Sodden Northeast battening down for Ketsana

According to the Meteorological Department's warning issued at 4.30pm yesterday, the typhoon is moving across neighbouring Laos and heading for Mukdahan province.

More rain is likely with isolated heavy to very heavy falls, affecting the Northeast of Thailand and then other regions.

"It will start raining in almost every province in the Northeast tonight and tomorrow," said Somchai Baimoung, director of the department's weather forecast bureau.

Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram and Nakhon Ratchasima were alerted for severe weather and flash floods.

 The department warned all ships to proceed with caution as the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand is intensifying with high winds and waves likely above 2 metres.

"We informed Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Mineral Resources Departments. Their officials have met with people in risky areas to advise them to prepare for flooding. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration was also alerted to the weather situation so it could prepare the capital's drainage system," Somchai said.

Authorities have released water from Pasak Jolasit Dam in Phetchabun province because of rising levels and to prevent the dam overflowing and inundating nearby residences and in Bangkok.

Mana Krobbuaban,22, a Phetchabun resident, was swept away by torrents and disappeared while fishing in a canal with friends on Sunday evening. Rescue workers and divers have still not found his body in the floodwaters.

About 100 rai of paddy fields and 50 houses in Phichit's Sarklek district have been damaged by floods, and farmers in Muang district's tambon Pamakharb have hired a truck to harvest rice before flooding hits their fields.

In Chaiyaphum, flash floods and mud from Phu Lan Ka mountain blocked Chaiyaphum-Nongbuadang road and collapsed a reservoir, sending water sweeping through 500 houses.

After three consecutive days of rain in four tambons of Phitsanulok's Nernmaprang district, 60 houses and 10,000 rai of agricultural land had been inundated and people moved to safe areas, the district head said yesterday.