Thailand Flood Crisis: Northeastern Floodwater Receding

[webfact]

Northeastern Floodwater Receding

Stagnant floodwater in northeastern provinces have begun receding with a few hospitals able to fully resume services.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in the Chao Phraya River basin remains worrisome.

As the Chao Phraya River tide continues to rise, ancient heritage sites and other important tourist destinations in Uthai Thani province have been inundated by the overflowing river.

The popular Uposatharam Temple has been swamped with more than one meter of floodwater.

Water levels are expected to continue to rise.

Locals in Phitsanulok's Phrompiram district continue to reel under week old stagnant floodwater which has begun to emit foul odors.

Flood draining efforts have been met with difficulty due to the basin-like geography of the area.

In Lopburi province, floodwater has receded by five centimeters as floodgates in the area have been closed.

At Ayutthaya's Pasak Chonlasit Dam, the water discharge rate has dropped from yesterday's 1,100 cubic meters per second to 900 cubic meters per second.

This development has stabilized the flooding situation in Tha Rua district.

However, a high sea tide has caused floodwater to rise by one to two centimeters.

Nonthaburi Governor Wichian Phuttiwinyu disclosed that communities along the Chao Phraya River banks have been affected by rising water level.

He added that although certain routes have been slightly inundated, roads are still useable, even to smaller vehicles.

However, he feared that further downpours will further inundate the area.

In Pathum Thani, an all-night downpour has prompted the Irrigation Department to install water pumps in an effort to drain floodwater.

Officials reported that water levels in the Chao Phraya are likely to rise due to a high sea tide.

Meanwhile, the flooding situation in Nakhon Ratchasima has improved as the water level has begun receding.

However, certain areas are still seeing high water levels, particularly in outer districts.

The province's Maharat Hospital has fully resumed its services, but stagnant floodwater still swamps certain parts of the building.

In Buri Ram province, floods have damaged a total of 400,000 rai of farmland in various districts, including Putthaisong, Kumuang, Kaendong, and Sateuk districts, as the Mul River continued to overflow.

As for Ubon Ratchathani province, the water level of the Mul River has stabilized, but inflow of flood currents from Nakhon Ratchasima province and the Chi River will raise the Mul water level by one meter.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-26

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Cabinet approves Bt3 billion-plus flood victims budget

BANGKOK, October 26 – The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a budget of more than three billion baht (US$100 million) for flood victims with each household to receive about 5,000 baht.

A budget of Bt2.9 billion will be distributed to over 581,000 households and about Bt300 million will be given to the Interior Minister for rehabilitation work including buying flat-bottomed boats, providing flood victims with temporary shelters and toilets, according to deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut.

The money will be handed out to the flood victims in the 3-5 days following the November 1 economic ministers meeting via Government Savings Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives offices.

Deputy government spokesman Vachara Kannikar said the Ministry of Labour reported 22,500 enterprises were damaged by floods and 394,000 labourers were affected. The ministry has measures in preparation including occupational training.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his team on Tuesday travelled by a Royal Thai Police helicopter to inspect the overall flood situation in the capital and nearby provinces including Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan.

Following the survey, the governor said the water level remains high and covered large areas. It is expected to take some time that the situation will return to normal.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River at the Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge in Bangkok was measured at 2.10 metres above median sea level at 9.09am Tuesday morning, a level lower than that which was projected earlier.

Meanwhile, a large amount of floodwaters from the North released from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat and the Rama VI Dam in Lopburi was measured at 4,652 cubic metres per second.

Currently, the governor ordered Bangkok workers to reinforce 2.8-metre-high flood prevention walls along the Rajavoradith Pier, aiming to prevent possible overflowing water to affect the Grand Palace.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River excluding the northern flowing water on Tuesday was recorded at 1.17 metres, the highest level in October, however, it was likely to recede gradually and will surge and reach its peak on November 8 measured at 1-1.30 metres.

