Flooding persisted in many communities in two districts of Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Pak Phanang district, with some villages cut off from the outside world.
In Trang, a total of 1,487 households at Village Moo 4 and Village Moo 6 in tambon Bang Rak of Muang district were submerged after two sections of embankment along the Trang River collapsed on Sunday.
Floodwaters rose to 3-4 metres in the two villages, with boats the only mode of transport.
Suranong Kimchiang, kamnan (subdistrict chief) of tambon Bang Rak, said the two villages were already half-flooded before the river embankment collapsed. Following the breach, both villages were completely submerged and cut off from the outside world, said Mr Suranong.
Wirat Rattamanee, 50, one of the affected residents in tambon Bang Rak, said many residents were caught off guard by the rising floodwaters. Vast areas of agricultural land were submerged.
Pisarn Tengchiang, kamnan of tambon Nong Trud in Muang district, said more than 1,000 households in his tambon were affected after the riverbank collapsed in two places. Many residents were evacuated to temporary shelters.
In Kantang district, several communities remained flooded, with water levels ranging from 50cm to 2 metres as water from Muang district flowed through the area on its way to the Andaman Sea. High tides were slowing the drainage.
Residents try to stay dry on the upper floor of their flooded two-storey house in Trang. (Photo by Methee Muangkaew)
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, several communities in Pak Phanang district remained inundated and water drainage was slow as weeds blocked waterways.
Many residents were worried that the slow drainage would cause flood waters to turn putrid and exude foul odours.
In Narathiwat, floodwaters receded in several areas after three days free from rain.
Water levels in three main rivers - Sungai Kolok, Bang Nara and Sai Buri - have fallen and almost returned to normal.
Thirty houses along the Sungai Kolok River remained 20-30cm under water. The flooding situation was expected to ease tomorrow if there was no more rain.
Some 324 residents from eight flood-hit communities in Sungai Kolok who earlier sought refuge at two temporary shelters on Tuesday returned to their houses after floodwaters receded.
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Flood victims in Narathiwat seeking refuge at a temporary shelter pack their belongings to return home as floodwaters recede on Tuesday. (Photo by Waedao Harai)