Floods have affected over 130,000 households across seven southern provinces following recent heavy rainfall, with forecasts indicating that the wet conditions will persist in many areas until December 3.
Persistent heavy rainfall is impacting all southern provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, causing disruptions to numerous train services as floodwaters have inundated the tracks between Pattani and Yala.
The meteorological department has issued a fresh warning for continued heavy rainfall through Sunday in eight provinces: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, potentially worsening the flood situation.
Significant rises in water levels are expected in key southern rivers such as the Pattani, Saiburi, Kolok, and Tanyongmas, with predictions of surges between 1.5 and 2 meters, according to Thanaroj Woraratprasert, director of the National Water Administration Center under the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).
Narathiwat has recorded the highest rainfall in the region, with a staggering 1,100 millimeters over the last seven days.
On Tuesday alone, heavy rains brought 502mm to Narathiwat, 492mm to Pattani, and 405mm to Yala, causing the worst flooding Yala has seen in thirty years, as reported by local officials.
The forecast suggests a decrease in rainfall starting December 4, after which water levels in the flooded regions are expected to slowly decline.
Floodwaters from earlier this week are now beginning to drain into the sea.
In response to the flooding, the ONWR has implemented several initiatives, including mobilizing rescue and relief resources, setting up evacuation centers, and providing utility support.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Traisuree Traisaranakul reported that the recent heavy rains have rapidly led to extensive flooding across the southern provinces, prompting landslide warnings near mountainous areas.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has documented ongoing floods affecting 136,219 families across 50 districts, 321 tambons, and 1,884 villages in seven southern provinces.
Many additional families in other districts continue to struggle with the flood conditions.
The DDPM, in partnership with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and various mobile network providers, is sending flood warnings via SMS to residents in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat to mitigate further impacts.
According to Santi Pailoplee, professor of geology at Chulalongkorn University, the volume of rainfall causing the current floods in the south far exceeds that which recently affected Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Had the same volume of rain occurred in the upper North, the flood impact there would have been tenfold, he explained.
Despite the severity, the risk to life has been relatively low in the south, as few communities are located near waterways or flood-prone areas, added the professor.
Concerning train services, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced that all trains bound for Yala and Sungai Kolok are terminating at Hat Yai in Songkhla, except for local trains 463 and 464, which are running between Phatthalung and Sungai Kolok, stopping at Thepa station in Songkhla.
The interruption in train services has been caused by flooding on the tracks between Mai Kaen station in Pattani and Raman in Yala.
Travelers are advised to stay updated on the latest travel developments by the SRT.
Train services to Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, and Phatthalung remain unaffected by the severe weather conditions.