Although Bangkok has passed through Tuesday's critical situation, city officials continue monitoring the water situation, particularly on November 8, when the high tide is forecast to reach its peak of the year.

Mr Sukhumbhand assured the public the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will pull out all the stops handling the flooding until flood waters recede.

Bangkok officials are providing temporary shelters in 26 locations for residents outside Bangkok’s flood protection dykes, but the governor said no communities have asked for relocation.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said 56 people died by drowning and in flood-related incidents while about 107,000 people have become ill from flood-borne diseases and related problems.

The public health ministry will seek a budget of Bt80 million from the Cabinet. Bt50 million will be spent on restoring three hospitals in Nakhon Ratchasima and one hospital in Chaiyaphum. The other Bt30 million of the budget will be used to purchase medical supplies and medicine, he said.

Mr Jurin said the ministry would provide more than 50,000 emergency toilets for flood victims in Lopburi, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum to prevent an outbreak. It asked the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to increase its production of medicine for athlete’s foot to some 30,000 medical containers daily as well as anti-fungal medical powder.

Mobile medical units reported 141,918 patients from Oct 20-25. Most suffered from athlete’s foot, followed by fever.

On Monday, 128 teams of mobile medical units treated 2,641 persons. Five hundred forty-three public health centres and hospitals have been flooded, the minister said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-26

[chantorn]

Cabinet approves Bt3 billion-plus flood victims budget

BANGKOK, October 26 – The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a budget of more than three billion baht (US$100 million) for flood victims with each household to receive about 5,000 baht.

A budget of Bt2.9 billion will be distributed to over 581,000 households and about Bt300 million will be given to the Interior Minister for rehabilitation work including buying flat-bottomed boats, providing flood victims with temporary shelters and toilets, according to deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut.

The money will be handed out to the flood victims in the 3-5 days following the November 1 economic ministers meeting via Government Savings Bank and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-Operatives offices.

Deputy government spokesman Vachara Kannikar said the Ministry of Labour reported 22,500 enterprises were damaged by floods and 394,000 labourers were affected. The ministry has measures in preparation including occupational training.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his team on Tuesday travelled by a Royal Thai Police helicopter to inspect the overall flood situation in the capital and nearby provinces including Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan.

Following the survey, the governor said the water level remains high and covered large areas. It is expected to take some time that the situation will return to normal.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River at the Phra Phutta Yodfa Bridge in Bangkok was measured at 2.10 metres above median sea level at 9.09am Tuesday morning, a level lower than that which was projected earlier.

Meanwhile, a large amount of floodwaters from the North released from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat and the Rama VI Dam in Lopburi was measured at 4,652 cubic metres per second.

Currently, the governor ordered Bangkok workers to reinforce 2.8-metre-high flood prevention walls along the Rajavoradith Pier, aiming to prevent possible overflowing water to affect the Grand Palace.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River excluding the northern flowing water on Tuesday was recorded at 1.17 metres, the highest level in October, however, it was likely to recede gradually and will surge and reach its peak on November 8 measured at 1-1.30 metres.

Although Bangkok has passed through Tuesday's critical situation, city officials continue monitoring the water situation, particularly on November 8, when the high tide is forecast to reach its peak of the year.

Mr Sukhumbhand assured the public the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will pull out all the stops handling the flooding until flood waters recede.

Bangkok officials are providing temporary shelters in 26 locations for residents outside Bangkok's flood protection dykes, but the governor said no communities have asked for relocation.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said 56 people died by drowning and in flood-related incidents while about 107,000 people have become ill from flood-borne diseases and related problems.

The public health ministry will seek a budget of Bt80 million from the Cabinet. Bt50 million will be spent on restoring three hospitals in Nakhon Ratchasima and one hospital in Chaiyaphum. The other Bt30 million of the budget will be used to purchase medical supplies and medicine, he said.

Mr Jurin said the ministry would provide more than 50,000 emergency toilets for flood victims in Lopburi, Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum to prevent an outbreak. It asked the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) to increase its production of medicine for athlete's foot to some 30,000 medical containers daily as well as anti-fungal medical powder.

