Flooding remained severe in monsoon-dominated southern provinces on Thursday, but roads to Betong district of Yala were finally reopening for traffic.
Areas around the Songkhla Lake in Songkhla province remain flooded on Thursday. (Photo by Vichayant Boonchote)
Strong currents of floodwater were flowing toward the sea through Muang Pattani district of Pattani province, fed by torrential rain runoff from Narathiwat and Yala provinces.
Many main streets in Muang Pattani were still inundated and many schools there have been closed since Tuesday.
Sai Buri and Pattani rivers were overflowing and the level of the water was continuing to rise
Ten other districts of Pattani were declared flood-stricken areas, in addition to Muang district. They are Yarang, Thung Yang Daeng, Yaring, Nong Chik, Sai Buri, Mae Lan, Kapho, Mai Kaen, Mayo and Khok Pho.
About 30 schools were closed, over 87,000 people were affected and two people have died in flood related incidents. Severe flooding was reported in Paka Harang sub-district of Muang Pattani where about 1,000 people were evacuated.
Officials said the flood situation in Pattani depended on the Bang Lang dam situated upstream in Yala province. The dam has a capacity of 1,543 million cubic metres and was 91% full on Thursday.
In Songkhla province, flooding was reported in Sadao district and areas in several other districts around the overflowing Songkhla Lake. They are Hat Yai, Bang Klam, Khuan Niang, Singha Nakhon and Krasae Sin districts.
The lake also flooded adjacent districts of Phatthalung province - Muang Phatthalung, Khuan Khanun, Bang Kaew, Khao Chaison and Pak Phayun.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat province, high tides and strong waves caused flooding in Pak Phanang, Tha Sala, Sichon, Hua Sai and Muang Nakhon Si Thammarat districts. About 1,300 coastal houses were about one metre deep in floodwater.
In Yala province, rescue workers made passable Highway 410 from Muang Yala via Than To to Betong district. A section of the highway in Than To was blocked by a landside on Wednesday.
Since Dec 17, floods have hit eight districts of Yala and affected about 52,000 people.
In Narathiwat province, areas by the Sungai Kolok River in Tak Bai and Sungai Kolok district remain flooded.