More than 400 villages in 12 districts of the southern province of Pattani are under water today (Friday), forcing many residents to evacuate to temporary refuge on roads, with their valuables and animals.

Run-offs from neighbouring Yala province have increased the level of water in the Pattani and Sai Buri rivers, causing them to spill over their banks, inundating hundreds of villages, mostly located near the rivers and especially in Mueang district.

Three sub-districts in Mueang district are heavily flooded, with water two metres deep in some villages.

Several roads leading to the province are also under about 50cm of water, forcing motorists to be extra cautious.

Meanwhile, in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla province, rainfall has reduced and the situation is slowly returning to normal.

Several businesses and other vendors in the district township said, however, that flooding has had little impact on tourism, as tourists from Malaysia continue to flock into the district during weekends. This trend is expected to continue until New Year.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service