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Published on August 9, 2007

In all, 19 northern and northeastern provinces are under alert for the effects of storms caused by a depression.

After several days of heavy downpours, Si Sa Ket's Khun Han, Kantharalak, Khukhan, Phu Sing, Phrai Bung, Benjaluk and Non Khun districts were declared disaster-hit zones with severe flooding.

Wittaya Wachira-angura, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre region 5 in Nakhon Ratchasima, said Khun Han and Kantharalak were the worst-hit.

He said Si Sa Ket authorities and provincial Red Cross officials had distributed survival kits to flood victims while  trucks and flat-bottomed boats were dispatched to transport people and belongings out of the flood-hit areas.

The severe flooding forced the closure of 16 schools in Khun Han district, though they should reopen today, Si Sa Ket Educational Area 4 deputy director Prawit Lakboon said.

But if the floodwaters do not subside sufficiently, authorities would close the schools again, he said.

The nine Khun Han villages remained inundated but the water level was starting to subside, officials said.

In the flood-ravaged area, an elderly resident was the only person known to have drowned.

Health officials yesterday distributed medical supplies to affected villagers in case of water-borne diseases and urged people to watch out for snakes and other poisonous creatures trying to escape the flooding.

In Ubon Ratchathani, where six districts and one-sub-district are flooded, officials said 4,753 households and 15,264 rai of farmland had been affected.

They distributed survival kits to Ban Sung Chang residents in Phibun Mangsahan district yesterday.

Deputy Governor Pramote Sajjarak said Na Chaluay, Nam Yuen and Buntharik districts, plus Nam Khun sub-district, were warned of possible landslides.

The Meteorological Depart-ment yesterday said the depression hovering over Nong Khai province had moved into Loei and was expected to move

into Uttaradit and Phitsanulok provinces in the northern region later in the afternoon.

It would bring increased rainfall in the northern and central regions while downpours would continue in the northeastern region.

Residents in at-risk areas in Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom were advised to take precautions against floods and landslides.

Tides in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand would be at two to three metres and weather officials warned small boats to remain in port for the time being.