Chumphon Declares Five Flood-hit Districts Disaster Zones

Chumphon declares five flood-hit districts disaster zones

CHUMPHON:-- Five districts of Thailand's southern province of Chumphon have been declared disaster zones due to severe floodwaters, and six schools were temporarily closed due to flooding in neighbouring Surat Thani province.

Chumphon governor Karan Supakijwi-lekakarn said the flooding situation has affected thousands of households in five districts-- Lamae, Lang Suan, Thung Tako, Phato and Sawi.

The hardest-hit area was Lang Suan with floodwaters is deep as five metres in some areas, he said. A 10-metre portion of the Lang Suan-Ranong Road was swept away by the strong current, making it impassible for vehicles.

Meanwhile, Surat Thani's Tha Chana district chief Santad Na Nakorn said flashfloods from Kang Krung National Park inundated 39 villages in Tha Chana's nine sub-districts. Water levels ranged from 50 to 150 centimetres, prompting the closure of six schools, while some 500 households were isolated from outside.

Efforts to bring relief supplies to flood victims was hampered with difficulties owing to impassible roads and strong currents. Some varied watercraft have been provided by a military unit to help victims in Tha Chana Market alone.

-- TNA 2008-11-12