Flooding situation in Thai South remains critical

SOUTHERN THAILAND, January 5 (TNA) - Flooding in the Thai South remains critical, especially in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, following consecutive days of rain with business areas having been submerged. Thung Song Market, Thung Song Junction Station and Thung Song District Office in Nakhon Si Thammarat have been under floodwater, even about 1.5 metres deep at some low-lying spots. Authorities have warned local residents in the provincial seat to brace for more inundations, which could be worse than the massive flood in late 2011. Lansaka and Cha-uat Districts have also become flood hard-hit areas, forcing southern-bound trains to have stopped at the Thung Song Junction Station as part of railway tracks have been flooded as high as one metre. In Trang, disaster prevention and mitigation provincial chief Kultharin Rojsurasi told reporters on Thursday that six districts have been hit by floods, affecting 20,000 local people, with two districts, including Nayong and Ratsada, having been declared disaster zones but there has been no death toll reported so far. Although floods have been receding in some areas in Trang, more run-offs from adjacent Nakhon Si Thammarat Province could raise floodwater again. In the Trang Municipality alone, several areas are under water and a portion of road has remained impassable, prompting motorists to have used a detour to avoid flooding. In Wang Wiset and Huai Yot Districts, flooding has extended to wider areas amid sporadic rainfalls. (TNA)