Flood Alert For Rayong, Chanthaburi And Trat

[george]

Flood alert for East

The eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat have been placed on flood alert.

The Meteorological Department said a low-pressure trough over Laos and Vietnam and a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand had triggered heavy rain in the North, Northeast and Central region.

From yesterday until tomorrow, the eastern provinces face heavy downpours, and residents in flood-prone areas should be on alert, it warned.

Waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand will be strong and up to three metres high. Fishing vessels are advised to sail with caution and small craft warned not to leave port.

--The Nation 2006-07-02

[george]

Flood, alerts in Chonburi, Eastern Seaboard

CHONBURI: -- Torrential rains caused flash floods as high as two metres in some areas in this eastern seaside resort province on Sunday, inundating hundreds of houses and causing some damage.

Rains are forecast to continue for two more days. Many villages in Chonburi's coastal Banglamung district were submerged Saturday night after heavy downpours brought flash floods in the areas.

Some villagers said they were unprepared as floods hit the areas quickly and they never experienced such a large scale flood before.

Reflecting the localised nature of the weather, some areas of the coast received no rainfall at all.

Rescue workers rushed to help the flood victims with boats but relief efforts were hampered as a main road was cut due to two-metre high waters and some parts of the road were impassable.

Water run-off in the eastern seaboard is complicated by several bands of superhighways and expressways, coupled with industrial zones and other development which has atered previous run-off channels.

Nonetheless, the floods caused heavy damage to hundreds of homes and buildings, roads and other infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department issued its updated weather forcast, warning residents in the Eastern region, particularly in Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces to brace for possible flash floods and water run-off on Sunday and Monday.

Due to the influence of the Southwesterly monsoon which still covers the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, there will be heavy rains for two more days. Fishermen are warned to stay ashore or risk the danger of waves as high as three metres which are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Some other parts of the country are likely to face heavy rains--as much as 60-70 per cent of the kingdom.

--TNA 2006-07-02

[woodyleonhard]

Just confirming that there's a big storm in the Andaman. Tide is very high, with 1-meter waves in both Kata/Karon and Patong. The surfers are having a good time.

[stevehaigh]

the sea is pretty flat off Ko Phangan and very light rain, barely enough to get wet.

[giffarine]

A friend called from Maesot of Tak province said the town was flooded!

[barryofthailand]

In Pattaya and Chonburi light rain today, no flash floods.

Barry

[george]

Update:

Mudslide hits Koh Chang resort

KOH CHANG: -- A mudslide destroyed bungalows on Trat's Koh Chang island Sunday as heavy rains lashed the Gulf of Thailand.

Rainstorms have deluged the island for the past few days, causing mudslides on Kho Mong hill to batter the Chokdee Resort at Ban Mab Khangkhao village Sunday morning.

A row of four bungalows was damaged but no one was injured.

--The Nation 2006-07-02

[giffarine]

Reports also alert that MaeHongSong might expect mudslide & foreigners there was told to be careful. Bangkok receives heavy rains & storms earlier in the evening.

[pete66]

Trat was starting to flood pretty badly last night. I only managed to get back from BKK by using a minivan. The road was insurpassable in our Spacewagon.

[Scott]

I hope everyone is OK. Keep us posted as to developments in these areas.

[Jai Dee]

The Cabinet is scheduled to hear a report on the flood situation

Rain has damaged at least 200 roads in various parts of Thailand, said Prasong Changwong (ประสงค์ แจ้งวงศ์), head of the Thai Highway Department's emergency unit.

On Monday, flood waters receded in Thailand's 10 southern provinces, where at least 600,000 people were affected by the heavy rain over the past week.

The Thai cabinet is scheduled to hear a report on Tuesday on the flood situation in southern Thailand, officials at the Rescue Centre said. The Meteorological Department said rains in southern Thailand would continue for the next couple of days.

