Eight districts, covering 95 villages and 20 communities in Pattani, have been declared disaster zones by the provincial office of public disaster prevention and mitigation today, as Pattani is receiving run-offs from Narathiwat and Yala, which flow into the Sai Buri and Pattani rivers.

More than 25,000 people in Pattani are being affected by flooding. Run-offs from Rue So district in Narathiwat flowed into Sai Buri district of Pattani province late last night, worsening the flooding in an already inundated district.

Overall, flooding Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun is gradually receding, but most areas remain under water today.

According to the Public Health Ministry, one person drowned in Yala and 10 small hospitals in Yala and Narathiwat have been closed. Two emergency health units have been set up in the two provinces, to provide treatment to flood victims and bed-ridden patients.

Medical personnel have been keeping a close watch on waterborne diseases, such as diarrhoea, skin diseases, leptospirosis and athlete’s foot.

Meanwhile, the Government Housing Bank announced measures today to help flood victims in southernmost provinces who are bank customers. The measures include a reduction in monthly instalments by 50%, an interest rate cut to 2% for six months, loans of up to one million baht for house repairs with 2% interest for the first year, 3.6% for the second year and 4.5% for the third, refinancing for 18 months for non-performing loan customers and disabled customers will have the interest rate on their loans cut to 0.01%.

Customers interested in any of these measures can contact the bank until end of next year.