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Published on October 16, 2007

Parks director-general Chalermsak Wanichsombat said he ordered the head of national parks to monitor weather conditions closely.

For the safety of tourists, park authorities are authorised to immediately close any park considered unsafe in order to prevent a recurrence of the weekend tragedy at Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani, where a flash flood swept away tourists and guides in a cave.

Chalermsak said authorities would discuss the permanent closure of national parks in the rainy season, but noted the issue was tricky as it could affect tour operators and tourism-related businesses.

Meanwhile, a rescue team leader confirmed the death toll at Khao Sok as six foreign tourists, including three children, and two Thai guides. They drowned during a cave tour. A 21-year-old British woman tourist survived.

Separately, 1,000 households in three tambons in Kanchanaburi's Bo Ploi district have been isolated after bridges and roads were inundated by high-level floodwater.

In Nakhon Sawan, water has been released from Wang Rom Klao Dam in Krok Phra district, causing flooding in areas south of the dam, especially on major roads linking Nakhon Sawan and neighbouring provinces.

The Nation