FLOODS continued to ravaged the South, with stormy weather blamed for three more deaths in Surat Thani, which brought the total number of fatalities to 12 in five provinces.

Drowned in Surat Thani were six-year-old Nattapon Manachak, Amporn Chuprokaew, 64, and Supong Semapat, 41. Amporn and Supong died while going out to sea to catch fish.

Rough weather also sank the boat of Suthep Aebmanee, 55, who is missing.

The three other seriously hit provinces are Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, and Phatthalung.

Late yesterday, heavy rain continued in most parts of Surat Thani. The province’s disaster prevention and mitigation office said floodwater has already spread over 17 districts, affecting more than 87,000 residents. In the hardest-hit spots, floodwater was up to one metre deep.

In a move to ease locals’ fears, relevant authorities have tried to assure them that the Ratchaprabha dam in Surat Thani will not release water. The dam is now 87 per cent full with 4,893 million cubic metres of water.

In Trang, more than 30,000 residents are struggling with floods in eight districts. The situation was so serious that relevant authorities declared six of these districts as disaster-hit zones.

A number of flood victims set up roadside tents after the deluge had swamped their homes.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, run-off water from mountainous areas hit low-lying areas. The Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality was inundated.

The floodwater level was more than two metres deep in the worst-hit areas, and some houses were submerged to the roof.

Schools in the municipal zones announced that they will be closed till tomorrow.

In Phatthalung, railway lines in Khuan Khanun district were impas-sable due to flooding. Many train passengers were forced to switch to bus travel.

Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said soldiers were coordinating with various authorities in an effort to deliver help to flood victims.

Apart from the hard-hit provinces, Chumphon, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces were also flooded in the South.

Meanwhile, the National Health Security Office (NHSO) is closely monitoring the situation out of concern patients suffering from chronic kidney failure might have problems accessing vital dialysis solutions.

“We have now arranged home deliveries and sought to ensure they have adequate supplies,” NHSO spokesman Atthaporn Limpanyalerd said.