MAE HONG SON: Flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rain have caused serious damage to public utilities, homes, farms and tourist attractions in Muang and Pai districts of this northern border province.
Flash flood warnings are in force for 20 provinces, mostly in the North.
Mae Hong Son governor Chettha Mosikarat said on Monday he had given instructions for a quick assessment of the damage and provision of assistance and compensation as soon as possible.
Houses, rice fields and other farm crops had been damaged and also two popular tourist spots, Tham Pla Cave and Su Tong Pae Bridge in Muang district, which must be quickly restored because the tourist high season is drawing near.
Mr Chettha said the flooding and landslides started about 10pm on Friday following several days of heavy rain. They hit many areas of Muang and Pai districts, causing extensive damage to public utilities, government offices, local communities and farms.
The provincial office of disaster prevention and mitigation reported that in Muang district, 373 houses with 925 residents at Ban Huay Pha in tambon Huay Pha were hit by a flash flood. One woman died when swept away by the strong current while returning home on a motorcycle. Six houses and two schools were hit by a mudslide and heavily damaged.
At Ban Mok Cham Pae in tambon Mok Cham Pae, 38 houses with 152 resdients, and farmland, were inundated by overflow from the Mae Sa Nga and Mae Sa Ngi streams. Many power poles were toppled.
Also hard hit were Ban Kung Mai Sak in tambon Pang Mu and four villages in tambon Pha Bong, with about 535 houses and 1,400 people affected.
In Pai district, Moo 5 and Moo 11 villages and their 2,000 residents were hit by flash floods. Roads and farm crops were damaged.
Surasee Kittimonthon, secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources and deputy director of the National Water Command Centre, said on Monday heavy rain fell during the past 24 hours in Uttaradit, Ubon Ratchathani, Lop Buri, Trat, Trang and Kanchanaburi provinces.
He warned that people should be on high alert for possible flash floods in the next few days in Chiang Rai, Phetchabun, Bung Kan, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Uthai Thani and Phang-nga provinces.