Storm Nangka brings flood misery

Rain shuts schools, damages homes

Heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Nangka have inundated many provinces in the eastern and southern regions, forcing many schools to close.

Around 920 houses in Trang province were flooded by overflowing rivers and two houses damaged by landslides.

Runoff broke a river barrier in tambon Nong Trut in Trang’s Muang district and obstructed roads.

Trang governor Kajornsak Charoensopha said the collapsed earthen barrier allowed flash floods to wreak havoc on 117 households.

Although the current water levels in this southern province had significantly increased, drainage still functioned well, he said.

In Satun, Ban Yan Sue (Friendship 147) School in Khuan Don district remained closed as floods had yet to subside.

The Chalung-Tha Phae-La Ngu road in tambon Chalung was submerged. Police closed one lane to facilitate and ensure safety for commuters during rush hour. The road was flooded for 300 metres as Klong Chalung overflowed. Chalung municipality warned people via social media to keep monitoring the water levels and move their belongings up from ground level if the water seemed to be rising further.

In Sadao district of Songkhla province, heavy rain which fell continuously for two consecutive days sent runoff from Kaeo mountain to tambon Thung Mo, flooding houses, schools, temples and Para rubber plantations.

The flood-prone Ban Kok School in Nakhon Ratchasima announced that it will remain closed until Monday.

Local administrative officers and school staff were placing sandbags around the school to act as flood barriers.

The Department of Rural Roads reported that six routes in Nakhon Nayok, Sa Kaeo and Trang provinces were affected by floods and pledged assistance for those affected.

One route, a highway from Ban Lang Khao to Wang Wiset in Trang province, was completely impassable after being submerged under 60cm of floodwater.

The Meteorological Department, which issued an alert yesterday about Tropical Storm Nangka, has forecast rough seas and strong winds in the Andaman Sea and the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand today and tomorrow.