Most Rain In 30 Years, Government Records Show: Thailand

[webfact]

FLOOD

Most rain in 30 years, government records show

By THE NATION

The amount of rain that has fallen in recent months is the most in 30 years, according to the Department of Water Resources' records.

Flooding has affected residents in almost 30 provinces, while those living in areas along the lower Chao Phraya River |have been swamped for two months.

La Nina and extreme weather have been blamed for the excess rain, which worsened flood levels in many provinces across the country, according to Professor Thanawat Jarupongsakul, a |lecturer at the Unit for Disaster and Land Information Studies at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science.

He said La Nina conditions were expected to ease in March but they got stronger again this month when the monsoon trough that normally moves over the country for a short period remained over the country for longer than it normally does.

So, that had caused continuous heavy rain.

"It is forecast that there will be storms, which will result in more rain in October.

"That will probably affect |the South, especially sloped areas.

"We should beware of possible landslides," Thanawat said.

Boonjong Jaratdamrongnit, director of the department's water crisis prevention centre, said the rainy season had |come a month earlier than usual due to the influence of the Nok-Ten and Haima storms and the monsoon trough. Hence, there was greater rain. Large dams across the country were now at 80-90 per cent of their full capacity.

Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute director Royon Jitdorn said the country was unable to manage a huge amount of floodwater.

He said trade winds had also caused continuous heavy rain. The phenomenon could have much influence in the middle of the rainy season.

But he was unable to say how long it would last.

"High tides will occur from the end of this month until next month.

"I'm worried that if authorities cannot release floodwater at that time, Bangkok will be inundated. They should rush to release as much water as possible now," Royon said.

-- The Nation 2011-09-20

[webfact]

Floods to cost farmers Bt20bn

By THE NATION

Economic damage to the country's agricultural sector caused by flooding will likely reach Bt20 billion this year, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC).

As of last Thursday, the damage to the sector was estimated at Bt8 billion. But the KRC said the full cost will not become clear until the last quarter of the year, given that the floods struck just as rice farmers were about to harvest their crops.

Flood water has already swamped millions of rai of farmland.

A large part of the country's rice basket, which covers Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Sawan, is inundated.

The KRC has revised down the expected growth rate in the country's agricultural sector. From a previous forecast of 22.7 per cent, it now puts the figure at 21.4 per cent - despite KRC's expectation that the price of rice will soar in the fourth quarter.

The overall economic toll will jump even higher if authorities fail to shield Bangkok from floods, the centre said.

More rain is forecast, as a monsoon trough is expected across Thailand's Central and lower northeastern regions from todayTuesday through Friday.

Run-off water continued to race down the Chao Phraya River yesterday, with a flow rate of up to 3,952 cubic metres per second measured in Nakhon Sawan, bringing the water level there to 15 centimetres above the permanent embankment.

Part of a sandbag wall erected by locals to protect the province's economic district crumbled yesterday, causing panic among medical workers at Ruampat Hospital and shop owners in the Nakhon Sawan municipal area. Officials plugged the holes in just over half an hour.

In Angthong, water from the Chao Phraya River flowed into the Noi River, deluging houses along the latter. Sixty centimetres of water enveloped buildings at Wisetchaichan Tantiwitaya-phum School.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shina-watra will meet relevant authorities at Government House tomorrow (sep21) to plan measures to protect Bangkok and its adjacent provinces from floods.

"I will present information from satellites and more. Maps, for example, will show roads and waterways," Geo-Informatics and Space Techno-logy Development Agency (Public Organisation) acting director Dr Anond Snidvongs said yesterday.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok was almost at the overflow point. "But we are well prepared," he said.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhum-bhand Paribatra said a water gate was opened last night to divert water from the Chao Phraya River into the Padung Krungkasem Canal. "The step was taken to lower the water level in the river," Sukhumbhand said.

Apart from the Chao Phraya River, the Bangkok Metropolitan Adminis-tration (BMA) is also watching the water discharge from the Pasak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri. Water from this dam flows into the Pasak Dam, along which the Rama VI Diversion Dam was constructed. The Rama VI Dam, located in Ayutthaya's Tha Ruea district, is connected to the Rapipat Canal, which leads to eastern Bangkok.

"We are closely monitoring the situation in risky areas," Pornthep said.

The BMA has allocated Bt1 billion for flood-prevention measures, which include buying sand, crushed stones and other materials. Temporary barriers along waterways can be made from sandbags and bags of crushed stones, if an overflow is imminent.

The Emergency Operation Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides yesterday reported that flooding had continued to wreak havoc in 26 provinces, upsetting the lives of more than 1.5 million people. The official death toll from flooding and related incidents was 112. However, three more deaths were reported in Chai Nat yesterday.

According to Highways Depart-ment director-general Veera Rueng-soksriwong, floods have damaged 372 roads under his agency's jurisdiction and repairs will likely cost up to Bt2.859 billion. Department of Rural Roads director-general Vichan Kunakulsawat said the flood damaged 460 roads under his agency's supervision between July 28 and yesterday. He estimated the damage at about Bt3.524 billion.

