Flood Woes Spread To Pattaya; Evacuations In Krabi, The South

[webfact]

Flood woes spread to Pattaya; evacuations in Krabi, the south

By The Nation

Resort 'waistdeep' in water after two days of heavy rain; death toll hits 80

Heavy flooding spread to new areas of the country amid heavy rain over the weekend, with the seaside town of Pattaya in the East the latest hit, and largescale evacuations were ordered in Krabi and neighbouring provinces in the South.

Waisthigh flooding in many areas of North and South Pattaya in Chon Buri province followed two days and two nights of heavy rain, while Central Pattaya was inundated. Relief operations and water drainage were underway, but no casualties were reported.

Five of Chanthaburi's 10 districts were flooded, with an estimated 5,000 residents affected, while warnings of possible landslides in hilly areas were maintained.

Adjacent to Krabi, Phang Nga yesterday saw emergency evacuation of 500 people in Takua Pa district in the middle of the night, while residents and tourists in neighbouring Ranong were advised to avoid national parks and waterfalls, though no official restrictions were announced.

The floodrelated death toll rose to 80, and a large number of people were reported to be suffering mental distress. The body of a French mountainbiker identified merely as Reimi, 30, was found in Prachin Buri. He disappeared Saturday night while cycling alone near Eto National Park. Flash floods also inundated a large number of homes in Mueang and Sri Maha Pho districts.

In an official update of the flood damage released yesterday, 465,792 residents of 2,820 villages in 69 districts of 16 provinces have been affected, while 3,681,912 rai of farmland and 29 key roads have been flooded or damaged.

Heavy rain and likely flash floods are forecast in another 32 provinces within this week, while warnings of landslides are being maintained in Uttaradit.

Eight of 12 people missing in the province's Nam Pat district since Friday were accounted for yesterday. They went missing when flash floods ploughed into three villages killing three people. Relief assistance was being provided to 2,028 people and repairs were underway on roads and bridges damaged by the strong currents.

A total of 705 homes were damaged or washed away in the province, along with a school, four roads and six bridges. One person remained in serious conditions. The payment to families for each floodrelated death from authorities has been set at Bt25,000, or Bt50,000 for breadwinners.

Heavy rain was forecast throughout the country, along with high seas in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Residents of coastal areas where rain is likely are being warned to brace for flash flooding due to the seasonal peak tide, authorities said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-12

[craigt3365]

For those interested, there's a thread in the Pattaya Forum on this. Quite a few pics and videos of the flooding.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/497276-pattaya-flooding/

[Mosha]

I must admit the amount of water coming over the falls at Punyaban, was impressive when I passed the other day.

[londonthai]

the costal towns, like pattaya, krabi are flooded because of the blocked drains, it's only for short time. Within a day water flows to the sea, just roads to be repaired/rebuild.

in the other areas, including bangkok, floods can last for many months, as dams, rivers and canals overflow - there is nowhere to pump water out, even, if equipment is in place.

this year flood is going to be worse, than the last year's, so beforehand prepare bags of sand and move belongings up