Severe flooding in several northern Thai provinces after heavy downpours

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INUNDATION
Severe flooding in several northern provinces after heavy downpours
The Nation



Locals complain that this has been a long-term problem and call for help

BANGKOK: -- MANY AREAS in several provinces have been flooded after days of heavy rain, especially in Chiang Mai’s Muang district where high flood waters inundated residential areas overnight.

The Kard Kom community in Muang district has experienced one of its highest flood levels following heavy rain that started on Saturday afternoon.

Many residents have complained about the regular flooding there and have pleaded for urgent dredging of underground pipes and canals to get rid of water weeds.

The Mae Sa and Mok Fa waterfalls were briefly declared off-limits, said the chief of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Amphorn Parnmongkhol, while the Tad Mok waterfall remained closed as of press time yesterday.

Forest rangers have been stationed at the Huay Kaew waterfall around the clock to keep visitors on a flood alert.

Flash flood warnings have been issued in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Phitsanulok.

Heavy rain is expected in the bulk of these provinces from yesterday until Saturday.

Up to 30 homes in Phichit's Thab Khlo district have been flooded, with 40cm the highest water level, after nearby rivers rose from heavy rain. Urgent drainage work is underway in the district while flood warnings have been issued in flood-prone areas.

In Uttaradit, flood waters travelling from Sukhothai submerged 20 homes in Laplae district, with one metre the highest water level, damaging farm tractors, fertiliser and rice seedlings.

Ban Huay Khamin School's buildings, includings its library and a stadium, were flooded and it may be closed today if rain continues and the water does not subside.

In Chaiyaphum in the Northeast, more than 1,000 rai of cassava plantations in Nong Bua Raew district were submerged and two villages are set for possible evacuation. An urgent premature harvest of the crop was underway there.

A kamnan, Mahant Chartchana, warned locals of flash flood in tambon Khok Sa-ard, in the district with the same name in Chaiyaphum, if the Shi River and Chiang Tha creek overflow.

Also in the Northeast, Nakhon Ratchasima municipality faces an average 30cm of flood water in vast areas. Officials were preparing food provisions and offering assistance at locations where the flood level had reached 50 cm.

A relief centre has been set up in the province's Muang district to provide assistance and shelter while water pumps had been installed to handle drainage.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Severe-flooding-in-several-northern-provinces-afte-30242222.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-01

[zaphod reborn]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

[Fiddlesticks]

Heavy rain is expected in the bulk of these provinces from yesterday until Saturday.

So . . . in the Day Late, Dollar Short department of the news . . .

Nice to see this published on Monday! Talk about timely announcements.

[Utley]

Many residents have complained about the regular flooding there and have pleaded for urgent dredging of underground pipes and canals to get rid of water weeds.

Really - too bad no one thought of that after the last major flood. Maybe they should write their ideas down on sticky notes and post them on their refrigerator doors.

[finnomick]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

.....plus, they've had a year to clear drainage channels and make improvements

[yasmarbi]

Sad that most only live for today without planning for tomorrow.

[northengr]

Water runs down hill, more water runs off more quickly when forests and brush areas are made farms or more so when made houses and roads and markets. Nothing new or mysterious or "act of god" about this. Nothing that cannot be predicted. Engineers can calculate and drainage can be designed, I have done it scores of times. But someone has to spend money and plan ahead, and this is Thailand, so you know where that goes.

[empireboy]

The need to think ahead and act appropriately is in the first instance a problem created by lack of education... We can talk all you want in a critical manner about Thailand is "mi pen li" attitude, but I think they can only be changed by changing the mindset, and that is an education issue in the first instance if we really want to see long-term change in Thailand.

Edited September 1, 2014 by empireboy

[kerrysum]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

Agreed.

Never let profit get in the way of common sense.....

[Beng]

Where is Kad Korm community ? How high is the water level of Ping river, anyone living nearby ?

[DinoSabanovic]

Sad that most only live for today without planning for tomorrow.

Thailand and planing? I don't think there is a connection

[kerrysum]

Water runs down hill, more water runs off more quickly when forests and brush areas are made farms or more so when made houses and roads and markets. Nothing new or mysterious or "act of god" about this. Nothing that cannot be predicted. Engineers can calculate and drainage can be designed, I have done it scores of times. But someone has to spend money and plan ahead, and this is Thailand, so you know where that goes.

So does that mean they need a flood plan? Edumucation, might be a better thought, in the LOS..... Sorry, Thailand seriously lacks this in their components..... When it rains too much they cry, when it does not they cry, sorry you can not have it both ways, use your heads... Just my thoughts....

What more can I say.......

[shaurene]

It is their own fault in a way, I live in a village and they all just drop rubbish down the drains, food, plastic bags and brush everything into the drains.

I sit outside and see kids just dropping rubbish on the ground, I see and tell them to pick it up, some do others look at me strangely.

[keith89]

Sad that most only live for today without planning for tomorrow.

