Southern Thai Provinces Ravaged By Floods, Landslides

[george]

Southern provinces ravaged by floods, landslides

CHUMPHON, March 27 -- Several tourists and villagers were trapped, roads cut off from the outside world and numerous people reported missing after they were swept into a swollen river as heavy downpours continued to devastate southern provinces in Thailand on Sunday.

Unusually torrential rains continued to hit southern provinces due to a high pressure system from China persisting over the region.

In Lang Suan district of Chumphon province, police decided to close the road linking the province with the resort province of Ranong in the afternoon after receiving reports that water runoff had flooded the highway as high as three metres, making it impossible for vehicles to pass through.

About 50 tourists were trapped but were later able to leave the area after flat-bottomed boats were dispatched to pick them up, police said.

Another road linking Lang Suan district with Surat Thani province was also cut off, forcing several thousand villagers to be stranded on a hill.

About five villagers were reported missing after they accidentally fell into the river, police said.

Villagers in Chumphon said they had never seen such heavy rains during March in past years in their province.

Initial damages, according to officials at Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office in Chumphon, were that three districts in the province were severely affected causing hardship to over 5,000 households. Villagers living in flood-prone areas were evacuated to higher ground.

Meanwhile, Theera Mintrasak, governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, which is believed to be hardest hit by the flood, said 21 out of 23 districts in the province were now declared flood disaster zones as many people were still struck in flooded areas.

Mr Theera said he would seek an extra budget allotment from the government to repair the runway of the airport in the province as planes still could not land there as it was still underwater. The money will also spent on building new water retention areas.

Damages in Nakhon Si Thammarat is estimated at more than Bt300 million, Mr. Theera said.

In nearby Surat Thani province, the situation was still worrisome as 10 districts are inundated and several houses collapsed because of landslides. Water runoff from a mountain had swept through three villages as officials helped villagers to higher ground.

Officials in Surat Thani had urged villagers in risky areas to temporarily evacuate from their homes as the amount of rainfall in some areas there was measured at 110 millimetres. Ferry services to Ko Phangan were now suspended temporarily as waves in the Gulf of Thailand were higher than three metres, making it too dangerous to make a journey.

-- TNA 2011-03-27

[zzaa09]

The south has really had a rough year. Nearly rain year-round......off season and the winter. This is what they don't need - coming into the nearing wet season. Wish them well.

[webfact]

Floods kill three in south Thailand: official

BANGKOK (AFP) - Serious floods in the south of Thailand have killed three people and affected tens of thousands more, causing about $10 million of damage, officials said Sunday.

Emergency disaster zones have been declared in 34 districts across five provinces since heavy downpours began on Wednesday, according to a statement from the department of disaster prevention and mitigation.

"Since rains began on March 23, there have been floods, strong winds and landslide in several areas," said Theera Mintrasak, governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, which has been hardest hit.

"There are about 30,000 families or 80,000 people affected by these floods."

He said the three who had died included one person who was drowned and two monks killed by a landslide while they were staying at a jungle retreat.

"The initial damage is estimated at 300 million baht ($10 million)," he said on a national TV broadcast with the prime minister, adding that flights had been cancelled in the area owing to floods on the runway.

Devastating flooding across Thailand late last year left more than 220 people dead, damaging the homes or livelihoods of an estimated 8.6 million people in 51 of the kingdom's 76 provinces.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said authorities were ready to provide aid for those affected by the latest floods.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-28

[webfact]

Mid-South hit by floods

By The Nation

Disaster zones declared in Nakhon Si, Chumpon, Surat, Trang and Phattalung; At least 5 people drown

Five people have drowned in the floodhit South. Residents in five affected provinces were struggling late yesterday in many districts with high levels of floodwater.

Rescue units and equipment were mobilised from provinces not yet affected for relief work in the hardesthit provinces: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang and Phatthalung.

Local residents were warned to be prepared for emergency evacuations and to move their belongings up above flood levels.

Heavy rain has been forecast over the next few days in the central South - in five affected provinces and four others - Satun, Ranong, Phang Nga and Songkhla, as well as in three strifetorn provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat.

Meanwhile, some 47 other provinces around the country had also been declared disaster zones - many because of drought, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said yesterday.

Queries and requests for relief help could be submitted at the call centre hotline 1111, they said.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, all flights were cancelled after the airport was flooded, while 20 out of its 23 districts were declared disaster zones.

The Tha Sala Hospital was under water last night, with a high level of 2 metres in certain locations. Serious damage was done to medical equipment and supplies worth tens of millions of baht, officials said.

"It is the heaviest flooding in the past 30 years, and the hospital remains closed until further notice," hospital director Dr Kitti Rattanasombat said.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport officials said the runway and taxiways were under two feet of water at one stage but even after the flood receded it was not operational as underground electrical wiring and guiding lights were damaged.

Power was also cut off in business areas in Nakhon Si Thammarat town to prevent short circuits and people being electrocuted. Many markets were flooded and food was being sold on sidewalks.

