Fear As Flood Peak Looms: Thailand

[webfact]

FLOOD

Fear as flood peak looms

By The Nation

TV show to rally aid for victims while communities still battered by mud, water, rain

Provinces along the Chao Phya River were anxiously monitoring the flood situation last night while those in the Yom River basin remained critically affected by floodwaters due to increased rainfall.

While the four southern provinces of Satun, Trang, Songkhla and Phatthalung were warned of flash flooding and landslides over the next few days, the Mineral Resources Department extended warnings to 12 other provinces, saying they, also, faced the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister's Office Minister Kritsana Srihalak said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had ordered that aid for Uttaradit's Nam Pad landslide victims be integrated into a fund-raising programme for flood victims that will be aired live on TV Channels 9 and 11 tomorrow night.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department deputy chief Srisombat Pornprasit reported late yesterday that 82 districts in 16 provinces were flooded, affecting 570,142 people and damaging 3,681,912 rai of farmlands.

The death toll from the flooding stands at 82, with Phichit province at the top with 23 deaths.

Srisombat warned people living in risky areas in 35 provinces, where heavy rain was still falling, that they faced further danger from flash flooding and landslides. Residents living along the Chao Phraya River were told to monitor the floodwater situation, move their belongings to higher ground and build sandbag barriers.

In Uttaradit's Nam Pad district, two more bodies have been found in the Khlong Tron National Park area, bringing the death toll from the landslide there to six, while Yingsak Insridee, 5, remains missing. A cremation ceremony for the six who met their deaths in the landslide will be held at Wat Chaichanapol today.

Prime Minister's Office Minister Kritsana said the prime minister had ordered urgent repairs to roads and bridges in Nam Pad, while the ICT Ministry and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department had been asked to solve disaster-warning problems in the area.

Kritsana said the Uttaradit governor had set up three coordination centres at two schools and a temple where affected residents could seek temporary shelter.

The Nam Pad landslide damage will be discussed at today's Cabinet meeting, she said, affirming that the government would pick up flood-compensation payments that were overdue from the previous government.

Prime Minister Yingluck is expected to assign an MP to each flood-stricken province in the Cabinet meeting.

The prime minister will also preside over the Ruam phalang Thai chuay Thai nam tuam (uniting Thais' power to aid flood victims) fund-raising programme tomorrow from 8.30pm to 9.30pm at Government House, to be broadcast live on Channel 9 and 11, Kritsana said.

Early yesterday morning, concrete flood barriers along the Nan River in Phichit's Taphan Hin district burst. The surge of floodwater swept away three homes and inundated about 1,000 more. Residents had fled for safety before the barrier collapsed.

In Chumphon's Patho district, a landslide in Tambon Phatho swept over a house at 1am. The five residents escaped in time, and officials evacuated residents from five nearby houses as a precaution. A four-metre-high landslide also swept across the Lang Suan-Ranong Road (Highway number 4006), making it impassable.

In Phatthalung's Tamot district, floodwaters from forests on the Banthat Mountain Range severely eroded the banks of the Tamot Canal, causing land to subside beneath two houses and a village pavilion, leaving them about one metre lower. Villagers used wooden poles to support the three buildings to prevent their collapse while local officials brought in heavy machines, landfill and rocks to strengthen the banks of the canal.

In Angthong's Mueang district, a large volume of floodwater inundated 100 riverside homes in Tambon Talad Kruad after three sections of sandbag barriers along the Chao Phya River collapsed on Sunday night. As affected residents moved their belongings to higher ground in panic, the nearby Wat Tal Jet orphans' home was flooded to a depth of two metres. Older children hurriedly built a temporary walking bridge to evacuate 150 other orphans to the temple hall.

-- The Nation 2011-09-13

[webfact]

35 provinces on flash flood alert due to continued heavy rains

BANGKOK, Sept 13 - Thailand's centre for the administration of flood situation on Monday warned local residents in river basins in 35 provinces to beware of forest-runoff and flash flooding due to heavy rains today and tomorrow.

