Northeast braces for more rain as reservoirs strained

[webfact]

Northeast braces for more rain as reservoirs strained

By THE NATION

 

 

Water-management efforts focus on region amid concerns that run-off could worsen situation

BANGKOK: -- THE GOVERNMENT’S water-management efforts are being focused on the heavily-flooded Northeast, where at least one-third of the reservoirs have been overwhelmed by water volume. 

 

“The Northeastern region gets the priority because it has now borne the brunt of the inundation, and the water level in its reservoirs has continued to rise,” Royal Irrigation Department deputy director-general Thongplew Kongjun said yesterday. 

 

Nine out of 12 flooded provinces are in the Northeast. 

 

“Of 265 reservoirs in the region, about 100 are full or almost full. They will need to discharge water before the end of this week,” Thongplew said.

 

He insisted that the reservoirs could not just hold the water because it was very likely that more rain would come.

 

“It is forecast that rain will continue throughout August,” he said.

 

In the northeastern province of Nong Khai, the Ban Non Yang Don Mek School will shut down between tomorrow and Friday in the face of rising floodwaters. 

 

As of press time yesterday, the water inside the school was already 50 centimetres deep. 

 

“After assessing the situation, I have ordered the temporary closure. The school sits in a low-lying area and floodwater will definitely rise over the next few days,” the school’s director Preecha Artharn said. 

 

Nattanan Samakhan, a resident of Nong Khai’s Fao Rai district, said floodwaters had spread quickly and had submerged his paddy fields.

“I hope flooding will ease fast or else my crops will be ruined,” he said. 

 

In another northeastern province, Nakhon Phanom, a bridge linking the Nong Yat and Na Kae areas has been closed to traffic because it has sustained serious flood damage. 

 

Na Kae district chief Metha Chujan warned people in low-lying areas to move their belongings to higher ground. 

 

In Chaiyaphum province, thousands of families were marooned amid metres-deep floodwaters. In Kalasin province, local residents said the ongoing inundation was the worst in three decades. In Sakon Nakhon, soldiers were busy trying to clear weeds that have clogged the Suraswadi water gate.

 

“We have already removed tonnes of weeds. But still, there are many more around gates two and three. Our tools cannot reach that part, and the clogged gates are unable to efficiently drain water,” Colonel Nutichart Rattanakarn said. 

 

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will inspect Sakon Nakhon today to check flood-relief operations. 

 

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister has raised its compensation for flood victims. The government has already approved payment of Bt5,000 to each affected family. The families of the 11 casualties in the floods will receive Bt50,000 each.

 

The government is also set to provide assistance for farmers whose land has been completely ravaged by floodwaters. 

 

Last month, flooding hit more than 34 provinces in the country. Of them, 12 are still struggling with floodwaters. 

 

As the rainy season continues, several Central provinces will have to watch out for overflowing waterways. 

 

The Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province is now releasing 1,400 cubic metres of water per second. Irrigation officials said the water level in the Chao Phraya River in downstream areas would increase by five to 10 centimetres. Some low-lying areas in Ayutthaya may be affected.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30322489

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-08-02

[barrywhite]

We aren't really into the heaviest rainy months yet either, Sept/Oct are the highest . This year if Bangkok doesn't get the same  floods it  will be lucky at this rate.

[Lunchbob]

Yes, it is possible the water levels will not sufficiently decrease on once dry land for another 5 weeks. 

[ratcatcher]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

We have already removed tonnes of weeds. But still, there are many more around gates two and three. Our tools cannot reach that part, and the clogged gates are unable to efficiently drain water,” Colonel Nutichart Rattanakarn said. 

High quality excuses for failure to  follow the" Six P theory. "  Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

[JAG]

High quality excuses for failure to  follow the" Six P theory. "  Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

I once worked for a chap called Patrick. We had the seven "p"s....

[NCC1701A]

how many centuries have to go by until they figure this sh*t out?

 

 

[ratcatcher]

33 minutes ago, JAG said:

I once worked for a chap called Patrick. We had the seven "p"s....

Are you taking the " Ps" ?

[JAG]

Just now, ratcatcher said:

Are you taking the " Ps" ?

Well quite a lot of people used to, quite subtly, I don't think he noticed. He was a Colonel in the Royal Hussars, (The Cherrypickers), the lot who wear pink trousers. Something to do with a particularly brave action in a cherry orchard during the Napoleonic Wars. I do remember one mess night - Patrick was wearing his tight pink cavalry overalls (trousers) and a young lady, primed by some of the less respectful juniors went up to him and asked him why he was wearing track suit trousers with his mess kit! 

 

He was a bit of a caricature figure. Funnily enough, when he retired he went on to run an extremely effective charity for homeless people with mental health problems! 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, barrywhite said:

We aren't really into the heaviest rainy months yet either, Sept/Oct are the highest . This year if Bangkok doesn't get the same  floods it  will be lucky at this rate.

Bangkok is NOT getting the water from the Isarn region, (goes to the Me Kong not Chao praya) so far in the other provinces it has been less severe. Also the biggest dams are far from full so there is still not a risk of a 2011 repeat. 2011 was worse as ever because they released the water too late to save an other rice harvest. Then they had to release it when there was already flooding and much higher water then now in the sea so less draining power. This year they are already releasing water as you read everywhere. So these guys are doing their job and if a flood happens it will probably not be a 2011 size flood as they control the dams. 

 

It sucks this time for the north east, they are really getting hammered, they also don't have that much draining capacity over there. I hope they can drain a lot before it starts again. The season is not over yet and it looks like the rain patterns have shifted but not in favor of Isarn. Let us hope the army keeps helping them out over there and makes the misery as little as possible.

 

Ill put it in this topic too.. has anyone any data on what YL and what Prayut have done while in office.. against flooding. I am talking dams and stuff what has been changed. In my area some projects were started but never finished. They should really hold people accountable. Building a large sluice around 2013.. stopped building that year too, now last time I saw some builders there again. Think all the rebar is damaged from being out in the elements so long (cant be sure I am not an engineer)

Edited August 2, 2017 by robblok

[jamesbrock]

We're planing to drive from Korat to Nong Khai tomorrow, and from the looks of reports we should be fine as long as we stay on Route 2 - does anyone have any firsthand knowledge whether this assumption is correct?