Flood worries

In 2004, serious flooding gravely hurt Hat Yai residents and their commercial town.

"People are now worried again," Hat Yai Municipality mayor Prai Pattano said yesterday, "We have now opened a hot line to give people up-to-date information round the clock. They just need to dial 1559".

Prai said news-distribution points are also set up in 47 local communities so that people have time to brace for flooding, if any arises.

Prai said relevant officials were now monitoring water level U-Tapao canal 24 hours a day. This canal is a major waterway running through the Hat Yai district.

"We also fly flags along the canal. Green flags are flying today, which means the water level is normal," he pointed out, "But if you see red flags, you must realise that floods are going to hit in the next six - 30 hours".

If a siren sounds, Prai said locals must brace for flash floods that would hit in the next three to six hours.

Currently, inundation has already upset the lives of more than 50,000 people in the South. In Surat Thani alone, floods have killed two victims and caused Bt48.2million damages.

Yala, Narathiwat and Phatthalung have also been flooded.

"We have already declared seven districts in Phatthalung as disaster-hit zones," Phatthalung disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief So Hemkul said.

These districts are Muang Phatthalung, Si Banphot, Khuan Khanun, Pa Phayom, Srinagarindra, Kong Ra and Pak Phayun.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau in the South has forecast more downpours for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.