The waters were fast receding in the key commercial town of Hat Yai, where floods and rain had paralyzed life for almost five days. Officials said electricity would be turned on by early evening in most areas in the key rubber trading center, which has a population of 400,000 people.

Prices of consumer goods were rising and a few merchants were hoarding stocks in the flood-hit areas, "but now no shortage of food is seen," said a member of the rescue center in Bangkok.

Trains to Hat Yai, which were suspended for the past few days, were scheduled to resume from Monday evening, a Hat Yai railway spokeswoman said.

Thai Airways, which had not suspended its flights to Hat Yai, said people could now commute into town from the airport as the water level had receded.

"All kinds of cars since Sunday evening can move in and out of Hat Yai as the flood waters have receded," the Highways Department said.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Many provinces are warned for possible flooding

The Director-General of the Meteorological Department, Mr. Suparuk Tansrirattanawong, has asked people residing in the North to closely follow the news from his agency, so they can be prepared for evacuation should flash floods occur.

Mr. Suparuk said heavy rains and strong winds are taking place during this period in many places of Thailand. Therefore, he has warned people in the northern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Lampang, Phrae, Sukhothai and Phetchabun, the northeastern provinces of Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan, the western provinces of Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi, as well as the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Chanthaburi, Rayong and Trat to be careful of possible flooding incidents.

They are advised to follow the weather reports from the Meteorological Department. Meanwhile, small trawlers in the provinces of Ranong, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Phang-Nga and Surat Thani are advised to stay ashore during this stormy period.

The Director-General said heavy precipitation is expected to prolong over the next few days.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Hard rains: One of four bungalows that were severely damaged by a mudslide on Koh Chang, in Trat province, following heavy rains in the Gulf of Thailand yesterday.

Source: The Nation - 3 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

Storms cause flash flooding in East

Torrential downpours yesterday caused severe flooding across five districts in eastern Trat province and claimed the life of at least one child.

Floodwaters inundated 10 tambons and 25 villages and damaged at least 350 houses, affecting about 2,000 people in the province.

In Sanho tambon, three villages were flooded and more than 1,500 rai of paddy fields destroyed. Officials were forced to use a bulldozer to dig a ditch to drain away floodwaters in the worst affected areas where water was up to 1.2 meters deep.

Deputy Trat Governor Surapon Saiphan visited Bang Pid tambon where all eight villages were flooded and at least 200 houses damaged.

Flash floods also destroyed roads, bridges and houses in parts of Koh Kut sub-district.

Saen Tung and Bo Rai tambons in Khao Saming district were also badly affected by flooding.

Heavy rain also resulted in severe flooding in five districts in northern Tak province. Flash flooding caused mudslides in Phop Phra district, but despite damage to property, there were no reported casualties.

Tak Governor Amornpan Nimanan yesterday put provincial officials on emergency standby in case of further flooding.

Heavy rain also fell on Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday, causing floodwaters at least two meters deep in Tab Sakae district.

Kathawuth Malairojsiri from the Meteorological Department warned yesterday that more heavy rain was expected.

“We expect heavy to very heavy rain for the next one to two days. People living on hillsides or near waterways should take precautions,” he said.

Tak, Uthai Thani and Kanchanaburi provinces and those in the East are at risk, he said.

The department has also forecast waves as high as three meters in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand and said small craft should remain ashore.

Meanwhile, caretaker Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit warned people living in flood-prone areas to closely monitor the department’s forecasts.

“Village and tambon chiefs must also educate villagers about the consequences of natural disasters and what safety measures to take. They must put in place evacuation plans,” he said.

Source: ThaiDay - 3 July 2006

[george]

Update:

Thaksin orders all provincial administrations to be on alert for flash floods

BANGKOK: --Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Monday said he has instructed all provincial administrations to be on high alert for flash floods following days of torrential rains around the country.

He told reporters that he had instructed the provincial and district administrations to monitor the whether and warnings from the Meteorological Department closely.

He said local officials also measured rainfalls all the time.

Thaksin said the people should also believe the warnings by the Meteorological Department.

