Bangkok flood unlikely, but flood, landslide warnings issued for south

BANGKOK: -- Flooding in Bangkok will not worsen during the next week's high tides, as earlier predicted, but heavy rain, flash floods, and landslide are expected in the south.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Anucha Mokhaves said the flood situation in Thailand's central region has eased, and is expected to return to normal soon if there is no more rain.

Rainfall has lessened, so the flood situation in Bangkok will be under control during the peak tides in Bangkok on October 24-26. Moreover, the Royal Irrigation Department is well-prepared regarding water management and its preventive measures such as diverting water from canals directly into the sea is working.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued warnings for heavy rain and flash floods in the south during the coming few days, and the Department of Mineral Resources also warned residents in at-risk areas to beware of possible forest run-offs and landslides.

Weather forecasters said moderate high pressure areas from China now cover the north, and the northeast and northeast monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and the south will intensify.

Heavy rains are expected in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Residents of low-lying and disaster-prone areas are warned to brace for torrential rain, flash flood and forest run-off this weekend. Up to three-metre waves are expected in the sea.

The Department of Mineral Resources warned local people living in the mountains in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Krabi, Satun, Trang, and nearby provinces to be on alert of possible forest run-off and landslides.

--TNA 2006-10-20

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Dep. believes flood will soon go away but warns of monsoon in the South

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation believes the flood situation would decline if no further raining occur. However the southern region would still have to be wary of monsoon.

Department Director-General Anucha Mokkawesa (อนุชา โมกขะเวส) revealed that between August 27 and October 20 this year 46 provinces have been affected by flood. 3,169,571 people have been hit by the flooding and 104 people have lost their lives. 2.4 million rai of farmlands were damaged and the toll has been put at 334 million baht. Situation has already resolved in 20 provinces, and 16 others remain flooded.

The water level is believed to return to normal soon if raining does not prolong.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department believes water can be controlled for the capital city during the high tide period between October 24 and 26. However this confidence does not include the eastern part of the metropolis, comprising Nong Chok (หนองจอก), Lat Krabang (ลาดกระบัง) and Khlong Samwa (คลองสามวา) districts.

Mr. Anucha said the southern region needs to be wary as heavy raining will be present in many areas, and could cause flash floods and forest floods, as well as mudslides.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department will hold a meeting with the governors of the 14 southern provinces plus Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday October 21 in Hat Yai, to prepare for flooding.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 October 2006

no doubt Thailand could use the rainfall, just hope it fall in the right area; ie the rich farm land

Well, it did rain alot here in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Thursday it felt like an ocean had drained on my roof.

Sunday was pretty dry

but yesterday, of course it had to be a holiday , was as wet as you can get.

The rain just stopped about an hour ago, for now