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Forest flooding from the Khao Luang mountains yesterday inundated Sichon, Tha Sala, and Muang districts. Especially hard hit was the Tha Sala hospital where doctors and staff evacuated patients to the Maharat hospital. Provincial and local officials hurriedly despatched equipment such as flat-bottomed boats to assist in he evacuation.

Thousands of rais of rubber and palm plantations along the Tha Sala-Nopphitam road were submerged, prompting officials to use heavy machinery to drain the area.

Nakhon Si Thammarat disaster prevention and mitigation officials reported that 128,450 residents of 338 villages in nine districts (Khanom, Nopphitam, Chalermphrakiat, Chuuat, Sichon, Phrommakhiri, Tha Sala, Ron Phibun, and Lan Saka) were affected and 16,000 rais of farmland damaged.

Meanwhile, Phattalung disaster prevention chief So Hemakul said the public were warned to keep clear of waterfalls at Banthat mountain range, including Manora, Nok Ram, and Prai Wan falls, for fear of flash flooding

Continuous heavy rains caused a large landslide, 10-metres-wide and 20-metres-long, at Khao Men mountain in Tambon Ta Pan, Si Banphot district, So said. It damaged two rais of a fruit orchard but no injuries.

Officials placed a 24-hour watch on the mountain and prepared for evacuations if the situation worsened. So said his office also found 29 villages in Si Banphot, Kong Ra, Tamot, Pa Bon and Si Nakarin districts at risk of landslide and had them under close watch also.

Southern (East Coast) Meteorological Office director Wanchai Sak-udomchai warned of heavy downpours expected in the south-east coastal provinces. Residents in risky areas of Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phattalung should brace for floods in 1-2 days while it was recommended small boats stay ashore to November 14 due to 2-3 metre-high waves, he said.