PM Prayuth orders immediate action to help flood-stricken people in North

[webfact]

PM orders immediate action to help flood-stricken people in North



BANGKOK: -- As flooding in the North is causing havoc to vast farmland and residential areas and is now threatening downstream provinces, Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday ordered the Army to take immediate action to help in setting up flood walls and evacuating people and their belongings to higher grounds.

The prime minister has stressed to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) the urgency of tackling flood problems in the country while calling for aid for flood-hit people in Sukhothai province.

With grave concerns over the current flood situation, Gen Prayuth assigned the DDPM to integrate efforts with other related agencies in the management and prevention of floods.

He said at the moment priority should be given to areas susceptible to chronic inundation, suggesting that drainage capacity be maximised.

The premier noted that any excess water should be diverted to retention spaces or drained into natural waterways to protect local communities from being impacted.

Yesterday Gen Prayuth also ordered Third Army region commander Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha to mobilise soldiers to tackle the floods after water from upstream Phrae province inundated large parts of Sukhothai.

As for the severe flooding in Sukhothai, Gen Prayuth tasked DDPM with coordinating with the Third Army Region and other related units to distribute aid to the locals.

Lt Gen Preecha said he had ordered 600 soldiers to be deployed in flood-prone areas of Sukhothai.

They would help erect walls of sandbags and evacuate residents.

Five districts on the banks of the Yom River in Sukhothai have been declared as flood-prone areas — Muang, Si Satchanalai, Sawankhalok, Si Samrong and Kong Krailas districts.

Now soldiers have been busy repairing dykes close to the Yom River that have deteriorated over the years and placed big bags there to prevent water overflowing.

Local authorities have issued a warning about flash floods and urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate and move their belongings to higher ground.

A report by the disaster mitigation office revealed yesterday that water in the overflowing Yom River in Si Samrong district had pushed up the water level to almost eight metres high.

A partial collapse of some roads caused by the torrential flow of the Yom River was reported in Muang district, with wide areas of farmland inundated and 200 households affected.

Irrigation Department deputy director-general Suthep Noipairoj said many areas on the banks of the Yom River in Sukhothai are flood-prone as the province has no large reservoirs to catch and store water.

Flood water in the province would hit its highest level on Sunday.

The flood prevention measures include the diversion of flood water to Klong Hokbart and Klong Sawanlok Pichait.

Part of the water could be channelled to flow into the Nan river in Uttaradit.

Flood alarm was also issued to residents in Phrom Phiram, Muang and Bang Rakam districts. The residents were told to prepare for the swelling of the Yom River.

The flash floods in Wat Bot district of Phitsanulok had stablised after the department ordered local authorities to open sluice gates allowing overflowing water to empty into the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers.

National Disaster Warning Centre said water level in the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat will increase, causing water in the Chao Phraya river to rise by 1-2 metres on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents in Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces are advised to move their belongings to higher ground. They should also follow flood alerts. Flooding remains in the five provinces of Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Phayao, Nakhon Ratchasima and Tak.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/pm-orders-immediate-action-help-flood-stricken-people-north/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-05

[ratcatcher]

It is a good thing so much preparatory and preventative work was done under YS's watch that this year the job of flood control is made a lot easier for the army and local authorities.

I believe that would be accurate?

[DrLom]

"He said at the moment priority should be given to areas susceptible to chronic inundation, suggesting that drainage capacity be maximised.

The premier noted that any excess water should be diverted to retention spaces or drained into natural waterways to protect local communities from being impacted."

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So this wasn't implemented in 2011?

[Chang_paarp]

Yesterday Gen Prayuth also ordered Third Army region commander Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha to mobilise soldiers to tackle the floods after water from upstream Phrae province inundated large parts of Sukhothai.

Brother? Cousin?

With action man at the helm there will be a lot less dithering before a decision is made about doing something, almost anything is better than the standing around watching that happened under the previous regime.

[fab4]

Yesterday Gen Prayuth also ordered Third Army region commander Lt Gen Preecha Chan-ocha to mobilise soldiers to tackle the floods after water from upstream Phrae province inundated large parts of Sukhothai.

Brother? Cousin?

With action man at the helm there will be a lot less dithering before a decision is made about doing something, almost anything is better than the standing around watching that happened under the previous regime.

Younger brother, he's in the NLA maybe even the NRA.

Edited September 5, 2014 by fab4