SURAT THANI: -- Schools in Muang Chump-hon Municipality were closed yesterday after heavy downpours on Tuesday night caused severe flooding, while Surat Thani's Phrasaeng district has been declared a disaster zone.
Chumphon's seven districts, including the provincial seat, were flooded and flat-bottomed boats were used to distribute relief supplies, while landslide warnings were issued in disaster-prone areas.
The floods covered many roads in the Muang Chum-phon Municipality affecting Sriyapai School, Chomphon Technical College and Chum-phonkhet-udomsak Hospital.
The municipality's mayor, Srichai Weeranorapanit, task-ed authorities to install pumps to drain floodwater out of the area and clear drainage.
Meanwhile, vehicles had to take bypass roads as the main highway in Chumphon linking Bangkok and the southern provinces was inundated following the rains on Tuesday.
Chumphon governor Manit Wattansen said the Asia Highway was inundated between kilometre markers 43 to 44 and the water level was about 70 centimetres to 1 metre. Southbound motorists were directed to turn right to Ranong at the Pathom Muang Intersection while Bangkok-bound motorists were asked to make the left turn to Ranong at Pato Intersection in Lang Suang district.
In Surat Thani, provincial governor Winai Buapradit continued the disaster zone listing for Phrasaeng district as non-stop rain caused the Tapi River to overflow.
In Koh Samui district, beachfront roads at Chawang Beach and nearby areas were covered by a metre of floodwater, while a stretch of the ring road circling the island was also flooded. Officials used two pumps to drain water into Klong Chaweng.
Koh Samui Mayor Wara-korn Rattanarat said though the flood was not as severe as in 2005, it was still worrying because there were many structures now blocking natural drainage outlets.
In Chaiya and Tha Chang districts, many stretches of roads were under 50cm of water, while residents piled up sandbags to protect their homes. Following the incident of a runoff that killed eight people on October 13, the Khao Sok National Park is now closed until the end of the rainy season.
-- The Nation 2007-10-25
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