Flood-warning sirens will be installed at Trang's Sairung and Prai Sawan falls, following the tragedy on Saturday.

The death toll remained at 37, while searches continued yesterday for missing tourist Yuwada Choosrirak at Prai Sawan.

National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department deputy director-general Preecha Chansiritanont and related officials flew in a helicopter over the Banthad range to inspect the waterfalls in Yan Ta Khao district.

Preecha said there were many rock piles in those areas and, if there was heavy rainfall, the rocks might roll down the waterfalls and injure people. He has therefore instructed officials to monitor them.

He admitted the department was short of staff when considering the vast area under its supervision, but said technology such as hand-operated sirens would be installed at the two waterfalls, as electrical power was not yet available.

Trang Governor Anont Manaswanich said yesterday that related agencies had agreed on two issues in urgent need of solution.

Firstly, there must be watchtowers with loudspeakers and sirens at the falls. Second, the local tambon administration group should participate more as volunteers - alongside forestry officials - in taking care of the waterfalls and visitors.

Anont conceded there were conflicts between forestry officials and an organisation established by villagers to take care of forest land.

He urged all sides to take the tragedy as a lesson, stop their infighting and work together instead.

The drama on Saturday has had a ripple effect at other Thai waterfalls, with many people fearful to visit.

Prawatsat Janthornthep, senior official at the Khao Yai National Park - which has more than 100 falls - said yesterday that forestry officials and flood-warning systems were in place to watch the falls from morning until 5pm to warn visitors in the event of heavy rain or flash-floods. He also revealed that risky spots that could be hit by flash-flooding were towards the end of the Nangrong and Sarika waterfalls.

Pratwatsat insisted Khao Yai was less likely to have flash-floods, despite rainfall some afternoons, because the trees absorbed the water and thus downpours were less likely to cause flooding.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau warned five southern provinces on the Andaman coast about possible flash-floods. Heavy downpours were forecast for many areas in the lower South, and residents of Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun were told to brace for flash-floods.

In Satun, Governor Kwanchai Wongnitikorn ordered officials to inspect all waterfalls in Khuan Don, Khuan Ka Long and Langu districts as well as Ma Nang sub-district to check their safety.

He also warned tourists who planned to camp there to erect tents on high and safe ground rather than near water.

The Nation

TRANG