The two provinces of Yala and Narathiwat are hardest hit by the flooding with dozens of communes and districts submerged and many schools closed.(Photo:thethaiger.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thai authorities on December 25 announced that heavy rain over the pasttwo days has caused flooding in the southern provinces of Thailand, affectingtens of thousands of people and disrupting the operation of many roads andrailways.
The two provinces ofYala and Narathiwat were hardest hit by the flooding with dozens of communesand districts submerged and many schools closed.
The heavy rain has also caused problems at sea, with at least seven ships sunk in the Gulf ofThailand and the Andaman Sea since December 22. Thailand's national railwaycompany said heavy rain also caused track subsidence, halting railway servicesto the Malaysian border.
Authorities have warnedpeople in the southern provinces to be ready to evacuate if the flooding situationgets worse. Currently, provincial officials are working with local authoritiesto seek drainage solutions in flooded areas and assess the extent of damage.
The Thai MeteorologicalDepartment previously predicted that the northeast monsoon would affect theGulf of Thailand and the southern region with strong winds. On December 24-25,a low-pressure system strengthened along the Malaysian coast, moved through thesouthern region of Thailand, and made landfall in the Andaman Sea, causingheavy and very heavy rain in some areas in the southern downstream region.
The department has advised people in thoseareas to take precautions against sudden flash floods and landslides,especially in mountainous areas near waterways and low-lying areas. In the Gulfof Thailand, waves with a height of 2 to 4 meters are forecast. Vesselsoperating in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, especially in stormyareas, are advised to exercise caution, while small vessels in the Gulf ofThailand are urged not to head to sea during this period./.
