Mudslides and flooding in South Thailand worsens

[buksida]

At least four people were killed and more than 100 are missing in a mudslide at Krabi's Khao Phanom district, while rescue workers have halted their operations fearing further slides.

After the hillside gave way, rescue workers found four victims--three men and one woman--while some 200 initially were reported missing, but rescue teams helped some 50 villagers from the scene of the incident are mostly staying at Hua Kaew School, Wat Tham Khao Din and Wat Tham Krok.

The rescue team decided to halt operations as the water level continued to rise, bridges and roads are inaccessible, and fears of more mudslides. However, Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanond said the rescue operation would resume Thursday and that the authorities planned to ask for more assistance from the army for heavy equipment, food and drinking water.

The military would also be asked to reconstruct damaged bridges and roads, he said, adding that if the weather permitted, helicopter may be used to help the victims.

In Phrom Khiri district of Nakhon Si Thammarat, a flash flood had swept away a bridge to Thon Hong sub district, leaving more than 80 households stranded in the district, but a landslide with large rocks blocked the road into the district, while at a nearly hill, mud continued flowing downhill.

In Trang, a flood prevention dyke along the Trang River at Bang Rak and Nong Trut sub districts collapsed due to strong tides. Its waters had overflowed, flooding more than 1,500 homes with 1 to 3 metres deep.

Trang Governor Maitree Intusut announced that three more districts, now 10 districts in total, have been designated as disaster areas.

In Chumphon, one man was found drowned at Lang Suan district.

Seven districts in the provinces with more than 55,000 villagers, 18,000 households were affected from the flood.

A second victim, a child, was found drowned in Phattalung after strong floodwaters swept him away and his body was not recovered.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday visited Nakhon Si Thammarat to evaluate the flood situation. He also distributed relief packages to flood victims in Tha Sala and Pak Phanang.

Source: MCOT

[HHADFan]

Makes me feel bad for pissing and moaning about a little cold weather. It's barely rained here.

[Randy Cornhole]

What the hell is wrong with our planet at the moment? Earthquakes, flooding, mudslides. weird cold weather?
Is this the beginning of the end...

[moja]

Friends in Samui were without power for 51 hours!

[STEVE G]

Some pictures from the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12913262

[cookmanchef]

I have spent the last 3 weeks in Samui and Phuket doing some research and I am so glad to be back in sunny HH. Stuck in Surat Thani one night because the main highway was closed between there and Chumphon, hope people don't criticise Thailand too much about this as I doubt any country could have coped with rain, the like of which I have never seen before.