Flood situation in South remains worrying as more rains are expected

Flood situation in South remains worrying as more rains are expected



BANGKOK: -- Heavy downpours pounded Thailand’s southern region over the weekend, leaving many provinces flooded.

Flood situations remained worrying in many communities yesterday and today with some areas were still submerged under 2-meters of water.

In Trang province, many villages were cut off after flash flood from the Khao Banthan mountain range and flood water from the nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat province swept through the province Sundaynight.

Soldiers were despatched in flat-bottomed boat to rescue stranded villagers in their homes.

A mother and her daughter stranded in their hous in Trang province’s Huai Yot district were rescued through using a rope tied to the boat and pulled it along a tree line to prevent the strong current from washing away the boat as they waded through deep flood water. Both were rescued safely to the mainland.

The flash flood also hit Muang and Na Yong districts, leaving many houses, farmlands and streets inundated.

Flood levels in some areas were as high as 2 meters. Villagers had to move themselves and their valuables to upper floor. Some decided to wade through deep floodwater to ask for helps.

Soldiers were, meanwhile, dispatched on flat-bottomed boats to distribute food and water to the flood victims. Trapped in upper floor of their house, they had to use ropes to pull up the relief supply from the boat.

Heavy downpour Sunday also caused an irrigation dam in Phathalung province’s Si Banphot district to overflow and flood local streets. A 200-meters section of a local street remained submerged by floodwater this morning while several roads also reportedly suffered damages from the strong flood current.

In Sin Pun sub-district of Krabi province’s Khao Phanom district, a local river overflowed its banks to inundate riverside houses. Flood level in some areas was as high as 1 meter. Local villagers had to make their own rafts to buy food and water to feed their family.

Heavy downpour in Nakhon Si Thammarat province also caused rock slide in Thung Song district.

Three huge rocks, each weighing 40 tons, slid down blockinga village road in Thung Song. However nobody was injured.

Meanwhile floods in low-lying ateas in Nakhon Si Thammarat began to recede today but soldiers were still dispatched to inspect damages caused by the flooding and distribute assistance to the victims. Seven districts were declared disaster areas affected by flood to accelerate relief operations.

But local authorities cautioned villagers of new round of heavy downpour tomorrow due to the strengthened monsoon

Strong waves also washed ashore 10 tones of shellfish in Pak Panang district’s Khanap Nak sub-district.

The incident prompted local villagers to rush to the beach and collect those alive for sales.

Seven flood-affected districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat province have been declared disaster areas.

They arePhipun, Chang Klang, Chawang, Lan Saka, Pak Phanang, Phra Phrom and Muang districts.

More than 14,000 people or 5,000 households in 140 villages have been affected by the disaster.

Urgent assistance is being given to them following the emergency declaration. Moreover, extensive damages have been incurred on homes, roads, bridges, temples, schools and farmland. Damage assessment is still underway in some areas.

However, the overall situation has improved markedly, with inundation remaining only in some spots. If there is no more rainfall during the next couple of days, normalcy is expected to return to the province soon.

As heavy downpour eased today, Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda instructed the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to inspect damage caused by floods in the southern region and to speed up rehabilitation operations in flood-hit areas. He also warned people in risk areas of possible flash flood and landslide.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/flood-situation-south-remains-worrying-rains-expected/


-- Thai PBS 2014-11-11