The southern weather bureau has warned five provinces that they will receive heavy rainfalls until Wednesday which could worsen floods in the border region.
Sungai Kolok district in Narathiwat province remains under flood from Kolok River overflow. (Photo by Waedao Harai)
People in Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat should brace for rain and should stay alert for flash floods and mudslides in some areas, it said in the latest warning issued on Sunday.
One of the worst flooded provinces is Narathiwat where all 13 districts have been put on the list of disaster zones following downpours over about a week. A hard hit district was Sungai Kolok bordering Malaysia.
Mahamapesakree Wamae, chief of the disaster prevention and mitigation office in Narathiwat, was concerned that more rainfall could exacerbate the situation in the province. Officials were on standby, he added.
Manee Uttarak, director of the weather bureau in the province, pointed to Waeng, Sukhirin and Srisakhon districts as risk areas due to chances for flash floods and water runoff from the Sankalakhiri mountain range.
Floods were reported in most areas in Pattani and Yala, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said.