Northern Train Derails, Plunges Into River

[george]

Two missing as SRT train derails, plunges into northern river

PHRAE: -- Rescuers are searching for an engine driver and an assistant after a northern line State Railway of Thailand passenger train ploughed into a landslide covering the tracks and plunged into the Yom River in this northern province.

Continuing heavy rains led to the rain-soaked mountainside above the railway line giving way, and the slide covered the railline right-of-way, leading to the accident.

Two passenger cars were also carried into the rain-swollen Yom River, in an accident late Thursday.

While some were injured as most of the passengers were earlier transferred to another train in Lampang Province, only the engineer and a technician were positively identified as being missing, pending further information from the authorities.

Landslides blocking roads delayed the arrival of a rescue team, including divers searching for those missing.

Train service from Uttaradit to Chiang Mai has been temporarily closed due to rail line blockages in several areas.

Meanwhile, in the nearby northern province of Uttaradit, the flood situation is also critical. A bridge in the provincial town was destroyed, leaving the Uttaraditdharmmaram Temple inaccessible; so a rescue team had to travel by boat to give food to the monks.

All roads leading into Lablae district were under deep floodwaters, with only larger vehicles allowed access. The district was effectively cut off from the outside world.

Landslides on the Uttaradit-Denchai Road blocked traffic and motorists were warned of possible landslide while traveling on hillside roads.

In the northern province of Chaing Mai, the Chiang Mai municipality has built sandbag embankments to prevent flood as the Ping River rises.

The authority issued a warning for local residents living in flood prone areas, including Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, Chiang Mai's famous shopping centre, to brace for possible flood late Friday.

It is expected the Ping River will soon rise to 4.20 metres and overflow into low lying areas in provincial commercial zones. Two schools in the flood-prone areas closed Friday.

Three districts in Chaing Mai have been affected by the flooding. As many as 1,000 homes and other structures in San Pa Tong district were inundated. Some areas along the river are under as much as two metres of water and rescue workers have worked to help some villagers stranded in about 100 houses, while croplands and longan orchards are also inundated with losses.

In San Kamphaeng district, about 1,500 houses have been affected by the floods. A bridge was damaged and a school was closed Friday. However, it is expected that the flood will begin to recede Friday night if there is no more rain.

--TNA 2006-09-01