Kanchanaburi's Mon Bridge collapses during floods

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Kanchanaburi's Mon Bridge collapses during floods

BANGKOK, 29 July 2013 (NNT) - Heavy overnight rains have partially damaged a bridge and several houses in Kanchanaburi and Bueng Kan provinces as more rain is forecasted during the next two days.

A section of 70 meters long of the famous wooden Mon Bridge in Kanchanaburi collapsed during the flash floods after the deluge swept away its pillars. The collapse took place after three days of torrential rain in the province.

Relevant authorities have sealed off the bridge in order to carry out urgent repair works. Locals were urged to use a concrete bridge nearby to commute between villages.

The Mon Bridge is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, measuring at 850 meters, and is one of the popular tourist destinations in Kanchanaburi.

In Bueng Kan, thunderstorms have damaged 6 houses and over 1,000 rubber trees as well as injured one person in Phorn Charoen district. Provincial authorities are currently surveying damages.

The Meteorological Department warned that more rainstorms can be expected in the North and the Northeast as parts of the South and the East were badly hit during bouts of storms during the past week.


-- NNT 2013-07-29

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KANCHANABURI
Floods damage historic Mon bridge
The Nation



KANCHANABURI: -- Thailand's longest wooden bridge, the Mon Bridge (also known as Luang Por Uttama's Bridge) in Tambon Nong Lu of Kanchanaburi's Sangkhla Buri district, yesterday continued to be battered by currents and floating weeds, after a 40-metre-long section was swept away by floodwaters on Sunday.

Dozens of people yesterday went to look at and get souvenir snaps of the damage, while officials on long-tailed boats tried to drag the floating weed away from the tilting and unstable bridge.

Sangkhla Buri district chief Chatip Rujanaseri led a team to inspect the state of the old bridge and determine future action.

Chatip said it was suspected the damage resulted from strong floods, triggered by three days of heavy rain, and floating weed that pushed on the bridge pillars and caused them to fall. He said his office was aiming to declare the district a flood disaster zone after "the worst flood in 30 years."

He said it was fortunate there were no people on the bridge at the time and authorities would speedily repair the structure to make it stronger.

A bridge area food vendor Apiradee Aree, 24, said she heard a loud thud from the bridge and saw a section being swept away at 6.30pm on Sunday. Three nearby rafts were also swept into each other before sinking. She urged authorities to speedily fix the bridge before the tourist season resumes in a few months.


-- The Nation 2013-07-30

[theblether]

It was suspected that the damage was caused by strong floods.

You don't say

[kurnell]

It was suspected that the damage was caused by strong floods.

You don't say

I could push that over with the help of a couple of mates

[Salapoo]

Sad. It's a nice place full of people living hard lives.

The Meteorological Department warned that more rainstorms can be expected in the North and the Northeast

So when is the great flood of Bangkok 2013 due?

[drdoom6996]

Sad. It's a nice place full of people living hard lives.

The Meteorological Department warned that more rainstorms can be expected in the North and the Northeast

So when is the great flood of Bangkok 2013 due?

As soon a YL promises everyone that there will be no flooding.

[jpduggan]

It was suspected that the damage was caused by strong floods.

You don't say

I't seems that the main problem was a build up of floating weeds that got tangled among the bridge supports and not just the volume of water.

[jpduggan]

Was there only last month. what a shame! Feel sorry for the people living on those floating homes

[billd766]

Does it rain EVERY year round this time in Thailand?

[Harpov]

Was there only last month. what a shame! Feel sorry for the people living on those floating homes

.....what a pity. Very nice place with a fantastic bridge (pics taken 2010). They were doing some work on the bridge back in 2010..........

H

[belg]

the concrete flooded away?

ahh... good thai products ....

[Kan Win]

I't seems that the main problem was a build up of floating weeds that got tangled among the bridge supports and not just the volume of water.

It was suspected that the damage was caused by strong floods.

You don't say

Please read on folks

A bridge area food vendor Apiradee Aree, 24, said she heard a loud thud from the bridge and saw a section being swept away at 6.30pm on Sunday. Three nearby rafts were also swept into each other before sinking. She urged authorities to speedily fix the bridge before the tourist season resumes in a few months.

Sorry folks, but, floating weeds do not make a loud thud noise, only the rafts in Kan make a noise like that.

Win from Kan

Edited July 30, 2013 by Kan Win

[Harpov]

I't seems that the main problem was a build up of floating weeds that got tangled among the bridge supports and not just the volume of water.

It was suspected that the damage was caused by strong floods.

You don't say

Please read on folks

A bridge area food vendor Apiradee Aree, 24, said she heard a loud thud from the bridge and saw a section being swept away at 6.30pm on Sunday. Three nearby rafts were also swept into each other before sinking. She urged authorities to speedily fix the bridge before the tourist season resumes in a few months.

Sorry folks, but, floating weeds do not make a loud thud noise, only the rafts in Kan make a noise like that.

Win from Kan

Dear Win, I assume the loud thud noise came from the bridge collapsing. The weeds that got tangled along the bridge support partly blocked the water flow and no doubt increased the water pressure on the wooden bridge structure. As it is located on a river mouth there could also be some sediment build-up against the bridge structure ??

Cheers,

Harpov

[hhiser]

Does it rain EVERY year round this time in Thailand?

Does a duck have webbed feet?