Many areas in the South hit by severe flooding

Many areas in the South hit by severe flooding
The Nation

Several children make their way through a flooded road in Phatthalung

BANGKOK: -- Several provinces in the South were hit by severe flooding yesterday, affecting the lives of many locals and ravaging vast areas of farmland.

Five tambon of Phatthalung's Khuan Khanun district were inundated after several days of heavy downpours, with some 500 families struggling with the deluge as of press time. Several local schools were also closed yesterday in the face of rising water, as high as 80 centimetres in some spots. Many locals also reported that their rubber plantations were swamped.

In Muang Phatthalung district, 70 houses were inundated and so were many roads. As flood levels climbed higher, several routes became impassable for small vehicles.

In Songkhla province, many residents have been struggling with flooding for about a week, while in Narathiwat, three communities have been under 30-40cm of water. Nakhon Si Thammarat province is also badly flooded.

Surat Thani Governor Chatpong Chatphut said he had instructed relevant authorities to monitor the situation closely and issue early warnings if the province is going to be struck by floods. The director of Surat Thani 's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Thanakorn Trabanphuk, said heavy rain would likely continue in the province.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Many-areas-in-the-South-hit-by-severe-flooding-30248319.html

-- The Nation 2014-11-22