Rain stops while flooding in Narathiwat receded

NARATHIWAT, Jan 31 (TNA) -- Heavy downpours in the deep southern province of Narathiwat have stopped but certain areas are still under floodwater, said Meteorological Department Narathiwat office on Sunday. Most of the province were under floodwater, especially the four districts of Rangae, Cho-airong, Yi-ngo and Ruso were declared disaster zones, after heavy downpours battered the province the past few days. But heavy rain had stopped since Saturday while the water levels at the main rivers -- the Sungai Kolok, the Bang Nara and the Sai Buri -- have receded lower than their banks. However, certain areas such as Tambon Lumpoo in the provincial seat are still flooding. The Meteorological Department Narathiwat office has announced that Narathiwat is still covering with an influence of northeast storm which is still covering the Gulf of Thailand and the South but at a lesser amount. It forecasts that the province would be hit by 20 per cent of the total area while sea waves would be about one metre high. (TNA)