Nine Southern Thai Provinces Warned Of Flash Floods

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Nine southern Thai provinces warned of flash floods

SONGKHLA, Nov 21 (TNA) – Thailand's southern region Meteorological Department has issued warnings that flash floods could hit nine of the country's southern provinces and small boats and trawlers should refrain from leaving shore through Monday.

As a high pressure system remained over upper Thailand, causing cold weather in the North, Northeast, Central and Eastern regions, where temperatures dropped one to two degrees Celsius, the northeast monsoon dominated the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region.

Torrential rains are expected from Surat Thani province extending southward, the weather department said. Flash floods are possible in at-risk areas along foothills near waterways and lowlands. Waves in the Gulf could be as high as four metres and small boats should remain ashore.

In the southern province of Songkhla bordering Malaysia, heavy rain and water runoff from mountains had already flooded parts of four districts.

Songkhla governor Vinyu Thongsakul has asked the public to donate used tyres so that they could be built as temporary barrier to waves. More than 10,000 tyres have already been placed along the beach to prevent high waves from pounding the shore and the measure has proved successful.

Heavy rain has fallen in nearby Narathiwat province since Wednesday, and the water level in Sungai Kolok river is almost overflowing its banks.Narathiwat officials are concerned that three key rivers could overflow their banks if rain does not stop soon. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/11/21

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[southbot]

Hi folks. SouthBot over on Samui here.

I urgently need some up-to-date weather info for Hat Yai and surrounds.

Is there anybody IN Hat Yai RIGHT NOW who could tell me the frequency and extent of flooding there please?

The thing is that I am supposed to be driven down there tomorrow for surgery at Hat Yai hospital Monday morning.

I am a bit concerned about these weather reports now and would be grateful for any very recent "inside" info on this matter.

Cheers 'n thanks from Koh Samui

[ballzafire]

No local flooding that I can see but, dam_n, has it been wet lately. Sort of a continual "wintery" rain that reminds me of back home. A little cooler than normal, too...

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WHILE KALASIN GETS THE SHIVERS

4 southern provinces hit by 2nd wave of flooding

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY

Published on November 22, 2009

Downpours have triggered a second round of flooding in the southern provinces of Songkhla, Phatthalung, Trang and Narathiwat, while Kalasin in the Northeast is so cold that some residents have fallen ill.

After four days of continuous heavy rain, many areas of Songkhla are now flooded for the second time this month, especially several areas of Hat Yai which are under waist-deep water. Sections of main roads, especially Kanchanawanich Road, were under 40cm-deep flood water yesterday, causing severe traffic jams.

Hat Yai district officials dispatched officials and equipment to assist the flood victims.

Rail cargo services between Hat Yai and Padang Besar in Songkhla were suspended for a time yesterday after a 1-kilometre section of track was under water.

Thanongsak Pongprasert, director of the State Railway of Thailand's southern region, said all southbound trains - including those to the southernmost provinces - were still running, although they had to slow down when passing through flooded sections in Songkhla's Na Mom district.

Officials will inspect track conditions and repair damaged areas over the next few days, he added.

In Trang province, whose six major waterfalls were closed indefinitely earlier this month, continuous rainfall resulted in the many areas of Nakhon Trang municipality in Muang district being inundated.

All tambon and districts in the province were told to be on the alert for flash floods and landslides. Local authorities were preparing heavy machines, three flat-bottom boats and 36,000 kilograms of rice to assist flood-affected residents.

WINTER CHILLS

In Narathiwat, three days of downpours caused the Sungai Kolok River to overflow and flood 345 riverside houses in Joh I Rong, Chanae, Sungai Padi and Sungai Kolok districts. As flood water continued to rise, it was expected that 1 million residents in 13 districts would be affected, causing Bt125 million of damage.

In Phatthalung, where low-lying houses in Muang and Bang Kaew districts were submerged, locals speedily moved belongings to safer ground and stored enough food and drinking water to last a month.

Phatthalung Governor Winai Karuwannapat took 300 relief bags to the affected residents in Tambon Lampam in Muang district as initial assistance.

In Kalasin, winter chills caused about 1,500 people to seek medical treatment at Kalasin Hospital, which was 50 per cent higher than the normal intake. Many were children and the elderly, who were unable to cope with the sudden drop in temperature.

The hospital also set up a patient screening room and a quarantine area for anyone suspected of having contracted type-A (H1N1) influenza or bird flu.

