Flooding eases in Trang and Hat Yai
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Heavy rainfall and flooding in several southern southern provinces early in the New Year have severely disrupted travel, causing all flights to be suspended at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport, and putting railway tracks and a main highway underwater.
Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Wirote Jiwarangsan declared three districts disaster zones and ordered government workers to help flood-affected residents. Floodwater has continued rising since dawn in the municipal area, flooding all communities as the rains continue.
All flights have been suspended at Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport due to poor weather, leaving several hundred passengers stranded. The rail tracks from Nakhon Si Thammarat station to Tung Song station are underwater. Passengers travelling north are advised to board trains at Tung Song station.
In Phatthalung, overnight rain triggered flooding in business areas in the provincial seat. Many roads are under 40cm of water and the water continues to rise. Phatthalung Hospital is flooded, causing difficulties for patients coming to hospital.
The provincial prison, located in a low-lying area, is also underwater. Guards and inmates are draining water from the premises. In some areas out of town, floodwater is as deep as two metres.
In Chumphon, Lang Suan district has been hard hit, with all areas flooded and the municipality cut off, affecting several thousand people. Due to heavy rain and flash floods, a portion of the inbound and outbound Asian Highway lanes near the Thung Tako district office are under 50cm of water and impassable to all vehicles.
In Surat Thani, six districts have been declared disaster zones. On Monday morning, a flash flood hit the Surat Thani-Nakhon Si Thammarat Road near Kanchanadit Hospital and authorities warned residents in Kanchanadit district to watch for a possible new round of flooding from Romyen National Park after 210mm of rain fell Monday morning.
In Trang however, the rain has stopped and flooding has eased in the provincial seat. It was expected to return to normal Monday evening if there was no more rain.
Songkhla’s business district of Hat Yai saw the flood subsiding on Tuesday. Shops in Hat Yai market reopened, but garbage scattered by the flood remained on roads.
