Southern floods wash out

The districts are Chaiya, Tha Chang, Vibhavadi, Khiri Ratthanikhom, Kanchanadit and Don Sak.

"A flash flood last night caused damage and landslides," Vibhavadi district chief Prasert Jitmung said yesterday. Two people are missing, he said, and five houses are still buried under piles of earth and mud.

"Rescue workers cannot reach the area to offer help because the flood-water current is too strong," Prasert said. In Khiri Ratthanikhom, 300 people have been evacuated from their homes and flood water has risen to nearly 4 metres. Many roads in Surat Thani are impassable because of rising flood water.

In neighbouring Nakhon Si Thamm- arat, floods have swamped many areas and 50 schools have suspended classes indefinitely. There are more than 150,000 flood victims in the  town alone.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department warned people in 10 southern provinces to brace for more flash flooding.