Villagers Suffer Disease; Rancid Floodwaters In North

[Jai Dee]

Villagers suffer disease; rancid floodwaters in North

CHIANG MAI, Jun 11 (TNA) - Many villagers in the flood-stricken northern Thai provinces of Phitsanulok and Phichit are now suffering from multiple diseases as the floodwaters which have inundated the provinces for weeks have begun to blacken and emit foul odors.

Floodwaters in at least three villages in Phichit province are emitting foul odors, while the water itself has turned black, especially in farmland.

About 10,000 rai of ricefields have been damaged despite much floodwater draining off into the Yom River, causing thousands of fish raised near the riverbanks to die.

Many villagers are now suffering from disease, including red-eye, itchy feet and respiratory problems.

In Phitsanulok, water overflowed the Yom River and inundated houses and farmlands while the situation has worsened due to water runoff from Sukhothai province. Meanwhile, the rains have started falling again.

Three districts in the province are now inundated while about 81,870 rai of farmland is damaged.

Relief officials in Phitsanulok are taking emergency services to flood-stricken areas by flat-bottomed boat and distributing necessary supplies to flood victims.

Source: TNA 11 June 2006

[Scott]

Are they talking about stagnant water, or is this something more serious? Anyway, I had itchy feet and that's how I ended up in Thailand.

[Jai Dee]

Water to be released from Sirikit Dam to dilute muddy waters from North

The Royal Irrigation Department will release water from the Sirikit Dam to dilute muddy water from six northern provinces expected to reach central provinces next week.

Samart Chokekhanapitak, director-general of the department, said muddy and polluted flood waters from Uttaradit, Sukhothai and other northern provinces would reach the Chao Phya basin next week.

Samart said the Royal Irrigation Department would minimise the effect of the muddy waters by release water from the Sirikit dam to dilute the pollution level.

Source: The Nation - 13 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Sirikit Dam will release water to dilute waste water caused by northern floods

The Royal Irrigation Department will release water from Sirikit Dam to dilute waste water caused by floods in the North before it flows into the Chao Phraya River basin.

Department chief Samart Chokekhanapithak (สามารถ โชคคณาพิทักษ์) said polluted floodwater from Uttaradit and Sukhothai was expected to reach the Central Plains next week and could affect fish farms along the Chao Phraya River.

Mr. Samart said water to be discharged from Sirikit Dam should help dilute the orange hue but he suggested farms catch and sell their fish during this time to prevent damage to their businesses.

He said Sirikit Dam could still store more water so he was confident Bangkok would not be flooded.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 14 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Yom River polluted: official

Phitsanulok - The Yom River which flows into Chao Phya has become highly-polluted following massive flooding in northern provinces, a senior official said Wednesday.

Mangkorn Kamolthanakul, chief natural resource and environment officer of Phitsanulok, said officials had collect samples from Yom River for test on Tuesday and found that the water had no oxygen and the pollution level was the highest.

Mangkorn said the Yom River had also turned black because of the pollution.

He said the pollution was caused by rotten vegetables after rice fields and other areas upstream were flooded.

He said flood waters became polluted and brought some chemicals from rice fields into the river, causing it to be completely polluted.

Mangkorn said officials had to wait for the level of water in the river to go down before they could release good water from the Naresuan Dam to dilute the pollution.

Source: The Nation - 14 June 2006

[astral]

Diseases like Typhoid, Cholera etc come to mind in this situation,

if you are not drinking bottled water.

The whole water system will be polluted.

Very nasty.

[rishi]

... and dengue feever. Lots of of excellent mosquito breeding grounds around.

[Jai Dee]

Help for nothern flood victims to start a new life is underway

The Community Development Institute (CDI), the Forestry Department and governors of some northern provinces hit by floods last month are helping flood victims to start anew.

CDI director Somsuk Boonyabancha (สมสุข บุญญะบัญชา) said more than 50% of flood-hit people lived in forest reserves and on public land so authorities will find them new pieces of land for long-term lease at low rentals.

Ms. Somsuk said apart from the land where flood victims can stay legally, these people will also be provided with farm equipment and seeds and occupational training so they can get back on their own two feet again.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2006

[astral]

CDI director Somsuk Boonyabancha (สมสุข บุญญะบัญชา) said more than 50% of flood-hit people lived in forest reserves and on public land so authorities will find them new pieces of land for long-term lease at low rentals.

That is a good idea.

Take them off to another piece of land, so they can ruin that and get flooded out again.

[too true]

Yom River polluted: official

Phitsanulok - The Yom River which flows into Chao Phya has become highly-polluted following massive flooding in northern provinces, a senior official said Wednesday.

Mangkorn Kamolthanakul, chief natural resource and environment officer of Phitsanulok, said officials had collect samples from Yom River for test on Tuesday and found that the water had no oxygen and the pollution level was the highest.

Mangkorn said the Yom River had also turned black because of the pollution.

He said the pollution was caused by rotten vegetables after rice fields and other areas upstream were flooded.

He said flood waters became polluted and brought some chemicals from rice fields into the river, causing it to be completely polluted.

Mangkorn said officials had to wait for the level of water in the river to go down before they could release good water from the Naresuan Dam to dilute the pollution.

Source: The Nation - 14 June 2006

If there are enough chemicals in rice fields to pollute flood water, perhaps after they sort out their rotten water problem they ought to tackle some alternative farming methods.

[Jai Dee]

The Royal Thai Army releases a caravan of goods to aid flood-hit northerners

The Royal Thai Army launches a caravan of vehicles filled with consumer goods and machines, to assist the flood victims in the northern provinces.

The Supreme Commander, Gen. Ruengroj Mahasaranond (เรืองโรจน์ มหาศรานนท์), has presided over the ceremony of this campaign. It is cooperatively set up by the three armed forces and ITV. He said that people have donated various goods and money to help out the flood-hit people in the North. The northern flood has caused grave losses of lives and properties since May, especially in Uttaradit Province.

Besides, the Supreme Command Headquarters have also dispatched their machines to support this assistance.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 16 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

Transport Ministry will allocate 230-million baht of a budget to restore roads damaged by flood

The Ministry of Transport will allocate a 230-million-baht budget to restore 37 roads and other areas damaged by floods.

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (พงษ์ศักดิ์ รักตพงศ์ไพศาล) has given further details that roads and bridges in the northern provinces of Lampang (ลำปาง), Chiang Rai (เชียงราย), Phrae (แพร่), Sukhothai (สุโขทัย) Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์), and Phetchaboon (เพชรบูรณ์) have been damaged by the flood disaster.

The government has now approved a budget of 230 million baht to restore the flood-hit areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 17 June 2006