Kalasin temperatures dropped to 6-9 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas, while the maximum temperature was 20 degrees.

In Prachin Buri's Khao Yai national park, where the temperature dropped to 16-17 degrees, more than 2,000 visitors had already crowded camping areas.

With the visitor limit set at 2,500, the park urged the public to contact the National Park Department to book accommodation beforehand.

-- The Nation 2009/11/22

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[southbot]

Hey, thanks for all the feedback, excellent stuff.

We cancel the trip down south today, Sunday.

The med work I need, however, is only available in this region at the Hat Yai hospital and of course I need it now or very, very soon.

Aeeyah. Oh mai pen lai. Something always works out, or not.

Thanks for info, articles and feedback again everybody.

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Train services in deep South resume; Thousands evacuate from flash flood

HAT YAI , Nov 22 (TNA) -- Passenger train services from Hat Yai to Padang Baesar district bordering Malaysia resumed early Sunday but tens of thousands of villagers in Thailand's South have left their homes for higher ground as flooding continued to ravage the region causing authorities to declare a number of areas as disaster zones.

Train services between the two key districts returned to normal after flood water which had inundated part of the track had receded.

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officials plan to survey southern tracks which are frequently under water during the monsoon season to prevent accidents from occurring.

Authorities in Narathiwat and Phatthalung provinces have already declared nine and five districts in their respective provinces disaster zone after floodwater inundated people's homes and destroyed farmland.

In Narathiwat alone, more than 10,000 people living in Chanae district were evacuated to higher ground while 80 families living along the banks of the Sungai Kolok River were sent to evacuation centres as water overflowed the banks.

More than 4,000 families in five districts of Phatthalung province were already severely affected by the deluge, with many forced to leave their homes for a safer place.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Center in the eastern South has issued flash flood warnings for five provinces -- Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- as heavy rain is expected to continue for a certain period. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/11/22

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Additional Rain in the South; Alerts Out for More Flooding

UPDATE : 23 November 2009

The Weather Department has issued additional alerts for Southern Thailand. The region is to experience continued heavy rain with the possibility of additional floods and landslides. Several areas have already been declared natural disaster areas. Other regions of the country to experience cooler temperatures.

-- Tan Network 2009/11/23

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35 Songkhla schools closed because of floods

Songkhla - Thirty-five schools in three districts of Songkhla were closed Monday after most areas of the districts were inundated.

The schools in Hat Yai, Klong Hoi Khong and Bang Klam districts were closed after rivers overflew the banks and flooded the areas.

-- The Nation 2009/11/23

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Over 20 schools in Narathiwat closed because of floods

Narathiwat - More than 20 schools in this southern border province were closed Monday after floods hit 87 villages in 11 districts.

The Narathiwat Education Zone 3 announced that the schools were closed because their compounds were still under water.

-- The Nation 2009/11/23

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Two killed, over 60 schools close in southern flood

SONGKHLA, Nov 23 (TNA) - Thailand's southern provinces have been hit heavily by flash floods which have so far left two residents dead, and on Monday forced the closure of over 60 schools.

Students of Bangsala School in Klong Hoi Kong district helped one another to move documents and computers to higher ground after waters of the Utapao Canal spilled over its banks and flooded the schools to 50 centimetres deep.

The school was forced to close until the flood recedes, along with at least another 40 schools in Songkhla.

Sixteen districts in Songkhla have been inundated, with six districts in critical condition, including Hat Yai, provincial seat, Rattaphum, Khuan Niang, Bang Klam and Klong Hoi Kong.

Two people were drowned in the flooding, and the meteorological department has issued a warning that residents of Phattalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat should beware of flash flood.

In Satun, at least ten thousand households in Khuan Don district and provincial seat have been affected by flood. Many villages have been cut off as roads and main highways were covered by floodwaters.

In the restive southern border province of Narathiwat, 11 districts were under water, while the water level in local rivers have increased incessantly.

Five-star hotels and entertainment venues in Sungai Kolok district remain closed due to floods, and about 20 schools announced temporary closure indefinitely.

It is reported that some parts of Malaysia have also been hit by flooding, routes connecting the two neighbouring countries have been unindated and were impassable for all transport. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/11/23

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[ThaiSunshine]

Strange....whenever Samui, Trang, Songkla and other locations in the south are flooding, we never experience any flooding in Khanom or Sichon. Of course we have our part of the storms and heavy rain, but no flooding whatsoever!