Storm “Rai” likely to hit Thailand's Northeast

THAI NORTHEAST, September 13 (TNA) - Storm “Rai” is expected to hit the Thai Northeast in the coming hours, while many Thai provinces have already been inundated by heavy downpours recently. As the approaching Storm “Rai” is likely to strike Ubon Ratchathani and Mukdahan Provinces in the Thai Northeast on Tuesday night, low-lying areas along a canal in the Dokkhamtai Municipality of Muang District in Phayao Province in the Lower Thai North have already been flooded, as high as 80 centimetres in some areas, forcing at least seven local schools to have been closed. Phayao Governor Suppachai Iamsuwan has, thus, issued a warning for the new storm, which could affect local areas during September 13-15. In Phitsanulok Province, also in the Lower Thai North, overnight rain has triggered flooding in Muang District, prompting local officials to have installed pumps to divert floodwater from low-lying areas, while the province has issued a warning for possible flash floods in six districts. In neighbouring Nakhon Sawan Province, rainfalls over the past two days have caused the water level in the Yom and the Nan Rivers to increase rapidly and overflow their banks to submerge rice paddies in Chumsaeng District, damaging about 400 acres of local rice fields and forcing local farmers to use boats to harvest their rice ahead of schedule to prevent a further loss. According to Thailand's Meteorological Department, Storm Rai is expected to move to the Thai Northeast, from Vietnam, by Tuesday night, likely to cause heavy rain in the upper part of Thailand, while strong wind and high waves are expected in the Andaman Sea and in the Gulf of Thailand. The weather agency also warned all ships to be more cautious and small boats to stay ashore during September 13-18. (TNA)