Four southern provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla provinces are facing flooding, after they were lashed by very heavy rain in the past few days, induced by a cold front.
In Surat Thani province, the districts of Tha Chana, Tha Chang, Vibhavadi, Don Sak, Kanchanadit, Khirirat Nikhom and Phun Phin have been declared public disaster zones. Over 6,500 households in 227 villages have been affected.
The worst affected is Chaiya district, which is a natural water catchment area before the water from the other districts drains into the sea. Several schools are closed as water levels in the town range from 30-50cm in most areas and about a metre deep in places.
Local officials, police and troops were mobilised yesterday to help flood victims. Lunch boxes and bottled drinking water have been distributed to those who are unable to cook themselves or to buy food.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat province, sand bags were installed around the Maharaj Hospital yesterday. Several seriously ill patients at the Phra Phrom Hospital have been evacuated to nearby hospitals or a field hospital.
Rail tracks in Ron Phibun sub-district are submerged or have been damaged by flooding, forcing some southern services to be suspended. Many trains are stopping at the Thung Song train terminal, because they cannot proceed further. Passengers who want to travel beyond Thung Song are being transferred to buses, which will take them to the next open station.
In Songkhla province, the provincial public disaster prevention and mitigation office reported that 11 districts are partially submerged, as heavy rain hit the province throughout yesterday. More rain is forecast from today until Sunday and the public is advised to brace for possible flooding.
In the central province of Ayutthaya, 12 districts are still under water, affecting more than 64,000 households, even though the Royal Irrigation Department has steadily reduced the rate of discharge through the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province to 2,637m3/s, from a peak of over 2,900m3/s. The death toll from the flooding is currently 20.
The worst affected districts are Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Muang, Bang Pa-in, Bang Saai, Ban Phraek, Bua Luang, Maharaj and Nakhon Luang.
