Flooding continues in northern, eastern Thailand

BANGKOK, September 24 (TNA) - Severe floods have remained in Thailand's northern and eastern areas, with a critical inundation reported in Prachin Buri province in the Thai East, where a business area of Sri Maha Phote district has been submerged by as high as one meter floodwater. In Prachin Buri, floodwater from Kabin Buri district has reached Sri Maha Phote district, causing increased and expanded flooding in Sri Maha Phote, where floodwater at the Tha Prachum Market, a major business area of Sri Maha Phote, was about one meter deep, leading to impassable local roads and prompting motorists to have used bypasses. In Phichit province in the Thai North, the Yom River has overflown into four districts and almost 1,500 local houses have been 1-2 meters under floodwater, prompting authorities to have set up flood relief centers at district offices to distribute assistance and to monitor the flooding situation around the clock. In nearby Phitsanulok province, seven districts have been flooded, including Bang Rakam district which is nearly two meters under water. Besides, almost 70,000 rai or 112 square kilometers of local farmlands and villages have been flooded, with people in Bang Rakam running out of drinking water caused by flooded water treatment facility. (TNA)