The first 26 vulnerable people in Muang district of Nan province have been evacuated to a temporary shelter, as the government maps out evacuation and other contingency plans to cope with flooding from the swollen Nan River, which is threatening to inundate areas in Muang and Wiang Sa districts.
A total of 12 sub-districts in Pua district, which is located upstream of Muang and Wiang Sa districts, were hit by flash floods, overflows and mudslides on Wednesday and have been declared emergency disaster zones by the Nan provincial administration.
Deputy Prime Minister and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, Agriculture Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth and Teerapat Kachamat, director general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) were in Nan last night to monitor and assess the situation.
After an emergency meeting last night, Yodchanan told the media that the level in the Nan River was expected to peak between midnight and 2am this morning and advised people living in areas at risk in Muang district to evacuate to pre-arranged temporary shelters.
People in Wiang Sa district are being warned of possible overflows from the Nan River this morning at about 9am and to be prepared for evacuation.
They have also been advised to store up food, drinking water, medicines and other necessary items as a precaution.
People in Nan province have also been advised to stay informed of the flood situation and to follow the advice of the officials. In case of emergency, they can contact the 1784 hotline around the clock.
Public Health Permanent Secretary Somlerk Jeungsmarn said Wednesday that the hospital in Pua district had to readmit some previously discharged patients because they could not return to their homes due to flooding, which has cut the road from Pua further north to Chiang Klang, Wiang Sa and Thung Chang districts. Some hospital staff were also stranded at the hospital.
A sand-bagged floodwall has been constructed to protect the Pua Hospital from flooding today, when the level of the Nan river is expected to peak. Several temporary evacuation shelters have been set up in the district.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department, on late yesterday afternoon, issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall into today in the northern and northeastern regions, which may result in watercourse overflows, particularly at mountain bases and in low-lying areas.
