Torrential Rains Cause Flash Flood, One Dead

[george]

Torrential rains cause flash flood in the north, one dead

CHIANG RAI: -- Torrential rains in the north unleashed a flash flood that killed one person and caused damage to villages and a small reservoir.

The reservoir in Chiang Rai province has cracked and water has overflowed, causing flooding in three districts.

Rescue workers used flat-bottomed boats to help villagers affected by the flood.

Provincial health officials cooperated with the Thai Red Cross to provide make-shift shelters and clothes to flood victims.

Meanwhile, a creek in Mae Sod district of Tak province overflowed its banks and inundated the municipality area. All schools are close today after the one-meter deep water flooded the town.

The Meteorological Department announced that the tropical storm “Washi ” has weakened to a low-pressure ridge and is moving towards northern Thailand. People in the area are warned to prepare for flash floods and landslides.(

--TNA 2005-08-01

[george]

Big storms hit North and South

BANGKOK: -- Torrential rains influenced by tropical storm Washi have caused flash-floods in many regions, cracking a dyke in Chiang Rai province and inundating more than 1,000 households and 5,000 rai of farmland.

One person died and another was injured in two separate incidents of electrocution.

A Chiang Rai woman also died while trying to save her drowning piglets and a novice monk was injured while wading in Tak.

Dee Mee Creek dyke was smashed last night after the heavy rain. The overflow water inundated 28 villages and swathes of farmland in Doi Luang sub-district. Residents in two tambons were evacuated to higher ground.

The storm, which receded to become a depression late on Sunday, brought heavy rains to the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Tak and the southern provinces of Phuket, Songkhla and Satun. All were hit by flash-floods, mostly in suburban areas. Fishing trawlers operating off Phuket were warned about high seas as the island was hit by heavy rains.

Four schools in Tak province were ordered closed after flash-floods hit the municipal area. Officials and rescue workers were monitoring the water level as it went dangerously close to breaching safety levels – 50 centimetres for Ban Hua Fai reservoir and two metres for the Moei River.

Although Chiang Mai was not badly affected by Washi, residents of Omkoi district were warned about possible landslides.

Meanwhile, a storm in Satun damaged 30 houses and caused a power blackout in Manang sub-district, delaying the vote count following local elections on Sunday.

In Songkhla, 12 homes in Na Mom and Hat Yai districts and a radio tower in municipal areas were also damaged by a storm.

Interior official Sujarit Pajchimnant said provincial authorities had been instructed to prepare rescue operations and emergency relief efforts in case of flash-floods or other emergencies.

--The Nation 2005-08-02

[george]

Bangkok Post update:

Families flee floods, schools shut

CHIANG RAI: -- Tropical depression Washi has weakened into a low-pressure system over Laos, but still triggered downpours that burst the banks of a small reservoir, electrocuted a woman and forced the closure of 14 schools in Chiang Rai.

The widespread heavy rain triggered warnings of flash floods in the upper northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Phayao and Nan.

The Meteorological Department said Washi was downgraded to a low-pressure system over the city of Luang Phrabang in Laos yesterday morning.

The system was crossing over to Thailand's upper north, putting authorities on alert for flash floods and water run-off from mountainous areas.

Chiang Rai began to feel the brunt with floods reported in Doi Luang and Wiang Chiang Rung sub-districts. Water in the Huay Dee Mee reservoir in Doi Luang sub-district rose rapidly, stressing its four-metre crest.

The reservoir later burst its banks, inundating eight tambons downstream.

Royal Irrigation Department chief Samart Chokekanapitak said the reservoir, built by the development army, was small with only 75,040 cubic metres of storage capacity. The damaged crest would be repaired and large rocks would be brought in to reinforce it.

The early morning floods caused people to pack frantically and scurry for higher ground. Nokkaew Pentor, 55, of tambon Pong Noi, was electrocuted at her home as she tried to escape the torrent of water. Two other people were injured.

Roads in Ban Huay Mae Liab village were impassable after being submerged, some under one metre of water, while 14 schools in Chiang Rai were closed because of flooding.

Chokechai Dechchaisri, a public emergency volunteer, said Doi Luang and Wiang Chiang Rung were badly hit. Flat-bottom boats were deployed to rescue stranded villagers.

Health permanent secretary Vichai Thienthavorn said teams of medics were on hand to assist those injured by the floods. Epidemiologists were watching out for the spread of water-borne diseases while the public health office and the Red Cross was donating clothes and finding shelter for needy residents.

Rain continued to lash Mae Sot district of Tak through the night, overflowing creeks and flooding the municipality, markets and major roads. Water drainage was hampered by the low terrain and four schools in the municipal area were closed indefinitely.

The irrigation office reassured nervous residents that the Mae Sot reservoir was strong enough to collect an additional five million cubic metres of rain. Spillways were operating as normal while sandbags were mounted around low-lying communities

Thawatch Tantitheeravit, director of irrigation office 2, said seven water measurement posts were set up in rivers flowing through Lampang, Phayao, Chiang Rai and Nan. The posts were also capable of giving out landslide alerts, as this was a major concern given that large expanses of hill country had been deforrested.

Mr Thawatch said at least eight districts of Lampang were at risk of landslides. People were told to prepare to evacuate.

--Bangkok Post 2005-08-02