Southern Thailand braces for storm this weekend

BANGKOK, November 15 (TNA) - Authorities in southern Thailand have put disaster emergency response teams on standby to, probably, assist flood victims as a storm was forecast to bring heavy downpours to the Thai South this weekend. The Southern Meteorological Center (East Coast) issued the warning on Saturday morning for people living in east coast provinces in the Thai South, from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Narathiwat, to brace for heavy downpours and possible floods from November 15-16. According to the weather center, a strong northeast monsoon would prevail over the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region during this weekend, when widespread rain is, thus, likely in the southern provinces, with heavy downpours expected in some areas. Officials at the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Region 12 in Songkhla Province were, meanwhile, performing a check of rescue gear, including flat-bottomed boats, motorboats and truck to ensure timely response for disaster victims in time of need. The officials also urged local people to closely monitor the updated weather condition and water levels near their neighborhoods. (TNA)