Flooding is critical in Phatthalung, 100 people evacuated

PHATTHALUNG, Dec 1 (TNA) -- Flooding remains critical in the southern province of Phatthalung, especially in areas near the Songkhla Lake as about 100 people were evacuated. Persistent rain raised the level of the Songkhla Lake next to Ban Hua Pa Khieo in Thalay Noi sub-district of Khuan Khanun district. Consequently 111 people of 38 households were evacuated. They took shelter at the Ban Hua Pa Khieo arts and crafts centre. Phatthalung governor Kukiat Wongkraphan said 11 districts were declared disaster-stricken zones where about 120,000 people were affected. About 60 villages facing the Songkhla Lake were inundated with flood levels exceeding two meters in some areas. Local authorities expected the flooding to remain for longer than two weeks there as floodwater was inflowing from other areas in Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces. Meanwhile, Weeranant Pengjan, governor of Pattani province, said flooding expanded to 12 districts and affected about 32,000 people in his province. Four people drowned there. (TNA)