Flood death toll rises to 813, 3 missing

[Khun Don]

Flood disaster death toll rises to 83
Provinces brace for more inundation next week

Published: 14/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The nationwide death toll in the recent flooding disaster has risen to 83 in less than two months as downstream provinces near the Chao Phraya River, including Bangkok, brace for more heavy flooding next week.
Residents ask, will it ever stop?

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Water from the Chao Phraya River rushes in to flood the floor of a riverside house in Bang Phlad near theRamaVII Bridge yesterday. Large swells hit this old lady’s house every time a boat on the river passes by her home. NATTHITI AMPRIWAN

The number of provinces affected by floods increased from 14 last week to 23 yesterday. Sukhothai has the highest number of flood casualties at 23, the Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department reported.

Irrigation Department chief Chalit Damrongsak said the flow rate of the Chao Phraya was expected to reach 3,700-3,900 cubic metres per second this week, the same amount of water that flowed during the 2002 flood disaster.

The water mass coming from the Ping River in Kamphaeng Phet and Pasak River was expected to reach Bang Sai district of Ayutthaya next Monday and would enter Bangkok in a matter of hours, later he said.

This would cause flooding in provinces downstream of the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat province. Riverside areas would be badly affected, Mr Chalit said, adding that central provinces downstream of the dam should increase the height of their flood walls.

In Nakhon Sawan, overflow from the Chao Phraya caused a two-metre-high flood embankment in Muang district to collapse early yesterday. More than 800 households were flooded, with the water level rising to three metres.

Ang Thong province also experienced a sudden inundation when a flood wall burst, sending huge amounts of water into more than 1,000 households in several communities in Muang district at 4am. The flood water rose to over a metre.

Pathum Thani governor Peerasak Hinmuangkao yesterday declared flood-hit communities in seven districts disaster zones.

In tambon Samlae of Muang district, the water level in major canals rose to almost three metres above the mean sea level. More water was expected in a few days as the central province would absorb runoff from the North as well as heavy rains in the province.

In Ayutthaya, the Ayothaya municipality yesterday ordered the reinforcement of an earth embankment at a bridge near Wat Dusit in tambon Hantra of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district after northern runoff caused the embankment to collapse. This sent water from Hantra canal to flood several communities in the district. More than 6,000 households, as well as Ayothaya Floating Market, have been inundated.

In Tak, forest runoff damaged three bridges in Mae Sot district and flooded two communities _ tambon Dan Mae Lamao and tambon Pawor. This left residents in 15 villages isolated.

The Moei River along the Thai-Burmese border yesterday burst its banks and flooded about 10 piers along the river. More than 300 shops at a riverside market were forced to close down due to flooding. Flood water rose to more than two metres.

The cabinet yesterday approved a 327-million-baht budget to help flood victims in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Uttaradit, Ayutthaya and Chai Nat provinces.

Prime Minister's Office spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang said 316 million baht were allotted to Ayutthaya and Chai Nat to be used for housing repairs.

According to the survey by the government's flood relief committee, the 53,087 families in these two provinces were affected since last year but had not received any help.

The budget of 3.5 million baht will be used to help 705 families in the four landslide-struck villages in tambon Nam Phai of Uttaradit's Nam Pat district. Each family would also receive 5,000 baht in compensation, she said.

More than 1,500 families in Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, who were due payment since the last government, would be paid 5,000 baht each, a total of 7.5 million baht.

Deputy spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ad said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has encouraged each minister in her cabinet to visit the flood-hit provinces.

BANGKOK POST

[Khun Don]

Flood death toll reaches 91
Published: 15/09/2011 at 03:27 PM
Online news:

A total of 91 people were confirmed dead and two people were still missing in the floods that have hit several provinces over nearly two months, interior permanent secretary Wichian Chavalit said on Thursday.

Floods still prevail in the provinces of Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Yasothorn, Loei, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Chacoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Chanthaburi, Trat, Tak, Sa Kaeo, Prachinburi, Trang, Satun and Surat Thani, he said.

Altogether 1,204,358 people in 166 districts of the 30 provinces were affected by the floods, said Mr Wichian.

He said the ministry was clolsely watching the levels in several large dams. The Bhumibol Dam was now at 86 per cent of its capacity, Sirikit Dam and Pasak Chalsit Dam each at 95 per cent, and Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan Dam was overfull at 102 per cent.

These dams were to continue releasing water and therefore people living downstream should prepare for possible floods and move their belongings to safe ground, he warned.

