Wateroverlast Thailand october 2010

Thailand Het laatste Thailand nieuws
21

Floods threaten six provinces

      **Chao Phraya basin braces for deluge **

Six Central Plains provinces have been placed on high alert against heavy flooding expected to be triggered by overflows from the North.

Hospital staff and soldiers help evacuate a patient from flood-hit Maharat Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Muang district. Several patients were transferred yesterday to public-run Khon Kaen Hospital in the neighbouring province as the flood waters show no sign of receding. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

Provinces most vulnerable to the deluge are Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi, Royal Irrigation Department spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong said yesterday.
The six provinces would be unable to avoid flooding as a vast amount of water from the North and from Pasak Jolasit Dam in Lop Buri was approaching.
The department is trying to drain as much water as possible from the Chao Phraya River basin before Saturday, when the sea water level will begin to rise because of king tides.
Irrigation officials are worried the rise in the sea water level from Saturday to next Tuesday would worsen the flood situation in the Central Plains as it would hamper drainage.
“We are trying our best to minimise the flood impact but it is impossible to make all areas [in the Central Plains] free from flooding,” Mr Boonsanong said.
Bangkok is well prepared for the situation as the capital has the capacity to divert up to 50 million cubic metres of water a day from the city.

Flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima has continued to wreak havoc although efforts have been made to divert waters from flood-hit districts through Chalerm Phrakiat and Chakkarat districts to the Mekong River bordering Ubon Ratchathani.
Khunpoj Buathone, an engineer attached to the water crisis prevention centre at the Water Resources Department, said flood waters in Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai districts had begun to recede. Although an estimated 400 million cubic metres of water was being released from the spillway of the overflowing Lam Phra Phloeng reservoir, this would not increase flood levels in the two districts as water was being diverted at a rate of 400 cubic metres a second to the Moon River which flows into the Mekong River in Ubon Ratchathani’s Khong Chiam district .
Mr Khunpoj said the Moon River was expected to burst its banks today and tomorrow and inundate areas in Satuk district in Buri Ram and Rasi Salai district in Si Sa Ket before reaching Ubon Ratchathani.
Residents in communities near the Moon River should prepare for rising waters, he said.
Nakhon Ratchasima governor Rapee Pongbuppakit said 24 of the province’s 32 districts had been flooded. More than 200,000 residents had been affected and about 470,000 rai of land damaged.

The governor said flood waters would soon reach Chalerm Phrakiat, Chakkarat, Non Thai and Non Sung districts.
The Education Ministry said buildings and equipment at 112 schools and educational institutes in Nakhon Ratchasima had been damaged. Urgent repairs were being made to ensure the schools could open for the new semester in 12 days.
Flooding has also begun to affect areas in other northeastern provinces.
In Surin, the provincial irrigation office was draining 7 million cubic metres of water a day from the overflowing Huay Saneng reservoir in Muang district, leaving at least 5,000 rai of farmland under water.
In Chaiyaphum, local residents were evacuated to higher ground as the Lampathao reservoir in Kaeng Khro district overflowed.
The overflow from the Chulabhorn Dam in Khon San district also swamped areas in several districts and flood waters were expected to hit Khon Kaen in the next two days.
In Ayutthaya, Methadol Wichakana, head of the historical park, said the Chao Phraya River was close to overflowing with water being released from the Chao Phraya, Rama VI and Pasak Cholasit dams.

Bron: bangkokpost 20-10-2010

22

Ook de Telegraaf maakt inmiddels melding van de waterproblemen in Thailand:

wo 20 okt 2010, 10:57

Kwart Thailand is overstroomd

BANGKOK - De ergste overstromingen in Thailand in tientallen jaren tijd hebben ongeveer een vierde van het land onder water gezet. Dat heeft minister van Binnenlandse Zaken Chavarat Charnvirakul woensdag laten weten. Het dodental als gevolg van het snel stijgende water is opgelopen naar twaalf.

Reddingsteams helpen gestrande mensen met boten. Woningen en enorme landbouwvelden zijn overspoeld.
Vier mensen kwamen om in de oostelijke provincie Buriram. Ook de zwaar getroffen provincie Nakhon Ratchasima telde vier doden. Daarnaast vielen in de centrale provincies Rayong, Trat en Lopburi enkele slachtoffers. Bewoners die aan de Chao Phraya rivier in de hoofdstad Bangkok wonen, bereiden zich voor op vertrek.
De minister beloofde de hulp aan getroffen provincies te verdubbelen.

Bron: Telegraaf

23

FLASH FLOOD
Hunger, despair and heroism

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/10/20/national/images/30140446-01.jpg

**People in the Northeast and Central regions have been spending their days in despair as floods submerge their homes and badly disrupt their lives. **

                          For four days, people in Nakhon Ratchasima province's Pak Thong Chai district's Boh Pla community have been doing their best to cope. With their houses practically submerged, many are trying to move to higher ground and are barely surviving on meagre donations of dry food and water.

