The National Disaster Warning Centre warned yesterday that the South would be hit by heavy rain on Wednesday due to a high-pressure system from the Northeast and a low-pressure in the Andaman Sea. Some places may be hit be rainfall of more than 100 millimetres.

The director of the centre, Chayasarn Tonanon, said heavy rain in the South was normal at this time of the year, even though the rainfall was very high.

However he added: “It should|be noted that this is the third time that the South was flooded this [wet] season, which is more frequent compared to the last two years.

Warning to people in lower South 

“We would like to warn the |people in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat to be aware of [the possibility of] flash floods and landslides and they should move their belongings to high ground and keep monitoring the news from the authorities.”

Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary Chayaphon Thitisak revealed that there were two provinces, Surat Thani and Phatthalung, still suffering severe flooding.

Chayaphon said four provinces – Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, and Chumphon – were on a flood watch list. But the flood situation in Ranong, Narathiwat, Pattani, Krabi, and Trang had eased.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director Chatchai Promlert said that 212 homes had been destroyed in the disaster, with a further 393 homes severely damaged, and 4,852 others damaged.

Chatchai said homeowners whose properties were destroyed were eligible for Bt33,000 in compensation. If that was not enough, they could receive donations from residents in their province.