Thailand's holiday island Phuket has suffered severe floods that have cut off main roads as the water reached up to chest level following heavy rains.

The deluge has rendered the island's arteries impassable to tourists after an overnight storm on October 16.

Phuket governor Narong Woonciew said: 'Thepkasattri Road has extremely high water levels impeding traffic. Right now, cars cannot pass either inbound or outbound routes. We are assisting outbound vehicles first.'

Rescue woprker Udom Karn added: 'This round of flooding has caused the water to rise between knee to chest level. The provincial governor has assigned officers in different districts to prepare water pumps and provide food supplies to help residents.'

Local media reported that emergency services also cleared minor landslides while authorities ordered repairs for fallen power poles.

Thailand has experienced severe flooding this year.

Meteorologists have blamed climate change for the sustained heavy rain, which has been hitting the Thai capital and provinces around the country causing heavy floods for several weeks.

Thailand's Center for Climate Change and Disaster claimed the coming months could see heavier, longer rainfalls, due to 'climate change'.

Local media reported that the country has this year seen 'an unusually sustained and persistent rainy season'.

The heavy rain has been compounded by the deluge from Typhoon Noru, which dumped water in the northeast region of the country, causing rivers flowing into the central region to swell.