Some areas can only be reached by GMC Army trucks, which cannot transport enough relief bags to fill everybody’s stomachs. Though many agencies are trying to help, not many can get to the badly hit areas.

Isolated villagers are hoping that assistance will arrive one day, while many - especially the elderly and children - are unable to wade to dry ground.

Still, there’s a silver lining in the shape of Saengthong Phongphraichet, 37, who wades through the floods to bring back food at least four times a day to feed his neighbours.

Another resident, 39-year-old Wandee Tha-on has been sleeping on Highway 34 in front of the Pak Thong Chai District Office for more than three nights now. She said her area got flooded so fast that she could barely save anything other than her washing machine, which she managed to drag away.

“On Saturday night, the floods started coming on so fast that all I could do was drag my five children [aged between three and 15] to safety. I’m glad I managed to get them out in time because when I turned around the water had risen so high that everything was inundated.”

Leaving their kids at a relative’s home in Wang Nam Kheow district, Wandee and her husband returned to guard their tyre shop. “This community is not getting sufficient relief packages. Whenever donation arrive, people living nearby take all they can get their hands on, leaving nothing for those trapped further inside. I don’t see officials taking boats to help affected people there, so we’re doing what we can to help each other,” she said.

Although this community is tiny, it is suffering one of the “worst floods in 50 years”. It is understandable that many villagers are praying that there isn’t another storm headed their way.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old teacher Wipaporn Chongkoyklang, who lives close to the inundated St Mary’s Hospital in Muang district, said her husband hand to wade through the one-and-a-metre-deep flood every day to get to work.

“He packs his uniform in a plastic bag so he can change when he arrives at work,” she said. “Food at grocery shops is becoming more expensive as stocks are running out, while the donations are not enough.”

The Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University, also in Muang district, has been closed indefinitely even though it had just started its second semester on Monday.

Twenty-year-old student Suwicha Nasomkob said he was stuck in his dormitory for two days now.

“Most of the students returned home, but I couldn’t because my home and farm in Chaiyaphum province are also under water,” he said.

Rung-aroon Saengpairoj, a rescue worker in Ayutthaya’s Tha Rua district, said that since the floods hit the area three days ago, rescue workers have been working night and day to help the residents. She said the floodwaters rose so fast that many villagers couldn’t move their belongings in time, while some ended up getting trapped in their homes. She said that though the rescue team had 50 or 60 members, the number of helpers was just not enough.

Previously, flooding was not this bad, and people could often live on the second storey of their houses. This year, however, the floodwaters rose so fast and high that even the second floor wasn’t dry, she said.

She added that the team only had two boats, so making deliveries was difficult. Although there is enough food and drinking water available, her team needs more boats and vehicles to help people stranded in the floods, she said.

Bron: The Nation 20-10-2010

24

Health warns of flood diseases

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday warned the public to be aware of diseases that come with floods.
Dr Passakorn Akrasewi, director of the Bureau of Epidemiology, said he was concerned about the spread of red eye disease and other illnesses which accompany flooding.
Viruses and bacteria can easily get on the skin, especially hands and fingers, and be spread when a person rubs an eye. This can lead to infection, with itching and inflamation.
He advised parents not to allow children to swim in flood water and not to drink flood water unless it is strongly boiled first.
If anyone has red eye, or conjunctivitis, they are advised to go to mobile medical units or public health centres for rapid treatment, he said.

Bron: bangkokpost 20-10-2010

25

Free medical care for flood victims

People who fall sick while caught in the floods will be treated free of charge at all hospitals in their respective areas, Public Health Minister Jurin Lucksanavisit said on Wednesday.
Mr Jurin was speaking before leaving for Nakhon Ratchasima to visit flood victims and see the situation at first hand in the northeastern province.
“Flood victims can just show their identity cards to the hospital staff. This is a special health service and starts today and will continue until the flood situation has returned to normal,” said Mr Jurin.
The minister said his ministry has sufficient budget funds to meet the costs.

Bron: bangkokpost 20-10-2010

26

ook de wereld omroep maakt nu melding http://www.rnw.nl/nederlands/article/thaise-overstromingen-bedreigen-bangkok

27

Whole country comes to aid of flood victims

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/10/21/national/images/30140530-01.jpg

**From the Royal Palace to members of the socialmedia communities and people in all walks of life, help is pouring in for flood victims across the country, especially in hardesthit Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum provinces. **

In addition to His Majesty’s Bt10 million in cash and Her Majesty’s mobile kitchen staff, relief supplies and cash are being donated extensively through members of the media, charity foundations and commercial banks. It is a concerted national effort similar to but on a much larger scale than when Thai people contributed to help earthquake victims in Haiti in January.

Technology plays a big part in mobilising donations and other forms of aid and seeking help while distributing news and alerts of emergency cases and sudden flooding, through such social media as Twitter and Facebook. Mobilephone text messages in which proceeds are deducted from permessage service fees are especially convenient for donors on the move.

