Persistent rain throughout Friday caused flooding to several districts of the southern provinces of Songkhla, Narathiwat Pattani, Trang and Yala early Saturday.
Flooded were many roads in Songkhla municipality, including Kanchanawanit Road. Travel became difficult for small vehicles.
The ground floors of several buildings, including the parking lot of a Tesco Lotus store in the municipality, were inundated. Local authorities were operating all available water pumps to speed up drainage into the Songkhla lake.
It was the third outbreak of flooding in Songkhla municipality since the start of the year.
In Saba Yoi district, Ban Lae Baeng village was flooded for the fourth time this year. About 200 local residents were evacuated. Saba Yoi-Ban Node Road in tambon Saba Yoi was under 50 centimetres of water. Other districts facing Songkhla Kake were also flooded.
In Narathiwat, roads between Sungai Kolok and Waeng districts and the Chanae-Ban Dusongyor Road in Chanae district were impassable. The Sungai Kolok and Sai Buri rivers overflowed and causing floods in Tak Bai, Cho Airong, Rangae, Yi-ngo, Bacho, Si Sakhon, Rueso and Muang districts.
In Pattani, about 130 families were evacuated from Ban Luboh Sulong in tambon Trohbon in Sai Buri district because of runoff from the Kala Pho range. Runoff also happened in Thung Yang Daeng, Kapho, Mae Lan, Nong Chik and Muang districts.
In Trang, about 60 families had to leave their houses in parts of Huai Yot and Ratsada districts because of floodwater from the Banthad range.
In Yala, many villages in Muang district were flooded and about 700 families were affected.
The Meteorological Department said on Saturday morning that a high-pressure system from China was strengthening the northeastern monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the South.
Consequently, heavy downpours were likely in the lower southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Surat Thani, and Yala on Saturday.
From Sunday to Wednesday, heavy rain was predicted in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala.
The department recommended small boats be kept ashore along the eastern coast of the South.
A flooded road in Muang district of Narathiwat (Photo by Waedao Harai)
