North, South Residents Fleeing Floods

[Jai Dee]

North, South residents fleeing floods

A policeman rescues stranded Naresuan University students in Phitsanulok after heavy rain flooded the college yesterday.

Continuous rainfall since Monday night has caused flash floods and rivers to overflow inundating residential homes in many northern and southern provinces.

In Chiang Mai's Mae Chaem district, floodwaters poured into the Mae Chaem River causing it to overflow and inundate 240 homes under 60-centimetres of water yesterday, said deputy district chief Boonkeua Kunatharakul.

Expecting more floodwater later yesterday local authorities were hurrying to prepare residents for evacuation, he said.

In Lampang, floodwaters from Phrae's Wiang Ko Sai National Park caused the Mae Pong and Mae Pa streams to rise and submerge 1,500 homes in Tambon Mae Pa, Thoen district, under a metre of water at 4am yesterday. Village headmen quickly sounded the alarm via the community radio system and roused the sleeping neighbourhood to move their belongings above the water in time.

In Phitsanulok, continuous downpours throughout yesterday morning submerged Muang district's major roads, while students living in dormitories behind Naresuan University were unable to reach their classes as the area was covered by a metre of water.

Ten schools in Bang Rakam district were closed indefinitely.

In the southern province of Surat Thani, forest run-offs deluged Ban Klong Neu in Wiang Sa district late on Monday night, destroying six homes and partially damaging 30, while some 200 villagers fled for their lives to higher ground.

Source: The Nation - 13 September 2006