Six districts of Songkhla severely flooded

SONGKHLA, Dec 5 (TNA) – Six districts facing the Songkhla Lake remain critically inundated while floodwater was receding well from the most area of the southern province as rain was declining. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that floods had affected about 200,000 people in 16 districts of Songkhla and many local schools would be closed throughout this week. Floodwater claimed six lives and damaged more than 2,300 houses and 120,050 rai (about 48,000 acres) of farmland in the province. While floodwater almost disappeared from most districts, flood levels were rising in six districts facing the Songkhla Lake due to a high tide. The deepest flood level exceeded two metres. Most local schools remained closed due to flooding. Stagnant floodwater became polluted at Ranot School that was 70 centimetres under water in Ranot district. School director Wirat Chusin said Ranot School would be closed throughout this week because it stood in a low-lying area where flood drainage was the slowest in the province. After floodwater was completely drained, the school would be cleaned, he said. He planned extra-teaching hours for his students to make up for the closure. (TNA)