Flood Warning Issued For South

[Jai Dee]

Flood warning issued for South

The Meteorological De-partment yesterday warned residents in the three deep South provinces to prepare for possible flash floods as heavy rain continues.

A maritime warning for small craft remains in place until at least tomorrow.

According to the weather bureau, residents of flood-prone areas of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat should be prepared for flash floods and high-ground run-off over the next two days.

In Narathiwat, dozens of families in Muang and Sungai Kolok were evacuated yesterday as floodwater rose

The Sungai Kolok-Waeng Road was impassable for cars and motorcycles.

Narathiwat Governor Karan Supakijwilekkarn has banned craft from the Sungai Kolok River as waters became violent.

At 10am yesterday, an unidentified male body was recovered from the river. The victim was in his 30s. Police suspect the man drowned as he had sustained no obvious injuries. They continue to investigate.

In Yala, Raman, Betong, Than To and Muang Yala districts were declared disaster zones. Relief supplies are being distributed to flood victims.

In Than To, many unpaved roads and a bridge have suffered damage.

Source: The Nation - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Yala declares flood disaster zone

Yala - The Yala provincial administration Monday declared a flood-disaster zone in seven districts.

The seven districts are Muang, Raman, Yaha, Thanto, Betong, Bannang Sata and Krong Penang.

Source: The Nation - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

7 districts in Yala declared as disaster zones

Acting chief of the disaster prevention and mitigation office in Yala province, Khongsak Khongpan (คงศักดิ์ คงปาน), informs that three more districts in the province have been declared as disaster zones. At present, there are seven disaster districts in Yala, including Muenag (เมือง), Raman (รามัน), Betong (เบตง), Thanto (ธารโต), Yaha (ยะหา), Bannang Sata (บันนังสตา), and Krong Pinang (กรงปินัง).

Mr Khongsak says the most critical districts are Raman and Betong as mudslides have taken place at many roads. One death has been reported in Betong while the flood-water level has increased to two meters in Raman district. Some of the water was released from Sri Sakhon (ศรีสาคร) district, Narathiwat province, making the water level of Sai Buri (สายบุรี) River in Yala higher.

As for assistance for those affected by flood, the governor of Yala has distributed supplies to them and requested military officers, local administrative organizations, as well as other relevant provincial units to urgently provide aid for the victims.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

ISOC Region 4 distributes aid to flood victims

Director of the information operations division of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4, Col.Akara Thiprote (อัคร ทิพโรจน์), says Fourth Army Area Commander and Director of ISOC Region 4, Lt.Gen.Viroj Buacharoon (วิโรจน์ บัวจรูญ), has instructed special units to prepare officials and vehicles to assist the flood victims in the deep South.

According to Col.Akara, heavy rain conditions for many consecutive days have caused inundation in many areas in the deep Southern provinces including Yala and Narathiwat. Some of the submerged areas were declared as disaster zones as the residences as well as agricultural areas have been seriously damaged.

In addition, ISOC Region 4 has cooperated with community leaders and village headmen in the submerged areas in providing immediate assistance for the victims.

Col.Akara adds that ISOC Region 4 is ready to assist people affected by the flooding and calls on them to have confidence in its operation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Narathiwat Governor confident officials can handle flooding

Narathiwat Province Governor Karan Supakitvilaekarn (การัณย์ ศุภกิจวิเลขการ) has commented that though the flooding situation in his province is still a cause for concern, he is confident officials will be able to handle it. He said that flooding in the province has been caused by a mix of constant monsoon rains as well as run off from forest floods in Malaysia.

Mr. Karan affirmed that the province had foreseen the disaster and implemented safe guards which have proven to be beneficial as well as receiving adequate support from government organizations.

The province’s various aid organizations and philanthropic societies have joined together to distribute aid and survival kits to residents. Military personnel have also assisted by providing transport.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Yala adds 3 districts to list of emergency zones

Yala province authorities have revealed that heavy rains throughout the province have caused waterways to overrun. Flooding has begun to move into residential areas.

The province has had to declare 4 areas as emergency zones and has added 3 more districts totaling seven. The districts are Muang district, Raman (รามัน), Petong (เบตง), Tarntho (ธารโต), Banangsata (บันนังสตา), Krong Penang (กรงปินัง) and Yaha (ยะหา). Many of districts have experienced compounded problems of eroding dirt and cut off bridges.

Waters in some areas have reached 2 meters. The province has requested aid from the government and has begun to distribute survivor kits. Military personnel have been asked to assist residents in evacuating emergency zones.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Thai dam breaks, more floods for Kelantan

Residents in northern Kelantan have warned to brace for worsening floods after a dam broke in south Thailand.

"I was told the broken dam has caused a higher volume of water to enter Sungai Golok and move towards Rantau Panjang and other adjacent areas,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

"The situation may worsen the floods in Kelantan. I will visit the state on Wednesday to assess the situation," the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters at Parliament House on Monday.

He said the floods had eased in Johor and Pahang. However, the infrastructure damage was serious and repair work would only begin once the situation had improved.

He also warned that a second stage of heavy rains might come soon, which may cause high tides and further floods.

"We are ready to face this second stage of rainfall. The relevant authorities, including the armed forces and the police, have put their personnel and equipment on standby," he added.

Source: Malaysian Star - 17 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Three drown in flood-hit southern provinces

Three people have drowned in the flood-stricken southernmost provinces, two in Narathiwat and one in Yala, where seven districts have been designated as flood disaster zones.

