Weather Alert - Possible Flooding In The South

[Jai Dee]

WEATHER BUREAU WARNS PEOPLE IN LOWER SOUTHERN PROVINCES OF POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODS

The Meteorological Department has issued another warning for people in the lower south, as severe flash floods could occur during the next few days. As the low pressure areas from Southern China have extended to cover the lower southern provinces, including Surattani (สุราษฎร์ธานี), Nakornsitammarat (นครศรีธรรมราช), Pattalung (พัทลุง), Songkhla (สงขลา), Krabi (กระบี่), Trang (ตรัง), Satun(สตูล), Pattani (ปัตตานี), Yala (ยะลา), and Naratiwat (นราธิวาส). That will cause heavy to very heavy rains in many areas in the region for the next few days, causing flash floods especially in low-lying areas.

The department warns the people of possible danger associated with the natural disaster. In addition, high waves in the Gulf of Thailand still continue today. Fishermen should be more cautious when sailing and small ships should stay ashore for the next few days.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH HAVE BEEN WARNED OF POSSIBLE FLASH FLOODS RESULTING FROM HEAVY RAIN TODAY

The Meteorological Department has issued another weather advisory warning of possible flash floods in the South and foggy conditions in Northern provinces. The Meteorological Department said that intense low pressure areas still cover lower southern region and will move to cover Andaman sea today. That will cause heavy rains in many areas in Chumporn (ชุมพร), Surattani (สุราษฎร์ธานี), Nakornsitammarat (นครศรีธรรมราช), Ranong (ระนอง), Pang-Nga (พังงา), and Naratiwat (นราธิวาส) today, possibly causing flash floods and overflows.

Therefore, the Department warns that the people in these provinces should be careful of the natural disaster in the next few days. In addition, high waves and the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea still remain. Small boats are advised to stay shore.

Meanwhile, high pressure trough covering the Northern provinces is weakening, causing more foggy conditions in the areas. Motorists should be more careful when driving.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

SOUTHERN RAILWAY FLOODED

The Railway Authority of Thailand was forced to close down the Southern rail segment between Hat Yhai and Na Muangn (หาดใหญ่-นาม่วง) station in Songkla Province due to heavy flooding.

MR. Jamnong Sunthonchot (จำนงค์ สุนทรโชติ), the acting head of the public relations department of the railway authority of thailand, revealed that at 11:30 AM today, heavy rains have caused water levels in rivers to rise, causing flooding of rail lines between Hat Yhai and Na Muangn station, causing the railway authority to shut down the rail segment until water levels will drop.

To accomodate the convenience of passengers traveling to the south, special trains have been set aside to run.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

SAMUI ISLAND WATER POLICE PREPARE FOR ANY MARITIME ACCIDENTS

Coast Guard units at the ports in Ko Samui (เกาะสมุยจัด), and various officials are preparing to handle any maritime accidents that may occur due to the strong waves and winds during this season.

Police Colonel Goson Kankaew (โกศล แก่นแก้ว), the commandant of the 3rd Coast Guard unit, stated that from the Meteorological Department's announcement for sailors to exercise caution due to strong winds and water conditions during this season, that the coast guard has set down standards to ensure safety, and has set aside a suitable force of officers to handle any maritime accidents which may occur.

Any individual who has witnessed a maritime incident may call the coast guard at 07-742-1245, or at the hotline number 1196.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

9 DISTRICTS IN NAKORNSITAMMARAT HAVE BEEN HIT BY FLOODS WHILE ONE PERSON CONFIRMED DEAD

9 districts in Nakornsitammarat (นครศรีธรรมราช) province have been hit by floods, with at least one person confirmed dead. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation official in Nakornsitammarat (นครศรีธรรมราช), Mrs. Pensri Keawkhumpai (เพ็ญศรี แก้วคุ้มภัย) said that the province has been on 24-hour alert, as it prepares to aid the people if emergencies occur. She expressed concern that flash floods and mudslides could occur in foothill areas, adding that there are 20 villages in six districts at risk of such disasters.

Meanwhile, the Nakornsitammarat governor has ordered establishment of centers to help disaster victims in provincial, district, and sub-district levels, saying that the centers will coordinate with local administrative organizations in relocating people if emergencies occur.

At present, 9 districts in the province have been hit by floods. The 9 districts include Hua-sai(หัวไทร), Ronpibun(ร่อนพิบูลย์), Sichon(สิชล), Praprom(พระพรหม), Pakpanang(ปากพนัง), Chalermprakeit(เฉลิมพระเกียรติ), Muang (เมือง) districts and Noppitam(นบพิตำ) sub-district. The floods have affected 26 villages and almost 4,000 families, with at least one person confirmed dead in Praprom district.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[Jai Dee]

Floods hit Songkhla

Published by The Nation, on Nov 24 2005

Floods and landslides Thursday hit many areas in Songkhla, causing property damages and forcing several schools to close down.

In the hardest areas, the floodwater stood as high as one metre.

"We have to close many schools temporarily because the rapidly rising floodwater may threaten the safety of students," a local education chief Sanguan Srisuk said. He said flash floods were now ravaging Muang Songkhla, Ranot, Krasae Sin, Sathing Phra, Na Mom and Singha Nakhon districts.

