Storms bring chaos to South

At least 51,000 families in nine provinces in the South have been affected by severe flooding, according to a report by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) yesterday.

The floods were caused by heavy rains as a result of a storm that has covered the Gulf of Thailand since last Saturday. The storm is expected to clear today.

According to the report, the flood has affected 51,543 families from 183 districts across the provinces of Surat Thani, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.

Three people died in Narathiwat’s Rangae district, according to DDPM.

The department has warned those districts about landslides, heavy rain, and gusts until today.

The Department of Rural Roads also reported that flooding affected at least 15 roads in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat. At least 11 roads were closed due to high water levels, according to the report.

According to the government spokesman, Anucha Burapachaisri, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the army to work with other related agencies to help evacuate those in need and to drain areas of flood waters quickly.

Meanwhile, many schools in this region are closed indefinitely. A source said some schools had postponed student examinations.

The Education Minister, Trinuch Thienthong, has ordered the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to inspect the effects of flooding on schools in the region before planning relief measures for students.

In Yala, six districts have been flooded since Sunday night due to heavy rain and the overflowing of the Pattani and Sai Buri rivers.

According to Masadee Hayeepi, mayor of tambon Tha Sap municipality in Muang district, the people living around Ban Tha Sap School in Moo 1 cannot commute in small vehicles due to the high level of flooding on roads. At least 200 families in Moo 4 and Moo 6 are also affected by flooding.

Mr Masadee stated that the Yala Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office had provided four boats to the municipality to facilitate the helping of flood victims.