Flash floods and runoff, triggered by storm Doksuri, swept through many northern and northeastern provinces on Friday night and Saturday morning, causing widespread damage to houses, public utilities and farmland.
In Nakhon Phanom, strong winds knocked down almost 30 high-voltage poles and many roadside trees in Muang district on Friday night, causing blackouts in several communities.
Hours of heavy downpours caused flooding in the municipality on Saturday morning, as workers raced against time to pump out water into the Mekong River.
The Nakhon Phanom meteorological station warned residents living along the Mekong and in other low-lying areas to brace for strong winds that may uproot trees that could fall on their houses.
So far, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths in the northeastern province.
Several power poles and big trees in Nakhon Phanom were uprooted by strong winds and heavy downpours. (Pattanapong Sripiachai)
In neighbouring Sakon Nakhon, several areas of Muang district were flooded. Provincial governor Witthaya Chanchalong said pumps were draining water into Nong Han, the country’s second largest freshwater lake.
In Chaiyaphum, forest runoff from the Phu Laen Kha mountain range flooded many agricultural areas and communities in the northeastern province.
In Muang district, more than 50 households at Na Fai village were inundated by huge volumes of water from the mountain range. Roads were under 70 centimetres of water, and were impassable for small vehicles.
Runoff from the Phu Laen Kha mountain range in Chaiyaphum is inundating many areas in the northeastern province. (Makkhawan Wannakul)
In Kalasin, runoff caused flooding in Somdet and Huai Phung districts. The Kalasin-Somdet Road, the main road in the northeastern province, was under 1-2 metres of floodwater and impassable.
In Phitsanulok, heavy downpours from 1-6am on Saturday caused flooding in many communities. Several main roads in Muang district were under 40cm of water.
Ban Nam Pad School in Noen Maprang district was badly hit by the flooding, for the ninth time this year, said school director Ket Tuankhrue.
The overflowing Nam Pad canal sent a large volume of water into the school at 4am on Saturday and the water level kept rising. Water in the compound is now 2m deep.
In Phichit, flooding triggered by continuous heavy rain lashed several areas. Many houses, schools, government offices and farm properties in the northern province were inundated. Damage is still being estimated.
Flooding brought by storm Doksuri hits Muang district of Phichit. (Sitthipoj Kebui)
In Lampang, residents were asked to brace for forest runoff as rains have pounded all 13 districts since Friday night.
In Uttaradit, heavy downpours triggered flooding in two districts, affecting many households. Residents of about 30 households at Moo 1 in tambon Nam Khrai in Nam Pat district rushed to evacuate their belongings on Saturday as floods hit the village.
Flooding also hit Ban Wang Takhian village in Thong Saen Khan district, affecting more than 60 households. The main road in the community was under 50cm of water.
The Meteorological Department on Saturday warned residents in the North, Northeast, East, South and the Central Plains, including Bangkok and vicinity to brace for severe weather conditions and possible flash floods.
In its 14th weather warning, the department said tropical depression Doksuri, which earlier pounded Vietnam, was now centred over Nan province. Widespread rains were expected much of the North and the Northeast.
Meanwhile, the strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand will bring heavy downpours to the Central Plains, the East and South, said the department. Many parts of Phuket are already flooded.
The areas to be affected include 14 provinces in the North (Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Lamphun, Lampang, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak and Phetchabun); 11 provinces in the Northeast (Loei, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin and Nakhon Ratchasima); 11 in the Central Plains (Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ang Thong, Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, Bangkok and its vicinity); all 7 provinces in the East (Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat) and 11 provinces in the South (Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun).
Rescue workers rush to a flood-affected area in Uttaradit on Saturday morning. (Sitthipoj Kebui)
Flooding in Phitsanulok. (Shinnawat Singha)