1 dead, 2 missing as rain, floods soak Far South

Republished with permission. © Post Publishing PCL. www.bangkokpost.com

Malaysia hit hard closing Sungai Kolok border crossing

Writer: Post reporters and dpa

Heavy rain and flooding along the Thai-Malaysian border have left one child dead, two people missing, dozens of villages inundated, and the Sungai Kolok border crossing closed.

Seven-year-old Suhaila Ngajoo was killed instantly when a landslide hit her home in Yala province's Than To district home around 2am today. Her parents also were injured.

Since Dec 13, flooding has affected 41 villages in three Yala districts, namely Krong Pinang, Muang Yala and Yaha.

In Narathiwat province, nine districts - Sukhirin, Waeng, Sungai Padi, Sungai Kolok, Si Sakhon, Chanae, Rangae, Tak Bai and Rueso - have been inundated. Governor Natthapong Sirichana declared 13 villagesin Waeng and Sukhirin districts flood-stricken zones. Affected were Loh Jud sub-district of Waeng disrict and Ma Mong, Kia, Phu Khao Thong and Rom Sai sub-districts of Sukhirin district. Loh Jud residents were evacuated and took shelter at the Waeng district office.

Nine schools in Waeng and Sukhirin were closed indefinitely due to flood waters that ran 1.5-2 metres deep. Flooding was spreading especially in low-lying and riverside areas.

The Pattani River overflowed in Muang Yala district and, in Narathiwat, three rivers - the Golok, Bang Nara and Sai Buri - also burst their banks.

Rain also continued in Phatthalung province throughout Wednesday night and over 500 rai of local rubber plantations, orchards, paddy fields and vegetable gardens were flooded in Muang Phatthalung district. About 150 families were affected there.

Border closed

In Narathiwat, a 200-metre-long section of the road leading to the Buketa border crossing was flooded, but vehicles still were able to traverse it, so the checkpoint continued to operate.

The water level of the Sai Buri River continued to rise and it was overflowing in low-lying areas, paddy fields and village roads in Si Sakhon district.

Sgn Maj Charnnarong Malichuen of an infantry company in Narathiwat went missing after falling from a boat that soldiers used to evacuate flood victims in Muang Sunai Kolok municipality late Wednesday night. The strong current washed his flat boat against the superstructure of a steel railway bridge and he fell overboard.

The Sungai Kolok border crossing was closed at 5am on Thursday as flooding reached 30 centimetres in the adjacent government centre of Rantau Panjang town on the Malaysian side.

A local disaster prevention and mitigation office reported that about half Songkhla province was flooded. Of all 16 districts in the southern province, flooding covered seven namely Hat Yai, Sadao, Khlong, Na Thawi, Chana, Thepha and Saba Yoi.

Water from Sadao district and the Khao Kaeo mountain range in Hat Yai was flowing towards the centre of Hat Yai and raising concerns.

Malaysia flooding

Two Malaysian provinces also are suffering from two days of heavy rain across the peninsula.

An 11-year-old boy was missing after he fell from the roof of his house into rampaging flood waters late Wednesday in Kuala Krai in the state of Kelantan, the New Straits Times said.

A total of 3,930 people have fled their homes in several areas of Kelantan due to flooding caused by two days of heavy rains. In the adjacent state of Terengganu, 4,209 people fled to evacuation centres...

Meteorological authorities in Songkhla province predicted continued heavy rains in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat from Thursday to Sunday due to the strong northeast...

The Malaysian Meteorological Department on Thursday issued an advisory that intermittent and occasionally heavy rains will continue in Kelantan and Terengganu, while moderate rains will be experienced in other states on the peninsula.