From December 7-16, two deaths were reported in Narathiwat and nearly 27,000 people in 13 districts were affected by floods. The Yala casualty was in Betong district.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Jai Dee]

Pattani officials warn residents of flooding

Authorities from Pattani Provincial Public Hazard Protection have begun to announce warnings to residents throughout the Muang district to beware of flooding. The authorities have urged residents to move their valuables to higher ground in anticipation of rising waters.

Pattani officials stated that the province will be the worst hit in the Southern region due to run off from Yala province. Authorities have mobilized efforts to protect citizens, focusing on main traveling routes between districts and leading out of the province.

Authorities have also been dispatched to assist residents in moving their belongings and preparing them to cope with possible flash floods.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Flood situation in Yala still critical

The flood water level in Muenag (เมือง) district in Yala is still critical. The province issues warning for residents along the river banks to move their properties to higher places.

Acting chief of the disaster prevention and mitigation office in Yala, Khongsak Khongpan (คงศักดิ์ คงปาน), discloses that the flood condition in the province was caused by the gradual release of water from the Bang Lang (บางลาง) Reservoir. The suburbs of Muenag district have been affected most by the flooding. The flood water level in some areas in the district has risen, preventing small vehicles from using roads, he says.

Mr Khongsak adds that the Yala governor has instructed officials to speed up distributing supplies to the flood victims.

Apart from Muenag district, the flood water level in Raman district, which had been hard hit by the flood, has started to subside. The province warns residents along the banks of Pattani (ปัตตานี) River to evacuate to a safer area as water from the Bang Lang Reservoir is approaching the river.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

300 flood-stricken villagers in Yala waiting to be rescued

More than 300 residences in Piyamitr village in tambon Ta No Mae Ro in Betong district of Yala province have been isolated from the outside world due to massive mudslide and heavy rain.

Since last night (December 17th), routes connecting to Piyamitr village have been obstructed and detached, and people cannot travel to and from the village at the moment. According to the initial report, over 300 villagers are waiting to be rescued.

Recently, officials are giving food items and other necessities to the stranded villagers via helicopters.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

More than 70 schools in Yala closed due to flooding

72 schools in the submerged Yala province are temporarily closed. Many areas have been affected by the flood condition, especially Raman (รามัน) district, while rain is falling continuously.

The Sai Buri (สายบุรี) Bridge in the district was damaged by the flood and some of the main routes cannot be used.

Director of the Education Area 1 in Yala, Atthasit Rattanaklaew (อรรถสิทธิ์ รัตนแคล้ว), says many schools have been submerged and roads in some villages have been cut off, preventing students from traveling to schools. 72 schools will be closed until the flood water level subsides, the director says.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Thousands hit by floods in South

Heavy rain continues to fall on Thailand's three southern most provinces, swelling rivers and flooding many districts.

People in three parts of Songkhla were evacuated after they were hit by forest run-off yesterday.

The Songkhla Disaster Prevention Office said eight villages in Saba Yoi, Khlong Hoi Khong and Rattaphum districts were flooded.

In Rattaphum, 11 roads were damaged. In Saba Yoi, forest run off flooded 40 homes, displacing 300 people.

Soldiers assisted with the evacuation and set up tents for the homeless. They took household possessions for safe storage at Saba Yoi District Office.

Seven districts in Yala have been declared disaster areas, resulting in the closure of 72 schools.

In Betong district, the Pattani River broke its banks, damaging roads and bridges. One community is under more than a metre of water and 1,000 families there are without electricity. Power was cut for fear of people getting electrocuted.

Police continue to look for Sama-ae Deemadee, 30, who was swept away along with her sister Romla, 35, away on Monday. The body of Romla was found later.

Yala disaster prevention chief Khonsak Khongpan said at least two people had been killed and another 16,500 others affected by the flooding.

Several roads were damaged and there have been reports of many landslides. Bannang Sata district appeared to have escaped damage to date, he said.

In Narathiwat, Phaen Wannamethi, deputy secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross, said relief packages donated by Her Majesty the Queen were being delivered to flood victims in Muang and Sungai Padi districts. They have been underwater since December 7.

Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn sent their best wishes to residents.

Rising waters in the Sungai Kolok, Sai Buri and Bang Nara rivers in Narathiwat flooded almost 300 villages in 13 districts. More than 65,000 people have been affected.

Many have been evacuated from their homes and more than 17,000 rai of farmland destroyed and 2,000 livestock drowned. Many fish and shrimp farms were destroyed.

Almost 2,000 roads suffered damage and many religious places and schools have been forced to close.

Internal Security Operations Command dispatched men with relief packages.

Helicopters were delivering relief goods to areas cut off by flooding.

In Pattani, some 80 households in low-lying Tambon Pakaharang in Muang district were flooded and residents were only able to travel by boat.

Source: The Nation - 19 December 2007

[Jai Dee]

Flood situation in Betong critical

The flood water level in Betong (เบตง) district, Yala province, increases. Officers from the military and administrative units expedite aid for the flood victims who now use boats for transportation.

The flood has reached four meters in Tambon Aiyerweng (อัยเยอร์เวง) in the district, submerging residences and shops. Many roads have the flood water level of about three meters, preventing motorcycles and cars from using the roads. The residents have to resort to boats when traveling in and out of their villages.

Some villages in Tambon Aiyerweng and Tambon Tanoh Maeroh (ตาเนาะแมเราะ) along the Pattani (ปัตตานี) River are also prone to flash flood.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 December 2007