Ten dead, Schools Close As Flooding Rages In Southern Provinces

[Mosha]

That to me comes across a tad callous

Ditto

It has been raining VERY hard all morning today so far.

Nasty thunder boomers showers.

Electricity is out and I am on extra large UPS for internet till it fades out.

Not a good sign, must be getting worse in Surat Thani

Putting out these warnings is a most appropriate public service.

I second that, here in Chaweng same, thunder, lightning and strong gusts and as of predictions it's going to get worse by the 27th!

it's easing now (10:36 am) but the hills towards southwest (lamai) are covered in heavy dark clouds....

We have family in that area too. My wife as an autie and cousin. The cousin is probably the best out of my wife's cousins, so I hope every one is ok. We always call in on our way to Pak Phanang.

[sbk]

Wipawadi district in Surat Thani flash floods from the Nation:

Residents flee surat village after mudslides

By The Nation

Published on November 24, 2008

Mudslides have levelled a village in Surat Thani's Vibhavadi district, sending more than 300 residents scurrying to safety. Only minor injuries were reported.

Residents flee surat village after mudslides

Flash floods caused a trail of damages in Surat Thani's Vibhavadi district.

Mudslides have levelled a village in Surat Thani's Vibhavadi district, sending more than 300 residents scurrying to safety. Only minor injuries were reported.

Around 200 residents were transported to a safe place and provided with survival kits and assistance from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. But 100 remained isolated after mud and debris blocked the roads leading to their locations.

The mudslides followed days of heavy rains in the southern province and four others nearby.

The Crown Prince's survival kits were also provided to 8,808 residents in Nakhon Si Thammarat who were affected by flooding. A total of 165,648 residents have been affected, 198,199 rai of farmland, 2,747 fish ponds were damaged and 26,165 heads of cattle have died or gone missing in the province, governor Phanu Uthairat said.

Seven districts in neighbouring Songkhla are also submerged in floodwaters, with around 45,000 people affected and 85 roads damaged. The heavily flooded districts are Ranode, where 56 villages in nine tambon are inundated.

One person drowned in Patthalung. The victim. a 60yearold farmer, was washed away by strong currents as he tried to open a floodgate to let water out of his rice farm. Boats are now used on roads in three tambon in Muang district, where there is also shortage of food and drinking water.

Villagers living in 22 districts in Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces have also been warned to be alert for mudslides at 234 locations and for flash floods for those living near rivers. The risks continue until at least Tuesday when heavy rains are anticipated.

Source: the nation multimedia.com

[sbk]

SOUTHERN FLOODING

Hundreds flee from landslide

About 300 people ran for their lives yesterday when a landslide swept down a mountain and over part of a village in Surat Thani's Wipawadi district.

Villagers and rescuers carry an elderly person on a stretcher as about 300 residents of Khlong Mui village in Surat Thani’s Wipawadi district flee landslides. SUPAPONG CHAOLAN

Evacuating the area was hazardous as Ban Khlong Mui's main road was damaged by mountain run-off.

Flooding caused by heavy rains has ravaged nine districts in Surat Thani since last Wednesday. In Wipawadi, the worst-hit district, a mother and her 12-month-old son died in a flash flood last week.

continued at the Bangkok Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com/241108_News/24Nov2008_news11.php

[Mosha]

Ah well there goes my wife's sympathy. The family are in BKK. The PM is from Chawaeng. I on the other hand hope the residents are ok.

[sbk]

Source: Royal Thai Goverment

Date: 24 Nov 2008

Thailand: Victims of 4 southern provinces' floods relieved

The Department of Prevention and Mitigation has provided assistance for victims of recent flash floods in four southern provinces.

Department of Prevention and Mitigation reported today (November 24) the recent floods' situation in the southern region which have been hit by heavy rains which caused flash floods in four southern provinces, including Narathiwat, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, amd Phatthalung.

20 districts and 417 villages were affected hurting 35,069 local people, 14,063 households with three dead and one lost person. However, the situation has resumed normalcy. The department has coordinated with the provinces' departments of prevention and mitigation to provide relief for the areas' victims.

