PATTHALUNG, Feb 26 – Heavy rains and runoff from a local mountain range have inundated more than 1,000 homes and other structures in this southern province beginning yesterday, and the weather bureau is warning residents in six provinces in the region to be on alert for flash floods.
Excessive water from the Bantad mountain range abruptly flooded Kongla and Srinagarind districts in Pattalung, 850km south of Bangkok, at around noon yesterday and the water level rapidly increased from 60cm to 80cm.
Commuters were more cautious as they travelled on flooded roads while residents busily moved their belongings to higher ground.
Amporn Noirit, 40, a resident in Angthong sub-district of Srinagarind district, said several consecutive days of rainfall has contributed to the rapid water runoff from nearby forests. Her paddy field, rubber plantation, orchard and vegetable farm have been damaged by floods.
The Songkhla-based Meteorological Centre for the Southeastern Coast issued its fourth warning yesterday on strong winds in the Gulf of Thailand and the lower South.
Together with lower pressure from the Malaysian coast, the southeastern coast of Thailand below Surat Thani province will be showered with rain, the weather bureau said, urging people in flood-risk provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Patthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat to be on alert for heavy rains in the next few days.
Waves in the Gulf of Thailand were 2-3 metres high and small fishing trawlers were advised to stay ashore.
