Stormy seas, southern, northern provinces on flood alert

[Norseman]

BANGKOK, July 15 (TNA)

Heavy downpours of rain are expected to impact most of Thailand this weekend, a disaster service official warned on Friday, giving special evacuation precautionary notice to residents of seven provinces vulnerable to flash floods and mudslides.

Director General Anucha Mokhavet of the Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said the southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are quite strong and could bring heavy rain to as much as 60-70 per cent of the country.

People living near waterways in the southern provinces of Phang-nga, Krabi, Satun and Trang, as well as the northern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Tak and Uttaradit must prepare for evacuation to high ground, Mr. Anucha said, as the provinces could be hit by flash floods, water runoff and mudslides Saturday or Sunday.

He urged residents of the seven provinces to closely follow weather forecasts and instructions from the official metereological service.

Fishermen are also warned to be most careful when being offshore or remain ashore as the ocean storms in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand may be as high as one to two metres, he added.