Flood Update: As floods in the south recede, more heavy rain is expected

Authorities have been racing to help drain floodwater out of inundated areas in eight southern provinces.

The Royal Irrigation Department said today that the flood situation in eight provinces: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala had stabilized.

The department predicted that conditions in the south would return to normal within a few days or a week if there was no additional precipitation, reported Thai News Bureau. However, more rains are expected this week.

Floodwaters in Nakhon Si Thammarat province have begun to recede, with officials working to clean up road surfaces.

Tung Song City Municipality Mayor Songchai Wongwatcharadamrong has said, regarding the flooding situation in the area, that almost all households have been affected from inundation, while shops in the district are affected quite severely due to flash floods and rainwater that was as high as 170 millimeters.

He said that officials are now working to clean up the area and roads to restore orderliness, saying the cleaning process might take some time in order to ensure safety among road users, assuring the public that officials are working as quickly as they can.

Officials are also working to repair three roads affected by the flooding in Trang province.

Trang Rural Roads District Chief Jetsada Winson led a group of officials to oversee the flooding situation and prepare the installation of signs and equipment.

Three roads in Trang are under the supervision of Trang Rural Roads District, one of which, the Na Yong – Na Muen Si Road, is no longer underwater, allowing the restoration process to commence with officials planning to reopen the road for public use within a week. Other roads in the district are still inundated, requiring officials to wait for the water to recede before proceeding with reparations.

The rural road district will perform initial repairs to road sections damaged by the flood to enable traffic flow within seven days, and will work with the related agencies to establish a long-term solution to this issue.

Also related to the inclimate weather, access for tourists to Koh Tarutao and Koh Adang Islands are temporarily closed due to high tides.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation (DNP) announced that marine national parks and islands in the southern region are currently affected by three- to four-meter-high tides while ferry boat service to Koh Tarutao, Koh Adang and Koh Lipe islands will likely be suspended.

Temporary closures to those marine tourist spots have been announced by the port authority and will continue until weather conditions have improved, causing many tourists to be stranded at Pakbara Port for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, floodwaters in Surat Thani province have receded and a damage inspection by authorities has begun.

Residents in the Kanchanadit district are still struggling, as six houses were completely demolished and two bridges destroyed by flood waters. Both public and private agencies are bringing in food and fresh water to ease their plight.

While water has also been receding in some parts of Trang province, floodwaters are still rising in Muang district — making it impossible for vehicles to drive along certain roads.

Rainfall in Narathiwat province has eased and flooding subsided in some areas, with the exception of the plains near the Sungai Kolok river, where five local communities are still flooded.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has reopened some train routes in the southern region, which had been temporarily closed due to recent heavy flooding. The train service, which earlier ended in Chumphon province, has now been allowed to continue until it reaches the Thung Song district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Flooding has receded in Krabi township this morning and the Phetkasem highway is now reopened to normal traffic after heavy flooding submerged the province and turned the highway into a klong, impassable to all vehicles in the last several days, reported Thai PBS.

Despite receding water in many places, The Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy to very heavy rains in the lower southern region and warned of possible dangers from flash floods this week.

In its latest weather forecast this morning, they noted a strong low pressure system blanketing Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga, which they expect to move to the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Martaban in Myanmar today and tomorrow.

Its movement will consequently cause heavy to very heavy rains in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Phet Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

It warned of flash floods in these provinces and advised people to monitor the weather forecast closely.

Small boats are also advised to remain at piers as high waves and strong winds will be expected the Gulf of Thailand over the next few days



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