Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha vowed yesterday to speed up flood-prevention projects including a much-delayed plan to dredge the Trang River after two sections of its embankment collapsed, triggering severe floods in Muang district.
The premier did not elaborate on the project, overseen by irrigation officials, but stressed the government would "push ahead with ongoing projects in Trang so they materialise".
He was speaking to villagers at Princess Chulabhorn's College in tambon Bang Rak in Trang's Muang district during a visit to the area.
The area has seen rising water levels due to overflow from the river that flooded residential areas.
Villagers said if the dredging of the 7.55km river had made process over the past two years, they would not have borne such heavy damage. They said dredging the river would quickly divert water out of their neighbourhood.
Irrigation authorities are aware of the flood-prone areas near the river and began dredging on Feb 2, 2016 with a budget of 601 million baht, officials said. The project is scheduled to wrap up next August.
However, accusations of irregularities were made and a conflict was sparked with local residents who claimed large amounts of water were being pumped into their rubber and palm plantations.
"I'd like all flood victims to stay patient," Gen Prayut told local residents yesterday, adding the government was working to resolve the matter.
Some riverside communities in tambon Nong Trut are reportedly still struggling with up to 3 metres of floodwater.
Trang is among eight southern provinces that have been hit hard by downpours. This has affected over 1 million people and caused the evacuation of 313 families, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said.
Chumphon, Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Surat Thani are three provinces in need of urgent help, officials said.
Chumphon governor Narong Phonlaiad said all eight districts in the province are struggling with floods ravaging wide areas causing at least 28 million baht in damage. Officials are making a thorough inspection.
The navy also sent 30 water-pushing vessels to Surat Thani yesterday after receiving an urgent request from its governor, who said Phunphin district is vulnerable to "two large masses of water run-off" from nearby districts.
The first one has already reached Phunphin and flooded communities located by the Tapi River and the other, which includes water released from a reservoir, is on the way and expected to exacerbate the inundation today.
Officials hoped the vessels would help push the water out to the sea quickly to stave off severe flooding.
In Nakhon Sri Thammarat, officials were pumping floodwater out of its airport compound and reinforced flood wall, now surrounded by up to 1 million cubic metres of water.
The officials expect the airport to reopen today.
The Meteorological Department warned of more downpours today in Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
At least 15 people have died in the South in recent weeks due to floods.
