Flash Floods In North Kill 27 And Traps Thousands

[lopburi3]

Flash flood in the north kills two and trapped thousands

Flash floods triggered by days of heavy rain killed at least two people on Tuesday and trapped thousands of others in northern Thailand, authorities said on Tuesday.

The floods, following three consecutive days of downpour, inundated several districts in the provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lampang and Uttaradit where more than 2,000 people were trapped and forced to climb on the roofs of their houses or in trees in Lablae district.

Full story here

[Jai Dee]

PM urges officials to assist flood victims

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has assigned Deputy Minister of Interior Sermsak Pongpanit (เสริมศักดิ์ พงษ์พานิช) to rapidly assist flood victims in Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์) Province.

This morning at the Government House, Mr. Sermsak reported the flash flood situation in Uttaradit Province to Dr. Thaksin, who then has assigned him to immediately visit the affected areas and cooperate with the local officials in giving assistance to the people.

According to the latest report, three people have died from the flood disaster. He has instructed officials to cut the water current and to evacuate the local people out of the areas. In the meantime, he has urged authorities to assess the damage.

Besides, people in the northern provinces have been warned about the flood situation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 May 2006

[george]

Some 1,000 train passengers stranded because of flooding

Some 1,000 passengers on four trains are stranded at a station in Uttaradit after the northbound trains could not go further due to flooding, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Monthakan Sriwilas, the chief spokeswoman of the State Railway Authority, said the SRT also suspended all northbound trains because many parts of railways up from Uttaradit had been under water.

Full story...

[cmiuc]

Somethings wrong here... I live in Phayao, and it has been raining a whole h*** lot more then in Phrae... Nobody's talking about any flooding...

It is fine here...

I don't know where this story was invented, but sure isn't in the North...

2 people dead, wow... i wonder how many people a day die in Thailand? Anybody got that stats?

[Tyfon]

Somethings wrong here... I live in Phayao, and it has been raining a whole h*** lot more then in Phrae... Nobody's talking about any flooding...

It is fine here...

I don't know where this story was invented, but sure isn't in the North...

I don't know the exact geography but it's not so much where the rain falls as where it ends up: where the hills form a natural bowl, where the river bank bursts, where the natural drainage is inadequate etc. It's like hearing that someone died in a house fire and saying "I live in the next street and I didn't die..."

Reuters is reporting 10 dead... is that any better for you..?

[Netfan]

From the Reuters report:

"Unusually heavy rain at the start of the monsoon lashed deforested hills, causing flash floods -- some of them three meters (10 ft) deep -- which swept into cities and towns in four provinces..."

Very sad for all those affected, but you mess with nature and you get what you get. Didnt the officials learn anything from last year? Obviously one can't know for certain when something like this will happen, but weren't there any measures that could have been taken as precautions?

[jaapfries]

From the Reuters report:

"Unusually heavy rain at the start of the monsoon lashed deforested hills, causing flash floods -- some of them three meters (10 ft) deep -- which swept into cities and towns in four provinces..."

Very sad for all those affected, but you mess with nature and you get what you get. Didnt the officials learn anything from last year? Obviously one can't know for certain when something like this will happen, but weren't there any measures that could have been taken as precautions?

=================================================================

Well put 'Netfan' - you know, for thos who have lived in Thailand for many years, it never ceases to baffle us, as how these yearly returning (you can virtually set your watch on it ! !) keep "surpising" the socalled "responsible people" in our government. For Pete's sake; these floods are as predictable as Loi Krathong, X-Mas and Easter.

Maybe the affected people of the North should get together and sue the Government for pure and simple "Pre-Meditated Deriliction-Of-Duty" ?! (or at least; they could get in line . . . . . . . . to sue, I mean).

[Galong]

Deforested hills causing flooding... no, it's got to be something supernatural. Let's all pray.

[Krub]

Finaly got through to my friend's mobile.

We live in Laplae outside of Uttaradit. The whole city and district is without electricity and flooded. No way to get into town with the car.

Mobile connection is very erratic at best and we were able to connect because he drove 10km out of the area by motorbike.

The rains have stopped now and it looks like it might be better tomorrow. Loads of folks in town unable to get home, a big mess in Uttaradit

[tariq]

Hi

Just heard about the news..Any news on death toll or missing people or is it too early to say?

My GF's kids live in Uttaradit and we can't make contact..

Any news greatly appreciated..

Taz...

