Critical flooding reported in Thai South with one more killed

BANGKOK, November 25 (TNA) - Critical flooding was reported on Friday in Thailand's southern Phatthalung Province, with a villager killed by drowning. Forceful flood flows from Baan Bang Muang Canal have hit low-lying Falamee locality in Phattalung's Pak Phayun District, forcing local villagers to have moved their belongings to safe grounds; while people in Phattalung's Muang, Bang Kaeo, Khao Chaison and Khuan Khanoon Districts have been facing rising floodwater. Runoffs from the Bantad Mount have also hit communities, rubber plantations and paddy fields in Kongra, Sri Banpot, Sri Nagarindra and Tamod Districts for the second round lately. A northbound section of the Asian Highway, from Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province to Phatthalung, has also been inundated for a distance of about 700 metres, causing a vehicle to have accidentally slid off and sunk into a deeply-flooded roadside and rescue workers to have taken longer than three hours to salvage it, although the driver and passengers narrowly escaped death. One villager also reported drowned there. In Surat Thani Province, strong winds and waves have forced ferries plying between Don Sak District and Samui Island and tour boats to the Ang Thong Islands to have temporarily suspended their services, as people in the province and other areas in the Thai South have been warned of widespread downpours, with heavy rainfall, strong winds and high waves in some parts, from November 24-26. Meanwhile, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Surawit Khonsomboon said that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has expressed concerns over flood victims in the Thai South and has assigned her deputies, Yongyuth Wichaidit, who is also Interior Minister, and Police General Kowit Wattana, to supervise relief operations for southern people. (TNA)