South on alert as heavy rain poses flood risk

People in the South are being warned to prepare for heavy rains that started on Wednesday and may persist until Saturday, probably triggering flash floods.

The warning was directed at Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Phangna, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, according to Surasri Kidtimonton, secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources ( ONWR ).

The rain bowl then lying across the lower part of the South has brought heavy rainfall to these regions, where people were being advised to give more attention to local pools where safe-keeping capacity has hit 80 %, Mr Surasri said on Wednesday.

Heavy rain and strong winds have been affecting pieces of Phetchaburi since soon Tuesday evening, said a cause.

In Muang city, Khiriratthaya and Ratchadamnoen roads about half a centimeter under water earlier Wednesday morning, the source added.

Certain sections of Phetkasem Road in Cha-am region were also covered with rainwater of the same level, while some parts of Kaeng Krachan area experienced a blackout after strong winds caused trees to tumble onto electrical cables.

As a result, Thetsaban 1 School in Cha-am had to submit test scheduled to be held on Wednesday to Thursday otherwise.

However, in the Central area, the ONWR has warned areas along the Chao Phraya, Tha Chin and Mae Klong river in Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom and Samut Songkhram to prepare for probable high-tide flood from Sunday until Oct 24, said Mr Surasri.

In Chai Nat, the flooding in Muang, Manorom and Wat Sing regions, which are downstream of Chao Phraya Dam, has improved, with the water levels in the Chao Phraya River receding to a levels well below the river banks.

But, as the bridge continued discharging extra water at a rate of 2,199 cubic metres per minute for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, low-lying areas in Sapphaya city of Chai Nat state, downstream of the dam, experienced about the same level of floodwater as in the earlier days.

The situation in Ayutthaya, which was receiving the northern run-off from the Chao Phraya, intensified on Wednesday, with flood-impacted areas expanding.