DDPM Orders Southern Provinces to Ready Shelters and Equipment
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued an alert at 10.30am on August 3 covering six southern provinces, warning of flash floods, landslides and rough seas through Friday, August 7. The affected provinces are Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun, all along or near Thailand's Andaman coast, with authorities preparing response teams, heavy machinery and temporary shelters in case conditions worsen.
Officials have instructed local agencies to monitor forest run-off, flash floods, waterlogging, landslides, and strong winds and waves, and to issue timely warnings to residents in at-risk areas. The alert follows a strengthening south-westerly monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the west coast of southern Thailand, which is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to some areas over the coming days.
Andaman Sea Waves Forecast to Exceed Three Metres
The Thai Meteorological Department has warned that waves in the upper Andaman Sea could reach two to three metres, and potentially exceed three metres during thundershowers, posing a hazard to small boats and coastal communities. Fishermen and tour operators in Phuket, Krabi and the other affected provinces have been advised to postpone unnecessary sea travel until conditions ease.
The warning comes as authorities elsewhere in Thailand have also flagged elevated flood risk this month, with the country's disaster management chief separately ordering northern provinces to prepare for heavy rain as the seasonal monsoon intensifies. Residents and visitors in the six southern provinces are advised to follow updates from local authorities and avoid low-lying coastal and riverside areas until the alert period ends.