A large number of cattle were lost and many strayed after surviving the initial waves of flooding.

A number of crocodiles were on the loose from the provincial zoo but officials said they were still within secondary cages and not a threat. But a number of birds drowned after their cages were flooded.

In Surat Thani, 11 districts out of 19 were made disaster zones. They endured a shortage of relief equipment and supplies, which were scattered in many areas distant from one another.

Two major hospitals in the regional hub were also flooded but still operational with staff travelling in and out on military vehicles and other vessels.

Several long sections of the Ranong to Phuket and Ranong to Lang Suan roads, were impassable. This forced a large number of vehicles to detour and use other routes, which caused heavy traffic congestion in many areas.

Mudslides took place last night in Lang Suan district in Chumphon, inundating vast areas and damaging a home. Local resident Bunlert Jansiri said he narrowly escaped a flash flood and quickly saved his three vehicles from being swamped in mud.

In Phatthalung, the floodwater level remained high because of a slow outflow to the sea given the excessive amount of rain, Governor Phisit Bunchuang said.

Four districts were at risk of a sustained longterm flood - Muang, Khuan Khanun, Khao Chai Son and Bang Kaew, all of which are adjacent to Songkhla Lake.

-- The Nation 2011-03-28

[kevbap]

'About five villagers were reported missing after they accidentally fell into the river, police said'

How ?

[asiawatcher]

For those who don't know that is the Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport in the photo.

Edited March 28, 2011 by asiawatcher

[h90]

For those who don't know that is the Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport in the photo.

I wanted to fly back to BKK on last Sunday.....

I guess it will be a week here in Nakhon...still full speed raining

[bristolgeoff]

my friend is there at the moment,she is not happy with the rain.alot of people are in the same boat.can only get better

[bobbysan124]

Wish the best for all affected. Tough time.

[fazbender]

So after the information that has been given out over floods loss of homes and life do you at TV really think its a good place to drop in an advert for hotels and holidays right under it??????

[kevbap]

For those who don't know that is the Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport in the photo.

I wanted to fly back to BKK on last Sunday.....

I guess it will be a week here in Nakhon...still full speed raining

Take a 'jet' ski

[webfact]

Severe floods batter southern provinces

BANGKOK, March 29 -- Heavy rains and floods continue to ravage Thailand's southern provinces, particularly Nakhon Si Thammarat, which has experienced five days of torrential rains since March 24 causing severe floods, while more provinces have been warned of the impact of the heavy downpours.

Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Theera Mintrasak said all 23 districts have been designated disaster zones to speed up assistance to flood victims.

He said strong wind and heavy rains since Monday night led to the falling trees and landslides which blocked the Lan Saka- Chang Klang road in Lan Saka district, impassable for all vehicles.

The main road between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani at Sichon district was impassable. Seawater also overflowed and submerged the Pak Phanang-Hua Sai Road causing difficulties for motorists.

Villagers in Lam Talumphuk in Pak Phanang, a seaside district, were evacuated due to strong wind and waves 2-3 metres high.

Fallen trees damaged electrical power posts and wires, causing blackouts in the provincial seat.

In Trang, heavy downpours since Monday afternoon added a big volume of water to canals which overflowed houses in the provincial seat and Na Yong districts. The main road linking Trang and Phatthalung at Na Yong is now under floodwater.

The flood crisis remains critical in Surat Thani following incessant rain, particularly in Chaiya district, as flash floods heavily damaged bridges, cutting off some 500 villagers in Pa Mak subdistrict from the outside world.

A village head was swept away by a strong tide of flood and his fate remains unknown.

Bangkok Airways cancelled flights to Koh Samui at 6am Tuesday due to bad weather but planned to resume flights at noon.

In Phattalung, monks living quarters at Wat Suan Thamma Chedi in Khuan Khanun district were damaged by a landslide triggered by heavy rains.

Songkhla also declared its two flood-stricken districts --Ranot and Krasae Sin--disaster area. Rising waters from Songkla Lake and from Phatthalung as well as Nakhon Si Thammarat inundated the two districts.

Thailand's Meteorological Department on Tuesday issued flood warning for the southern provinces. In its 12th statement, the department said active low pressure remains over southern Thailand and it is expected to move to the Andaman Sea today.

However, torrential rains are expected to persist in the area during the next day or two. The weather department warned that local residents must beware of flooding. The risk areas include Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Strong winds and high waves of 2-3 metres are likely in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. All ships should proceed with caution, with small boats staying ashore in a few days. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-29

[Pi Sek]

Songkhla also declared its two flood-stricken districts --Ranot and Krasae Sin--disaster area. Rising waters from Songkla Lake and from Phatthalung as well as Nakhon Si Thammarat inundated the two districts.

Spoke with someone from Ranot minutes ago... she said there was no flooding, just rain. Ranot is a district so has a few places within it, but it's not a big one.