Nakhon Si Thammarat Declared Disaster Zone

Nakhon Si Thammarat declared disaster zone

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: -- Nakhon Si Thammarat declared seven districts as disaster zones, after one resident drowned and some 100 schools closed.

More than 30,000 residents have been affected by flooding, according to Pensri Kaewkumpai, who heads the Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Record high rainfall was measured in the provincial seat with 241 millimetres.

"The water level of rivers and canals is still increasing, so government workers have built embankments to prevent floods with the municipality," she said.

Local officials are keeping watch on the situation around the clock and provincial disaster workers are ready to respond to any emergency, she added.

The airport on Samui island has opened on Friday morning, allowing a way out for more than 1,000 tourists stranded when flights were cancelled on Thursday due to bad weather conditions.

The first flight departed at 6am filled with travellers leaving for other destinations.

However, heavy rain was still pouring down on the rain- and flood-drenched province, she indicated, saying that flooding on Samui island is still worrisome due to forest run-off and high tides. Local government workers face difficulty in draining water into the sea due to the volume of water involved.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department said that a low pressure cell covering lower southern Thailand continued to cause abundant rain and heavy rainfalls from Chumphon to the south.

Residents of Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Yala, Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi are advised to take precautions regarding torrential rain and floods.

Small boat operators have been advised to remain ashore due to 2-3 metre-high waves.

--TNA 2007-11-09