Mobile medical units reported 141,918 patients from Oct 20-25. Most suffered from athlete's foot, followed by fever.

On Monday, 128 teams of mobile medical units treated 2,641 persons. Five hundred forty-three public health centres and hospitals have been flooded, the minister said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2010-10-26

More vote buying with tax payer money.

[bdenner]

More vote buying with tax payer money.

Why the f#ck do you people quote text unnecessarily and with stupid comments???

[whybother]

More vote buying with tax payer money.

Why the f#ck do you people quote text unnecessarily and with stupid comments???

Basically to get comments like yours.

Don't feed the troll.

[webfact]

Provincial Flood Situation Stabilizes

As water levels of the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries continue to rise, the flood crisis in various provinces remain worrisome.

Meanwhile, floodwater in the northeastern provinces have begun receding.

In Nakhon Ratchasima province, receding water levels and flood draining efforts have stabilized the province's flood situation.

The Maharat Hospital has fully resumed its services, but stagnant floodwater still swamps certain parts of the building.

An aerial survey of the flood situation in Surin province revealed that the Chi River basin has overflowed into the Mul River and flood currents from Maha Sarakham and Nakhon Ratchasima have flooded areas including Tha Tum , Rattanaburi and Chumpol Buri districts.

As for Ubon Ratchathani province, the water level of the Mul River has stabilized, but inflow of flood currents from Nakhon Ratchasima province and Khon Kaen's Chi River will raise the Mul water level by one meter.

Khon Kaen Governor Sombat Triwatsuwan has called for an urgent meeting with all flood related agencies to monitor and discuss the rising Chi River tide that has swamped many parts of the province with floodwater as deep as one meter.

In the latest report, a total of 40,000 families in Khon Kaen's 13 districts have been affected by the ongoing flood crisis.

Sombat has ordered all district chiefs to speed up aid distribution and closely monitor the Chi River level as well as the water discharge from Ubonrat Dam.

In Uthai Thani province, water levels north of the Wang Romklao Dam have receded and has allowed the province's main routes to be fully operational.

The 15th mobile development unit has been dispatched to help locals in Muang district affected by the inundation.

Locals in Phitsanulok's Phrompiram district continue to reel under week old stagnant floodwater which has begun to emit foul odors.

Flood draining efforts have been met with difficulty due to the basin-like geography of the area.

At Ayutthaya's Pasak Chonlasit Dam, the water discharge rate has dropped from yesterday's 1,100 cubic meters per second to 900 cubic meters per second.

This development has stabilized the flood situation in Tha Rua district.

-- Tan Network 2010-10-27

[azado]

More vote buying with tax payer money.

Why the f#ck do you people quote text unnecessarily and with stupid comments???

Basically to get comments like yours.

Don't feed the troll.

She is rude, in another thread she commented that people outside Bangkok can be flushed away. There is another word for this kind of people but they dont have it in the Thai dictionary

[bobbysan124]

Hopefully, some concrete measures will help to alleviate the flooding potential for many areas. Does anyone know if Nakhon Phanom is subject to the same flood potential as many other areas?

[rreddin]

More vote buying with tax payer money.

Why the f#ck do you people quote text unnecessarily and with stupid comments???

Basically to get comments like yours.

Don't feed the troll.

She is rude, in another thread she commented that people outside Bangkok can be flushed away. There is another word for this kind of people but they dont have it in the Thai dictionary

I am not an apologist for the lady. There are a great many of her posts that I do not agree with. I have not read them all. However, she is giving the view of a certain section of the Thai population - the educated and affluent Bangkok middle class PAD supporters, of which she openly admits to being one. Given that most of her posts are very short, the most that can be expected is a flavour of what she and those who share her political persuasion really think. In that respect she is making a contribution, albeit the brevity of her posts is less than helpful. That is a pity as in her bio she says she wants to prctise her English.