Flash floods continue to hit Thai South

BANGKOK, January 14 (TNA) - Flash floods have continued to hit the Thai South, where winds and waves have remained strong, as the Meteorological Department has warned that a low pressure mass is covering Malaysia and Thailand's southern region from January 13-15, bringing downpours from Chumphon Province southward with heavy falls in some areas. In Satun Province, run-offs from the Bantad Mountain Range flooded many villages in Khuan Kalong locality of Khuan Kalong District last night, causing troubles to more than 50 households which were under about one-metre-high floodwater. The run-offs were too fast for the locals to save their belongings and pets and they had to run for their life only. Run-offs also struck many communities in the Tambon Phatong Municipality, an outer area of Hat Yai District of Songkhla Province this morning. Floodwater in a community near the U-tapao Canal rose to 20 centimetres to about one metre, affecting some 100 households for the second time this year. However, floodwater in Songkhla has been receding, prompting local authorities to have reopened the main Kanchanawanich Road. In Narathiwat Province, downpours continued in all its 13 districts and run-offs flooded farmlands and houses in five villages of Romsai locality of Sukhirin District, causing main roads of at least three villages to become impassable and relief workers to rely on boats to reach local flood victims. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department warned in its updated statement that people in the Thai South living near low lying areas and waterways should take precautions from today until the coming Sunday, during which small boats should also remain ashore, as there will be strong winds and high waves of 2-4 metres in the Gulf of Thailand. (TNA)