Floods remain in many northern Thai areas

BANGKOK, August 29 (TNA) - Many areas in the Thai North have been submerged by floodwater, following heavy downpours over the past days. As of Friday afternoon, local officials said that more than 200 houses in three districts of Nan Province, including Thung Chang, Pua and Chalerm Phra Kiat, have remained under floodwater. The officials reported that heavy downpours were, in the meantime, continuing in Nan, causing overflows from local canals to flood nearby areas, following a forest runoff late Thursday. In Chiang Mai, Deputy Governor Chana Paengpibul has ordered every district to be on alert, especially in 243 flood-prone villages, amid continual heavy downpours and rising water in local waterways. Local authorities concerned have closely monitored, probably, more runoffs in Chiang Mai, after two villages were hit by flash floods on Thursday, in order to protect international tourists, particularly those visiting national parks, waterfalls and other low-lying areas. The Meteorological Department, meanwhile, issued a warning of continual heavy downpours covering 70–80 per cent of Chiang Mai's total area over the next couple of days, as water levels in several canals in six districts in the province have risen sharply following Thursday's heavy rain. Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is also Army and National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Chief, has ordered soldiers to fully assist flood victims. Besides, General Prayuth has ordered the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to speed up water drainage in order to minimize impacts of downpours on traffic in the capital for the time being. BMA Deputy Permanent Secretary Sanya Cheenimit told reporters that downpours were predicted in 70-80 per cent of Bangkok's areas from August 28-30, especially in the afternoon and in the evening, which could cause flooding in affected low-lying areas. Sanya acknowledged if rainfalls in Bangkok were measured lower than 60 millimeters at a time, floodwater in the capital could be drained out within a few hours, stating that the BMA has, however, lowered the levels of local canals to increase their capacities to receive rainwater. (TNA)