BANGKOK: — The weekend’s floods in Thailand’s southern provinces have receded, but the meteorological department has warned of possible flash floods in the northern tier of provinces due to heavy rain.

Floods in the southern province of Phangna have receded but floodwater’s are still as high as one metre in some areas and villagers are in need of food and drinking water. Some villages are entirely isolated from the outside world.

In the southern province of Trang, flooding has also receded but low- lying areas are still fed by swollen canals. About 100 homes have been affected and about 400 acres of rubber plantation, orchards and fish ponds are flood.

In Satun, floods receded to normal after rain stopped on Monday except some areas in Langu district. According to the initial
assessment, about 25,000 people in seven districts were affected by flooding.

Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara said the disaster response centre under the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters worked with provincial and local government workers to aid flood victims in all areas.

Army mobile medical units were dispatched to work in flooded areas.

The meteorological department issued a wide ranging flash flood warning in the southern region.

The department said heavy rain continues in all regions.

Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Nong Khai, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, and Kanchanaburi provinces have been put on alert for flash floods including forest run-off.

To what standards was the dam built?
There should be an investigation into how strong the dam was straight away!

PHANG NGA, July 13 (TNA) – Many areas in Thailand’s southern province of Phang Nga were under water after the torrential rains hit the southern region and caused flash flood in many provinces over the weekend.

The water level was increasing continuously in many areas in the province, particularly in Takua Pa district, after a dam build to prevent flooding in the municipality was washed away by the flood.

The huge volume of water which poured into the municipality carried away the dam and damaged many structures inside the municipality and in surrounding areas.

During the night, the water level continued to rise, and in some areas was under 3 metres of water, causing over a thousand residents to be cut off from the outside.

Takua Pa mayor Wisut Navalong ordered all schools in the district to suspend classes for the safety of students.

Meanwhile many roads were under more than one metre of water.

In another development, Surat Thani issued warnings for 149 risky locations, particularly at major tourism spots, to be prepared for flash floods and mud slides.

Small boats and speed boats were prohibited to leave port during this period, although large passenger boats would operate normally, but more cautiously, due to strong winds and rough seas.