FLOOD

Evacuations loom in South

By THE NATION

Fears for residents in parts of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phattalung

Government officials are preparing to evacuate many people in the South in areas such as Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phattalung amid growing concern about possible flash floods and landslides.

The toll for flood-related deaths has risen to 165, with 45 fatalities so far in the South.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for evacuations,” Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday in his capacity as director of the government’s coordination centre for flood-relief work.

Apirak said evacuations were likely to be needed in Kanchanadit and Tha Chana districts in Surat Thani, plus Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Sichon, Ron Phibun, Tha Sala, |Phra Phrom and Phrommakhiri districts, and Phatthalung’s Kong Ra, Khuan Khanun and Pak Phayun districts.

“Heavy downpours are expected in these areas over the next three days,” Apirak said, adding that weather forecasts would facilitate early warnings, which officials hoped would help save lives.

Officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry used helicopters to fly yesterday over areas at risk in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Lan Saka district to try to assess the threat of landslides.

“It’s not raining cats and dogs but we are concerned about the movement of land mass in mountainous areas. We have to make necessary preparations given that there are many indicators to suggest a landslide is about to occur,” Pak Phanang Water Source Management Unit head Piyawat Sukhon said.

This water source is in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The risk of landslides usually increases in the wet season. Floods have ravaged many provinces in recent weeks, but the southern region is now the area of most concern.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Cha-uat district, power poles were brought down by a storm last week, which has meant locals living without electricity for nearly a week.

Serious flooding has caused many schools in Surat Thani to shut down indefinitely, as many roads are flooded.

Chaweng Beach, a popular tourist haunt on Samui Island, has also been inundated.

Apirak urged people to donate basic necessities to flood victims via MCOT, the state media organisation.

“Women affected [by the crisis] in the southern border provinces also need sanitary napkins and underclothes,” he said.

Meanwhile, several provinces in the Central and Northeast regions still face difficulties with floods.

High flood water lingers, for example, in provinces such as Chai Nat, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi.

In the Northeast, floods have also hit Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Roi Et and Si Sa Ket. And run-off from upriver is due to reach Ubon Ratchathani and Yasothon late next week.

Locals along the Mun River in these provinces were advised to move their belongings to higher ground to minimise flood damage.

-- The Nation 2010-11-09

all good people , evacuate the South and settle in a part of Thaïland that's not at war ; good luck you all.