Senders of the text message “namjaithai” to 4567899 through Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Total Access Communication (DTAC) donate Bt10 to flood victims, thanks to organisation by Channel 3 News.

Apart from money and relief supplies, voluntary manpower is being sought for packing survival kits and loading relief supplies on to vehicles at all agencies receiving donations.

In some cases, donations are being for specific needs contingent with the types of victims and nature of emergencies, such as adult and infant diapers for hospital patients, or sanitary napkins for victims in allwomen shelters. Items generally needed are drinking water, flashlights, canned foods, instant noodles, medical supplies and overthecounter medicines.

Toilet boats are docked along the Chao Phya River in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces to serve floodaffected riverside residents.

The 1500 Miles Foundation adventure club has offered rides to and from affected areas in Nakhon Ratchasima with 30 canoes, and is recruiting more volunteers.

Bhum Jai Thai is the first political party offering help, with donations welcomed at its Bangkok headquarters. Call 02 940 6999 for more details.

By The Nation
Published on October 21, 2010

28

BMA in race against convergence of flood risk factors

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/10/21/national/images/30140517-01.jpg

**The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is preparing to fend off the threat of flooding in the wake of three upcoming risk factors. **

The risks come in the form of runoff water from the upper part of the country, heavy downpours over the capital, and the hightide period.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon yesterday said runoff would likely reach Bangkok at the time the seawater level peaks, on October 2627, added to which the rainy season had not yet ended.

“But we believe we should be able to deal with the situation,” he said.

A senior official said that as many as 27 communities in Bangkok were floodprone. “But the authorities have preventative measures in place,” he said.

Pornthep said more than 200,000 sandbags had already been formed into temporary embankments in the capital along the Chao Phya River, in addition to the permanent embankment.

Both types of embankment are 2.5 metres above sea level.

Sanya Cheenimit, who heads the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said all 214 water gates in the capital were now closed to prevent water from the Chao Phya from flowing into canals.

“All 157 pump stations in Bangkok are also ready to help pump flood water out,” he added.

Floods have been ravaging through 17 provinces. According to the Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department, at least 11 floodrelated deaths were reported between October 10 and October 19.

Metresdeep flood water is now threatening to overwhelm Chaiyaphum, where the heart of the town is already impassable to all types of landtransport vehicles.

Signs have gone up in the province telling motorists to avoid the Muang Chaiyaphum municipality area and to opt for a bypass instead.

The area is totally flooded, upsetting the lives of more than 20,000 families.

Chaiyaphum Governor Jarin Jakkapak said the torrent of flood water was fierce in many areas, making it impossible for rowboats to reach flood victims.

“There aren’t enough boats,” he said, “We have been contacting the authorities for help.”

Chaiyaphum Hospital, which has more than 550 inpatients, was busy yesterday moving equipment and patients from the first floor to the second floor, as flood water had started to break through despite a temporary embankment.

The flood situation in Nakhon Ratchasima remained critical.

Meanwhile, in Nakhon Sawan, about 1,000 families in Tha Tako district remained marooned by chestdeep flood water and had to wait for food provided by the authorities.

Four other districts of Nakhon Sawan were also seriously inundated.

As the flood situation worsened in his province, Lampang Governor Atikhom Supanpong yesterday declared Tambon Mae Phrik a disaster zone.

In Khon Kaen, floods marooned hundreds of houses in Phu Pha Man district. Rescue workers were trying hard to reach all those affected as of press time.

In Uthai Thani, the flood level continued to rise rapidly, almost reaching the second floor of many houses.

Flooding has now spread to provinces close to Bangkok.

In Ayutthaya, many areas in Tha Ruea district were under 80centimetredeep water yesterday. Ayutthaya is about a 90minute drive from Bangkok.

Speed of water flow at Chao Phya Dam
Current speed: 2,333 cubic metres per second

Affected province: Ayutthaya
If the speed is: 2,500 cubic metres per second

Provinces to be affected: Sing Buri, Angthong, Chai Nat
If the speed is: Over 3,500 cubic metres per second

Provinces to be affected: Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok
Source: Royal Irrigation Department

By The Nation
Published on October 21, 2010

29

Hundreds await rescue in Korat

11 killed, 1 missing in floods sweeping nation

Hundreds of villagers in Nakhon Ratchasima remain without help despite authorities stepping up relief efforts to cope with the devastating and deadly flooding now ravaging more areas of the Northeast and Central Plains.

