High waves continue hitting Thailand’s South; Cold in North, Northeast

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - Four-metre high waves continue to hit provinces along the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea on Sunday, causing severe erosion to the coast, while trawlers are requested to stay ashore for three days, starting Sunday. The Meteorological Department office in the South has issued a fresh warning early Sunday that a storm now covering the Gulf, southern Thailand and the Andaman Sea is very strong, causing heavy rainfall in almost every province along the eastern side of the Gulf. Surat Thani provincial officials have also issued a warning, asking people to stay alert for forest runoff floods, mudslides and high waves attacking the coast. Officials have also posted ‘Red Flags’ on the beach, warning people not to take a swimming while officials and volunteers patrol on the beach to ensure safety to tourists. Meanwhile, more than 300 fishing trawlers decided to stay shore at the Pattani River after waves which were as high as five metres attacked the sea late Saturday. While the South is confronting with heavy rainfall with high waves in the sea, weather in the north and northeastern regions is very cold as temperatures continue dropping steadily. The weather in the northern capital of Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son province is now very chilly. (TNA)