BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has warned residents and disaster-monitoring volunteers in 15 provinces to remain alert for landslides and flash floods from 17–19 September, amid heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated rain.
The DMR’s Geohazard Operation Center said a monsoon trough is extending across the North and upper Northeast, while a moderate-strength southwest monsoon covers the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. The conditions are expected to bring periods of heavy rainfall, with accumulated rainfall continuing in some areas.
The 15 provinces under watch are Mae Hong Son, Tak, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Kanchanaburi, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang. Authorities are paying particular attention to mountainous and high-risk areas in the North, including parts of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phetchabun and Phitsanulok. In the Central region, the watch covers parts of Kanchanaburi, particularly Sangkhla Buri, Thong Pha Phum and Sai Yok. In the East, monitoring focuses on parts of Chanthaburi and Trat, while southern areas under watch include parts of Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang.
The DMR said rainfall recorded over a 24-hour period has exceeded 120 millimetres in some areas, with flash flooding already occurring in certain locations. Continued rainfall could increase the risk of landslides, particularly in areas with accumulated rainfall. The department has instructed its disaster-monitoring volunteer network to prepare for possible incidents and continue measuring rainfall. If landslides or flash floods occur, volunteers are asked to immediately alert residents and relevant authorities and follow established emergency response plans.
