Thailand: Floods hit southern provinces
-
-
PHATTHALUNG, Nov 24 – Thailand’s southern provinces have been deluged with continued heavy rain, and Phatthalung declared the whole province a disaster zone.
Phatthalung’s 11 districts were declared disaster zones after nearly half the province went under water, said Thanakorn Tabanphruk, head of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office.
Continued rain triggered flooding in the province and the announcement of the disaster zones will allow local authorities to offer assistance quickly under official regulations, he added.
In Surat Thani, forest runoff from Krangkrung National Park flooded Chaiya’s Pakmak subdistrict.
One bridge over a canal is damaged, cutting off about 100 families from the outside world and attempts to assist them have not succeeded. Ongoing rain and forest runoff led to floods spreading into to other sub-districts in Chaiya and Tha Chang districts. Some areas are under 1.5 metres of floodwater.
In Narathiwat, the Sungai Kolok River overflowed its banks, flooding a riverside community. About 120 local residents have been evacuated to a temporary shelter. A number of low-lying communities in three sub-districts were flooded.
Moreover, the Bangnara River has flooded low-lying areas in the provincial seat and Rangae district, while Narathiwat municipality was hit by a heavy downpour, triggering floods in eight communities. About 100 houses were damaged, with local authorities already providing initial help.
In Songkhla, Khlong U-tapao flooded houses and rubber plantations in Khlonghoikong district. The floodwater is 0.50-1 metre deep and resident must travel by boat. (MCOT online news)
-
