Mother, Child, Die In Flood, Storm Havoc In South: Thailand

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Mother, child, die in flood, storm havoc in South

TRANG, June 8 -- Strong winds and three-metre waves caused seawater to surge into more than 80 fishing village households in Kantang district of southern Trang province on Thursday.

The waves, hitting the villages for three days, damaged one home and a community rest shelter, with high tides forecast to continue at least 2-3 days.

A 32-year-old woman and her three-year-old daughter were killed yesterday as gusty winds uprooted half-a-century old Siamese rosewood tree which fell onto their home.

As many as 50 homes in the provincial seat were damaged by the strong winds.

Days of continuous strong winds and storms whipping the region felled trees on homes and facilities worth about Bt15 million.

In Surat Thani, the flooding was gradually improving and returning to normal after the rains stopped since Wednesday night.

Surat Thani's six districts - Chaiya, Tha Chana,Vibhavadi, Phanom, Ban Ta Khun and Tha Chang--were flooded from runoff from Kang Krung National Park after several days of continuous downpours.

The water level this morning at Ban Pak Lang in Vibhavadi district receded by 2.5 metres but lower areas are still under water, with some villagers beginning to clean up their homes.

Takuktai sub-district chief Withaya Somakerd said that if there was no more rain, the situation would return to normal by this evening.

He said there were 300 households in the sub-district affected by the flood, impacting some 1,500 villagers and damaged 3,000 rai of farms.

Meanwhile, the Surat Thani Provincial Administration Organisation sent heavy construction equipment to repair a damaged bridge across Khlong Jae on the Khlong Wai-Vibhavadi Road. The route has reopened for normal traffic.

Landslides blocked the entrance of a Takuk Nua subdistrict community, cutting off more than 20 households.

Surat Thani Governor Cherdsak Chusri warned residents in at-risk areas to be on high alert for possible flash flood and to closely monitor official announcements.

The Meteorological Department announced that the strong southwest monsoon remained across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Rains are likely across the country while heavy in many areas of the southern region, meaning that residents of risk areas along foothills and near waterways should be alert to possible flooding in the next few days.

This included Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang.

Strong winds and high waves are likely to reach 2-4 metre levels in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should keep ashore. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-08

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State of disaster declared in parts of Chumphon

The Nation

CHUMPHON: -- A state of disaster emergency has been announced in four Chumphon districts - the first in this wet season - following flash flooding, which had inundated 40 per cent of areas overnight.

Relief supplies and treatments have been given to residents in 127 villages in Thung Tako, Sawee, Tha Sae and La Mae districts in this southern province. Officials have also been put on alert for possible evacuations from more flooding.

In Pathum Thani, 200 angry residents from many estates upset at non-payment or insufficient compensation for flooding blocked a section of Phaholyothin-Lam Luk Ka Road, causing traffic congestion that stretched for kilometres.

Payments are not due till next Wednesday, but some residents had learnt they would get amounts lower than what they wanted and thus sought to protest. The blockade continued till press time although one lane was opened after talks between the protesters and a local administrative body.

In Surat Thani in the South, six of the 19 districts were under water , with more than 27,000 people in 8,500 households affected, said provincial governor Cherdsak Choosri. In Krabi, 20 families isolated by flooding in Muang district were rescued via a bridge made of rope in a dramatic effort by rescue workers.

A total of 500,000 first-aid kits and 400 doses of serum to deal with seven types of snake venom had been prepared, the Public Health Ministry said. It said there had been 400 cases of people suffering from diseases since the flooding began late last week.

Another 9,000 kits have been sent to three flood-hit provinces in the south - Phang Nga, Ranong and Krabi. Public announcements and leaflets warning people about waterborne diseases and diarrhoea have been provided in provinces not yet flooded.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is due to visit Nonthaburi today to check on compensation payments to residents affected by last year's mega-flood. She may also fly to Chumphon to see flooded areas, after the Nonthaburi trip, although she has already assigned Natural Resources and Environment Ministry Preecha Rengsomboonsuk to visit that province.

-- The Nation 2012-06-08