BANGKOK, 1 August 2012 – The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has warned residents living near shorelines and in flood-prone areas of high waves and heavy rains later this week into the weekend.
DDPM Director-General Wibul Sanguanpong said that according to the Meteorological Department, a monsoon trough covering Myanmar, Laos and the upper part of Vietnam, combined with a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand, is expected to bring widespread thundershowers to the northern part of the country.
Strong winds can generate 2 to 3-meter-high waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. All ships should proceed with caution and small boats should be kept ashore until August 3.
The DDPM has instructed local disaster prevention offices to closely monitor the situation over the next 4-5 days and to keep residents living near shorelines and in other risky areas on alert for potential dangers.
In the meantime, Typhoon Saola is now approaching Taiwan and eastern China after it killed eight people in the Philippines. The typhoon, however, is unlikely to cause major impact on Thailand.
