Heavy downpours on Thursday night caused flash foods in many villages in three districts of Nan province in the North, forcing an evacuation of people from 11 villages of Santisuk district, while a villager was electrocuted in Pua district.
The heavy rain was influenced by tropical storm “Bebinca” which is now covering the upper part of Vietnam and moving slowly in the westerly direction. It is expected to weaken into a depression and reach Laos on Aug 18.
The rain volumes in Pua, Santisuk and Mae Charim district were between 158-200 milimetres. The rainwater caused the Yao stream in Pua district to rise quickly and burst the banks.
The flash floods also prompted an evacuation of people from 11 villages in Santisuk district.
Ban Rong and Ban San villages in Tambon Sathan of Pua district were flooded. The Ban San school was about 50 centimetres under water and the flooding forced it to close on Friday.
At Ban San Tai village, Sanit Netthip, a villager, was electrocuted while moving belongings to high grounds from the rising water.
Col Rattana Pattanasophon, commander of the 32nd Ranger Regiment, dispatched disaster relief teams to help flood-hit villagers in Pua district.
In Santisuk district, the Nan-Santisuk road at Ban Phu Yaeng in Tabon Du Pong and the road to Ban Don Chai in Tambon Pa Laew Luang were inundated and became impassable.
Paisal Wimolrat, the Nan governor, has instructed officials concerned to closely watch the situation and 68 other villages in Pua, Tha Wang Pha and Muang districts have been put on alert for possible flash floods.
