Four hospitals in Pattani province were closed down today and in-patients were evacuated to field hospitals as floodwaters in the province are steadily rising, making it impossible for medical staff to reach the hospitals, according to Dr Anurak Saraparb, the provincial medical chief.


The provincial hospital still remains operational, however, and some of the patients have been transferred there from the closed hospitals.


The Nong Chik district hospital cannot be accessed, because its surrounding areas are a metre of water.


Many people in the province are experiencing difficulty buying food and other essential goods, because most stores are closed and those which are open have jacked up their prices.


Pattani Governor Fatimoh Sadiya said today that more than 100 temporary evacuation shelters have been set up to accommodate people from heavily-flooded areas.


She said that the province is short of boats for use in the evacuation of flood victims, adding that delivery of boats and other equipment to the province has been hampered by heavy flooding.


She also said that flights to Pattani are suspended due to poor visibility and poor weather conditions, adding that even trucks are unable to use the heavily-flooded roads.


Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand, announced the suspension of four train services to Hat Yai, Su-Ngai Kolok and Padang Besar today, due to flooding of rail tracks.


The suspended train services are the Bangkok-Hat Yai express train, Bangkok-Sungai-Kolok express train and Bangkok-Sungai-Kolok rapid train.


The Rural Highways Department say that 47 highways in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Yala and Songkhla are impassable due to heavy flooding.


Motorists in need of help can call the department’s emergency line 1145.

Four hospitals in Pattani closed due to heavy flooding