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Published on December 19, 2007

People in three parts of Songkhla were evacuated after they were hit by forest run-off yesterday.

The Songkhla Disaster Prevention Office said eight villages in Saba Yoi, Khlong Hoi Khong and Rattaphum districts were flooded.

In Rattaphum, 11 roads were damaged. In Saba Yoi, forest run off flooded 40 homes, displacing 300 people.

Soldiers assisted with the evacuation and set up tents for the homeless. They took household possessions for safe storage at Saba Yoi District Office.

Seven districts in Yala have been declared disaster areas, resulting in the closure of 72 schools.

In Betong district, the Pattani River broke its banks, damaging roads and bridges. One community is under more than a metre of water and 1,000 families there are without electricity. Power was cut for fear of people getting electrocuted.

Police continue to look for Sama-ae Deemadee, 30, who was swept away along with her sister Romla, 35, away on Monday. The body of Romla was found later.

Yala disaster prevention chief Khonsak Khongpan said at least two people had been killed and another 16,500 others affected by the flooding.

Several roads were damaged and there have been reports of many landslides. Bannang Sata district appeared to have escaped damage to date, he said.

In Narathiwat, Phaen Wannamethi, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross, said relief packages donated by Her Majesty the Queen were being delivered to flood victims in Muang and Sungai Padi districts. They have been underwater since December 7.

Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn sent their best wishes to residents.

Rising waters in the Sungai Kolok, Sai Buri and Bang Nara rivers in Narathiwat flooded almost 300 villages in 13 districts. More than 65,000 people have been affected.

Many have been evacuated from their homes and more than 17,000 rai of farmland destroyed and 2,000 livestock drowned. Many fish and shrimp farms were destroyed.

Almost 2,000 roads suffered damage and many religious places and schools have been forced to close.

Internal Security Operations Command dispatched men with relief packages.

Helicopters were delivering relief goods to areas cut off by flooding.

In Pattani, some 80 households in low-lying Tambon Pakaharang in Muang district were flooded and residents were only able to travel by boat.

The Nation