THE Meteorological Department on Sunday announced heavy to very heavy rains in all southern provinces from Chumporn downward which include Surat Thani, Koh Samui, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ranong, Pha-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun on Sunday and Monday, Thai PBS said.
It also warned sailors and fishermen of choppy sea and strong winds in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea today until Monday as a direct result of strong low pressure area which is moving slowly in northwestern direction compounded with strong northeastern monsoon which is covering the Gulf and the southern region.
Meanwhile two villagers were believed to be drowned after they were swept away by strong currents from flash flood as they separately went fishing in Phatthalung province.
The first victim, a 47-year male, went fishing in a stream in Tambon Nanod in Muang district and the second, a 67-year old woman, was reported to have gone missing as she went fishing in Khao Chaison district. The identities of both victims were not known at press time.
It was also reported that flash flood started to hit the municipal area of Muang district at about 3 a.m. on Sunday and, hours later, put the whole area under water measured at between 30-50 centimeters.
Municipal workers tried desperately to drain water out of the township, but it appeared that the effort was futile as more rains kept lashing.
Officials of the district hospital have sought help from the municipal administration as flash flood inundated its compound. However, the hospital still remains operational as normal.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, the provincial administration was in the process of declaring seven of the nine districts struck by flash flood since Saturday disaster zones. Three people were reported to have died from flood-related incidents, Thai PBS added.
Several roads in the municipal area of Muang district have become impassable for small vehicles as the level of floodwater is steadily rising as rains keep pounding the province unabatedly.
On Saturday, Chatchai Promlert, director-general of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, issued an urgent directive to all public disaster prevention centers to watch out for landslides and flash floods in ten southern provinces and to be on standby to rush rescue and relief teams and materials to areas where they are needed.
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Top: Map shows the strong low pressure system and northeastern monsoon over southern Thailand . Photo: Thai PBS
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