Srisombat Pornprasit, deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, as centre director, warned that heavy rain is expected countrywide on Monday and Tuesday.

People living in lowlands along the foothills in 35 provinces were urged to be alert for forest-runoff and mudslides, while those who live along the Chaopraya River and its tributaries should alert to water spilling over the riverbanks and install sandbag protective embankments, Mr Srisombat said.

The 35 provinces at risk include Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Uthai Thani, Sara buri, Chaiyuphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Keao, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Satun.

The director noted people in four southern provinces -- Satun, Trang, Songkhla, and Phatthalung, are advised to monitor forest-runoff and mudslides during these two days due to accumulative heavy rainfalls.

Mr Srisombat also reported 82 districts in16 provinces are still under floodwaters, affecting over 217,000 people and damaging 3.6 million rai of crops and 53 highways.

As of today, 82 persons were confirmed dead in the nationwide flooding, the deputy director-general said.

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit has instructed the Thai Red Cross, under her royal patronage, to distribute flood relief kits worth Bt35 million and also granted additional personal donation of Bt500,000 to the Thai Red Cross for its flood relief operations in 19 flood-impacted provinces,.

Meanwhile, Minister to Prime Minister's Office Kritsana Sihalak on Monday said the government has instructed state television NBT to present daily programming informing of the flood situation and warning the public. The information will be reported by the Department of Meteorology and the Royal Irrigation Department.

In the latest development, the fifth body missing during Uttaradit's Nam Pat landslides since early Friday was retrieved today. Officials continued searching for the remaining two persons, one identified as a five-year-old boy.

Seven persons were reportedly missing when four villages in Nam Pat district were struck by fast-moving forest run-off and a mudslide early Friday, cutting off some 300 households from the outside world. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-13

[Jaivin2011]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

[hammered]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

Nice attitude. Exactly what the country could do with less of. Democracy is a system where conflict of opinion is resolved through elections and where there are winners and losers and where those roles can change over time. The Dems are also running round Uttaradit giving out aide etc as however people voted this time they may in the future......

[Atmos]

not all 'upcountry', here 'down-country' the mighty Chanthaburi river has expanded over much of the central city. We are 10km west towards the coast and have missed much of the rain, more towards the hills, didn't realise there were problems till last night when northbound traffic was diverted through our little town's one-way streets.

pics from here

[lannarebirth]

The government's response to aid flood victims is to encourage people to donate to a telethon? I swear, no matter how long I'm here, this place can always surprise me. Surreal.

[moe666]

The government's response to aid flood victims is to encourage people to donate to a telethon? I swear, no matter how long I'm here, this place can always surprise me. Surreal.

Taking a page out of tea bag politics no government help for flood victims

[hammered]

The government's response to aid flood victims is to encourage people to donate to a telethon? I swear, no matter how long I'm here, this place can always surprise me. Surreal.

Taking a page out of tea bag politics no government help for flood victims

Except the government are giving assistance and even the opposition are making donations. Obviously appealing for charitable donations is not a bad thing either to add to other sources

[Bakseedaa]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

Nice attitude. Exactly what the country could do with less of. Democracy is a system where conflict of opinion is resolved through elections and where there are winners and losers and where those roles can change over time. The Dems are also running round Uttaradit giving out aide etc as however people voted this time they may in the future......

These are the same peoples who enjoyed the burning of Bangkok... I,m singing in the rain...!!! Thais do not understand Democracy..

[Ned]

Flooding the country to save Bangkok. Let the water run to the sea and if it submerges the great city then so much the better.

[Bkkorupcountry]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

Nice attitude. Exactly what the country could do with less of. Democracy is a system where conflict of opinion is resolved through elections and where there are winners and losers and where those roles can change over time. The Dems are also running round Uttaradit giving out aide etc as however people voted this time they may in the future......

