Block of shophouses in Saraburi collapses

Saraburi Governor Thavorn Prommechai said the block of three-storey buildings in Moo 3 village in Tambon Pak Khaosarn collapsed at 7:30am. Four bodies had been retrieved and five people remain missing. One severely injured person has been rescued and sent to Saraburi Hospital, he added. Thavorn also inspected the scene and noted that the three-storey buildings had been turned into a ten-room dormitory.

Police suspected the soil became soft after three days of heavy rains leading to the land subsiding, said Muang Saraburi superintendent Pol Col Bamrung Khongcheep. Police also summoned the dormitory owner for information and checked the building plan and dormitory permit.

Meanwhile the flood-related death toll has risen to 82 on Monday as 16 provinces are being hit by massive flooding, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced Monday.

Srisombat Pornprasit, deputy director-general of the department, said 570,142 people from 217,189 families in 2,949 villages in 16 provinces were suffering from flooding.

He said the provinces are Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya, Angthong, Chainat, Ubon Ratchathani, Singburi, Nakhon Pathom, Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Chachoengsao, Uthai Thani, Chanthaburi and Saraburi.

He said 35 provinces nationwide had heavy rainfalls so the residents of the provinces should be on alert of possible flash floods.

The provinces, which were warned of possible flash floods, included Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lopburi, Uthai Thani, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket,, Mukdaharn, Roi Et, Kanchanaburi, Prachin Buri, Sakaew, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Surat Thani and Ranong.