Deep Flooding In Thai South Forces Evacuation Of Villagers

BANGKOK, November 24 (TNA) - Flooding in Su-ngai Kolok District of Thailand's southernmost Narathiwat Province, caused by continual downpours since last weekend, has worsened, as overflows as high as over 1.4 metres from the Su-ngai Kolok River have submerged nearby communities, forcing more than 120 affected villagers to have evacuated to a temporary shelter provided by local officials. Narathiwat's ad-hoc command centre for preventing and resolving problems related to floods, storms and mudslides reported the update Thursday, saying that the 121 flood-evacuees from 21 households in the Hua Saphan Community have been sheltered at a safe municipal school. According to the ad-hoc provincial centre, floodwater from the overflowing Su-ngai Kolok River has also submerged several other communities in Su-ngai Kolok's Pasemas, Munoh and Puyoh Sub-districts and overflows from the Bang Nara River have flooded low-lying areas in two districts, including Muang and Ra-ngae. The ad-hoc centre said that eight communities in the Muang Narathiwat Municipality have also been flooded, following torrential downpours in the areas, prompting municipal workers to have urgently drained out the floodwater; while local officials in Kok Kian locality in Muang District have provided initial assistance to some 100 houses damaged by a strong wind. In Songkhla Province, overflows from some sections of the U-tapao Canal have flooded nearby houses and rubber plantations in Baan Tung Makham of Klong Hoi Khong District, as high as 50-100 metres, forcing local villagers to have now used boats for their transportation instead; while officials concerned have been on high alert to timely cope with the situation. Meanwhile, a southern meteorological centre in Songkhla has warned people in seven Thai provinces, including Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, to beware of widespread scattered downpours and heavy downpours in some areas, with possible flash floods and mudslides in low-lying zones, from November 24-26. (TNA)