Rains to lash Northeast as floods persist

>>Four Northeastern provinces — still reeling from flooding — along with Bangkok are forecast to be hit by heavy rains leading to a drop in temperatures by 3C to 5C in upper Thailand from today until Thursday.

In an announcement issued yesterday, the Meteorological Department said a monsoon trough was covering the lower North, upper Central region, and lower Northeast while a moderate high-pressure system from China was covering upper Vietnam and Laos.

Thunderstorms, gusty winds and torrential rains are also likely to drench the upper regions of Thailand over the weekend as well.

Meanwhile, Chaiyaphol Thitisak, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said yesterday that flooding was still affecting Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Roi Et and Si Sa Ket.

A total of 18,063 people in 45 locations have been evacuated in Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. Most of the evacuees came from Ubon Ratchathani where 17,901 people in 42 locations were moved, said Mr Chaiyaphol.

Two recently departed storms — Podul and Kajiki — have triggered flash floods, runoff and mudslides which have ravaged 32 provinces nationwide since Aug 29. A total of 419,768 households in 7,172 villages in 183 districts have been affected.

A total of 4,943 houses have been damaged and 35 deaths have been linked to flooding. The numbers are as follows: Yasothon (9), Roi Et (6), Amnat Charoen (5), Khon Kaen (3), Ubon Ratchathani (3), Si Sa Ket (3), Phichit (2), Phitsanulok (1), Mukdahan (1), Sakon Nakhon (1) and Nan (1).