HAT YAI , Nov 22 (TNA) -- Passenger train services from Hat Yai to Padang Baesar district bordering Malaysia resumed early Sunday but tens of thousands of villagers in Thailand’s South have left their homes for higher ground as flooding continued to ravage the region causing authorities to declare a number of areas as disaster zones.
Train services between the two key districts returned to normal after flood water which had inundated part of the track had receded.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) officials plan to survey southern tracks which are frequently under water during the monsoon season to prevent accidents from occurring.
Meanwhile, two-year-old boy drowns in Songkhla, the first death in new round of floods.
Authorities in Narathiwat and Phatthalung provinces have already declared nine and five districts in their respective provinces disaster zone after floodwater inundated people’s homes and destroyed farmland.
In Narathiwat alone, more than 10,000 people living in Chanae district were evacuated to higher ground while 80 families living along the banks of the Sungai Kolok River were sent to evacuation centres as water overflowed the banks.
More than 4,000 families in five districts of Phatthalung province were already severely affected by the deluge, with many forced to leave their homes for a safer place. Phatthalung declares whole province disaster area affected by flooding.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Center in the eastern South has issued flash flood warnings for five provinces -- Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat -- as heavy rain is expected to continue for a certain period. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 14:08:59 22 November 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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