25 provinces on high alert

Khao Yai National Park in Prachin Buri yesterday stopped people from going to waterfalls or forest trekking for fear of landslides triggered by downpours.

Park chief Narong Mahannop said heavy rains and flooding in much of the park had forced it to issue the warning.

Meanwhile, Ayutthaya declared all districts flood risks as water in the Rama VI Dam continued to rise.

In Ban Mor, Saraburi, a girl is missing, while two boys were rescued from torrents in a canal.

In Wang Thong, Phitsanulok, 100 millimetres of rain flooded buildings, including a women's prison.

Residents of Noen Maprang evacuated to a local temple, fearing a recurrence of 2007 flooding.

Heavy downpours in Lop Buri caused floods that affected 23,500 families in Muang, Khok Charoen, Chai Badan, Nong Muang, Ban Mi

and Sa Bot districts. They have been declared disaster zones.

Some 3,000 houses in Ban Mi were submerged. Irrigation workers have delivered 20 pumps to help drain floodwaters.

The floods might also force Muang district schools to close tomorrow.

Forest floods from the Khao Khor range hit some 200 homes in Phetchabun's Muang district. A 700-metre stretch of Highway 21 was

impassable.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, residents of some 200 flood-hit homes in Muang district were still waiting for food and drinking water.

The Loei River is about to break its banks and riverside villages are on 24-hour alert.

The Meteorological Department warned of more rains and flooding in the next two days over most of the country.

It said Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Loei, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Sara Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat were at particular risk.