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Originally Posted by NotSuave
Bro Tee Vee,
Thanks for the advice.
Is the road from Hatyai to Betong still very unsafe? I am in Bangkok now and my MM ask me to fly to Hatyai and she will fetch me from Hatyai to Betong. Let me know your opinion.
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Bro, if you are thinking of driving from Haadyai to Betong, please be aware that Southern Thailand is now ravaged by BIG FLOODS.
For more info, please read the report from today's Bangkok Post :-
DEATH TOLL UP AS FLOODS RAVAGE SOUTHERN THAILAND
Boats carrying 50 tourists capsize
By Bangkok Post Reporters
At least five people drowned and thousands of residents have been forced out of their homes after heavy rains and flash floods swept through Nakhon Si Thammarat and other southern provinces. Rescue operations were launched yesterday to find 50 Thai and foreign tourists after three boats they were on capsized in Phuket and Krabi provinces.
Two Swedish tourists who drowned off Koh Phangan prompted Surat Thani authorities to cancel this month's full moon party to prevent other casualties.
In Nakhon Si Thammarat, two residents drowned on Thursday night and their bodies were swept away by the floods. The province was hit hard by three rounds of floods which have so far claimed 12 lives.
Pol Col Naris Sunthornroj, chief of Pak Phanang district police, said marine police were yesterday sent to rescue seven crewmen whose fishing vessel sank near Laem Talumpuk village, about two nautical miles off Pak Phanang shore. One crewman identified only as Tia, 30, drowned. His body has not been found.
Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Vichom Thongsong yesterday declared the province a disaster zone as flash floods, triggered by heavy rains, ravaged 21 districts, affecting 173,300 people. So far, 4,012 flood-hit residents have been evacuated. The floods damaged over 1,800 roads, 37 bridges, 38 reservoirs, 27 schools and 24 temples. Over 90,000 rai of paddy fields and 55,329 rai of fruit orchards were damaged. Initial damage was estimated at 105 million baht, said Mr Vichom.
He told residents to brace themselves for possible mudslides. Several villages in Chian Yai district were cut off from the outside world as floodwaters reached 1-2 metres high. Vichit Maneelok, chief of Nakhon Si Thammarat disaster prevention and mitigation, said mudslides blocked a section of Khuan Nong Hong-Kapang road in Cha-uat district yesterday, making the road impassable.
In Trang, the floods have affected 4,000 residents, said governor Cherdphan na Songkhla, adding
the flood situation was the worst in five years. Muang, Huai Yot and Na Yong districts were badly hit.
Water level in Trang and Palian rivers and Khlong Nang Noi canals are rising.
In Satun, heavy rains and high waves forced tour firms to cancel trips to the province. Several villages in Khuan Don district were inundated. Floodwaters in some areas rose to 120cm.
In Songkhla, 18 houses were hit by mudslides in Ban Mai village in Krasae Sin district yesterday. But there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngarm inspected flood-affected areas in Songkhla. He also attended a funeral rite of Sombun Thammawong and his son 12-year-old Burin who were trapped by mudslides. He provided 55,000 baht in financial assistance to the victims' family.
Floodwaters still remained high in Sathing Phra, Ra-not, Singha Nakhon and Krasae Sin districts.
Three boats carrying 50 Thai and foreign tourists capsized in Phuket and Krabi, prompting the Third Fleet to launch rescue operations to help them.
The first incident took place at 4.30pm. A speed boat run by Phangnga Eco-Tour Co, capsized at Hinmusang area between Phuket and Phangnga. The boat carried 20 Thai and foreign tourists.
Another boat travelling from Phi Phi island in Krabi sank in the same spot. Eight passengers jumped into the water.
On the same day, a third boat carrying 22 passengers sank in Laemtong in Krabi province. Marines and divers were searching for them.
In Surat Thani, provincial authorities cancelled the famous full-moon party of Koh Phangan yesterday after two foreign tourists drowned on Thursday.
Two tourists _ Maria Lindstrom, 21, a Swedish national and Viola Ossman, 22, also a Swedish national, were swept away by heavy currents.