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Thailand

Many areas are flooded while others remain parched

BANGKOK, 6 August 2015 (NNT)-Several areas in the North, North East and South of Thailand have reportedly been flooded by overflowing rivers after several days of rainfall.

In Chiang Rai, the embankment of the Mekong River in Chiangsan district is being continually eroded by strong currents in the river. The water has frequently overflowed into farmlands despite a decline in water levels in some places.

Vendors and riverside restaurant owners in Mae Sai district have begun cleaning up after the flood waters began to recede. The authorities will continue to monitor the Sai River even though water levels have now dropped after earlier reaching a critical point.

In Nakhon Phanom, more than 3,000 homes and 30,000 rai of rice paddies have been inundated in Sri Songkram district after the Songkram River overflowed the embankment and flooded surrounding areas. Residents were forced out of their homes, and had to take refuge on the street.

Meanwhile, Sisaket residents are still coping with the drought crisis as the amount of water in the Rasi Salai Dam is at a critical level. Only one of the sluice gates is opened to release water into the streams, in order to conserve the remaining water.

In Satul, homes in Muang district were damaged by a waterspout. The 5th Infantry Regiment has deployed soldiers to help fix these houses before it starts to rain.