Several Thai provinces hit by severe flooding

BANGKOK, September 22 (TNA) - Several Thai provinces are now under deep floodwater while the Meteorological Department has issued a warning that waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand would be high until at least Monday and most regions would encounter rain of about 70 per cent out of total areas. The Meteorological Department warned on Sunday that waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf would be as high as two to four metres and small trawlers should stay ashore until at least Monday. Heavy downpours are expected to cover about 70 per cent in Thailand, except the South where rainfalls are projected to cover only 40 per cent of the total areas. Travellers planning to travel to Taiwan, Hong Kong and China should check the weather conditions before making the journey because the two economies could be hit by Usagi typhoon. Meanwhile, residences along the Chao Phraya River in three districts of central province of Ang Thong province are now affected by severe flooding as the Chao Phraya Dam in nearby Chai Nat province is discharging water at the rate of 1,919 million cubic metres per second, causing the water level to rise by over 30 centimetres. Workers in Ayutthaya province, near Bangkok, were busying erecting barriers to prevent flood from damaging an old, popular temple as the water levels in the Chao Phraya and the Pa Sak Rivers are steadily rising. The temple was damaged during the massive flooding which hit the country in 2011. Heavy downpours during the past two days have caused the water level of the Moei River to overflow its banks, forcing market vendors in Mae Sot district of Tak province, bordering Myanmar to move their valuables to higher ground. Several villages are currently under floodwaters as high as three metres. The situation in Buri Ram’s Ban Kruat district bordering Cambodia is frightening after a crocodile farm housing more than 500 crocodiles is inundated following a water runoff from Phanom Dong Rak mountain range. Army officials were inspecting the wall surrounding the farm to check whether it is strong enough to prevent crocodiles from escaping. (TNA)