Record Rain Triggers Widespread Flooding in Southern Thailand

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Nov 20 (TNA) - Torrential, non-stop rainfall across Southern Thailand for the past three days has triggered widespread and severe flash flooding, prompting the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to issue a maximum alert until November 23 as the Meteorological Department forecasts continued heavy downpours.

The province of Nakhon Si Thammarat is the hardest hit, with the Ban Nai Thap station recording a critical 24-hour accumulated rainfall of 494 millimeters, a historic high for the area. This record precipitation has caused mass floodwaters to surge from waterfalls and headwaters across multiple districts, forcing large-scale emergency evacuations.

Seven districts are underwater. In the Nakhon Si Thammarat city center and municipal area, water levels have reached one meter in places, forcing the municipality to close all schools for safety and coordinate with the Royal Irrigation Department to use water-propelling machines around the clock to drain the city.

The neighboring province of Songkhla is also severely affected. Overnight, flash floods originating from the Khao Kaew mountain range and waterfalls rapidly surged into the Chalung sub-district of Hat Yai. The speed and force of the water caught residents off guard, causing damage to roads and homes. 

Authorities are on high alert, as accumulated rainfall is expected to persist until November 23, maintaining a high risk of further sudden floods and flash floods across the region. -819 (TNA)