Pranburi is overflowing its banks

It is unevenly distributed in Thailand. There is too little rain in the North, so that the Royal Irrigation Department will stop water supplies for rice cultivation in the central region until April 30. But in Prachuap Khiri Khan the river Pranburi has overflowed its banks, and the provinces of Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi are likewise lashed with storms. Many districts have been flooded.

Residents of tambom Huai Sat Yai (Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan) were trapped for hours. They could only be saved after soldiers made an emergency bridge out of bamboo.

Noppadon Timtanom, commander of the Infantry Center of Thanarat Camp, is concerned about the tambon Bueng Nakhon further downstream.

Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khri Khan closed yesterday and Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi banned access to the Pa La-oo waterfall.

In Ratchaburi, mountain waters flooded farmland and tourist sites in Ban Kha district. The Ban Kha district was forced to close off access to the hot springs in tambon Ban Bueng.

Also in Ratchaburi, the access road to Chaloem Prakiat Thai Prachan National Park is impassable after two days of rain. Six holiday parks are therefore cut off from the outside world.

Yesterday in Kaeng Krachan (Phetchaburi) after three days of heavy rains, the Huai Mae Khamoei earthen dam failed. Sixty families were forced to leave their homes.

Floods due to run off (water that comes from the mountains) ravaged three villages in Cha-am district (Phetchaburi). Soldiers came to the aid of the residents to bring their belongings to dry land. They try to contain the rising water with sandbags.

(Source: Bangkok Post, October 9, 2014)

Photos: Ban Bueng in Ratchaburi.