PHETCHABUN, June 2 – One villager drowned Thursday as heavy rains throughout the night triggered forest runoff in this lower northern Thai province, while portions of the southern province of Phangnga were under water as the rains continued.
Forest runoff from heavy rain hit Phetchabun’s Wichian Buri and Nong Phai districts Thursday. Torrential waterflows swept a bus and a pickup truck from a main highway, but no casualties have been reported. Both vehicles were packed with passengers.
Floodwaters also damaged a bridge, cutting of traffic in the area, while one house was damaged. Householder Samruay Thong-on was killed as the flood hit swept through his home while he was sleeping and failed to escape.
His body was found one kilometre from his home.
In Phangnga, the southern province which earlier was severely hit by floods, two days of consecutive rain caused flooding in several areas, as a result of southwest monsoon.
The provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office warned residents in lowlands and along rivers and waterways to be aware of the possibility of landslides, while small boats are advised to keep ashore due to strong wind and possible 2-3 metre high waves. (MCOT online news)
