Death toll rises as southern provinces continue to reel under floods

Meanwhile, flood-hit Bang Saphan Hospital hoped to resume emergency and out-patient care today and restart full services in two weeks. 
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) chief Chatchai Phromlert said yesterday that the flooding that has ravaged Phatthalung, Narathiwat, Yala, Songkhla, Pattani, Trang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi and Prachuap Khiri Khan since January 1 had claimed 31 lives and affected 1,188,871 people. So far, only Yala and Ranong provinces have returned to normal conditions. 
As rain continued in many areas, Chatchai urged residents on hillsides or near waterways in the South to be aware of possible flooding and landslides. 
Seasonal monsoon rain would continue in the South from Sunday onwards, it was reported.
As rainwater in the Bang Saphan city area receded yesterday, Supachai Kittichonworakul and fellow residents said the “worst flood in two decades” had caused damages worth at least Bt100 million. 
He said they wanted state agencies to provide drinking water and other assistance. Thana Panich, another resident, urged the government to implement effective flood-prevention plans.
A Bang Saphan resident yesterday used her Facebook page to thank people who helped to find her car, which was swept away by floods earlier this week. The car was found in a bad condition with water and mud damage.
The DPMD yesterday was closely monitoring Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Muang, Bang Saphan, Thab Sakae, Kui Buri and Bang Saphan Noi districts due to deep flooding and continuous rainfall. Authorities were also on alert as Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Pak Phanang River basin and Surat Thani’s Phra Saeng, Tapi, Na San, Phunphin and Muang districts were still inundated.

Healthcare affected
Public Health permanent secretary |Dr Sopon Mekthon said yesterday that floodwater had drained from Bang Saphan Hospital although staff residences at the rear of the building remained under one-metre-deep water. 
He said equipment such as X-ray machines and dentistry tools as well as the tap water system were damaged and patients had been sent to nearby facilities. The hospital’s staff continued to provide medical services to people at Bang Saphan Wittaya School, Tambon Ron Thong health promotion hospital and Wat Thongchai Thammachak. 
Sopon said the region’s 110 hospitals were affected and 150 mobile medical teams had treated 18,348 people, mostly for Athlete’s Foot and several cases of stress.
As of yesterday, Surat Thani Airport was supporting as many as 52 flights, up from the usual 46, as many flights were being diverted from the temporarily-closed Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport. Some flights originally destined for Koh Samui Airport also landed at Surat Thani due to the bad weather conditions.
The Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport, which had been closed since last Friday due to a flooded runway, is expected to remain closed until tomorrow or until the flood situation is resolved. Officials were also checking systems for possible flood damage, according to Department of Airports chief Daroon Saengchai.
State Railways of Thailand governor Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said flooding at the section between Bang Saphan Yai and Chamoung stations in Prachuap Khiri Khan had receded but southbound trains would only travel as far as Prachaup Khiri Khan Station as a precaution. 
It was expected that the trains could advance further to Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Thung Song district today.