A FAMILY OF four, two adults and two children, drowned as they travelled through raging floods in southern Narathiwat province on a rescue boat but rescue operation to help people stranded in their homes is still continuing, Amarin TV and Matichon newspaper said today (Dec. 26).
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is due to fly to inspect the flooding in the South, particularly Narathiwat which is the most heavily hit province, after the Cabinet meeting this afternoon.
The four flood victims, a grandmother, mother and two children, were identified as Mrs. Khotiyao Jelae, 89, Mrs. Areesp Jebosu, 63, Nasuhar Mayi, 8, and Muhammad Nabas Mayi, 2.
Staff of Seng Mu Than Nam Chai Foundation rode parallely on two motorised boats to reach remote areas and help the victims.
However they were unable to reach all of them with there still being people stranded in their flooded homes in Ba-ngo Sato subdistrict, Ra-ngae district.
In carrying out their rescue operation the foundation staff could not go through the flooded roads as some power poles had toppled and there could be electric currents in the water and had to use a long detour to reach the flood victims.
Altogether 76 households, totalling 263 people, in Ra-ngae district have been evacuated.
The Thai Meteorological Department warned that a strong northeasterly monsoon prevails over the Gulf of Thailand and the South while an active low-pressure cell covers the Andaman Sea. This likely leads to heavy to very heavy rain in Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Trang and Satun.
People in the lower South were warned to beware of torrential rain triggering flash floods and forest runoffs.
Meanwhile Yala City Mayor Phongsak Yingchancharoen said the amount of rain that fell in this southern province yesterday, totalling 246.6 millimetres, is the highest in 10 years, with floodwater rising in districts bordering neighbouring provinces, particularly Narathiwat, through overflows.
While effort is being made to pump out the floodwater, the rapid increase at eight to nine centimetres an hour has led to many areas remaining inundated.
People living in areas prone to flooding have been warned to move their belongings to higher ground.
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Above, first below and Front Page: Flooding in Narathiwat, further below, heavy rain in Yala. All photos: Amarin TV
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