Thailand's rainfall tops 30-year average

The amount of rainwater in the North, Central Plains and East this month has surged past the 30-year average, the Water Resources Department says.

Water Resources chief Kasemsant Jinnawaso yesterday said cumulative rainwater in the North this month amounted to 810.4mm, or 46.6mm more than the 30-year average.

The figure in the Central Plains is 854.3mm, 146.7mm more than the 30-year average, and the amount in the East is 1,281mm, exceeding its 30-year average by 126mm.

A monsoon and a low pressure area have caused torrential rains in the North and Northeast in the past week and 29 provinces are experiencing problems with flooding.

There were landslides early yesterday at four locations in the North which cut off three villages in tambon Muang Mai of Chae Hom district, Lampang, after it rained continuously for 24 hours.

Floods from the Phetchabun mountain range hit tambon Wang Bong of Bang Mun Nak district in Phichit. More than 1,000 houses and thousands of rai of farmland were submerged and three local schools were closed.

Floods from the mountain range also reached 11 villages in Thap Khlo district. They damaged more than 4,500 houses and up to 100,000 rai of farmland. Rains are continuing there, with flood victims running out of drinking water and two local schools being closed.

The Pasak River overflowed in Phetchabun and flooded more than 300 houses in the municipality of Lom Sak district. Other villages on the outskirts of the municipality were also flooded.

Flooding in villages in Wichian Buri district has subsided but about 3,800 rai of farmland was still under water yesterday.

A 72-year-old man who lived alone was electrocuted on Sunday night in Phitsanulok on the flooded first floor of his house in Muang district. His body was found clutching a connected, submerged light bulb. A flash flood hit more than 800 houses in seven villages in Chiang Rai and left about 4,000 rai of farmland submerged in Wiang Chiang Rung district yesterday morning.