Flash floods have wrought havoc in three districts of Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani in the past 24 hours, as the Meteorological Department warned today of more rain, some of it heavy in southern provinces, as a result of a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which is intensifying into cyclone storm.
According to the public disaster prevention and mitigation office in Surat Thani, flash flooding struck three sub-districts in Vibhavadi, Chaiya and Tha Chang districts yesterday, wrecking seven houses and partially damaging 18 more, 25 roads and 18 bridges. One motorcyclist was swept away and went missing.
Motorists have been warned not to try to use the heavily-flooded roads for their own safety.
In its second bulletin, released this morning, the Met Office warned people in the southern provinces to brace for more heavy rain.
They said the cyclone will cause the south-easterly winds, currently blowing over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, to strengthen.
Fishermen and sailors are also warned of rough seas, both in the Gulf and Andaman Sea, and to avoid stormy areas.
Members of the public can keep track of weather conditions by visiting the Met Office’s website http://wwws.tmd.go.th or by calling 0-2399-4012-13 or 1182 around the clock.
