“Sonamu” to bring more rains to Thai South

BANGKOK, January 6 (TNA) – Thailand’s Meteorological Department and the National Disaster Warning Center have waned that more rains are on the way for Thailand’s lower southern region, as Tropical Storm Sonamu in the lower part of the South China Sea takes aim at Malaysia. According to the agencies, the storm was moving southwestward at a reducing speed of 18 kilometres an hour and should land on Malaysia on January 7-8. More rains are expected in Nakhon Si Thammarat province southward from Monday to Wednesday. The rains could be heavy in some areas. Meanwhile, a moderate northeasterly monsoon prevailing over the South and the Gulf of Thailand brings rough sea with waves of up to two metres high to provinces along the gulf from Nakhon Si Thammarat southward. Local people were advised to take precautions and closely follow weather reports, while small boats were warned to stay as shore. In another development, the flood situation in Narathiwat showed signs of little improvement Sunday with water levels in rivers starting to slowly recede after the absent of rainfall there for the past few days. The water levels in the province’s major rivers of Sai Buri, Bang Nara and Sungai Kolok, however, remained largely stable as they continued receiving water from forest runoff from Sankalakiri Mountain. Local residences in Sri Sakorn, Tak-bai, and Su-ngai Ko-lok districts, remained inundated by some 40-50 centimetres high flooding. (TNA)