Thailand's northern and southern regions flooded

BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) - Floods are affecting not only several communities and farm areas in the Thai South, but also those in the Thai North, as downpours have continued for a week. In the southern Phatthalung Province, water in all local canals originated from the Banthad mountain range has risen by about 50 centimeters and are overflowing to villages and plantations, forcing people living near the waterways to have moved out of their places. In nearby Surat Thani Province, runoffs from the Khao Sok National Park have hit several local areas and is nearly three meters deep in some places, forcing affected villagers to have stayed on roadsides; while landslides and flash floods from the Kaeng Krung National Park are also isolating a village of over 50 households. In adjacent Trang Province, floods have expanded from two to four districts and affected over 200 households, causing local roads impassable and people and pets having left their villages. In the Thai North, the Yom River is overflowing to over 100 houses in Sam Ngam District of Phichit Province, affecting local people in some places who are moving out from their communities, submerged by over one-meter-deep floodwater. In Phrae Province, flash floods have inundated seven villages and cut off many local roads; while landslides have also isolated the villages, as floodwater is over two meters deep in some areas, prompting local schools to have temporarily closed. Floods have also damaged railway tracks in the Huai Rai locality and railway workers are repairing the tracks to resume northern train services in the affected areas as soon as possible. (TNA)