Severe floods persist in Narathiwat after Kolok River overflows
Floods in Narathiwat remain severe, with the districts of Tak Bai and Sungai Kolok in critical condition as the Kolok River overflows. Long-distance water pumps have been requested from Prachinburi’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation due to concerns about further rainfall.
The recent weather in Narathiwat has shown signs of improvement with sunshine covering all 13 districts, and rainfall halted for two consecutive days. This has led to approximately 60% of agricultural lands and residential areas returning to normal. However, the critical situation persists in two districts, Sungai Kolok and Tak Bai, where the Kolok River has overflowed. Seven communities in Sungai Kolok are particularly affected.
In Sungai Kolok municipality, the communities of Hua Saphan, Tha Ko Phai, Tha Rong Ruea, Tha Prabha, Pohong Yamu, Tha Je Ka Seng, and Tha Bure are experiencing recurrent flooding. Water levels in these areas range from 50 to 90 centimetres.
Sujada Phannara, the mayor of Sungai Kolok, requested long-distance water pumps from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Region 3, in Prachinburi, aiming for urgent drainage from these seven communities to prevent further flooding if rain returns.
Residents of these communities have evacuated to two flood relief centres: Municipal School 4 Ban Sai Thong and Municipal School 3, accommodating 94 households and a total of 326 people. Additionally, flooding persists in two subdistricts of Sungai Kolok.
In Muno subdistrict, three villages: Ban Lubo Luesong, Moo 2; Ban Padang Yo, Moo 3; and Ban Pu Po, Moo 4 all remain flooded. Pasemas sub-district, too, has three villages still underwater: Ban Tura, Moo 2; Ban Kuala Sila, Moo 3; and Ban Nam Tok, Moo 5, with water levels averaging nearly 1 metre.
Narathiwat floods
Over in Tak Bai district, flooding spans three subdistricts. In Nanak subdistrict, four villages: Ban Khae Bae, Moo 1; Ban Ta Se, Moo 2; Ban Pada Dor, Moo 3; and Ban Kualor Ta, Moo 4, all have water levels exceeding 1 metre. Khosit subdistrict faces similar challenges with flooding in three villages: Ban Saring, Moo 1; Ban Khosit, Moo 4; and Ban Plak Pla, Moo 5.
Meanwhile, Ko Sathon subdistrict has six villages affected: Ban Ko Sathon, Moo 2; Ban Sri Phangan, Moo 3; Ban Ta Liang, Moo 4; Ban Khok Ka Po, Moo 5; Ban Cha Bae Pa, Moo 7; and Ban Chum Bok, Moo 9, all with water depths over a metre. The slow drainage in Tak Bai is attributed to the winding nature of the water flow at the mouth of the bay, causing a delay in water receding, reported KhaoSod.
Assistance from relevant agencies continues, with Pornsak Laorujiralai, Deputy Commander of the Crime Suppression Division and Acting Commander of the Marine Police, directing Paramet Poyanok, Superintendent 7, Marine Police Division in Narathiwat, to distribute essential supplies and drinking water via boat to six villages in Ko Sathon. The supply distribution comes after the previous day’s efforts fell short of meeting the residents’ needs.