--The Nation 2006-07-03

[Jai Dee]

PM has assigned provincial governors to be aware of the possible flash floods and mudslides

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has assigned provincial governors in flood-prone areas to look after the residents. He has warned people to closely follow up on the situation and be prepared for possible natural disasters.

As for the Meteorological Department’s warning of possible flash floods and mudslides, the Prime Minister said that he has ordered provincial governors and district officials to watch over the risky areas. He said that the authorities are rapidly installing machines to measure the amount of rainfall. He, however, said that the general public has to continuously follow up on the news of the Meteorological Department, while observing the changes of the amount of rainfall as well.

Nevertheless, the premier said that he has set a budget for preventing and solving flood problems.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 03 July 2006

[george]

Update:

Thaksin orders all provincial administrations to be on alert for flash floods

BANGKOK: --Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Monday said he has instructed all provincial administrations to be on high alert for flash floods following days of torrential rains around the country.

He told reporters that he had instructed the provincial and district administrations to monitor the whether and warnings from the Meteorological Department closely.

He said local officials also measured rainfalls all the time.

Thaksin said the people should also believe the warnings by the Meteorological Department.

--The Nation 2006-07-03

[george]

Flash flood, landslide alert in many provinces

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana said Monday that the predicted floods in the east have eased, saying he ordered an early warning in crisis areas be issued ahead of time to prevent great loss in the face of crisis.

Air Chief Marshal Kongsak said floods in Chantaburi and Trat receded, but are still worrying in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan southwest of Bangkok where an evacuation has been prepared for, but which has not taken place.

Incessant rain has triggered floods in some provinces while flash flood and landslide warnings have been issued for some other provinces across the country.

Flooding in Prachuap Khiri Khan prompted the Bang Sapan district's kindergarten schools to close Monday while widespread cloudiness and rainshowers caused traffic problems Monday morning.

Ban Saphan Hospital is under water. Hospital staff used boats to transport patients and severe cases will be moved to the provincial hospital.

Floodwaters in the northern province of Phitsanulok is still high in the provincial capital district and surrounding areas due to the continuing rains.

The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy downpours and flash floods in the North, the central region and the upper South.

High waves are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Small boats are advised to remain in port.

Nine provinces--including Tak, Uthai Thani, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chantaburi,Trat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong--should remain alert for flash floods, according to the Meteorological Department.

The hydromet forecasts heavy rain in the North, the Northeast, the East, the upper reaches of the South and central areas over the next few days.

Persons living in mountainous areas in the North, the East and the upper South should brace for possible landslides and flash floods, said the Department of Mineral Resources.

--TNA 2006-07-03

[Jai Dee]

Trat Governor informs that flood situation in the province is now subsiding

Mr. Boonchuay Kerdsuk (บุญช่วย เกิดสุคนธ์), the Governor of Trat (ตราด) Province, has informed that flood situation in the province is now subsiding.

Floods remain only in Muang District affecting three tambons. He, however, urged Trat’s local officials to find ways to release the water, as well as inspect the damage for further assistance.

Besides, Mr. Boonchuay has warned people about flood-borne diseases, and has assigned the Trat Public Health officials to take care of the matter.

He added that the cause of the flash flood in his province was deforestation, and tourism in the area has resumed, especially on Chang Island.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 04 July 2006

[Jai Dee]

People in the Northeast and the East warned of flash floods

A low pressure cell covers upper Vietnam. The strong southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf. Isolated heavy rain are expected in the Northeast and East. People in the risky areas of Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udonthani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces should beware of flooding condition. All ships in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand should proceed with caution and small boat should keep ashore during a few days.

In Bangkok, cloudy with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain. In central Thailand, scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in the western part. In the North, scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in the lower part. In eastern Thailand, almost widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in the coastal areas. In the South, widely scattered thundershowers mostly in the upper part.

On southern west coast, wave height 2 - 4 metres, small boats should keep ashore during these 1 - 2 days

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 July 2006