Southern provinces remain inundated

June 9, 2012

RANONG, June 9 - Thailand's southern provinces remain under floodwater due to continued heavy downpour, with residents in some high risk areas advised to evacuate due to possible landslides.

In Ranong, the road connecting La-un and Thung Tako districts was cut off after heavy rains overnight. The road was an important route for transporting agricultural produce and facilitating about one thousand commuters each day.

Landslides were also possible in several locations if heavy rains continued.

In Surat Thani, three villages in Phrasaeng district were inundated, with five hundreds houses under 1-3 metres of floodwaters.

Some 70 families were evacuated to safe areas during the night, but a number of villagers were still stranded there.

The Surat Thani Provincial Administration Organisation conducted rescue operation to evacuate the stranded residents out of the villages but the mission struggled due to torrential floodwaters.

People living along Sok and Poomduang canals were also ordered to leave their homes to stay at temporary shelters provided by local agencies, as canal waters spilled over banks due to forest run-off.

However, in Trang province, the flood situation in six districts began to ease and was expected to return to normal within a couple days if there was no additional rain.

Floodwater remained in only six low-land sub-districts of the provincial seat in areas connected to the Trang river.

Meanwhile, the Chiang Mai provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office on Saturday issued a warning to 25 districts, especially 243 high-risk villages in 19 districts.

The office announced the northern meteorological centre forecasted that heavy rains were expected in 1-2 days, covering 80 percent of the region.

People living along foothills and near waterways were advised to beware of landslides and forest run-off. (MCOT online news)

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