A military helicopter drops relief supplies to a flooded village in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Thong Chai district, which still cannot be reached by vehicle. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

The deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Chatpong Chatphuti, said yesterday 11 people had been killed and one person was missing from Oct 10 to 19 in the floods sweeping across the country.
The death toll stands at four in Buri Ram, three in Nakhon Ratchasima, two in Lop Buri and one each in Rayong and Trat. The missing person was reported in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Although floods in central Nakhon Ratchasima have begun to recede in some areas, the water level yesterday was still very high in many communities, hindering aid efforts by state officials and volunteers.
In Pak Thong Chai town, one of the hardest-hit areas, strong currents have prevented officials from making door-to-door visits to provide help. Most locals were in dire need of supplies such as canned food, instant noodles and drinking water.
Many resorted to swimming or wading through the flood waters to get help.
A group of Border Patrol Police officers who arrived on board a flat-bottomed boat loaded with food and drinking water received a rapturous reception from residents.
“You are the first group to visit us today,” said Sopha Thangprom, 53, the owner of a beauty shop who was waiting for help on the second floor of her home.
“This is the worst trouble I’ve experienced in my life. The last flood many years ago wasn’t so bad.”
Other people yelled for help. Some jumped from their homes into the swirling waters and swam to pick up supplies from the police officers.
Outside of Pak Thong Chai town, hundreds more people in 16 tambons remained stranded on the upper floors of their badly flooded homes and were still awaiting help yesterday.

Government troops who were running relief operations in the area complained about the difficulty of getting help to people.
“We can’t get our men to some remote flooded villages because of the strong currents,” said Master Sgt Santipong Puengtasang of the Suranaree Military Camp, who oversees flood relief operations.
“We have told village chairmen to send representatives to receive food and water on the main streets where our military trucks and flat-bottomed boats can go.”
Master Sgt Santipong said the flood waters in the district had surged to two to three metres high in some areas after nearby Lampraploeng Dam released excess water downstream.
The water level in the district would begin to fall in the next few days, barring further rain, he said.
Officials said severe flooding continued yesterday in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Muang and Dan Khun Thot districts.
Chaiyaphum is another northeastern province suffering heavy floods while in the Central Plains run off has been flowing through Ayutthaya and arriving at the outskirts of Bangkok.
The overflow of water in Chaiyaphum from the Lam Pa Thao Dam ravaged 25 communities in Muang district. More than 20,000 houses have been hit by the province’s worst floods in three decades and water levels there range from 90 centimetres to 2.5 metres.
The floods were 1.5 metres deep at Chaiyaphum Hospital and workers were trying to build temporary flood walls to withstand the rising water and pump it out. The heart of Chaiyaphum is impassable to all vehicles.
Chaiyaphum governor Jarin Chakkapak said his province needed many more flat-bottomed boats to get food and other necessities to people and they had to be motorised because of the strong currents.
Parts of Buri Ram were also badly flooded.
In the Central Plains, floods battered Muang, Tha Wung and Ban Mi districts of Lop Buri, Tha Tako district of Nakhon Sawan, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in Ayutthaya.
Run off from the Chao Phraya basin is approaching Pathum Thani immediately to the north of Bangkok.
Severe floods in Prachin Buri have affected Kabin Buri district and water will reach the heart of the province in the next few days.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation yesterday for a video conference with provincial governors to follow up on the floods. He promised to streamline funding for flood-affected areas.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut said floods had ravaged 24 provinces, damaged more than 1.6 million rai (over 2,560 square kilometres) of farmland and affected about 150,000 farmers.
The damaged farmland includes about 960,000 rai of paddy fields.
Flooding in August and September hit 53 provinces and damaged about 2.7 million rai of farmland including about 2.4 million rai of paddy fields. About 290,000 farmers were affected.

Bron Bangkokpost 21-10-2010

30

PM wants long-term flood solution

City planning needs to be well managed to address flood problems in the long run, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said after visiting the flood-hit province of Lop Buri on Thursday.
“A project must be developed to handle all water issues such as water drainage, construction that obstructs the flow of water and city planning,” Mr Abhisit said. “Local administrative organisations and the Interior Ministry are responsible for these tasks.”

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva visits people in flood-stricken Lop Buri province on Oct 21, 2010. (Photo by Natthiti Ampriwan)

The prime minister said rectifying the flood situation in the northern, northeastern and central regions is determined by how much more rain falls, how fast the waters drain and the high tides.

People should listen to the weather reports closely and all agencies should promptly inform the people of the situation.

“The government’s moves to facilitate financial transactions have helped people in flooded areas. Each agency can still work and there is no need to integrate them yet,” he said.

Asked about the Puea Thai Party’s plan for a no-confidence debate, the premier said the opposition should not focus on politics at this time.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said the government needs a long-term plan to help flood victims, as only short-term measures are available to them right now.

Maj Gen Sanan, chairman of the National Water Resources Committee, said a long-term assistance plan will be drafted when the water recedes.

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry will assign the Royal Irrigation Department to oversee water routes to solve water release issues, he said. He believes the “monkey cheek” water retention areas were the solution to flooding.

The Finance Ministry will also have to take care of agricultural production affected by flooding, and the Interior Ministry will have to take care of damaged houses, he said.

It was still too early to estimate the overall cost of the flood damage, he said.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said he had instructed the state-run Krung Thai Bank to coordinate with other commercial banks to cut fees for transfers of money to people in flood-hit provinces.

