Thai Flood Toll Reaches 11, Thousands Stranded

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At least 15 dead, thousands stranded in Thai floods

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK, March 30, 2011 (AFP) - Floods across southern Thailand killed at least 15 people and stranded around 15,000 tourists on storm-swept islands, officials said Wednesday, as the navy's aircraft carrier joined the rescue.

Victims were either swept away by the rising waters, or buried in mudslides as the unseasonably wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around a million people in what should be one of the hottest months of the year.

Rising waters have choked off road, rail and air links to the southern region, while islands in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea were left isolated as ferries were cancelled.

Around 13,000 holidaymakers were stranded on Koh Samui alone, said Bannasat Ruangjan, of the island's tourism association, who warned that food and fuel stocks could run low in the next few days if rain continued to hamper the flow of supplies.

"We advised tourists to stay in hotels and not to travel to the airport until the situation returns to normal, so far food and utilities are still adequate but I worry about stocks of diesel," he said.

Deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government had sent its only aircraft carrier to rescue around 1,000 people stuck on Koh Tao island.

The 14-year-old HTMS Chakri Naruebet has a displacement of 11,485 metric tons and can accommodate 10 helicopters.

"There are roughly one million people affected in many provinces. At first we thought the flood would last a day or two, but now it has already been one week," he told reporters.

According to the Thai interior ministry, there are 1,225 tourists stranded in Koh Tao and 1,100 in the Phangan islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

There were about 70 holidaymakers in the Similan islands and 55 in the Surin island chain off the west coast of Thailand. It did not mention Samui.

A government statement said four people were confirmed dead after a mudslide in the Khao Phanom district of Krabi province early Wednesday.

More than 40 people were admitted to hospital after the mudslip, which Thai media said completely destroyed two villages.

The flooding, which began in southern Thailand a week ago, has killed seven people in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, three along the coast in Surat Thani and one in neighbouring Phatthalung.

Bangkok Airways said it had managed to fly about 600 tourists to Bangkok from Samui on Wednesday morning, after six of seven early flights were able to land on the island.

Bad weather and a power blackout at Samui airport grounded over 50 flights on Monday and Tuesday.

In all, 80 districts of eight provinces have been declared disaster areas by Thailand's disaster prevention and mitigation department.

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.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-03-30

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Severe floods claim 11 lives in Southern Thailand

BANGKOK, March 30 -- The number of current flood-related deaths in the southern provinces now stands at 11 with the most casualties--seven persons--registered in Nakhon Si Thammarat followed by three victims in Surat Thani and one in Phatthalung, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Director-General Vibul Sanguanpong said on Wednesday.

Officially 716,110 persons have been affected by the floods in eight southern provinces – Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Chumpon, Songkha, Krabi and Phangnga.

Their Majesties the King and Queen have given funds to the Red Cross for emergency help to flood victims in southern provinces, naval and other ships are involved in rescue and supply operations, and the prime minister and flood relief coordinator Satit Wonghnongtaey have gone south to inspect the actual conditions.

Local residents in low-lying areas and along slopes and hillsides in 11 southern provinces are warned of possible mudslides and flash floods. The provinces include Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Songkhla, Phangnga, Krabi and Phuket.

Meanwhile, a patrol vessel was unable to reach nine people, including a four-year-old girl, stranded on Maipai Island off Krabi for three days due to rough seas with five-metre waves. The authorities were renewing efforts to take them aboard today.

Fisherman Amnuay Manyerb said he was fishing nearby he learned of those who were stranded, put his family ashore and left his family on the island to bring more food. Due to strong winds and high waves, he has been unable to return and contacted the authorities for help.

In Krabi, a bridge was damaged, disrupting traffic from the provincial seat to Krabi Airport.

In Trang’s Nayong district, flooding from the Bantad mountain range continues in several subdistricts and the Trang River has overflowed, flooding low-lying areas in the municipality, including the municipality's fresh market, under one metre of water, with initial damage of two million baht. A number of roads are impassable.

