The provincial prison was among the buildings hit. Officials rushed to erect a onemetrehigh barrier of sandbags at the entrance and turned to water pumps to drain the building. The prison holds about 1,000 inmates.

Governor Prasong Phithunkitcha said the downpours had left about 100 millimetres a day of rain on about 70 per cent of the province. Reservoirs were at 70 per cent capacity, he said.

Disaster prevention officials and volunteers are on standby around the clock, Prasong said. They are closely monitoring Bang Saphan and Bang Saphan Noi because the two districts lack reservoirs to hold rainwater, he said.

Seven districts in the province have been designated disaster zones because of extensive property damages. Designating the districts as disaster zones allows funds to be allocated for rebuilding and for assisting affected residents, Prasong said.

In Hua Hin, Permanent Secretary for the Interior Pongpayom Vasaphuti remains positive that the situation in the province - which was earlier declared a disaster zone - is under control and that the provincial administration organisation can deal with the heavy rainfall.

The ministry is prepared for a tropical storm hitting Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumpon and Petchaburi, Pongpayom said, adding that provincial governors can get assistance from national agencies and the armed forces at all times.

Mineral Resources Department directorgeneral Apichai Chawacharoenphan warned of possible landslides and floods in the North and West. People living in landslideprone areas in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi and adjacent provinces should be cautious, he said.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said a tropical depression in the Andaman Sea was yesterday about 700 kilometres west of Tak. With winds up to 55km and hour it was moving northnorthwest and would hit the coast of Burma today.

Rainfall is expected to continue, with isolated heavy to very heavy rains in provinces along the western border. Residents of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi should be prepared for flashfloods this weekend, while high waves are expected to continue in the Andaman Sea for the next few days.

The Nation