The National Disaster Warning Centre said yesterday that Phetchaburi and Kanchanaburi would also face heavy rain and flooding until tomorrow .

The weather bureau also said that the upper South, notably Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, will face heavy rain, possible flooding and landslides, as well as waves up to three metres in the Gulf and Andaman Sea.

This means the situation could worsen in Prachuap Khiri Khan, where Bang Saphan district has been subject to torrential rain and flooding since Monday night, which also blocked sections of Phetkasem Highway.

Wang Yao Bridge in Prachuap Khiri Khan was damaged by forest runoff and motorists couldn’t go through to other southern provinces while other routes were also flooded and impassable for small vehicles.

This resulted in a 10km traffic jam yesterday.

Officials yesterday installed a “Bailey bridge” – a portable, prefabricated, truss structure – near Bang Saphan Intersection. The flood at Bang Saphan Hospital was described as the worst in 15 years – over a metre deep – but it started to lower while the hospital was closed and its 40 inpatients were evacuated to Prachuap Khiri Khan Hospital and a field hospital at a local school.

Deputy Premier General Prawit Wongsuwan said yesterday the government had formulated a post-flood rehabilitation plan and would aid people after His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn voiced concern about the woes that people in the region are facing. Prawit spoke as the government launched a centre to aid flood victims at Government House.

The centre will take inquiries on the flood situation via the 1111 hotline, said deputy permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Jirachai Moontongroy.

He said people donating money to the centre’s Krungthai bank account (no 067-0-06895-0) were entitled to a tax deduction. Meanwhile, compensation for each person killed in the floods was set at Bt50,000.

Jirachai said PM’s Office Minister Omsin Cheewapruek will call a meeting of the disaster victim fund board this afternoon (Jan 11) to |consider aid for families of |people who lost their lives.

The flooding has hit 12 provinces – Phatthalung, Narathiwat, Yala, Songkhla, Pattani, Trang, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan – and affected 369,680 households or 1.1 million people, department chief Chatchai Phromlert said. Life is back to normal in Yala, but some 92 districts in the 11 other provinces are still inundated.

Provincial health officials and local administrative representatives also searched for residents marooned in their home to help move them to shelters.

The Public Health Ministry said 112 hospitals were flood-affected and that more than 100 mobile medical teams had been sent to help victims along with 222,000 sets of medical supplies. A further 144,000 sets were on the way, with another 300,000 sets to be sent soon.

A total of 1,791 schools in the region have been affected although most have been able to resume classes. But 30 schools in Prachuap remain closed due to flooding.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Si Thammarat International Airport is expected to resume services today after being closed since Friday.

Trains to and from Trang (Kantang-Bangkok, Trang-Bangkok and vice versa) have been suspended, possibly until the end of the week. The State Railway of Thailand said trains can only go as far as Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Stop blame game: PM

Services still available include the Diesel express 43 (Bangkok to Surat Thani) and Diesel express 39 (Bangkok to Surat Thani) with trains stopping at Hua Hin, while the free train 261 for the Bangkok to Hua Hin route is operating as normal.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha urged people to follow weather updates closely and stopped playing a blame game over alleged delays in disaster warnings. He also urged people to take care of themselves in the floods, not just waiting for state help, and being more prepared for such problems in future.