Source: Reliefweb.com

[Sturbuc]

Very sad.

... -MORE TRUE ON KOHSAMUI THE ROADS/DRAINS HAVE BEEN BUILT BY MONKEYS WITH NO IDEA OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS.FUNNY THAT WHEN THEY LIFE HERE ALL THEIR LIFE AND STILL BUILD NEW ROADS THAT DONT WORK ...

Had been in Chaweng (near Laem Din Market) the second week in November where somebody built some new part-time-pools what i supposed might be the road ... After my girlfiend and my motobike didn't like to swim, we went to enjoy Chiang Mai. I will never understand that Chaweng street builder don't learn something. Since the Beach Road was renewed, there are always problems after some rain. Nobody seems to mind the water.

[animatic]

Very sad.

... -MORE TRUE ON KOHSAMUI THE ROADS/DRAINS HAVE BEEN BUILT BY MONKEYS WITH NO IDEA OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS.FUNNY THAT WHEN THEY LIFE HERE ALL THEIR LIFE AND STILL BUILD NEW ROADS THAT DONT WORK ...

Had been in Chaweng (near Laem Din Market) the second week in November where somebody built some new part-time-pools what i supposed might be the road ... After my girlfiend and my motobike didn't like to swim, we went to enjoy Chiang Mai. I will never understand that Chaweng street builder don't learn something. Since the Beach Road was renewed, there are always problems after some rain. Nobody seems to mind the water.

I just drove down as far as Laem Din market food stalls tonight,

and was down father earlier this week.

The main problem is that the ring road drains down behind the market

and the lake drain is below it. When the lake is too high the market

drain has no where to go but met the lakes level.

And they won't, so far, 'eminnent domain' some land for better faster lake drainage.

It IS better than the last few years by far though. Just not good enough.

Most all the ring road is much better now, but not completely cured.

[sbk]

Disaster areas announced in 11 districts of 3 southern provinces

SONGKHLA, Nov 24 (TNA) – 11 districts in Thailand’s lower southern provinces, Songkhla, Patthalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat, were declared disaster areas on Monday as a new round of flooding hit, leaving at least 8 people dead.

Songkhla province declared Sadao, Sathing Phra and Rattaphum districts disaster zones. Authorities hurriedly rushed to help villagers in the flood-affected areas. Damage was initially estimated at about Bt16 million.

In Patthalung, water level was still increasing due to continuous rain. Two villagers were reportedly killed in the flooding. The province had to declare seven districts disaster areas.

Meanwhile, Nakhon Si Thammarat declared Thung Yai district a disaster area, following 17 districts other earlier declared disaster zones.

Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre reported 18 districts were hit by flooding, leaving 6 people dead and causing Bt211 million in damage. About 160,000 residents and 80,000 acres of farmland have been affected.

In Pattani, strong wind and waves hit coastal areas in Panare district, damaging a beach road for 200 metres.

In Narathiwat, residents living along Sungai Kolok river were advised to move their belongings to higher ground as water level which increased seven centimetres per minute could trigger flash flooding.

Meanwhile, large rocks falling from a mountain and forest run-off damaged a number of houses and seriously wounded a villager in Surat Thani province on Sunday night.

Viphavadee chief district Prasert Jitmoong said on Monday a 43-year-old villager was seriously wounded while at least 100 others had been affected by flooding. Rescue operations were hampered as houses were encircled by torrential water. (TNA)

[sbk]

Flood worries

By Daily Xpress

Published on November 25, 2008

Heavy downpours continued to pour down over Songkhla's Hat Yai district yesterday, raising fear among locals that their worst flood will come back to haunt them.

Heavy downpours continued to pour down over Songkhla's Hat Yai district yesterday, raising fear among locals that their worst flood will come back to haunt them.

In 2004, serious flooding gravely hurt Hat Yai residents and their commercial town.

