Situation in South stable

The flood situation in the southern province of Pattani remains stable. Highway 418 was impassable for small vehicles, while one more district suffered inundation.

People living in areas at risk of high floods were evacuated and classes |suspended at over 10 local schools and 10 Islamic boarding schools, until things return to normal.

Runoff from Yala and nearby mountains continued to pour into the Pattani River, which runs through the city to the sea. With many buildings and land filling for bridge construction, the river was slower and has overflowed into low-laying areas and nearby homes for over a week. Areas such as Tambon Pakaharang’s Moo 1-2, Tambon Barahor’s Moo 8, Tambon Taluboh’s Moo 7 have repeatedly flooded, and were 1-2-metres under water, so people only used boats as transports.

Ban Ja-nga in Tambon Pakaharang’s Moo 2 has seen 30 families evacuated out of the 90 families there while remaining residents stayed on their second floors and many had stockpiled food. But drinking water was running low and so far no agencies had helped them.

Water about 20cm deep has covered a 2km section |of the four-lane highway 418 (Pattani-Yala) since Saturday.

In Nong Chik district, 171 families from Ban Khlong Khud suffered a 50cm-deep flood and local officials set up tents along 418 road as temporary shelter for residents.

In Narathiwat, the flood stabilised as the rain ceased. Residential areas and farmland remained under 1.5 metres of water. Deputy governor Detchrat Simsiri said the three major rivers - the Bangnara, Saiburi and Sungai Kolok - continued to overflow.