He said following an agreement made with the Bank of Thailand, commercial banks are to reduce service and transfer fees beginning early next year.

Now that many people in many provinces are suffering from floods, the transfer fees should be cut immediately to alleviate their hardship, Mr Korn said.

“Technically, transfer fees can be cut immediately. Krung Thai Bank will be first to do this, regardless of whether other banks follow or not,” he said.

Mr Korn said he had also called a meeting of all state-run banks to discuss helping their flood-hit clients, such as by allowing a debt moratorium and extending low-interest loans.

How economic growth would be affected by the floods has yet to be estimated, because the priority is to help the flood victims, he said.

An economist at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said the damage from floods hitting many provinces could reach 10 billion baht, which would affect gross domestic product growth by about 0.2 per cent.

“The damage to local people and government agencies is estimated at eight to 10 billion baht,” UTCC’s Economic and Business Forecasting Centre director Thawat Ponwichai said.

Including the government funding to be allocated for dealing with the flood’s consequences and repairs to houses and state offices, the total damage would be 10 billion baht to 20 billion baht, Mr Thanawat said.

Flooding is a short-term problem and would have not much impact on overall economic growth, he said.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that from Oct 10 to 20, floods hit 6,814 tambons of 21 provinces in the North, Northeast, East and Central Plains.

They are Phichit, Chainat, Suphanburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Trat, Sa Kaew, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Chaiyabhum, Saraburi, Petchabun, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket, Tak, Surin, Buri Ram and Khon Kaen.

Altogether 814,406 people were affected by the floodwaters and 15 people had died as a result, the department said.

The death toll on Thursday morning stood at four each in Lop Buri and Buri Ram, three in Nakhon Ratchasima and one each in Rayong, Trat, Sa Kaew and Chaiyabhum. One person was reported still missing in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Bron: bangkokpost 21-10-2010

31

Chaiyaphum still faces severe floods; Flash flood at Kamphaeng Phet

BANGKOK, Oct 21 – The northeastern province of Chaiyaphum is still facing severe flooding as the water level in its afflicted areas is not receding, forcing flood victims to stay at home facing a shortage of food, medicine and drinking water.

Flooding in Chaiyaphum has stabilised at a certain depth with strong currents barring residents going outside their homes for food, water and medicine.

Monks at more than 10 temples in the flood affected areas face shortages of food, but some have moved about through the strong flow of water to buy food to cook themselves.

In Uthai Thani, authorities have warned local residents to be vigilant in observing the situation as flooding could reoccur because the water level in Thap Salao Dam in the province has reached maximum capacity while large amounts of runoff from Huay Kha Kaeng forest is still flowing into the dam.

Surplus water has overflowed the dam’s spillway adding to waters already enveloping the provincial seat, and other districts that have already been hit by flood.

At Kamphaeng Phet, torrents racing from the hills has flooded Khanu Woralaksaburi and Khlong Lan districts with water two metres deep. Many families have evacuated their homes and are camping in makeshift tents at roadsides on higher ground

Provincial officials have warned the residents along the Ping River and other lower ground to be prepared to evacuate to higher ground.

The flood has also forced the suspension of railway services.

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen told reporters that all northern routes have been suspended because tracks at Lop Buri were under more than 2.5 metres of water.

SRT services from Bangkok to the northeastern province of Nong Khai was temporarily stopped because of the flood.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva left Bangkok for the central province of Lop Buri Thursday morning to inspect flood hit areas and give moral support to officials and flood victims.

A Meteorological Department advisory said that a cold air mass from China over Thailand’s northeastern, northern and upper central regions means less rain and weather cooler by 2-4 degrees Celsius, while a monsoon trough across lower central, upper southern and eastern Thailand is bringing slight to moderate rain.

Typhoon “Megi”, currently over the middle South China Sea, is moving north to southern China and Hong Kong and has has no affect on Thailand’s weather.

The flooded areas may experience slight rain having no effect on the flooding stage this period. The areas include Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Saraburi, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and provinces nearby.

Bron thai Visa 21-10-2010

32

Disaster was man-made

      **Devastating Korat flood caused by construction**

Widespread encroachment on water retention areas and the blocking of natural drainage ways by construction projects are being blamed for the disastrous flood which has beset Nakhon Ratchasima.

A resourceful farmer in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Dan Khun Thot district uses a tractor with a flatbed trailer to transport a pickup truck through a flooded section of Road 201, which links the northeastern province with Chaiyaphum. Drivers are charged 200 baht for the service. SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

The construction of resort hotels, golf courses, housing estates, a road and the province’s sports complex for the Southeast Asian Games three years ago have added to the severity of the disaster after the province’s two main reservoirs failed to cope with the heavy rains.

