Saturday, August 27, 2011

Phangnga struggles with flood disaster

Five districts in Phangnga have been declared disaster zones after flash floods and forest runoff, triggered by heavy downpours, ravaged the province.

The flooding has inundated houses and farmland in Thai Muang, Takua Pa, Kapong, Khura Buri and Takua Thung districts, affecting more than 24,000 people, said provincial disaster and prevention chief Somkiart Inthachan.

The districts were declared disaster areas and a clean-up is underway.

The rain, which started on Thursday night, continues to batter most parts of the province, but the situation is improving and some residents are now moving back to their homes.

Some residents began cleaning mud out of their homes and moved back their belongings as flood water receded. However, riverside residents remained on higher ground as they are wary of floods rising again.

Many sections of key roads such as Phetkasem Road which were closed due to floods have now reopened.

In Phuket, the floods receded in several areas including Patong in Kathu district.

However, parts of Patong Hospital were still under water. Workers began pumping out the water.

The hospital yesterday resumed medical services to outpatients and emergency cases. A total of 38 inpatients were earlier transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Muang district.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday reported that the death toll from the Nock Ten storm-triggered floods had risen to 48 with one person still missing.

Fourteen provinces remain flooded. Of these, eight provinces _ Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima and Surin _ have been warned about the risk of water run-off and river overflows.

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