The Thai Meteorological Department has forecast that the southwestern monsoon will strike the southern and central regions of the country any time between now and Saturday. Rescue workers and military personnel in areas spreading down from Rayong and Bangkok to Phang Nga and Krabi are ready and waiting to deal with any emergency.
Meteorologists say the monsoon storms are even liable to affect inland locations including Kanchanaburi and Suphan Buri. A spokesperson for prime-minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says rescue teams are ready to travel to high-risk areas straightaway and help stricken residents.
The principal monsoon season for much of Thailand typically runs from the end of May to the first week of October. Although it rarely rains for whole days at a time, rains are torrential when they do come. City streets under one meter of floodwater and and ferry cancellations are common during the rainy season.
Thai rescue agencies prepare for heavy monsoon storms
News in Asia
Thailand’s prime-minister has ordered emergency services to prepare for heavy monsoon storms and rain expected over the next few days. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has been given the responsibility of coordinating relief operations in the event of flooding, landslips or hurricane-strength winds.