Flood alert in parts of North, East

  The provinces were Nan, Phrae, Phetchabun, Kamphaeng Phet, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Nayok and Trat.
Meanwhile, officials in Ang Thong in the Central region were struggling yesterday with a 30cm-deep flood surrounding the provincial hospital.
Permanent secretary for Public Health Dr Narong Sahamethapat has ordered 79 hospitals in 20 areas deemed a flood-risk in the North, Northeast and East to prepare to stop floods, plus plans to evacuate patients and provide emergency services.
Mobile medical teams have treated 1,146 people affected by floods since Friday in Lamphun, Chiang Rai, Nan and Phayao, including 21 who suffered from stress, Narong said.
Two national parks in the North have also closed waterfalls because of rainfall, muddy water and possible flash floods. These were Mae Ping National Park in Lamphun and Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai.
Mae Ping park chief Kosit Nilrat said Kor Luang Waterfall, an “unseen Thailand” attraction with emerald green water during summer, closed for safety reasons yesterday following continuous heavy rain.
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park head Amporn Panmongkol said the Mae Sa, Tad Mhok and Mhok Fa falls were reopened yesterday due to reduced rainfall. However, officials at the falls were told to monitor the situation and advise visitors against swimming.
In Bung Sam Phan district in Phetchabun, heavy rain on Sunday night caused a 50cm-deep flood at communities in tambon Sapsamortod yesterday. Anubal Bung Sam Phan School was temporarily closed for students’ safety.
In Lop Buri’s Muang district, heavy rain caused land subsidence in tambon Tha Sala, which led to the collapse of a garage at lawyer Kijjapat Sirilak’s house yesterday morning. The fallen roof damaged a van, a Benz sedan and three motorcycles inside the garage.
In related news, Meteorological Department said yesterday the monsoon trough over upper Thailand and a southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf this week would result in scattered to widespread thunderstorms until Sunday, as well as isolated heavy rain, over the upper part of the country. The department warned people in the North, the Northeast and East of heavy rain and advised all ships in the Andaman to proceed with caution due to two-metre waves.