Many Northern Thai Provinces Affected By Floods

[webfact]

Many northern Thai provinces affected by floods

PHRAE: -- Thousands of local residents in Thailand's northern provinces have been affected, many displaced, by flooding due to incessant rains, while the increasing water in the Yom River poses a special flood alert for large areas on Sunday night.

In Phrae, forest torrents from Mae La creek have overflowed low-lying areas in Wang Chin district, damaging a number of bridges.

Farmland and government offices were flooded, affecting more than 4,000 people.

Nonstop rain is still increasing the water level in the Mae La reservoir and officials are on alert to monitor the water level around the clock.

Puan Fuengfu, chairman of the Sroi sub-district administrative organisation surveyed flood damage in Wang Chin district.

Houses and shops are under one metre of floodwater and one building of the Mae La Child Development Centre is flooded with by two-metre deep waters and closed indefinitely. Floods damaged some 200 acres of agricultural crops and about 20 fish ponds were damaged. The governor of Phrae warned local residents to be prepared for possible flood from the rising Yom River, triggered by incessant rain.

In Chiang Rai, forest runoff inundated part of Wiang Pa Pa district, causing damage of up to one million baht to shops at a hot spring.

More than 500 houses have been damaged by the waters. The provincial hydrology and water management centre warned villagers in Mae Suai district to be alert for overflowing water Sunday night.

In Phisanulok, flooding hit several areas, particularly at Naresuan University and business areas around the university. Students were forced to wade through flood waters.

In Chiang Mai, several hours of rain caused one-foot flooding in a fresh market as the sewage system failed to drain floodwaters. Sellers moved their goods to higher ground and wore boots to prevent water-borne diseases.

In Lampang, incessant rain increased water level in waterways, triggering flooding in five districts. Local officials distributed food and drinking water to residents of flood-ravaged areas. In Thoen district, landslides blocked a portion of the Thoen-Thungsaliem road and trees and electric poles were felled. Motorists are not allowed to use the route as a bridge was weakened by rushing torrents.

Sukhothai governor Jakrin Pleanwong issued a warning for locals to move their belongings to higher ground as the water level in the Yom River is expected to reach seven metres Sunday night. Some villagers in the provincial seat put sand embankment on the road line to prevent flood flowing into their houses.

In the eastern province of Chachoensao, farmers in Phanom Sarakham district are harvesting waterlogged paddy by boat before it rots. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-08-22

[thaimelody]

live close to the floods in Lampang puts my moaning about trivial things into perspective.

Also interesting to see how many posts on this compared to other issues. Time to start worrying about the real things in life maybe?? just a suggestion.

[robblok]

I dont live close it does not affect me so why would i moan about it ? People usually only moan about things that affect them.

[sirchai]

I dont live close it does not affect me so why would i moan about it ? People usually only moan about things that affect them.

We'll send some boats from the Isan pretty soon.

[maimeepom]

live close to the floods in Lampang puts my moaning about trivial things into perspective.

Also interesting to see how many posts on this compared to other issues. Time to start worrying about the real things in life maybe?? just a suggestion.

Sorry to hear about the floods in lampang.

Has the River burst it's banks in the town area?