Thai flood death toll reaches 212

[News_Editor]

Thai flood death toll reaches 212

2011-10-04 07:25:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

BANGKOK, THAILAND (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll as a result of widespread flooding across Thailand in recent months has risen to at least 212, according to the latest reports released on Monday.

Permanent Interior Secretary Phranai Suwannarat confirmed the number of deaths, adding that two others remain missing as flood waters continue to affect 25 provinces in the country's North, Northeast and Central regions, the MCOT news agency reported.

The unusually strong rainfall in recent months has affected almost 2.5 million people, engulfed around 7.5 million rai (1.2 million hectares / 2.9 million acres) of farmland and inundated 123 major roads in 18 provinces, creating havoc and making evacuation and rescue efforts more challenging.

In addition, Phranai, who also serves as the director of the 24/7 Emergency Operation Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide, said weather forecasts indicate that tropical storm Nalgae will hit northern Vietnam on Wednesday, bringing further rainfall in northern and northeastern Thailand from Thursday and into the weekend.

According to media reports, the Pa Sak Jolasid dam was last recorded at 136 percent of its capacity while the Bhumidol dam was at 93 percent capacity, the Sirikit dam at 99 percent, and the Kwae Noi dam at 94 percent. The Lampang airport, meanwhile, was completely shut down due to the heavy rain and flooding and is expected to remain closed until at least Tuesday.

Furthermore, the historical 500-year-old Phet Fortress (Pom Phet) was also inundated by the rising waters, despite the efforts of around 100 Fine Arts Department staff placing sand bags around the fortress up to two meters (6.5 feet) high. Staff have continued to drain the site and continue to place sandbags around it.

In total, 179 districts have been flooded in the 25 affected provinces, which are Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chiang Mai, Yasothon and Roi-et.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-04

[webfact]

'Worst' Thai floods kill 224, threaten Bangkok

BANGKOK, October 4, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's worst monsoon floods in decades have killed 224 people and affected three quarters of the country, including part of the ancient city of Ayutthaya, officials said Tuesday.

Authorities were meanwhile battling to stop the floods reaching the centre of low-lying Bangkok, as forecasters warned of more wild weather to come.

"It's the worst flooding yet in terms of the amount of water and people affected," said an official at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation who preferred not to be named.

Two months of flooding have inundated 58 of 77 provinces -- with 25 still severely affected -- and damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people, according to the government.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram, one of Ayutthaya's best-known temples, has been closed to visitors after a makeshift dyke was breached at the former capital, a popular tourist destination north of Bangkok.

"The water level inside the temple grounds is now 1.50 metres (five feet)," said Supoj Prommanoch, head of the Fine Arts Office in Ayutthaya.

He said 10 other temples were also flooded but the authorities were confident they could prevent the waters from reaching Ayutthaya's main World Heritage Park, which is located further away from Chao Phraya River.

The northern city of Chiang Mai, another popular tourist destination, has also been badly hit.

"The current flood situation is the worst that I have ever seen and it will last until the first week of November," said independent flood expert Royal Chitradon, director of Thai Integrated Water Resource Management.

"There is a problem of prolonged flooding in central provinces because roads and cities have blocked natural waterways."

Royal said several reservoirs are already full and the western and eastern outskirts of Bangkok are at risk of flooding because of another approaching tropical storm.

Last week the government announced the deployment of about 10,000 soldiers, backed by 500 military vehicles and more than 100 boats, to help victims.

Army bases will also take in evacuees, the military said Tuesday.

In total about 14.8 million acres (six million hectares) of land have been inundated around the country, said chief government spokeswoman Titima Chaisang.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-04

[alstaxi]

224 dead, and poo is focused on her twitter account, what an air head.