BANGKOK: The Department of Rural Roads (DRR) has announced the temporary closure of 14 key routes across Southern Thailand due to severe flooding.
The emergency measure has been implemented for the safety of the public as high water levels have made the roads completely impassable in multiple areas.
The closures affect the rural highway network across five provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, and Trang.
The DRR confirmed that the decision to shut down the roads is immediate and will remain in place until the flood situation subsides and the routes are deemed safe for traffic.
The 14 affected rural highways span the five regions:
Nakhon Si Thammarat: Rural Highway Nos. NS.3109, NS.3114, and NS.4021.
Phatthalung: Rural Highway Nos. PT.1014, PT.1015, and PT.1042.
Songkhla: Rural Highway Nos. SK.4013, SK.4040, and SK.4037.
Pattani: Rural Highway No. PN.2001.
Trang: Rural Highway Nos. TG.019, TG.001, TG.015, and TG.017.
The department confirmed that officials have been deployed to patrol and closely monitor water levels across the affected regions.
Staff are also conducting ongoing operations to facilitate travel and maintain public safety.
This includes installing distinguishing red-and-white poles to clearly mark the road boundaries in submerged areas, aiming to prevent accidents.
The DRR is appealing to the public to cooperate by avoiding the flooded areas and to closely follow all official warnings and updates issued by state agencies. - The Nation/ANN