One lane of the Asian Highway in Chumphon’s Langsuan district has been reopened after a mudslide was removed. Workmen are clearing all sections lanes. In Phangnga, floods hit farmlands and extended to cover wider areas. Flash floods damaged roads and electric poles fell on roadways particularly on the Takuapa-Phangnga Road.

Pichit Wattanasak, director of the Phuket provincial disaster service said rain continued falling in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi. The centre has sent 46 flat-bottomed boats to help flood victims in Krabi, Phangnga, Surat Thani and Trang.

In other developments, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Satit Wonghnongtaey, in his capacity as director of the National Flood Relief Coordination Center, left Bangkok this morning to inspect the flood situation.

Mr Abhisit told reporters before leaving Bangkok that the situation has not yet improved and that the government planned to evacuate people in at-risk areas.

The premier was earlier scheduled to arrive at Royal Thai Air Force Wing 7 in Surat Thani before going on to Nakhon Si Thammarat's Tha Sala district, but changed plans and landed at Trang and went by road to Nakhon Si Thammarat as the plane could not land at Surat Thani.

Upon arrival at Nakhon Si Thammarat, he was to be updated on the flood situation by the governor, and visit flood victims at Tha Sala Hospital and Pak Phanang district.

Mr Abhisit said the situation remains critical due to heavy downpours and said the floodwaters had cut many roads. He pledged that the government would do its best the help local residents.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban presided over a ceremony at Government House to send relief packages to flood victims in the southern provinces.

He said the Royal Thai Navy ship HTMS Chakri Naruebet has arrived at Koh Tao off Surat Thani to rescue tourists stranded there due to bad weather. The vessel would eventually move to Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Samui to deliver 15,000 relief packages.

Mr Suthep gave reassurances that the relief packages would be delivered to all flood victims in every flood-hit province.

On Monday the Cabinet will consider increasing its financial aid limit from Bt50 million to Bt100 million for each flood-affected province and will approve a central budget allocation to help flood victims at the level of Bt5,000 per family, he added.

The latest flood has affected some one million people as many provinces have been hard hit by the heavy rains and flood, Mr Suthep said. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-03-30

[asiawatcher]

Loss of life is always sad. With the warnings and the obvious increases of volumes of moving water you would think people would be less careless. Damage to properties is even sadder, as many will have to rebuild from reserves if any!

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Ten bodies recovered in Krabi run-off

By The Nation

Krabi

Ten bodies of a village hit by flashflood and mudslide early Wednesday have been recovered, a district chief said.

Supoj Chanakit, the chief of Khao Phanom district in Krabi, said ten bodies have been recovered from a downstream river.

Supoj said the victims were believed to be residents of Moo 7 village in Tambon Na Khao.

Supoj said Moo 7 was the first village hit by flashflood and mudslide from the Phanom Benja Mountains at four am Wednesday.

Several other villages in three tambon of the district were also hit by flashfloods and mudslide, he said, adding that many villagers went missing.

The district chief said villagers in the three tambon had been evacuated to safe area.

"I think the death toll will rise because it happened so fast that the villages cold not flee," Supoj said.

Krabi MP Arkom Engchuan said the Moo 7 village in Tambon Na Khao was located next to the highest mountain in the province.

Arkom said several days of rains caused the soil to be saturated with rain water until the landslide occurred.

Arkom said he received reports that about 30 villagers went missing.

-- The Nation 2011-03-30

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Mudslide in Krabi's Khao Phanom district kills at least 12 while 30 people remain unaccounted for, a Krabi official confirmed

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[dddave]

Can anybody tell me if there is 1-2 CALL service currently in Koh Samui?

I have been trying to reach a friend there for the last two days. I keep getting the same message as if her mobile was off.

[george]

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At least 4 dead, 100 missing in Krabi mudslide; Floods across Thailand kill at least 15

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