East, South still fighting floods
THE SUNDAY NATION

BANGKOK: -- Officials expect situation to return to normal by middle of this week if rain eases; dams in Chao Phraya Basin still 'low'

THE FLOOD situation in eastern and southern Thailand continued yesterday.

The Star Mall area in Rayong's Muang district was deep in water; 30 families in Ratchaburi's Muang district were forced to live on the roadside after their houses were inundated by metre-deep floodwater; 653 residents in two subdistricts of Chumphon's Muang district were hit by forest floods damaging homes and belongings while three riverside |villages in Prachin Buri's Prachantakham district were inudated by forest floods flowing from Khao Yai National Park.

Many parts of Rayong remain inundated with runoff from the upstream Thabma and Noen Phra subdistricts pouring into the city, particularly Star Mall area and a nearby bus terminal (from late Friday night until yesterday morning).

Residents were told to brace for more floods and prepare for evacuation while officials set up an aid centre and shelter at the Nakhon Rayong Prachakhom Pavillion.

Rayong Governor Somsak Suwansujarit and Royal Irrigation Department deputy chief Suthep Noipairoj inspected the Star Mall area and said 20 big pumps would be deployed to drain floodwater into the sea. They said if the rainy spell ceases, the flood situation should ease and the situation return to normal by the middle of this week.

In Thabma subdistrict, the flood level should be lower by 50cm yesterday after the rains stopped and five pumps were installed to drain floodwater into Rayong River, Rayong Irrigation Office director Prasan Preuksachat said, adding the situation should improve in 3-4 days.

As a long-term solution, the office received Bt143 million to install large water pumps in Muang Rayong's Chern Noen subdistrict, capable of draining 25 million cubic metres per day, he added.

On the positive side, storm Vamco has filled three major Rayong reservoirs - Dokrai, Nong Plalai and Klong Yai - to 48 per cent of capacity, hence by the end of the rainy season, they could store up to 70 per cent of full capacity, while Prasae Reservoir in Wang Chan was already at 90 per cent capacity, he added.

Army chief distributes relief

Deputy Defence Minister and Army chief Udomdej Sitabutr visited Bang Lamung in Chon Buri and provided relief bags to flood-hit residents in Huai Yai subdistrict yesterday. He affirmed the government was concerned about affected people and would provide them aid.

Pattaya Mayor Itthipol Kunplume, who welcomed Udomdej, said Pattaya was located in a low-lying pan-shaped area, which explained the slow pace of drainage. Local officials had installed pumps to help alleviate the situation. He said the city had previously torn down structures that blocked the southern Pattaya canal hence the draining had taken less time despite the heavy rain and huge volumes of water. As for the "beyond expectation" floods intruding into people's homes, he said residents were urged to take pictures of the damage to apply for compensation later, adding a long-term solution included studying expansion of the city's water-drainage system which must be done carefully as it could need almost Bt10 billion.

In Sattahip district, the body of retired Navy officer sub-lieutenant Khajorn Chaiwong, 62, swept away by a flood torrent on Thursday, was found yesterday morning.

In Prachin Buri's Nadee district, the body of a 54-year-old father, Boonsong Chanwiangchai, was found yesterday at 4.30am. Boonsong drowned while saving his daughter in a boat-capsize accident during forest floods on Friday. His body was found 500 metres from the scene of the accident after the water subsided. Boonsong was taking his daughter to an exam in her school when the flood capsized their boat.

In Surat Thani, the flood situation had improved. Damage suffered by 480 households and roads in Khiri Ratthanikhom, Phrasaeng and Phanom districts were initially estimated at Bt20 million, while assessment of damage to farmland was ongoing. Songkhla's Sadao district has also started to recover from floods hence the downstream Klong Hoy Khong and Hat Yai districts were not affected.

In related news, the government will announce in 2-3 weeks a package of measures to tackle drought, including advising farmers on what to do and what not to do, as four key dams in the Chao Phraya Basin remain at low levels despite the heavy rain and floods in other areas.

Government spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Bhumibol Dam was at 33 per cent, Sirikit Dam at 44 per cent, Pasak Jolasid Dam at 14 per cent and Kwai Noi Dam at 29 per cent of capacity.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/East-South-still-fighting-floods-30269152.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-20

To hell with them -- Fighter jets and submarines are next in line followed by Hi speed rail so " little people" will just have to wait or is it WADE !