Satun: The flooding situation in the South remains critical, the worst in several years. In Satun Province, a mudslide resulted in the death of a 9-year-old girl. Meanwhile, in Songkhla, the entire city is flooded.
According to Thai News Agency, officials responded to a mudslide that buried a 9-year-old girl in Ban Long Nueng, Ban San Daeng, Khuan Kalong Subdistrict, Khuan Kalong District, Satun Province. It took more than half an hour to retrieve the body and rush her to the hospital, but it was too late. The girl died. Mr. Phanudet, 28, the deceased’s older brother, sustained minor injuries.
The flooding situation in Satun Province has now lasted three days, affecting seven districts, 16 subdistricts, 92 villages, and 3,309 households. A total of 8,544 people have been affected. The hardest hit areas are Khuan Don and Mueang districts, with major roads flooded. The Hat Yai-Satun road is 4 kilometers deep, while the Trang-Satun road is flooded for a distance of 3 kilometers at the entrance and exit points within Satun Municipality. Several village roads have been cut off. Mr. Phibun Ratchakitprakarn, Satun MP for District 1 from the Bhumjaithai Party, presided over the distribution of 2,000 relief bags.
In Songkhla Province, in addition to Hat Yai city, the surrounding areas are also facing similar crisis, particularly the Khao Kaeo mountain range, which borders Hat Yai and Rattaphum districts. Continuous rain has caused flash floods flowing from Ton Nga Chang waterfall, Ton Pliu waterfall, and upstream from Khao Kaeo mountain to flood several subdistricts, with the most critical areas being Thung Tam Sao and Chalung subdistricts in Hat Yai district, and Kamphaeng Phet subdistrict in Rattaphum district.
Regarding the water situation in the U-Tapao Canal, water levels have continued to rise. At the Bang Sala water measurement station in Khlong Hoi Khong District, water levels have risen in some areas, inundating temples and canal-side homes. A red flag has been raised as a warning. The Songkhla governor has instructed officials to increase flood watch points and deploy additional personnel at areas experiencing strong currents to prevent potential accidents. He has also ordered all districts to establish 24-hour flood control centers, providing real-time situation reports, and installed 72 water pumps at over 80 locations to expedite water drainage. This year’s situation is more severe than in 2000 and 2010.
In Phatthalung Province, relentless rain has caused flash floods from the Banthat mountain range in Pa Bon, Ta Mot, Kong Ra, Srinakarin, Si Banphot, and Pa Phayom districts to rapidly flow down the mountain, inundating homes in lower districts, including Mueang, Khuan Khanun, Khao Chaison, Bang Kaeo, and Pak Phayun. They have also inundated Asia Road 41, the main road to the south. Two areas of the road surface were flooded, reaching 40-50 cm deep, in front of Ban Khok Ya School in Khuan Khanun Subdistrict, Khao Chaison District, on both the southbound and northbound sides, spanning 200 meters. At the Pho Thong Intersection in Chamuang Subdistrict, water levels were 20-30 cm high on the northbound side, spanning 100 meters.
Officials rushed to evacuate more than 200 households in Village No. 15, Khuan Maphrao Subdistrict, Mueang District, to safe areas and set up tents to provide food. Meanwhile, floodwaters at Ban Bang Muang, Fa Lamy Subdistrict, Pak Phayun District, are experiencing heavy flooding, reaching nearly two meters deep due to the low-lying area and the area draining into a lake. Flooding in Phatthalung Province has affected 11 districts, 64 subdistricts, 597 villages, and 45 communities, affecting 178,456 people and 75,732 households. Disaster relief efforts have been declared in four districts: Kong Ra, Mueang Phatthalung, Srinakarin, and Pa Phayom.
The situation in Pattani Province is equally dire. Floodwaters have inundated several roads within the municipality, including Kalapho and Phiphit Roads, the province’s key economic thoroughfares. Residents along both sides of the roads have hurriedly placed sandbags to prevent water from entering their shops. Officials have erected barriers to block road entrances and exits, and it is expected that if the heavy rain continues, water levels will rise and inundate homes. Although Pattani Municipality is working 24/7 to drain water into the river, rising sea levels are slowing the process. The province has changed the water level warning flag from green to yellow. A total of four districts have been affected: Mueang, Kho Pho, Sai Buri, and Mae Lan. Two deaths occurred in Paku Subdistrict, Thung Yang Daeng District, and Khao Tum Subdistrict, Yarang District. The cause of death was drowning.
In Trang Province, water from the Banthat mountain range has flowed into several districts, affecting nine districts and affecting over 6,000 households. Yan Ta Khao subdistrict is particularly severely affected, having not experienced flooding in over 10-15 years. Water levels in some areas are 1-2 meters high, forcing residents to hurriedly move their belongings to higher ground. Several roads are experiencing rapid water flows, similar to rivers. The Trang governor has instructed Trang Municipality to be fully prepared, as water from Na Yong District and the Trang River is overflowing its banks.
Similarly, residents of Yan Ta Khao Subdistrict Municipality, Yan Ta Khao District, Trang Province, have been hurriedly moving their belongings to escape floodwaters since late last night. Heavy rain has been falling for four to five days, particularly in the Banthat Mountains, bordering Trang and Phatthalung provinces. The high water levels have caused flash floods to flow into the area. Combined with the heavy downpours, low-lying communities near canals have water levels 1-2 meters high. Yan Ta Khao Subdistrict Municipality officials and Yan Ta Khao Police Station officers are working diligently to assist residents, as water levels continue to rise.
Nine districts in Trang Province, excluding Hat Samran, have been affected, with over 6,000 households affected. Residents of the Old Market community said the Yan Ta Khao market area had not experienced such severe flooding in several years, since 1975 and 1981, when the water reached the second floor of houses. The Old Market community is low-lying, so water surged ahead of other areas and receded more slowly than the surrounding areas.