CONTINUOUS torrential rain lashing in many parts of the South since yesterday (Dec. 13) , especially in Chumphon and Surat Thani, disrupted travel as many roads are floods particularly the southbound route via Chumphon which is now closed, Naewna newspaper said this afternoon.
All eight districts of Chumphon are flooded with both farmlands and residential areas inundated. Many roads are submerged and impassable by small vehicles, especially Asian Highway 41 in front of the 41st Border Patrol Police camp, heading for Bangkok.
The Disaster Response Association Thailand webpage announced the closure of flooded Asia Highway 41 to both southbound and Bangkok-bound traffic.
Those traveling from Bangkok to the southern provinces were told to stop at rest stops and petrol pumps in Chumphon city or turn right at Pathomporn intersection to head to Ranong province.
Vehicles already travelling on Asian Highway 41 from Pathomporn intersection to Wat Phra That Sawi, Sawi district, were told to make a U-turn and find a safe rest stop.
In Surat Thani, relentless rain since yesterday led to canals overflowing and flooding farmlands, roads and houses in three districts, namely Mueang, Kanchanadit and Don Sak. Altogether 12 subdistricts, 42 villages and 315 households with 1,225 people have been affected.
The flooding is expected to worsen in Kanchanadit and Don Sak districts because water from the upstream is currently flowing down to add to the accumulated floodwater in the area.
In addition, there was a landslide in the vicinity of Surat Villa Village in Surat Thani city’s Wat Pradu subdistrict. Officials quickly went to help and fortunately there were no injuries.
At 8 a.m. this morning officials closed Phetkasem Road (Highway 4) at the Kra Buri red light intersection in Ranong province after incessant overnight rain triggered heavy flooding.
The strong northeasterly monsoon covering the Gulf of Thailand and the South led to continuous downpour for the past one to two days. Ranong’s Kra Buri district got almost 200 millimetres of rain over the past 48 hours.
This has led to six subdistricts being flooded with forest runoff from Chumphon-Ranong mountain range causing canals to overflow and flooding houses.
CAPTIONS:
Top, Front Page and first below: Flooding in Chumphon province today, Dec. 14, 2024.
Further below: Ranong’s Kra Buri district heavily flooded. All photos: Naewna
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