Flood misery worsens in 35 of nation's provinces

Thailand Het laatste Thailand nieuws
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Death toll reaches 82 with more than 570,000 people affected

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[li]Published: 13/09/2011 at 12:00 AM [/li][li]Newspaper section: News[/li][/ul]The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has warned local residents in river basins in 35 provinces to beware of flash floods, landslides and mountain runoff due to heavy rains in the next few days.

A child is helped to cross surging water on a makeshift bamboo bridge in Ban Huay Khom village of Nam Pat district, Uttaradit. THITI WANNAMONTHA

As flooding continues in 16 provinces, the death toll from this year’s inundation has risen to 82 and more than 570,000 have been affected, said Srisombat Pornprasit, the department deputy chief.

He said heavy rains yesterday lashed 35 provinces in all five of the country’s regions.

People living near hilly areas and waterways were told to take precautions against flash floods.


The 35 provinces at risk include Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Uthai Thani, Saraburi, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Satun.

Southerners in flood-prone areas in Satun, Trang, Songkhla and Phatthalung were also told to watch for landslides and mountain runoff over the next few days.

In Uttaradit province, eight villages in tambon Nam Phai in Nam Pat district, devastated by Friday’s flash flood and mudslides, have been declared disaster areas. Five people have been found dead and two are still missing in the area.

Lees meer op de website van Bangkok Post !

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Gelukkig zijn er ook betrouwbare voorspellingen, die aangeven dat het de komende dagen heerrlijk kalm en droog weer zal zijn, in ieder geval hier op Phuket.

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Ik hoop dat het hier ook kalm en droog blijft…nu iig prachtig weer en bloedheet in Bangkok…vanavond zal er wel weer tropische bui vallen…
Laatste dagen wel veel regen, sommige straten hier in de omgeving staan nog steeds onder water…

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Het blijft waarschijnlijk niet droog bij je Dave…

           **Bangkok could be hit by floods early next week**

Runoff water is now flowing down to the lower Chao Phraya Basin and expected to reach Bangkok early next week.
The situation will be worrying between September 17 and September 30, according to the House adhoc committee on how to tackle flooding and to manage water resources.
It pointed out that, “Run off water will linger in Bangkok over the period, which is also the hightide time”.
Sanya Cheenimit, who heads Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, Wednesday said his agency was now closely monitoring the situation.

The Nation14-09-2011
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Bangkok-could-be-hit-by-floods-early-next-week-30165284.html

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Bangkokians brace for flash floods

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/09/21/national/images/30165750-01.jpg

Bangkok residents living by the Chao Phraya river are advised to brace today for possible swelling and ensuing flash floods, as water reaches a critical level as it travels southward to the capital.

                                                        Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut, citing the  latest flood level update from irrigation resources, said the influx of  water would reach 3,900 cubic metres per second while the Chao Phraya's  critical level was at 3,720.

He said the ministry was considering building a Bt10-billion flood way to divert more water to sea outlets through the Chao Phraya dam bypassing Tha Chin River and Makham Thao canal in Chaiyanat and Uthai Thani provinces.
Sanya Sheenimit, director of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage, said the situation remained normal but was under close watch.
Heavy rain could worsen the problem, as it would add to the Chao Phraya’s rise.
In heavily-flooded Ayutthaya, residents and farmers in Sena and Phak Hai districts are said to have resorted to eating snakes and rats or selling them in different menus to earn income after weeks of inundation.
Premature harvesting of rice is widespread in many central provinces where farmlands are flooded, forcing lower rice prices for farmers. In Lop Buri, a flash flood from a recent breakdown of a dam is causing additional inundation of another 20,000 rai of rice paddies, and affecting 3,000 households.
The floods have claimed 132 lives and 3,000 people are depressed, the Public Health Ministry said. About 80 per cent of the fatalities resulted from drowning in flood waters.
Public Health Ministry Wittaya Buranasiri said 8,396 people in 26 provinces reported diseases related to flooding such as athlete’s foot, flu, and fatigue.
About 3,040 are suffering from mental health problems, with 339 cases at risk of committing suicide and 410 cases being closely monitored for unexpected symptoms.
The Public Health Ministry has sent over 125,000 pharmaceutical sets to help flood victims in 10 provinces.

Bron: The Nation
Published on September 21, 2011

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Bangkok ‘safe’ from river flooding

Bangkok is safe from being flooded by run-off from the North until at least mid-October because the deluge released by broken floodgates has been diverted into fields upstream along the Chao Phraya River, Irrigation Department deputy director-general Vira Vongsangnak said on Wednesday.

Villagers in Uthai Thani are hit by widespread flooding on Sept 21, 2011. (Photos by Thiti Wannamontha)

Water from the rain-swollen Chao Phraya has already flooded 60,000 rai of Chiang Rak district fields in Sing Buri, 30,000 rai of Pho Thong fields in Ang Thong and 60,000 rai of Bang Ban-Phak Hai fields in Ayutthaya, Mr Vira said.

He said the water diversion, together with the low tidal levels at this time, will save Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi from overflow from the Chao Phraya until the middle of October, even though a spring tide is expected on Sept 30.

Three floodgates were breached by the deluge moving downstream - Bang Chom Si and Phra Ngam in Sing Buri and Bang Ban-Phak Hai in Ayutthaya - releasing their stored water into the Chao Phraya.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed the Agricultural and Cooperatives and Science and Technology ministries to use the engines and propellors of 30 powerboats to help push water out to sea more quickly. The boats will be stationed near Khlong Lat Pho near the mouth of the Chao Phraya in Samut Prakan.

This morning, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that a total of 130 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated several provinces for nearly two months.

The floods still prevail in the provinces of Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Chaiyaphum, Yasothorn, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakam, Si Sa Ket, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, and Prachinburi.

Altogether 1,916,986 people in 165 districts of the 24 provinces were affected by the floods, it said.

The department on Tuesday reported the flood death toll at 123.

The National Disaster Warning Centre issued an advisory for people in 14 districts of Petchabun, Loei, Phitsanulok, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi and Trat to brace for flooding today and tomorrow.

People living near hillsides and waterways in Lomsak, Lomkao and Muang districts of Petchabun, Dansai district of Loei, Charttrakan, Wanhthong, Noen Maprang and Nakhon Thai districts of Phitsanulok, Phu Pha Man district of Khon Kaen, Klung, Makham and Khao Khitchakut districts of Chanthaburi, and Khao Saming and Bor Rai districts of Trat should prepare for possible flash flooding, it warned.

The department said staff had been instructed to keep a close watch on all risk areas.

Bron: Bangkokpost 21-09-2011