Narathiwat Declares Emergency Following Worst Floods In Nine Years

NARATHIWAT (Thailand), Dec 20 (Bernama) -- Narathiwat province in southern Thailand has declared a natural disaster emergency in all 13 districts after being struck by the worst floods in nine years that has claimed three lives. Governor Nattapong Sirichana said a soldier had been reported missing, believed to have been washed away by the floodwaters that had destroyed 12 houses, forced the closure of 115 schools and triggered landslides at stretches of eight roads. A total of 115,853 people had been affected by the floods, he said. He also said that the body of a 14-year-old boy, Sulaiman Yusuf, was found in the Golok River. Sulaiman, who had lived in Jarenket in Sungai Golok town, was washed away by the strong current when playing in the water with friends, according to authorities. A 30-year-old man drowned in a river in Kg Bandi in the Muang Yala district in Yala province. An eight-year-old boy was found dead in the Pattani River in Pattani. The soldier was washed away by the strong currents while helping residents to evacuate in Sungai Golok. Friday evening, the three districts of Takbai, Sungai Golok and Weang bordering Malaysia remained flooded. -- BERNAMA