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Southern Thailand on High Alert as Severe Flooding Persists
(CTN News) – The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) declared a state of high alert due to the flooding in southern Thailand. Forecasts indicate that the situation would remain critical for several days due to the continuing downpours, as mentioned yesterday by Surasee Kittimonthon, ONWR’s secretary-general.
Surasee, who chairs the Flood-Prone Area Water Management Centre in the Southern Region, is understandably concerned about the provinces in the south, where the flood has already caused extensive damage to houses and farms. Local authorities closely monitor rainfall totals in Narathiwat’s Sukhirin and Waeng districts.
Some parts of neighbouring Pattani and Yala’s Muang, Bannang Sata, and Krong Pinang districts have also experienced heavy rain. The floodwaters have risen to the point where many have fled their houses, with others taking refuge on rooftops until help arrives.
Located on Yala’s Pattani River, the Bang Lang dam is a major water source that held 1,242.45 million cubic meters (m3) of water as of yesterday. Its capacity is 85 per cent fulfilled. There will be less of an impact from the ongoing floods as the dam approaches its capacity.
Even if things don’t look good, Surasee says the floodwaters will disappear over the New Year’s weekend. Nevertheless, the declaration of disaster regions in eight districts of Pattani occurred yesterday.
Kapho, Khok Pho, Mai Kaen, Muang, Nong Chik, Sai Buri, Thung Yang Daeng, and Yarang are the districts comprising 30 tambons and 95 villages. The flooding has affected at least 8,360 families, affecting 25,000 people, according to Bangkok Post.
The situation is just as bad in Narathiwat, where the floods have affected 158,126 people from 41,442 families in 13 districts. Cho Airong, Bacho, Chanae, Muang, Rangae, Rueso, Sri Sakhon, Sukhirin, Sungai Kolok, Sungai Padi, Takbai, Waeng, and Yi-ngo are all part of this. Three persons in the Rangae area and four in the Rueso district have died as a result of the flooding.
Visiting Narathiwat on Tuesday, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin assessed the situation in the southern region. The severity of the floods and the critical necessity for continuous monitoring and action were both highlighted during our visit.
