Heavy rains expected next week

BANGKOK, Aug 4 (TNA) -- As several provinces, mostly in the Northeast and the North, are already battered by heavy flooding and mudslide, the Meteorological Department has issued a latest warning that heavy rains and high waves are expected in 47 provinces nationwide next week. Chayapol Thitisak, Director-General of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, quoted the Meteorological Department as warning that heavy rainfalls and mudslides could happen between August 5-8 in those provinces while waves as high as 2-4 metres could be seen in the Andaman Sea and the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand. Mr Chayapol said he had ordered concerned officials to stay on alert and to closely monitor the weather developments, and to also able to hand out essentials to flood victims round- the-clock. Small trawlers should stay ashore during the period, he added. The 47 provinces include 13 in the North, 14 in Northeast, 11 in Central and nine in the South. (TNA)