[ratcatcher]

Now, now folks calm down a little please.. The Dr. is back in Parliament again giving orders to his minions and ineffective underlings. All will be well in a few days as he will declare a war on floods and monsoon rains. The Nation reports 100+ dead and maybe more when bodies are found.

Had the hillsides in the north not been deforested by his greedy pals, this may have been less of a tragedy or problem depending on your point of view.

He will be there in the morning in a small boat checking the damage. Hands on management.

[lannarebirth]

Hi

Just heard about the news..Any news on death toll or missing people or is it too early to say?

My GF's kids live in Uttaradit and we can't make contact..

Any news greatly appreciated..

Taz...

Death toll is escalating rapidly:

At least 100 feared dead as floods hit north

More than 100 people in Uttaradit were feared dead on Tuesday following deadly flash floods, mudslides and landslides.

Uttaradit publichealth chief Dr Boonriang Chuchaisaengrat called for rescue workers with experiences in handling a large number of victim bodies, just like in 2004 tsunami disaster, to help keep records of the floodvictim bodies while waiting for their relatives to come forward.

"About 30 bodies are already retrieved but we expect to retrieve some 70 more during the next three days," he said.

The flash floods and landslides turned many areas of this northern province into a scene of tragedy, causing deaths, injuries and damages to a great extent.

"Hundreds of people are hospitalised," Boonriang said.

[george]

9 die, 47 missing in North floods

Flash floods caused by two days of heavy rains have killed nine people in northern Thailand and left 47 missing as of Tuesday, government relief offices said.

Thailand's northern provinces of Lamphang, Phrae, Uttaradit and Sukhothai have been hit by heavy rains since Monday, triggering flash floods and causing rivers and reservoirs to overflow their banks.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention ....

Full story (Bangkok Post/DPA)

[Johpa]

Now, now folks calm down a little please.. The Dr. is back in Parliament again giving orders to his minions and ineffective underlings. All will be well in a few days as he will declare a war on floods and monsoon rains. The Nation reports 100+ dead and maybe more when bodies are found.

Had the hillsides in the north not been deforested by his greedy pals, this may have been less of a tragedy or problem depending on your point of view.

He will be there in the morning in a small boat checking the damage. Hands on management.

Now I am one of Toxin's biggest critics, but the deforestation has ben going on for decades, well before Toxin became a player. Over the past decades more land is illegally deforested every year than has been reforested over the entire stretch of time. And as much as the Forestry Department cjiefs in Bangkok like to blame villagers, as for my contacts inside the Forestry Department, low level guys they may be, the money and free drinks and free women and free porn movies they do talk about sure don't come from villagers.

[george]

More than 100 people feared dead in northern floodings

More than 100 people were feared dead in flash floods which ravaged through many northern provinces Tuesday, officials said.

The disaster also injured over 200 victims.

Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phrae and Lampang were now reeling in the face of the more...

[mraloha]

Off topic post removed. Member warned.

/admin

[Dragonmode]

My prayers go out to all impacted by this.

[x000x]

Tragedy...regardless of the deforestation!!! But it makes you wonder when you see those logs that came with the floods, doesn't it?

Hope this flash floods teach all the furniture factories a lesson... a real tragedy lesson!!!

My family is in Uttaradit but on the other side of the river, however, I have lots of friends in Lublae which is the most affected area.

I' m praying that the situation doesn't get worse.

[Jai Dee]

The death toll from flash floods in Uttaradit may exceed 100

The number of deaths caused by flash floods in Uttaradit is expected to exceed 100.

Boonriang Chuchaisaengrat (บุญเรียง ชูชัยแสงรัตน์), chief of the Uttaradit Public Health Office, said he has inspected the flood situation himself and estimated that more than 100 people had died in the disaster.

Dr. Boonriang said efforts to collect the bodies in several areas have been hampered by heavy rains.

As for the bodies already discovered, rescue officials will take their pictures and keep them for 3 days for identification by families, he said. He has also asked forensic experts of the Justice Ministry to help examine the bodies and prove their identities.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 May 2006

[x000x]

I like your signature, Jai dee -- 555(hahaha!!!)

[dvk1951]

Deforested hills causing flooding... no, it's got to be something supernatural. Let's all pray.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has assigned Deputy Minister of Interior Sermsak Pongpanit (เสริมศักดิ์ พงษ์พานิช) to rapidly assist flood victims in Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์) Province.