These are the same peoples who enjoyed the burning of Bangkok... I,m singing in the rain...!!! Thais do not understand Democracy..

The real mindset of some of the posters here are starting to show. And they have the gall to say that they care about what's good for Thais and Thailand....

[Bkkorupcountry]

The government's response to aid flood victims is to encourage people to donate to a telethon? I swear, no matter how long I'm here, this place can always surprise me. Surreal.

Taking a page out of tea bag politics no government help for flood victims

Except the government are giving assistance and even the opposition are making donations. Obviously appealing for charitable donations is not a bad thing either to add to other sources

Very true. During my time in the UK, one is constantly also bombarded by Aid this and Aid that, with charity shows and concerts and fund raising. So, no different really.

[LomSak27]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

and out of the other side of their mouth they talk of reconciliation

[londonthai]

people are dying by tens and probably by hundreds, rich and poor alike, reds and nationalists, conservatives.

many towns are submerged, bangkok might have the same fate.

talking at this time about politics, squabling in the parliament about whay government should or shouldn't be doing or talking about luck of understanding of democracy by thai is a sheer stupidity and having any human feelings to sufferers, heartlessness.

if folks up the country won't have rise to plant, after the water is gone, there won't be basic foods, with social unrest against the rich.

reading jaivin2011 and bakseeda's posts on the forums, I do think they are not for real

Edited September 13, 2011 by londonthai

[billd766]

I live 6 km from a small village called Klong Lan 65 km southwest of Khampaeng Phet.

I took my 4WD pickup truck to Nakhon Sawan yesterday morning and there were a few puddles on the roads but nothing much.

When I got back and down the hill into the village about 4.30 the klong about 150 metres from the village had a flash flood and the main road I was on was underwater in some places to the bottom of the doors of the pickup and over the exhaust pipe.

It took me over 20 minutes of slipping the clutch (a horrible smell)to get through the village and go to a friends place to get the kids from the school bus to take them home.

I have some pictures from my phones camera so I apologise for the poor quality.

I have lived here 8 years and I have NEVER seen a flash flood here before.

The water was 50cm or more deep in a lot of places.

The bridge is where the klong normally flows under.

I went to the village this morning at 7 am and they were clearing up and the flood waters had gone. Probably 80% of the shops were flooded and so was the bank.

I feel sorry for the locals as I don't expect many had any flood insurance.

[conimex]

@ NED. That's exactly what happened last year and what will happen this year and in the future !

Edited September 13, 2011 by conimex

[philw]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

How very ugly......................

Humanitarian aid based on politics.

[Ricardo]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

Disagree, there's flooding down-South too, and Bangkok will no doubt also see its share when the Chao Praya overflows shortly, aid or investment should not be used as a political-tool, Thaksin was wrong about that in 2005, as are you now.

[Jirapa]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

You fascist! They voted in a fair election and who ever they voted for they're still Thais in trouble. You should be ashamed of yourself!

[thailandcalling]

Middle Class and Upper Class Thais should be careful when contemplating making donations to upcountry flood victims, since most of them voted for the red-shirt government , let the red shirt thaksin govt help them, do not donate to any of these funds.

What a sad individual you are.

Edited September 13, 2011 by thailandcalling

[Atmos]

before this thread went all political on us, it was about floods.

Two pics attached from Thairath today from Chanthaburi province, one in the city, the other in Laem Sing area.

Went to the western side of the city today and the lake is back where it should be, actually everything looked very clean as the streets had dried out and been swept, even some sunshine (pics 3 and 4)

From local tv I understand the city area around the river is still flooded, including the east side around the Cathedral

We saw a convoy of trucks being loaded with large flat-bottomed boats, heading inland I guess, and the naval airstrip 1.5km from home has been busy with Harry Potter the helicopter making trips, appeared to be army loading it up when we went past

[moe666]

Tuff time for Thailand