Thailand and planing? I don't think there is a connection

they did plan a few years ago, they bought a hovercraft for 25 million baht for to help where has this gone?

[moe666]

Nonsense post here, do not change Thailand this is why I am here if you want them to act like your home country, you know where the airport is located.

[Hornell]

I don't know where all this flooding is in Nakhon Ratchasima, but around my area north of Korat conditions are almost drought like, although we have had a few showers recently.

[thhMan]

Simple minds voted for a Government that paid them... So take your money and buy some sandbags ~sic~

[jeffandgop]

I've ready many assinine comments but yours nears the top of the list.

To suggest that misery, destruction & loss of homes and livelihoods caused my mis-management by authorities is how life should be in Thailand is ridiculous!

[mike324]

PTP says no more flooding, billions down the drain.

[hawthorne]

Does anyone know if it flooded in San Pulei District Amphoe Doi Sa Ket. More precise Kool Punt 15, Park Avenue subdivision. Any information is appreciated.

Hawthorne

[doublephil]

I often wonder who writes these articles and whether they have any real knowledge. They always make it sound much worse than it really was.

I travelled extensively through northern Chiang Mai province - Mae Taeng-Chiang Dao-Fang districts and Chiang Rai province - Mae Suay-Mae Lao-Meuang-Mae Chan-Mae Sai districts over the weekend by car - and only encountered a bit of light rain here and there on Saturday - though there was some heavy rain on Saturday night - and Sunday was quite hot and sunny - and no evidence of flooding anywhere except some local flooding in Mae Suay district of Chiang Rai from heavy rain on Friday

The level of the River Ping in Chiang Mai is slightly higher this morning than it was yesterday by a few centimeters - but nowhere near the levels required to cause any general flooding. Some low lying areas in the city do suffer temporary flooding due to local drainage problems when there is heavy and/or persistent rain - but that happens in lots of places around the country - or around the world for that matter

[trogers]

Simple minds voted for a Government that paid them... So take your money and buy some sandbags ~sic~

Simple minds do not think in depth - that selling their votes means getting a government bent on pocketing the country's resources rather than taking care of their future.

[ratcatcher]

This is good news, since the last few weeks we've heard cries of insufficient rain, drought in some areas etc. These waters will help fill the depleted dams at Bhumibol and Sirikit in Tak and Nan provinces which are seriously low. Flooding always makes a good news story but, unfortunate for the people in the water.

Let's hope they manage to clean out the water hyacinth and weed choked klongs before the rains get any more severe lower down towards Bangkok.

[Kasset Tak]

Where is Kad Korm community ? How high is the water level of Ping river, anyone living nearby ?

My friends (in Kamphaeng Phet and Tak) told me yesterday that Mae Nam Ping is lower than usual so it should be ok and also the last report I did see from Bhumibol dam last week said that it hold about 10% of its capacity.

[PJcm]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

I will repeat myself only once a year, but here goes, as a resident of Chiang Mai for 37 years the only government ever to spend any money for Chiang Mai infrastructure was Taksin, so what you want no one no body no government ever spend money in the North or the North east, period

[villagefarang]

Even though it was beautiful yesterday, the Ing River and various local streams were meandering about completely disregarding their accepted boundaries. Farmland and small parks were under a chocolate hued torrent of water. Regardless people were out fishing in the floodwaters. The water was nearly touching the bottom of the bridges. Access to some local villages was cut off because of flooded sois.

[spidermike007]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

Could you please explain which government you are referring to? Who are the competent, intelligent, visionary, environmentally friendly, wise, selfless politicians or parties you are referring to? There were no such choices as far as I remember. It was a choice akin to something like Obama/Romney. A choice between a fully compromised individual, with little talent, or someone incapable of doing the job he was appointed to do. So, how do you vote for a government that could improve drainage, when there is nobody running for office that is capable, or willing to fulfill their promises, or do what is required to improve the lives of both the Thai people and the foreigners who live here? How do you do that? Do you just conjure up these people? Where is Harry Potter when you need him?

[al007]

How do we get some of this water just west of KhonKaen we are still so short of water!!

[spidermike007]

Only themselves to blame. They could have voted in a government that would improve drainage instead of building shopping malls.

I will repeat myself only once a year, but here goes, as a resident of Chiang Mai for 37 years the only government ever to spend any money for Chiang Mai infrastructure was Taksin, so what you want no one no body no government ever spend money in the North or the North east, period

This is such a large part of the political problem here. Nobody prior to Thaksin ever did ANYTHING to benefit the masses. They just devised policy to ensure their super rich friends only got richer. Thaksin was the first PM to establish populist policies, and to pay attention to the poorer elements of society. It was a brilliant idea. I doubt it came from his rather small heart, but it was a stroke of genius. I did not like the guy, but he was clever. Will Thailand ever see another politician that either gives a damn, or at least creates policy to benefit the masses? One can only hope. I doubt there will be peace and harmony until that happens.

[belg]

is this the omen of what is to come to bangkok in the next couple of weeks, months ?