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[li] See sidebar: Towing the bottom line in times of trouble[/li][/ul]
A senior provincial town official said much of the rain fell over Khao Yai National Park in Pak Chong district and the Thap Lan National Park in Wang Nam Khieo district.
A number of hotels and golf courses have been built in forests around the national parks and they are blocking the natural drainage of rain water.
Rain water from Khao Yai flowed only into the reservoir of Lam Ta Khong Dam in Pak Chong district while the run off from Thap Lan had no other way out than Lam Phra Ploeng reservoir in Pak Thong Chai district.
The incessant rain meant neither reservoir could handle the excess water which flowed over the sides and into Pak Chong and Pak Thong Chai districts.
A further impediment to the natural drainage was the Navanakorn industrial estate in Sung Noen district. The Rural Roads Department built a road from the industrial estate through Pak Thong Chai district to Kabin Buri district in Prachin Buri.

The road was part of the route linking the industrial estate and Laem Chabang commercial port in Chon Buri, but it had formed a giant dyke that blocked the natural passage of rain water.
The expansion of Mittraphap Road from four to 10 lanes in Sung Noen and Non Sung districts in Nakhon Ratchasima also reduced the natural drainage, leaving Muang district in the heart of the province vulnerable to flooding.
Takoengpol reservoir in Muang district provided a catchment area several years ago. It covered more than 530 rai.
Three years ago, the reservoir became the location of a 2.8 billion baht sports complex built for the 24th SEA Games in 2007 and Muang district lost its most important flood prevention facility.
The problem has been compounded by the building in recent years of dozens of housing estates around Muang district without any attempt to protect natural drainage.
The chief of the province’s Public Works and Town Office, Anukul Saengtongchray, said Nakhon Ratchasima was no different from other big cities.
The provincial capital has expanded rapidly. New communities have been built in areas reserved to retain flood water. These residential estates have blocked the flow of water, he said.
Mr Anukul admitted the SEA Games sports complex had contributed to the flood problem. He said other buildings and roads which have been built on natural drainage ways were also to blame.
The chairman of Khao Phaeng Ma Conservation group in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chokedee Paraloganond, said apart from encroachment on water retention land, canals in the town were narrowed as new buildings went up. This had hampered water drainage within the town.
He said the reason Maharat Hospital had been so heavily hit was the canal behind it had been narrowed to give the town more space for new buildings.
“This is a good lesson for the province in trying to find sustainable solutions [to the flood problem],” he said.
ML Anumas Thongtam, chief of the 8th regional Irrigation Office, denied the office had opened the gates of Lam Ta Khong and Lam Phra Ploeng dams to discharge excess water and caused the heavy flooding in the provincial town.
The excess water flowed through the spillways when the volume went beyond the reservoirs’ holding capacity, he said.
The water in the two reservoirs was 50% below normal capacity before the rains last weekend.
“We did not expect that the amount of the rain would be so much,” he said.
It rained throughout the northeastern province for six consecutive days before the flood. The amount of rain water was measured at more than 600 millimetres against the yearly average of 1,000mm.

Bron: bangkokpost 22-10-2010

33

Schools, temples damaged by floods

A total of 476 schools and 589 temples in flood-hit provinces were reported to have been damaged by floods.
Education Minister Chinaworn Boonyakiat said on Friday the Offfice of Basic Education Commission had been assigned to provide assistance to the schools.
Although most of the schools are scheduled to open for the new semester on Nov 1, they may be allowed to open later if necessary.
The Office of National Buddhism concluded that flooding had caused damage to 589 temples in 14 districts of 10 provinces.
They included 323 temples in Nakhon Ratchasima and 85 in Lop Buri. Others were in Chaiyaphum, Saraburi, Prachin Buri and Nakhon Sawan.
People who wish to make a donation for these temples can contact the Buddhist Monastery Division at tel. 02-4414539.

Bron bangkokpost 22-10-2010

34

Flood claims 17 lives, 186 districts under water

                          The flood impacted on 456,823 families, comprising 1,280.344 people in the North, the Northeast and the Central Region.

Flood areas cover Pichit, Chai Nat, Suphanburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Trat, Sa Kaew, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Chaiyaphum, Saraburi, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket, Tak, Surin, Buriram, Khon Kaen, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Pathom, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, Chanthaburi and Chiang Mai.

35

Chao Phaya flood peak Sun, Mon

The water level in the Chao Phraya river is expected to peak on Oct 24 and 25 because of water run off from the North and high tides, Royal Irrigation Department director-general Chalit Damrongsak said on Friday.
Mr Chalit said water was being released from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat province at 2,872 cubic metres per second and the Pasak Jolasid dam in Lop Buri at 1,200 cubic metres per second.
The volume of water flowing into the Chao Phraya river at Bang Sai in Ayutthaya was about 3,081 cubic metres per second, he said.
Mr Chalit admitted that his figure was different from the estimate of 4,600 cubic metres per second made by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s drainage and sewerage department.
“No matter what, more water is flowing into the Chao Phraya and the water level is expected to be particularly high on Oct 24 and 25 when it will be pushed up by the high tides from the sea,” he said.
He said flood walls along both sides of the river from Ayutthaya down to Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi should be raised to more than 2m high.
The department’s floodwater monitoring centre reported that water had begun to flow from parts of Nakhon Ratchasima province into the Moon river. It was expected to reach Chumphon Buri, Tha Tum and Rattanaburi districts of Surin province in two to five days.
People living along both sides of the Mun River in these districts of Surin should prepare for flooding and move their belongings, animals and vehicles to high grounds, Mr Chalit said.

