Heavy rains were expected to continue in eight southern provinces Monday as the region tries to recover from flooding that damaged hundreds of homes over the weekend.
Flooding hits Lamphura sub-district of Huai Yot district in Trang province on Monday. (Photo by Methee Muangkaew)
The Meteorological Department said widespread rain driven by a passing low-pressure system likely would continue Monday in Prachuap Khiri Kan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi provinces. The department advised small-boat operators along the Andaman coast to stay near shore.
Runoff from the Banthad mountain range and Nakhon Si Thammarat province was flowing today into communities and farmland in Na Yong Tai sub-district of Muang Trang district and La Mor sub-district of Na Yong district of Trang.
Flooding hit about 200 houses and roads in the Chamuang and Nong Phor sub-districts of Khuan Khanun district in Phatthalung Sunday night. Storm runoff from the low-pressure system that has influenced the South since Friday put Phothong-Si Banphote Road in Khuan Khanun under 50 centimetres of water, leaving it impassable to small vehicles.
The increasing level of the Tha Nae Weir in Khao Pu sub-district of Si Banphote district flooded about 300 houses and more than 1,000 rai, or 1.6 square kilometres, of farmland in Cha Muang sub-district of Khuan Khanun district on Monday.
In Trang province, runoff hit about 100 houses in Lamphura sub-district of Huai Yot district about 2am on Monday. Flooding levels hit one metre in some areas.
In Surat Thani province, low-lying rubber plantations were flooded in Tha Uthae sub-district of Kanchanadit district on Monday but residential neighbourhoods remained undamaged.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat province, floods on the outskirts of Nakhon Si Thammarat municipality were receding Monday, but the provincial governor declared seven districts flood-disaster areas to speed up emergency assistance. They are Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chawang, Chang Klang, Phipun, Lan Saka, Pak Phanang, and Phra Phrom districts. About 5,000 families were affected there.
The low-pressure area that affected the South has already passed, reaching the Andaman Sea and moving toward the Bay of Bengal Monday. Once the rains relent, floods will recede soon, officials said.
The storm also brought some good fortune. Rough seas since Saturday washed about 10 tonnes of shells ashore at Pak Phanang beach in Tha Phaya and Khanab Nak sub-districts of Pak Phanang district and locals were collecting them to make products for sale.
Locals collect shells washed ashore on Pak Phanang beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat province on Monday. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)