Floods ravage downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat as heavy rain in South persists

Sections of major roads in the downtown area, the province’s economic hub, were submerged for nearly two kilometres on Friday morning. Shopowners reinforced sandbag barriers in an effort to keep water out of their premises.

Access routes to Nakhon Si Thammarat Maharaj Hospital remained passable. The hospital erected additional sandbags and prepared contingency plans to relocate critical patients in case conditions deteriorate.

Mayor Kanop Ketchat said on Thursday night that runoff from Khao Luang and persistent rainfall were overwhelming drainage efforts in Muang district despite round-the-clock work crews.

The province reported that 12 districts have been affected by flooding, with two fatalities confirmed.

According to the Meteorological Department, heavy rain was expected to continue through Friday in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, with conditions forecast to improve by Monday.