Bron: bangkokpost 22-10-2010

36

Dodental overstromingen Thailand loopt op

BANGKOK - De autoriteiten in Thailand hebben het dodental als gevolg van de watersnood in het land bijgesteld tot 32. De ergste overstromingen in tientallen jaren troffen tot nog toe circa 1,4 miljoen mensen in dertig van de 76 provincies van het land in Zuidoost-Azië, zo werd zaterdag bekendgemaakt.

Experts ramen de schade op ongeveer 200 miljoen euro. De hoofdstad Bangkok dreigt ook te worden getroffen door het hoge water.
In het bergachtige noorden van Thailand is extreem veel regen gevallen sinds begin deze maand. Veel van deze neerslag vindt via de rivier de Chao Phraya, die door Bangkok stroomt, een weg naar de Golf van Thailand. Deskundigen vrezen voor zondag een combinatie van hoog water in de Chao Phraya en een stormvloed in de Golf van Thailand, waardoor het overstromingsrisico in Bangkok nog verder toeneemt.

37

Floods kill at least 25, affect 1.2 million

Published: 23/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

At least 25 people have been killed and 1.2 million other people affected as flooding continues to wreak havoc in 30 provinces, says the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Wat Bunkannawas in Ayutthaya’s Bang Ban district is ravaged by floods whichdestroyeda3-metrehigh earth embankment in front of the temple yesterday. The 10-rai temple compound in tambon Sai Noi isnow under two metres of water. SUNTHORNPONGPAO

The people who died are mainly the elderly and children. They drowned, or were electrocuted.

Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram have recorded the highest casualties with six deaths each, followed by Lop Buri (5), Khon Kaen (3) and Sa Kaeo, Chaiyaphum, Rayong, Trat, and Saraburi, which have one death each.

One person is missing in Nakhon Ratchasima, the department said.

Still, the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand has put the number of fatalities slightly higher at 28 deaths. The differences are in Rayong which has two deaths, Phetchabun (3), Chaiyaphum (2) and Ayutthaya (1).

More than 9,000 villages in 30 provinces have been badly flooded, leaving around 1.2 million people struggling with flooded houses and farmland, says the department.

It warned people in six northern provinces yesterday to expect possible flash floods and mudslides in the next round of heavy rain caused by a strong southwestern monsoon system. People living near risk areas in Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son were told to stay alert.

Bangkok-Nong Khai passenger trains passing Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen,UdonThaniandNong Khai are forced to suspend services after a section of track in Nakhon Ratchasima’s NonSung district is damagedby flooding. SAROTMEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department has told officials in Bangkok to reinforce embankments along the Chao Phraya River as water run-off from the North is flowing downstream to the capital with the high tide expected to peak on Monday and Wednesday.

City Hall has finished reinforcing 75 kilometres of its 77-kilometre flood wall along the river, says deputy Bangkok governor Porntep Techapaibul.

The water flow in the Chao Phraya passing the capital yesterday was 4,134 cubic metres a second, a rate considered very high, Mr Porntep said.

In 1995, the rate rose to 5,400 cu m a second, but the capital was still saved, he said.

Provinces upstream of the Chao Phraya River have flooded. In Ayutthaya, a three-metre high wall of sand bags failed to resist strong water currents.

In Pathum Thani, which is close to Bangkok, floods inundated a road and a riverside village in tambon Bang Luang in Muang district, forcing villagers to travel in boats.

Air force chiefACMItthipornSupawongis onboard this helicopter bringing relief supplies to residents in flood-hit villages in Lop Buri province’sBanMidistrict. The air force’s helicopters drop reliefbags to flood victims every day. SURAPOL PROMSAKANASAKOLNAKORN

Yongyuth Yutthana, 46, a resident of tambonWat Traku in Ayutthaya’s Bang Ban district, is forced to live on a boat tied to his inundated house.Theflood water in his village ismore than 2 metres high. SUNTHORNPONGPAO

Bron: Bangkok Post

38

Two reservoirs collapse in Rayong

                        By The Nation
                                         Published on October 13, 2010

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/10/13/national/images/30139957-01.jpg

After days of heavy rain, two major reservoirs in Rayong’s Wang Chan district collapsed on Monday night, submerging a village, which saw one man getting drowned and a woman missing.

                                                        There have been no official statements on whether it was the reservoir belonging to Wat Thammaros or the one belonging to the Wang Chan golf course that collapsed first.