[Jai Dee]

PM THAKSIN HAS SHOWN HIS CONCERN OVER THE FLOOD SITUATION IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has expressed his concern over the flood problem in the southern region, and said that if the situation does not alleviate, he will visit the South to follow up on the situation by himself.

The premier said he is worried about the flood crisis in the southern part of Thailand, and thus, he has assigned the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Ministry of Interior to handle the problem and to assist flood-stricken people. Prime Minister Thaksin will also host the Krathin (กฐิน) merit-making rituals with the southern locals tomorrow (26/11/2005).

However, he added that a budget of 10 billion baht was granted to related departments in the year 2001. The financial assistance was used to solve the flood occurrence in order to prevent any negative impact on the Thai economy. The premier referred to the previous flood situation in HAT YAI (หาดใหญ่) District of SONKHLA (สงขลา) Province.

He said that the flood crisis could be worse if the budget had not been granted to deal with this problem earlier.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[george]

Four dead as floods wreak havoc in the south

BANGKOK: -- Four people have been killed in the flood-ravaged southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The governor has now declared the area a natural disaster zone. A week of torrential rain has caused widespread inundation, cuts roads and forced many residents to move the belongings to higher ground.

Meanwhile, a landslide triggered by the heavy rain blocked the Nakhon Si Thammarat- Chwang main road in Lansaka district this morning . Officials spent more than three hours clearing away the debris to reopen the road for traffic.

The province also announced today that the continuing heavy downpour may force authorities to release water from the Thadee municipality dam to ease pressure on the dam wall.

Further north, in Surat Thani province, five-metre high waves were reported as heavy rain continued to batter the tourist islands of Samui and Phangun.

Passenger boats travelling from Koh Phangun and Koh Tao were suspended last night. But ferries to and from Samui were operating as usual, harbour official Lopburi Yothasiri said.

Bangkok Airways cancelled all flights to Samui due to the torrential rain. The water level in two districts was reported to be as high as one metre, and officials used flat-bottom boats to evacuate people to higher ground.

In Songkhla province, to the south, many areas in Hat Yai district were under water. An unfinished drainage canal in the area broke its banks, flooding low-lying areas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he may visit the flood-hit areas tomorrow. He also said he had ordered the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to keep a close watch on the situation.

--TNA 2005-11-25

[Jai Dee]

SAMUI HAS BEEN BADLY FLOODED

Many areas in SURAT THANI (สุราษฎร์ธานี) Province have been flooded, especially in SAMUI (สมุย) Island where roads have been cut off by floodwater, disallowing small cars from passing through.

Today is the second day SURAT THANI has been hit by heavy precipitation, causing floods in many areas. The downpour occurred early this morning, severing commuting routes around SAMUI Island with water heights of one to two meters. With the two to three meters waves and intense winds in the Gulf of Thailand, some ships travelling between the Ban Don (บ้านดอน), SAMUI (สมุย) Island, PHA_NGAN (พะงัน), and TAO (เต่า) Island have ceased their services, but ferries are still operating as normal. Small boats have all been docked.

Prime Minister THAKSIN SHINAWATRA said he is worried about the southern flood, and he has already told the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to tend to people hit with the flood. He will tomorrow travel down to the three southern border provinces, and if the flooding situation remained severe, then he may head into the areas to address the problem himself.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 November 2005

[george]

FLOODS IN SOUTH: Nine dead, 1,000 families evacuated.

SOUTH THAILAND: -- Prime minister flies down to stricken region to confer with governors. Severe floods continued yesterday to wreak havoc in the South, claiming several lives and prompting the evacuation of more than 1,000 families. At least nine people were killed by flooding in the region on Thursday and Friday. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flew down to the flood-ravaged region yesterday evening to meet the governors of Phatthalung, Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

“The situation is worrying,” he said before his departure from Bangkok.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, nine districts were declared emergency zones, and all schools in the province were ordered to close down in the face of rising waters.

Provincial irrigation chief Weerasak Klanjit warned that the flooding could worsen because water levels across the province had reached the critical point. “We are most worried about run-off from higher ground,” he said.

In Narathiwat, floods rampaged through six districts: Sukhirin, Waeng, Sungai Kolok, Chanae, Sungai Padi and Tak Bai.

In the hardest-hit areas, water rose as high as two metres, forcing more than 1,000 families to flee to higher ground. Landslides blocked a main road and uprooted 17 electricity poles.

An informed source said that more than 10 schools and government agencies in Narathiwat needed to be closed because of the flooding.

In Surat Thani, heavy downpours generated floods on the tourist island of Koh Samui. Bangkok Airways was forced to suspend all of its regular flights between Bangkok and the island yesterday. An informed source said that more than 100 seaside bungalows had been swept away.

Temporary power blackouts plunged Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan into darkness.

In Songkhla, rescue workers used flat-bottomed boats to deliver relief items to flood victims along the Samrong Canal in Tambon Khao Roop Chang. Some urban areas in Hat Yai district were also inundated.

In Satun, about 10 villages in La Ngu district were flooded. Farmlands and roads in the area were damaged.

In Chumphon, floods hit Lamae and Muang districts, and more than 400 people had to seek shelter inside a municipality office. In the worsat-affected

area water level reached two metres.

Meanwhile a local weather bureau in the South said heavy downpours would continue in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat for one or two more days.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Anucha Mokhawes warned residents of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi to watch out for possible flash floods, run-off and mudslides.

--The Nation 2005-11-26