A man and his family narrowly escaped injuries with their pickup truck shortly before a strong flash flood cascading down from Khao Luang mountain flattened their house in Kanchanadit district of Surat Thani Friday morning.

Mr Pan Chanpakdee, the owner of the house which serves as a grocery shop located next to a bridge, later told the media that at about 5.30 am, he found flood water was rising quickly and the current was very strong, so he woke up his wife and children and ordered them to get on their pickup truck to escape.

Pan said he was in a hurry had no time to pick up any valuables. About ten minutes afterward when he arrived at a high ground, he said that his house was gone – washed away by a wall of strong flash flood gushing down from Khao Luang mountain.

Three people drowned in Surat Thani. The victims were identified as 67-year old Boonrod Hongsiri in Chaiya district, 71-year old Thawil Kaew-ampai in Tha Chana district – both swept away by strong currents and the third, an 11-year old boy drowned while swimming in front of his house in Kanchanadit district.

Governor Ouychai Innark said he felt sorry for the relatives of the three victims. He warned parents to take care of their children and not to allow them to swim.

For the elderly people who are usually left at homes to look after their valuables, the governor suggested that they leave their houses if they feel unsafe.

Man saw house flattened by flash flood - Thai PBS English News