The golf course’s owner Damrong Sriprasert, however, claimed that the temple’s reservoir collapsed at 3am before the one in his property gave in at 6am despite efforts by workers to strengthen the wall.
Damrong said he had evidence to prove that it was the collapse of the temple reservoir that submerged the village, adding that his contractor Kitti Tetiwong had witnessed it happening.
Wang Chan district chief said 140 villagers had registered for compensation for damage to their homes and properties, but did not give details about which reservoir had collapsed. A man was drowned in the strong currents, while a nun living at the temple is still missing.
Meanwhile, the west of Koh Chang faces landslides due to structural damage caused by illegal dredging by builders, a senior official from the Department of Mineral Resources said yesterday.
A vast area of the island has been dredged up, especially areas that have a greater than 70-degree slope, resulting in the land, especially on the west where many resorts are located, being weakened, Adichart Surinkham said.
Flash floods and landslides are possible in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat and Prachuap Khiri Khan in the next few days, he said.
The landslides at the Mae Salong hill in Chiang Rai’s Mae Chan district have stopped, despite 300-metre long cracks and a collapse of 85-centimetres of land. Cabinet approval is being sought to conduct an eight-month survey that would lead to the division of areas on the hill into different categories.
Diving in areas around Koh Chang marine national park will be prohibited briefly, but it is still open to tourists, the Department of National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation said.

Bron: The Nation 25-10-2010

39

Flood toll soars to 41

At least 41 people have died in heavy flooding in 16 provinces since Oct 10, the National Institute of Emergency Management (NIEM) reported on Monday.

Eight of the 41 people died in Lop Buri, while Nakhon Ratchasima and Buri Ram have each recorded six confirmed fatalities.

Kamphaengphet, Khon Kaen and Phetchabun each had three deaths, and Chaiyaphum and Rayong two each.

Trat, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat and Nakhon Sawan each reported one death.

Royal Irrigation Department deputy director-general Weera Wongsaengnak said the water level in the Chao Phraya River in flood-stricken Ayutthaya could rise even higher, and runoff from the North expected to reach Bangkok within the next two days.

"Water is flowing into the Chao Phraya at Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai district at about 3,275 cubic metres per second but the river could get higher due to the approaching northern runoff and high tides during this period.

“Authorities will try to prevent the rate from exceeding 3,500 metres per second,” Mr Weera said.

He also said the northern runoff surge would likely reach the capital by Wednesday.

Officials will try to maintain the level at no more than 2.5 metres by slowing down the runoff, to allow Bangkok to get through the high tide period this Wednesday.

Officials will prevent the water level in the Chao Phraya Dam from exceeding 17.1 metres above normal level, he said.

“The department can deal with this crisis, but people need to closely monitor the flood barriers and the water level closely,” Mr Weera said.

The Mun River started to overflow into Ubon Ratchathani city and Warin Chamrap municipalities today, forcing evacuations.

Reports said 142 households in three communities had sought refuge at the provincial land office.

The water level in Ubon Ratchathani’s Muang district has risen steadily by three to five centimetres a day. The runoff from Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum was expected to reach the province in the next three to four days, officials said.

The water level in the Chi River in Ubon Ratchathani’s Khueang Nai district was about 80 centimetres above the average level. Some farms were already inundated.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Public Health Ministry will dispatch mobile medical units to aid people who are suffering from stress caused by heavy flooding.

“I’ve instructed the Mental Health Department to help people in flooded areas because flooding can also cause emotional stress,” Mr Abhisit said.

Checks on the water level in the Chao Phraya river in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani showed all provinces can still manage the situation, but state agencies will continue helping people living along Chao Phraya and distribute survival kits.

“I’m still worried about the flood barriers in Bangkok and Nonthaburi even though the situation is under control. I’ve told officials to stay alert and work cautiously,” he said.

Mr Abhisit and Prime Minister’s Office Minister Ong-art Klampaiboon visited Nonthaburi this morning to meet people and see the flood situation first hand.

Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot said his ministry will propose measures to help flood-affected businesses at the cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Bron bangkokpost 25-10-2010

40

More than 5 million people hit by floods

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[li]Published: 30/10/2010 at 04:31 PM[/li][li]Online news: [URL=“Bangkok Post - Most recent”][/li][/ul]

A total of 5,011,046 people in 331 districts of 38 provinces in the North, Northeast, East and Central Plains were affected by the flooding that has hit many provinces since Oct 10, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported.
It is estimated that the floods had damaged about four million rai of farmlands and paddy fields, the department said.
The situation has improved in 16 provinces, according to the department.
They are Phichit, Petchabun, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Tak, Chonburi, Lampun, Chiang Mai, Sa Kaew, Nakhon Nayok, Kampaeng Petch, Poitsanulok, Nongbua Lamphu, Prachin Buri and Samut Prakarn.
However, a total of 22 provinces are still being submerged by floodwaters, the department said.
They included Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyabhum, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Ubon Ratchathani, Nongbua Lamphu, Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Chacheongsao.bron:bangkokpost.