warming that loads the dice for such downpours.
The impression it gives
A reader comes away believing this was a bout of bad weather with nothing to do with a warming climate.
The context
Human-caused warming has made heavy rainfall more frequent and more intense. The article contains no mention of climate change or warming anywhere.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “climate” and “warming”.
“Flooding has battered many parts of Thailand since mid-September and at least 83 people were reported killed”
Why this matters
AP reports a weeks-long national flood season and its death toll, yet still says nothing about the warming behind more extreme rainfall.
The impression it gives
A reader takes 83 deaths and weeks of flooding as a run of bad luck with the weather, not part of a pattern a warming climate makes worse.
The context
Warming driven by burning fossil fuels has made heavy rainfall more frequent or more severe. A single line saying so would have given the reader that fact.
How we know
On the recordThat warming has made hot extremes, heavy rainfall, agricultural and ecological drought, fire weather and intense tropical cyclones more frequent or more severe.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
On the recordIt is unequivocal that human influence, chiefly the burning of fossil fuels, has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land.ipcc.ch (opens in a new tab)
Flash floods inundated several areas of Phuket after heavy overnight rain, officials said. Climate change is making extreme rainfall like this more frequent and more intense.