Flash floods and forest runoff ravaged several districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung provinces on Sunday.
A man wades through water in Sichon district. Floods and runoff have swept through several districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung. (Photo by Nucharee Rakrun)
Runoff from Khao Luang mountain, triggered by hours of heavy downpours, inundated many communities and farmland in Sichon district of Nakhon Si Thammarat, particularly in tambon Saopao and tambon Thepparat.
Maj Prasert Saithongtae, commander of a military unit at Sichon special warfare camp, on Sunday led soldiers to help flood-affected residents to move their belongings to higher ground.
Floods also hit Nop Phi Tham, Phrommakhiri and Tha Sala districts in this southern province.
Army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathon said the Fourth Army Region on Sunday deployed soldiers to several areas in Nop Phi Tham and Phormmakhiri to help evacuate residents to safer areas.
In Phatthalung, runoff from the Bantad mountain range, caused by overnight heavy rains, flooded many houses and farmland in tambon Chumpon, tambon Ang Thong and tambon Ban Na in Si Nakharin district. Floodwater rose to 50cm in several areas. As currents grew increasingly stronger, villagers hastily moved their belongings to higher ground.
Several sections of Phetkasem Road between Phatthalung and Trang were 30-40cm under floodwater.
Provincial authorities on Sunday ordered local residents living in low-lying areas to move their belongings to higher ground as forest runoff continued flowing into this southern province.
Soldiers and local residents watch floodwater rise in Sichon district. (Photo by Nucharee Rakrun)
Meanwhile, the Southern Meteorological Centre in Songkhla issued a warning on Sunday that a strong high pressure system from China was approaching to cover the upper part of the country. This would cause heavy to heaviest rains in the South’s eastern coastline from Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani and Yala to Narathiwat.
The department told residents living in risk areas to brace for the downpours. Waves in the Gulf of Thailand are expected to be as high as 4 metres and fishermen were warned to be cautious. Small fishing vessels are advised to stay on shore between Sunday and Tuesday.