Riverside residents in Yala and Pattani have been warned to brace for further floods as the authorities begin releasing water from Bang Lang Dam.
Deputy Yala governor Sayan Intaraphak called a meeting of officials to discuss disaster relief measures for locals after dam authorities decided to start discharging water yesterday.
Mr Sayan said rainfall between Dec 17 and yesterday increased water levels in the dam to 114.81 metres. The dam can hold water up to a maximum of 115m.
The dam now contains more than 1.44 billion cubic metres of water, or about 99.34% of its capacity, Mr Sayan said. It is important that water be discharged from the dam to ensure its safe operation, he said.
Nimuhammad Nuradin Wae, an engineer at the dam, said officials opened the dam's sluice gates around noon yesterday. The gates will release about 30 million cu m of water daily to protect the dam's structural integrity.
He said discharge from the dam will affect riverside communities on the banks of the Pattani River in Yala and Pattani.
Yala's Bannang Sata, Krong Pinang, and Muang districts are prone to flooding, he said.
The water from the dam is expected to reach Yala municipality about 10am today and enter Pattani tomorrow, Mr Nimuhammad said.
The mayor of Yala municipality, Pongsak Yingchoncharoen, said preparations are under way to assist people and protect economic areas in central Yala from the expected floods.
Locals in flood-prone areas have been warned to brace for the deluge, Mr Pongsak said, adding that officials are reinforcing flood walls and preparing sand bags for distribution.
Pattani governor Weerapong Kaewsuwan said the release of water from the Bang Lang Dam would affect people in Pattani's Muang, Yarang, Nong Chik and Mae Lan districts.
He advised people in low-lying areas on the banks of the Pattani River to evacuate and move their belongings and livestock to safe ground.
Residents in Yala gained temporary relief from the monsoon floods as rain eased off and water levels fell yesterday.
In Yala yesterday, floods covered just two districts, Muang Yala and Raman. Eight districts were earlier affected.
Between Dec 17 and Thursday, flooding and a landslide in Yala killed three people, injured two others and damaged 37 houses, three community hospitals, 27 schools, four mosques and 13,265 rai of farmland, according to the Yala flood relief and prevention centre.
The disaster has affected more than 97,000 people and caused the closure of 40 schools there.
In Pattani, hide tides caused the Pattani River to overflow its banks, inundating streets in the Pattani municipality area yesterday and prompting locals and traders to evacuate. The main road leading to central Pattani was also flooded.
In Surat Thani, torrential rain hit nearly the entire province. People living near areas prone to mudslides were told to evacuate.
Provincial disaster mitigation and prevention officer Thanakorn Trabanpruek said areas in eight districts of Surat Thani are at risk of mudslides. They are Chaiya, Tha Chang, Wiang Sa, Khiri Ratthanikhom, Wipawadi, Kanchanadit, Ban Na San and Ban Ta Khun.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, persistent downpours caused a huge rock to fall from Khao Wang mountain in Ron Phibun district on Thursday evening. No one was injured.
The rock obstructed one lane of a road leading to Ban Khao Wang village. Authorities were bringing in heavy machinery to remove it.
In Narathiwat province, areas by the Sungai Kolok River in Waeng, Tak Bai and Sungai Kolok districts remained flooded yesterday. Authorities in each district brought relief essentials, food and drinking water to those affected.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday visited flood victims in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat.
Before his trip, he said this year's rains were unusually heavy in the South, dumping 1,000 millimetres on the region in only 10 days, compared with the normal 1,500mm per year.
Fourth Army chief Prakan Chonlayuth briefed the prime minister on the flood situation in the far South. Lt Gen Prakan said more than 248,000 people from 85,443 families in 36 districts of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have been affected by the flooding.