Heavy rains trigger flood in Thai South
By English News



TRANG, Dec 6 - Thailand's southern provinces were hit by floods Thursday due to heavy rain for several days.

In Trang province, about 1,000 households in three districts - the provincial seat, Huay Yod and Kantang - were flooded by the Trang River which overflowed its banks.

Some 10,000 rai of farmland including rubber and palm oil plantations, were under floodwater, with estimated damage around Bt10 million.

In Songkhla, a flash flood hit Songkhla municipality, especially areas near Songkhla Lake. Roads and homes were under 50-centimetre deep floodwater due to high tide and slow water drainage.

Songkhla municipality is speeding up water drainage operations.

In the restive southern province of Narathiwat, forest runoff from the Sankalakhiri mountain range from continued heavy rain overflowed the Sungai Kolok and Bang Nara rivers.

Six low-lying and riverside communities in Sungai Kolok municipality were inundated.

One hundred twenty households were affected, forcing 137 persons to evacuate to temporary shelters.

Heavy downpours also triggered floods in three other districts - Wang, Rangae and Ruso.

The weather agency reported today that the strong northeast monsoon across the Gulf of Thailand and the South and the low pressure area over the Malaysian coast will lead to isolated heavy to very heavy rain over Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Trang and Satun.

People should beware of the severe weather. Strong winds will produce 2-3 metre waves in the Gulf. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats in the Gulf of Thailand from Nakhon Si Thammarat southward should keep ashore. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-12-06

Floods intensify in southern region

BANGKOK, 6 December 2013 (NNT) - Floods in Thailand’s South have intensified with heavy rains lashing towns and water levels rising.

Forecasts from the Meteorological Department indicated that the northeast monsoon continues to rage, bringing torrential rains to provinces on the east coast of the South which include Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The department advised that all shipping should proceed with caution due to rising tides at this time.

Several cargo ships and fishing boats have reportedly been caught in rough winds and had to be docked near smaller islands off the coast of Songkhla as a temporary shelter. They are to maneuver back to the shore once the winds have died down.

Continuous heavy rains have also submerged five districts of Songkhla and rendered roads impassable to small vehicles. Water has been flowing down from nearby mountain ranges to Mueang district and affected approximately 16,500 households.

Agricultural lands in Phatthalung have been damaged by forest runoff which sent residents fleeing to higher ground. The local disaster prevention unit warned that another wave of floods is expected during the next few days and residents living in low-lying areas are advised to closely follow weather updates.


-- NNT 2013-12-06

Thaksin....anybody?????