Mountain runoff floods 60 homes

Phichit province in the North is bearing the brunt of runoff from a mountain range in neighbouring Phetchabun, leaving at least 60 houses in Dong Charoen district flooded yesterday, authorities said.

The village of Ban Wang Na in tambon Huay Phuk emerged as the epicentre of the flooding late last night after several days of heavy rain.

The mountain range is situated in Phetchabun’s Chon Daen district, close to the provincial border.

The flash flood prompted authorities to launch emergency operations with relief aid handed out to affected residents, many of whom raced against time to move their personal belongings and farm animals to higher ground.

Many farmers also lost their fish stocks after ponds were wiped out, officials said.

Col Chusak Sanguanboonyapong, deputy commander of the provincial peacekeeping force in Phichit, said soldiers assisted residents in relocating their belongings and distributed supplies to those left stranded by the rising water.

Authorities were also surveying the damage to private property and farmland.

As the floodwater is flowing downstream to the Bueng Boraphet swamp in Nakhon Sawan, low-lying areas along this route are still at risk, the authorities said.

In Sukhothai, provincial governor Piti Kaewsalabsee said yesterday the swelling Yom River overflowed its banks and inundated riverside communities in Sukhothai Thani municipality. Excess water from upstream Phrae province compounded the heavy rain, he said.

Three of five water gates in Ban Had Saphan Phrachan have been closed to mitigate the effect of the flooding in Muang district. A local waterworks was also plugging cracks in water pipes to lessen the damage, officials said.

The municipality warned residents to brace for further floods as the situation could be exacerbated by heavy rain forecast from today until Monday.

In Ang Thong, the Chao Phraya river has continued to rise as it passes through Muang district.