This morning at the Government House, Mr. Sermsak reported the flash flood situation in Uttaradit Province to Dr. Thaksin, who then has assigned him to immediately visit the affected areas and cooperate with the local officials in giving assistance to the people.

According to the latest report, three people have died from the flood disaster. He has instructed officials to cut the water current and to evacuate the local people out of the areas. In the meantime, he has urged authorities to assess the damage.

Besides, people in the northern provinces have been warned about the flood situation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 May 2006

Galong, perhaps you are closer to the truth than you know , it would require supernatural contacts to stop the flow of flood waters cascading down from de-nuded hillsides.

[Krub]

Tragedy...regardless of the deforestation!!! But it makes you wonder when you see those logs that came with the floods, doesn't it?

Hope this flash floods teach all the furniture factories a lesson... a real tragedy lesson!!!

My family is in Uttaradit but on the other side of the river, however, I have lots of friends in Lublae which is the most affected area.

I' m praying that the situation doesn't get worse.

Got a call this morning from Laplae and the water is pulling back to the rivers. The roads are getting slowly usable. This is 20 km south west of the city of Uttaradit. The city of Uttaradit has been very badly affected. The Lotus superstore is a wreck. Many houses under water and property destroyed. Local temple (other side of river) 5 minutes walk from our place completely under water.

[Jai Dee]

An aerial view of a village in Uttaradit inundated by a flash flood late Monday night - The Nation.

[george]

Update:

Flood toll of dead, missing rises

Flash floods and mudslides caused by three days of heavy rains have claimed at least 27 lives in northern Thailand, with another 61 people listed as missing and believed dead, the government's disaster relief department said on Wednesday.

Heavy rains that started Sunday caused rivers and reservoirs to overflow in Thailand's five northern provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lamphang, Uttaradit and Sukhothai.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention, the resulting floods and mudslides have affected more than 76,000 people and destroyed 168 houses. More...

[Thaising]

Few years back in chaiyaphum province, there was heavy rains and landslide that destroyed few villages with lost of lives. At that time, his HM the king advised the country’s villagers to preserve the forests in prevention from natural disaster to strike, as time goes by, these villagers still did not heal the advice. With illegal logging and environment bring destroys, it is hard to prevent such an events to strike.

[Jai Dee]

Thaksin flies North as flood toll rises

Officials have confirmed the deaths of at least 29 persons, but fear that more than 100 have perished in flash floods in the North, especially in Uttaradit and Sukhothai provinces.

More than 100 are still missing in flash floods off mountainsides and down narrow valleys, and landslides, even as rescue and relief workers have been at work around the clock.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra flew this morning to inspect the flood-stricken areas in Sukhothai, Phrae and Uttaradit provinces.

More here

[x000x]

Tragedy...regardless of the deforestation!!! But it makes you wonder when you see those logs that came with the floods, doesn't it?

Hope this flash floods teach all the furniture factories a lesson... a real tragedy lesson!!!

My family is in Uttaradit but on the other side of the river, however, I have lots of friends in Lublae which is the most affected area.

I' m praying that the situation doesn't get worse.

Got a call this morning from Laplae and the water is pulling back to the rivers. The roads are getting slowly usable. This is 20 km south west of the city of Uttaradit. The city of Uttaradit has been very badly affected. The Lotus superstore is a wreck. Many houses under water and property destroyed. Local temple (other side of river) 5 minutes walk from our place completely under water.

Which area is that , Jack. Is it near ' Wat (Temple) Pla-kluay, Tambol Koong Ta-pao ' ???

[Scott]

Fire and Water--they make good servants, but poor masters.

[Jai Dee]

The Manager has put together a pictorial essay here.

[Jai Dee]

PM Thaksin visits flood-stricken provinces

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has traveled to Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์) and Sukhothai (สุโขทัย) provinces to inspect the flood-stricken areas and visit flood victims.

Around 10.10 hrs today, Caretaker PM Thaksin and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Yongyut Tiyapairat (ยงยุทธ ติยะไพรัช), Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Sudarat Keyuraphan(สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธุ์),Labor Minister Somsak Thepsutin (สมศักดิ์ เทพสุทิน) and Deputy government spokesman Sansanee Nakpong (ศันสนีย์ นาคพงษ์) traveled to flood-stricken areas and flood affected residents in the northern provinces.

Caretaker PM and the group first inspected the flood situation in Uttaradit province and will later travel to Sukhothai province to visit residents affected by the flood.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 May 2006