BANGKOK, 12 October 2011 – The Emergency Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide has cautioned residents of six southern provinces on the Andaman Coast of heavy downpours and possible mudslides.
Mr Viboon Sanguanpong, Director-General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Deputy Director of the Emergency Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide, indicated that a powerful monsoon trough was moving past the Lower Central Plains, the East and the Upper South of Thailand while the southwest monsoon was strengthening in the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand.
The occurrence is believed to be causing torrential rains in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces during this period. Local residents are urged to be on alert for overflows of canals as well as flashfloods and mudslides after the amount of rainfall has exceeded 100 millimeters. Any unusual signs in nature should be heeded.
At present, 26 provinces remain troubled by flooding. Over 2.23 million people have been affected; 281 of whom have died while two others are missing.