-- The Nation 2011-09-20

[NanLaew]

NanLaew's farm is now totally inundated with up to 2m of water over the highest parts and road access cut by the floods to about 800m from the gate. Compensation paperwork being filed.

Now, what to do with all these pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs and the bloody outlaws that are squatting in my back yard?

The fish all swam away apparently.

[RickBradford]

Now, what to do with all these pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs and the bloody outlaws that are squatting in my back yard?

Ensure that the pigs, ducks, chickens, and dogs have maximum room.

[LJW]

In the North, it hasn't been raining much the last few days...

Which is good because every lake and river, except Doi Tao lake, is absolutely full.

[philhal2]

NanLaew's farm is now totally inundated with up to 2m of water over the highest parts and road access cut by the floods to about 800m from the gate. Compensation paperwork being filed.

Now, what to do with all these pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs and the bloody outlaws that are squatting in my back yard?

The fish all swam away apparently.

IF YOU DONT HAVE A BIG FREEZER BUY ONE NOW

[rubl]

theNation is always a bit slow in newsflashes and those from TV who can post new topics also have some problems to keep up. The other newspaper had a newsflash on how the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry plans to solve the flooding problem: dig a 300 metres wide canal to drain of the water and prevent flooding. It seems the wise Minister Theera Wongsamut said so.

Being from the Netherlands and a genuine Dutch uncle I need all my willpower to refrain from commenting.

BTW Minister Wongsamut? Maybe family of banned ex-PM Somchai Wongsamut, the ex-brother-in-law of k. Thaksin ?

Edited September 20, 2011 by rubl

[jombom]

An earlier report (re tugboats) said the river was flowing at approx 3000 cubic metres per second.

This link below is for the Monkey Cheeks project.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255409080016

It says the project can store 6,000,000 cubic metres, which I calculate to be about to be about 40 minutes of full flow ----- but as we know the figures given in these reports, are often incorrect.

Anyway, I don't understand why the worst rain in 30 years is causing a problem. USA used to plan for 100 year worst case on the Mississippi, and changed to 500 year designs about 25 years ago. USA army blew a levee on the river a few months ago, to relieve flood concerns. All humans and livestock were evacuated beforehand.

[whybother]

...

Anyway, I don't understand why the worst rain in 30 years is causing a problem. USA used to plan for 100 year worst case on the Mississippi, and changed to 500 year designs about 25 years ago. USA army blew a levee on the river a few months ago, to relieve flood concerns. All humans and livestock were evacuated beforehand.

Thailand have trouble planning for a 1 year worst case scenario, so they've got no chance for a 30 year worst case event.

[Brian67]

NanLaew's farm is now totally inundated with up to 2m of water over the highest parts and road access cut by the floods to about 800m from the gate. Compensation paperwork being filed.

Now, what to do with all these pigs, ducks, chickens, dogs and the bloody outlaws that are squatting in my back yard?

The fish all swam away apparently.

IF YOU DONT HAVE A BIG FREEZER BUY ONE NOW

And fit some pontoons so it floats

[maidu]

Are there numbers to back up the claim? It feels like last year was wetter than this year, maybe because I had a smaller umbrella last year.

But really folks, now long have our vulnerable species been residing in these here parts? ........Somewhere between 4,000 and 35,000 years, depending on which anthropologist who look to for such numbers. And how long has it rained buckets in the summertime on an annual basis? Duhhh, about every one of those years.

So why is Thailand so unprepared for the rain that comes every year? Ok, I know there are a bunch of peripheral circumstances, such as denuding hills of trees, over grazing, plowing vertically instead of horizontally (all over the hilly parts of Thailand) and cultivating very steep hills - all of those are just a few of the reasons why annual rains seem to be so catastrophic nearly every year. Another major factor is the bad planning and crappy engineering for drainages everywhere in Thailand. Expect more of the same in your lifetime and the lifetimes of your kids and grandkids - oh, and with "The Most Severe Droughts" nearly every year - 6 months after the headlines declaring "Most Severe Floods". When are these people going to plan sensibly for these weather patterns that have been going on for millenia?

[zzaa09]

Hmmm....

Wasn't it just last rainy season [2010] that all were calling the extensive rains and flooding the worst in some 50 years....???

Seems this year might be slightly equal to the season of last. As many regions with below-normal or average rainfall within any given rainy season are receiving a more than fair amount of their deluge. Comparatively, the flooding is no worse than it might be in any recent years.

[TAWP]

Maybe it is the Rapture...

Edit: ...maybe we will know when Thaksin rides in with the four horsemen.

Edited September 21, 2011 by TAWP

[NanLaew]

Maybe it is the Rapture...

Edit: ...maybe we will know when Thaksin rides in with the four horsemen.

Ooops.... another threadf*ck by the Thaksin IGYUMS* Brigade.

* I Got You Under My Skin