Disasters loom as heavy rains persist
The weather bureau yesterday warned seven northern provinces of the danger from continuing heavy downpours and warned residents in risky areas to beware of flash-floods and landslides over the next two days.
The Meteorological Department reported the Southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and Thailand had led to heavy rain over the country - especially in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit and Nan. Meanwhile, Uttaradit province yesterday declared four districts - Muang, Laplae, Tron and Phichai - disaster zones due to flooding, which has also seen 10,000 rai of farmland flooded for a week now, said Provincial Disaster Prevention chief Nithipat Pimpiriyakul. The declaration enabled the use of a Bt50-million emergency budget to help those affected immediately. Lampang Governor Amornthat Niratisayakul yesterday inspected the overflowing Huai Luang reservoir and the Huai Pakhoi reservoir - which had a 15-metre-wide crack - and said he planned to declare the area a disaster zone. Meanwhile, the six Andaman coastal provinces are set for a tsunami drill on July 25 at 9.30am, Phuket Disaster Prevention official Anusorn Kaewkangwol said.
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