Southern Thailand hit by runoffs, landslides

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, January 2 (TNA) - Heavy downpours in the past three consecutive days have caused several landslides and flooding in southern Thailand. In Nakhon Si Thammarat province, localised flooding had affected Phipun district while bridges nearby Nopphitam district were also damaged. Many people in Sichon district had left their homes after water overflowed the banks of a local canal. The villagers had decided to abandon their homes on fears of landslides like the one they encountered last March. Some 500 people in at least three districts of Narathiwat province bordering Malaysia had also been suffering after runoffs from Sankalakhiri mountain overflowed Golok River. However, floods inundating main roads in four districts of Sungai Padi, Cho-airong, Ruso and Bacho were receding. In the resort province of Krabi, nearly 20 long-tailed boats providing tourist services capsized while they were anchored at Ao Nang due to high waves in the Andaman Sea. The incident occurred at about 2.00 a.m. local time. Their owners were able to take off the engines only later and had to wait for salvaging when the strong winds and high waves calm down. Damages inflicted on the capsized boats were initially estimated at one million baht. (TNA)