Supporters of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra hold red roses while waiting at the office of the Assets Examination Committee yesterday to give moral support to Thaksin’s son, Panthongtae, during his testimony about the controversial tax-free sal

People in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Talum-puk Cape are now living in fear that seawater will rise and swallow their homes.

Laem Talumpuk's kamnan Prayuth Thanawattana said yesterday that the sea had already flooded some houses - and reached the doorsteps of many others.

"Local people do receive relief items but the utmost need now is evacuation. We are already in a crisis," he said.

Resident Preecha Buato said the sea was now right next to his house despite the fact that it used to be about 50 metres away. "The sea is threatening to bring down my house if we do not relocate in time."

Prayuth said local people planned to demand a solution from the provincial governor next week.

"If we don't receive any concrete solution, we may need to settle in a forest-reserve area," he said.

Down in Songkhla, an official disclosed that more than 1,500 families had been suffering from storms stirred up by a monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand.

"The monsoon has caused rough weather, heavy downpours and floods," the official said.

On Tuesday, the weather bureau warned all southern provinces along the Gulf, from Chumphon down, to beware of high waves.

Chumphon Governor Pinai Anantapong has already issued an order banning all boats from going out to the sea until strong winds in the Gulf weaken.

"All six districts along the coastline have also been warned to brace for possible lashing by high waves," Pinai said, adding that officials with relevant equipment were now on standby around the clock to ensure that people receive immediate help should an emergency arise.

Anond Snidvongs, director of Southeast Asia START Regional Centre, said the current weather was rather strange.

However, he believed Thailand would face the El Nino weather phenomenon this year.

"As a result of El Nino, rainfall will be reduced by 20 per cent. Drought and heat can be expected until March in the North, Northeast and the Central region," he said.

Somsak Netirangsiwatchara, who heads the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department's forest protection plan division, said recent inspections of forests showed that fallen leaves and branches had increased by at least 60 per cent.

"This reflects the higher level of dryness. These materials can fuel forest fires," he said. From October till now, 41 forest fires took place in seven provinces across the country.

However, Somsak said authorities were now prepared to cope with forest fires and should be able to keep things under control.

"We have drawn a map to identify the level of risks in each zone. We have also asked local authorities to announce risky areas as fire-control zones. Teams will be set up and ready to extinguish fires when needed," Somsak said.

He called on people to phone the 1362 hotline in the event of forest fires.