12 Die As Floods Wreak Havoc

[Jai Dee]

Yasothorn briefs the damage caused by Typhoon Xangsane

Yasothorn (ยโสธร) reported damages caused by Topical Depression Xangsane to its 46 villages. Already more than 100,000 residents have been severely hit by the typhoon. The province is still giving out relief packages and efforts to the villages.

Yasothorn Governor Amnat Pakarat (อำนาจ ผการัตน์) said Typhoon Xangsane has caused great damages to three districts, including Muang (เมือง), Patew (ป่าติ้ว), and Saimoon (ทรายมูล) districts. The report stated that the typhoon has caused damages to 68,346 villagers and 25 roads in Muang District, and 31,520 local residences, 19 roads, and 1 bridge in Patew District. At the same time, 19,906 people in Saimoon District have suffered from the depression, adding that 12 roads have been destroyed and 300 rai of agriculture areas have been ruined.

He said that villages are faced with many difficulties resulting from previous flood situation and when the province has been hit by tropical typhoon Xangsan, their sufferings have doubled. Every local administrative organizations and relevant units has provided preliminary assistance to the flood victims.

Currently, provincial agencies are speeding up to evaluate the damage to provide further aid.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Wang Thong Lang Dam in Trat needs urgent fix

Mr. Pramote Chankrachang (ปราโมทย์ จันทร์กระจ่าง), the head of Sato Administrative Organization in Trat, has requested the Irrigation Department in the province to repair Wan Thong Lang (วันทองหลัง) Dam after it has been damaged by flash floods.

Wan Thong Lang Dam has been used for storing water for usage during the dry season, and it can also help prevent floods during the rainy season. However, the dam has been greatly damaged from flash floods in the beginning of this month, and it may not be sturdy enough to store sufficient supply of water for consumption during the dry season. Therefore, the provincial irrigation department needs to quickly repair the dam soon, as it could be irreparable.

Mr. Pramote said that Sato officials are prepared to deal with the rainfall during this period as well as setting plans to handle possible floods. However, he said that his district will not face many difficulties like over the past years.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Royal Irrigation Department to submit proposal on canals' constructions to govt.

The Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, Mr. Samart Chokkhanapitak (สามารถ โชคคณาพิทักษ์), will is preparing a proposal to construct canals to drain more floodwater after retention ponds have encountered a problem from the construction of water barriers.

Mr. Samart said the measures to solve flood problems are not easy at the moment because the flood-affected areas originally served as a retention pond to hold up more water. However, water barriers have been constructed in those areas to prevent water from gushing into the mainland, and thus, additional canals and reservoirs have to be constructed to tackle future flood occurrences.

The Royal Irrigation Department is now gathering the remaining water management projects to submit to the new government so the department would know whether those projects will be continued. The remaining water management projects include the construction of a reservoir in Phrae Province and water gates in different areas from the provinces of Loei to Ubon Ratchathani. Large water pumps will be installed to drain the floodwater, and it will then be used during the drought period.

Mr. Samart also suggested that economists and academics have to be the middlemen during the dams’ constructions, so that the works would be carried out justly. The middlemen would also weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the constructions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Critical flood situation in Ayutthaya

The flood situation in Ayutthaya Province is still in a critical condition, and many ancient sites there have already been submerged. Many units are working together to aid the affected villagers.

445 villages in 91 tambons in 13 districts of Ayutthaya are still in a flood crisis. Recently, the provincial municipality and the vocation institute in the central region are gathering the officials to contruct a wooden bridge near Nasiruddin Mosque, so Muslim people could travel to the mosque and perform their religious rituals. Unfortunately, the 1st floor of the mosque is flooded, and people has to preform their rituals on the 2nd floor.

At the same time, Boonkanyawat Temple in Bang Ban District has been inundated for over a week, and monks there are not able to enter the temple to inspect the damage. Nevertheless, local villagers have constructed a wooden bridge to facilitate the monks. However, all Buddhist statues in the temple are still underwater.

Mr. Anek Sihamat (อเนก สีหามาตย์), the head of the 3rd Regional Fine Arts Office in Ayutthaya, said almost all ancient sites in the eastern side of the province have already been submerged. However, due to their strong foundations, they have not been seriously damaged. He stated that he is mostly concerned for Thammaram and Wattanaram Temples, as the tidal waves caused by merchant ships may ruin the constructions.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Angthong submerged

Buddha images at the ubosot (chapel) of Wat Praiwan temple in Angthong town are submerged under 1.6 metres of floodwater from the Chao Phya River yesterday.

Local people in Ayutthaya use paddleboats on a street in front of Somyang military ordnance office after flooding in the province worsened yesterday.

Photos by The Nation - 6 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

More patients suffer from diarrhear due to flood crisis

The Ministry of Public Health discovers patients suffering from severe diarrhea have increased by 30 percent during the flood crisis. The ministry advises people to drink clean boiled water and not to eat uncooked or lightly cooked food items.

The Permanent-Secretary to the Public Health Ministry, Md. Prat Boonyawongvirot (ปราชญ์ บุณยวงศ์วิโรจน์), said the flood situation has hit 20 provinces in Thailand, and most of them are in the central region such as Uthai Thani, Ang Thong, and Sing Buri. Over 100,000 people have been affected from the disaster, and the diseases that they have contracted the most include athlete's foot, skin diseases, and eye conjunctivitis. About 30 percent of the patients are suffering from severe diarrhea. In Phitsanulok alone, the number of severe diarrhea patients rises from 6,000 to 9,000 from last year.

Md. Prat said clinics and hospitals in the flood-hit provinces are providing normal services. Meanwhile, the ones that have been hit by floods are providing their medical services on higher floors. However, mobile medical units have been dispatched to severely flood-stricken provinces.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006

[Jai Dee]

Industrial sectors in the North hit by floods

The Ministry of Industry is urgently assisting the flood-hit industrial operators in the five northern provinces of Thailand.

The Permanent Secretary to the Industry Ministry, Mr. Chakramon Pasukvanich (จักรมณฑ์ ผาสุกวนิช), disclosed that the ministry has assessed the damage in the industrial sector in the flood-stricken provinces of Nan, Phrae, Lampoon, Uttaradit, and Phichit. More than 85 factories in the region have been damaged, and the total cost of damage is around 50 million baht. The Industrial Ministry has already assigned the provincial industrial offices to closely monitor the situation and help out the affected operators by distributing necessities. Officers have been dispatched to provide consulting services and analyze their business statuses. They will also give advices on funds, while the other measures will be initiated soon.

Of all other flood-affected provinces, Uttaradit has suffered the most, with about 40 million baht of total damage cost. The province has many industrial businesses such as automotive, steel, and cement. As for other northern flood-hit provinces, most of their industries are related to agriculture and furniture.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 06 October 2006