Flood bill hits B70m in Songkhla

Flood bill hits B70m in Songkhla

Flooding has caused more than 70 million baht in damage across Songkhla as local businesses struggle to recover.

However, the severity of the situation in the southern provinces has abated as water levels continue to recede.

Wasan Chaithaweewong, acting chief of the Songkhla Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said 16 districts of Songkhla were ravaged by flood water, causing around 72 million baht in damage.

Flood water levels in several areas have continued to decrease, except in five waterfront districts -- Khuan Niang, Singha Nakhon, Sathing Phra, Krasae Sin and Ranot -- which are situated near Songkhla Lake.

However, the water levels in those five districts are expected to drop soon, he said.

The Provincial Livestock Office has distributed animal food to local farmers who say their land, which serves as a food source for their animals, has been submerged under water for more than two weeks.

In Trang, several tambons in Muang and Kantang districts are likely to remain inundated until the end of this month.

Water levels have stood at 1-2 metres in tambons Nong Trut and Bang Rak of Muang district since Nov 26.

They are the worst hit districts in the province as a result of the collapse of the embankment along the Trang River.

Chayapol Thitisak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said floods were responsible for the deaths of 29 residents and have affected 502,158 households in 121 districts of 11 southern provinces.

Those flood-ravaged provinces are Pattani, Yala, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Chumphon, Narathiwat, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Surat Thani and Krabi.

The situation has eased in five provinces: Krabi, Satun, Yala, Narathiwat and Chumphon. Apart from the five districts along the Songkhla Lake, two districts -- Nong Chik and Muang -- in Pattani are still being battered by floodwater.

In Phatthalung, water remains in five districts: Muang, Khuan Khanun, Pak Phayun, Khao Chaison and Bang Kaew as well as Muang and Kantang in Trang. Also, six districts of Surat Thani and 17 districts of Nakhon Sri Thammarat are still ravaged by water, Mr Chayapol said.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT