November 06, 2009 18:21 PM

Family Of Four Buried Alive In Landslide In Southern Thai

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- A family of four was buried alive in a landslide Friday, following several days of heavy rain in the southern province of Narathiwat.

Rescue workers involved in a search and rescue operation found the bodies of the couple, and their children aged three and 10.

A police spokesman said the incident occured, just before noon in Tambon Si Sa Khon, Si Sakhon district.

"It has been raining heavily since Nov 3, and the area is flooded," he said when contacted.

According to reports from the south, 24 schools were ordered to close when floods severed access to several areas in Narathiwat's Waeng, Sungai Padi and Sukhirin districts.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains and floods in 10 southern provinces in the next few days, due to strong winds over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

While the southern region is bracing for floodS, dozens of provinces in the north and northeast are gearing up for the cold season, with the mountainous Doi Inthanon in Chiang Ma already seeing a temperature of 6.5 degrees Celcius.

Bangkok is also feeling the cold weather, with temperature around 20 to 22 degrees.

-- BERNAMA

We provide (subscription-based) 
news coverage in our Newswire service.