Flood-hit Songkhla, Narathiwat returning to normal

Flood waters were receding in many areas, especially along the Sungai Kolok River in three districts. The inundation of vast areas was receding. Residents of Narathiwat’s Waeng district were moving back home.
In Songkhla, only low-lying areas around Songkhla Lake were still submerged, accounting for about 20 per cent of six districts flooded annually. Relief officials said the situation was expected to return to normal if there were no more rain for two more days.
The provincial relief agency said two people drowned and 10 out of all 16 districts were declared disaster zones, where 63,487 people in 462 villagers have been affected, including 519 who were evacuated.
The regional weather bureau predicted that heavy rain would likely pelt the Gulf of Thailand coast, along with a possible storm, from tomorrow to Sunday. It called on residents to watch out for flash floods and fishing trawlers to avoid setting out to sea because of high swells.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will inspect flood-prevention efforts in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla tomorrow, including a contingency plan to cope with water arriving from Malaysia, where a 40-per-cent increase in annual flood water is expected, Mayor Phrai Phatthano said.
Among the measures are expanding an existing canal and digging two new canals to prevent excess rainwater from entering the Hat Yai area, which would require about Bt7 billion to implement, he said.
Danaiwit Saibundit, the provincial irrigation chief, said Yingluck’s visit would give local authorities a chance to discuss proposed measures and request a Bt3.5-billion budget for short-term solutions.