Flooding now hits Thai East

TRAT, THAILAND, September 8 (TNA) - Runoffs, caused by heavy downpours overnight, have hit two sub-districts of Chang Island, a popular tourist destination, in Trat Province in the Thai East, affecting locals in at least five villages. The deep flooding has blocked people in the five villages in Koh Chang Tai Sub-district from exiting their villages. The heaviest impact happened to Ban Than Mayom, where a huge runoff from the Than Mayom Waterfall wiped out many houses and washed away three workers of a local ice factory, two of them were later rescued but the rest one remained missing. In Koh Chang Sub-district, located on the other side of the island, a runoff gushed through the Khlong Son Canal, submerging houses, roads and Ban Khlong Son School to be 40-50 centimeters under floodwater and damaging many vehicles. In Ban Khlong Phrao, a bridge embankment collapsed and became impassable, as a runoff gushed through the Khlong Phlu Waterfall, flooding many houses and washing away a motorcyclist who reportedly remained missing. In Ban Kai Bae, a bridge was about one meter underwater and became impassable, while persistent downpours maintained runoffs from a mountain. Koh Chang District Chief Peera Iamsunthorn acknowledged on Monday morning that the flooding was critical, as local roads were impassable and many areas in Koh Chang Tai Sub-district were isolated. (TNA)