"People are now worried again," Hat Yai Municipality mayor Prai Pattano said yesterday, "We have now opened a hot line to give people up-to-date information round the clock. They just need to dial 1559".

Prai said news-distribution points are also set up in 47 local communities so that people have time to brace for flooding, if any arises.

Prai said relevant officials were now monitoring water level U-Tapao canal 24 hours a day. This canal is a major waterway running through the Hat Yai district.

"We also fly flags along the canal. Green flags are flying today, which means the water level is normal," he pointed out, "But if you see red flags, you must realise that floods are going to hit in the next six - 30 hours".

If a siren sounds, Prai said locals must brace for flash floods that would hit in the next three to six hours.

Currently, inundation has already upset the lives of more than 50,000 people in the South. In Surat Thani alone, floods have killed two victims and caused Bt48.2million damages.

Yala, Narathiwat and Phatthalung have also been flooded.

"We have already declared seven districts in Phatthalung as disaster-hit zones," Phatthalung disaster-prevention-and-mitigation chief So Hemkul said.

These districts are Muang Phatthalung, Si Banphot, Khuan Khanun, Pa Phayom, Srinagarindra, Kong Ra and Pak Phayun.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau in the South has forecast more downpours for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Source: The Nation Multimedia.com

[Jai Dee]

Updates: Flood situation in the South of Thailand

Today, Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation provides recent update on flood situation in the southern parts of Thailand, stating that the total of 5 provinces have thus far been affected by flash floods and inundation.

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has given reports on current flood situation in the South of Thailand, while asserting that 5 provinces including Narathiwat, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thamarat, Phatthalung and Pattani have recently been affected by heavy rains that subsequently led to flash floods and inundation.

The totals of 201,434 individuals of 35,669 dwellings are in need of immediate assistance, as 10 lives have already been taken from this natural disaster.

The Department has already coordinated with other related organizations to urgently provide assistances to affected victims.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 25 November 2008

[sbk]

Source: Royal Thai Goverment

Date: 24 Nov 2008

Surat Thani estimates over Bt48 million in ongoing flood damage

The Governor of Surat Thani province has distributed survival kits and attempted to boost the spirits of residents currently affected by flood in nine districts.

Surat Thani Governor Pracha Terat (ประชา เตรัตน์) revealed that flood conditions remain in nine districts of the province totaling 40 tambon, 255 villages and 12,231 households. Some 31,000 people have been caught in the inundation with two reported deaths and one disappearance. Initial damage estimates have been set at more than 48 million baht.

The governor stated that all levels of local administration have banded together to assist citizens by distributing survival kits. The governor will himself today travel to five districts to pass out kits personally and visit affected residents.

Source: Relief Web.com

[sbk]

Southern floods damage over Bt200 mln

(BangkokPost.com) - Flooding in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat has so far damaged more than 200 million baht and claimed seven lives, according to Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The disaster has hit 780 villages in 18 districts of the province.

In another southern province of Surat Thani, flooding forced more than 400 villagers to evacuate to higher grounds.

Continued at the Bangkok Post: www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=132281

[Samuian]

Laem Din Road passed the Chinese (Monkey) Temple, towards Talaad Dao, where the newly constructed Road starts, badly flooded and dangerous to be passed with a Motorcycle! From Ring Road all the way towards the "End", all fine and driveable.

Sorry for these mishaps, but it does carry a message, the more forest and plant cover is being cleared, the more likely landslides will happen!

And more and more people move to areas/floodplains/river meadows, where settling/living is dangerous in rainy season!

[animatic]

More mad rain this morning and power outage at 5 am for 1.5 hours.

Calmer and the electricity is back on finally.

Time for some remedial sleep.

That cluster of shop/apartments, mostly glass, that was built under the cliff,

between Bophut and Banrak across from Punprida II is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Mine the side of a mountain for fill for projects, untill it's a shear face, with no plant support.

Then build 6 units of housing / shops 30 feet in front of it.... Blinding shear madness.

If it doesn't go this year it WILL go some time.

Edited November 25, 2008 by animatic