Flood-hit areas declared disaster zones

Districts in five provinces affected

Flood-affected districts in Narathiwat, Satun, Trang, Songkhla and Phatthalung were yesterday declared disaster zones as the South was hit by torrential rain.

In the province of Songkhla, inundation led to the suspension of train services to the southernmost provinces and beyond.

Following four days of torrential rain and rising flood levels that were expected to increasingly affect residents, Narathiwat Governor Thanon Vejkornkanon yesterday declared all 13 districts in the province as disaster zones.

Narathiwat Disaster Prevention and Mitigation chief Khetha Khekarat said the floods had affected 10,264 families in 193 villages and damaged at least 5,000 rai of farmland.

Meanwhile, local officials and villagers managed to dig out four bodies from under thick mud. The four were members of a family of eight who had gone missing after Friday's landslide in Sri Sakhon district.

Songkhla yesterday declared Chana district as a flood disaster zone, following the Friday declaration of Saba Yoi, Na Thawi, Thepha, Hat Yai, Muang, Khlong Hoi Khong, and Rattaphum districts. The Songkhla Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office reported that flooding had occurred in 11 out of its 16 districts and affected 41,004 residents, damaged 10 houses, 3,450 rai of farmland, 70 roads and 18 bridges. The initial estimate of damage was about Bt3.68 million.

Train services from Hat Yai to Sungai Kolok in Narathiwat were paralysed yesterday as a 600-metre section of the track between Chana and Wat Kuan Meed stations was under deep water. All southern trains were therefore stopped at Hat Yai. The State Railway of Thailand could not confirm if the services would be resumed today pending further development of flood situation and railway damage assessment.

Trang province's Rassada, Wang Wiset, Palian and Na Yong districts were also declared flood disaster zones.

The Banthat Mountain Range Wildlife Reserve indefinitely closed six waterfalls after the heavy rains continued and the water level was rising with reddish muddy appearance.

The Sairung, Prai Sawan, Kachong, Ton Te, Ton Tok and Lam Plok falls will remain closed until further notice or after the rains have stopped for more than seven consecutive days.

Meanwhile, the Special Task Force Unit 11 in Yala yesterday dispatched three UNIMOG military vehicles and two flat-bottom boats to help those affected by the flooding.residents to travel through the flooded Yala-Ban Niang Road and Tha Sab-Lam Mai Road. Since Yala's all eight districts suffered from flooding, local administrations set up centres to tackle flooding, landslide and storms to assess the damages and assist the affected residents.

The Thai Meteorological Department warned provinces from Surat Thani southwards of heavy rains and possible flash floods in the next couple of days.

Downpours continued in Surat Thani's Tha Chana and Chaiya districts, while a massive inflow of seawater flooded beachside villages and roads.

The night-time island-hopping ferries from Nakhon Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao piers suspended their services.

In related news, the central province of Samut Prakan was yesterday hit by flooding triggered by a second round of massive inflows of seawater, following a similar incident two days earlier. The Sukhumvit Road towards Muang Samut Prakan and Pak Nam Market was under 80cm-deep floodwater, causing traffic jams.