NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, Nov 23 –– The flood situation in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat worsened, as all 23 districts were declared disaster areas from flood.
Jetsada Wattananurak, head of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, said that all 23 districts of the provinces were severely affected by the flood and declared disaster zones.
The cost of damages could not be evaluated at the moment but around 150,000 people or 35,000 households in 85 subdistricts were affected by the flood.
The most worrisome districts were Nopphitam and Sichon because they were forested areas and the continuous rain has caused landslides at many locations. The flood has also cut bridges and roads.
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced a temporarily halt to southbound rail services as the track was under 20 cm high water due to heavy rain.
The track between Laem Tanod, Ban Khon Hat, Chong Khao, Ron Phibun has flooded so that the SRT has canceled two train services: Bangkok – Sungai Kolok and Bangkok – Yala. The other train services to Hat Yai, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat stations have to stop at Tung Song Junction.
The Meteorological Department has issued weather advisory which stated that an active low pressure cell over the Andaman Sea is moving westward, far from the southwest coast. Decreasing rain is expected over the South but isolated heavy to very heavy rain remains in some areas.
Residents in provinces including Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun should be aware of heavy to very heavy rain on Saturday.
The wind and waves in the Gulf of Thailand will weaken as waves would be about 2 meters high, while waves in the Andaman Sea were still 2-3 meters high. All ship should proceed with caution and small boats in the Andaman Sea keep ashore during Saturday and Sunday.