BANGKOK POST

[Betti]

found this photo of children playing in the flooded streets in Ayutthya

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http://totallycoolpix.com/wp-content...week37_044.jpg

[Khun Don]

Flood pictures from Pattaya

[Khun Don]

Flood death toll rises to 102
Published: 17/09/2011 at 02:24 PM
Online news:

A total of 102 people were confirmed dead and two persons are missing in flash floods that have hit several provinces for nearly two months, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.

Floods still prevail in the provinces of Sukhothai, Phichit, Pitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Lei, Khon Kaen, Mahasarakam, Si Sa Ket, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Tak, Sakaeo and Prachinburi, according the department.

Altogether 1,412,357 people in 165 districts of these provinces were affected by the floods.

BANGKOK POST

[paul_au]

My condolences to the friends and families of the victims, for them it's not just children playing in flood waters it is a devastating tragedy.

[Betti]

Paul you think I am not aware and just trying to be cutesy? how many years have you known me? and how DARE YOU suggest that I am insensitive?
I found the picture fascinating because it shows how the devastation has different faces.
just a couple of streets down from my school, there is a neighbourhood that gets flooded every time there is heavy rain. you can always see the locals with water ankle deep in their houses, the family sitting around and watching tv as if there was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.
the mind boggles.

[Betti]

ever heard of streams and rivers?? valleys? flash floods going down the mountain slopes quickly, washing away everything?
and is there flooding that is not caused by rains?
really, on which planet do you live? or what medication should you be taking?

[Khun Don]

Eight provinces warned to brace for heavy floods
RISING DAM WATER LEVELS CAUSE CONCERN

Published: 18/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Residents have been warned to expect heavy floods in eight provinces in the Lower Chao Phraya river basin.

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SPIRITUAL SUPPORT: A girl taking a swim hangs on to a spirit house in her flooded home in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district of Ayutthaya..

Flood officials say the provinces of Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi are at risk of river runoff.

Meanwhile, Chatpong Chatputi, chairman of the Emergency Operating Centre for Flood, Storm and Landslide, said river basins should be monitored closely as water levels could rise further due to heavy rain, putting residents' homes at risk.

The amount of water in the Chao Phraya River flowing past Nakhon Sawan province was measured recently at 3,670 cubic metres per second. In Ayutthaya, it was measured at 3,183 cubic metres per second, resulting in overflows in several provinces.

Over the next two days, the volume of water passing Nakhon Sawan was expected to increase to 3,800-3,900 cubic metres per second while the amount flowing through the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat could peak at 3,700 cubic metres per second.

Mr Chatpong also expressed concern over the rising water levels at several major dams, particularly Bhumibol, Sirikit and Pa Sak Jolasid dams.

The water in Bhumibol dam has reached 87% of capacity, Sirikit dam has reached 96% capacity, and Pa Sak Jolasid dam, 95% of its limit.

Khwae Noi Namrung Daen dam in Phisanulok was overflowing. The dams would have to release more water to ensure their security, he said.

Meanwhile, floods yesterday reached the heart of Phitsanulok, raising fears the work of provincial authorities could grind to a halt.

Water from the Nan River flooded the provincial government building complex which houses the medical science office, the regional revenue department unit, correctional facilities, the tourist police office and the non-formal education office.

In Ayutthaya, eight large tugboats were deployed to move excess water in the Noi River along more quickly in Bang Ban and Sena districts.

The boats, equipped with a 400-horsepower engine, propel water and speed up its flow.

In Sukhothai, water in the Yom River exceeded the critical flood stage and water in canals and the reservoir continued rising. The water spilled over embankments and flooded a municipal area and a business area in the provincial seat.

Residents had to move their belongings to higher ground.

In Sing Buri's provincial seat, the floodwaters continued rising.

Some parts of a three kilometre-long sandbag flood protection barrier were damaged, causing water to overflow into Sing Buri's business area.

However, municipal workers installed two pumps and were draining water to the Chao Phraya River.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday inspected flooding in the central province of Nakhon Sawan.

The floods have claimed 102 flood-related deaths since July 25, according to the Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department. Floods are expected to reach Bangkok by tomorrow, although authorities are confident of containing them.

BANGKOK POST

[Khun Don]

Bangkok braces for flood peril
BMA staff on standby to help with evacuations

Published: 19/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

City Hall has prepared staff and equipment to help evacuate residents in 27 communities as floods are set to arrive in Bangkok Monday.

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The communities are vulnerable because they lie outside flood walls along the Chao Phraya River, said Sanya Chiranimit, director of the Department of Drainage and Sewerage of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

The BMA's staff would help residents evacuate, if necessary.

The BMA has acquired four million sandbags to fight the flood.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River started rising as high tide set in last night.

The river was expected to peak at 1.75 metres at mean sea level, well within the capacity of the 2.5m flood walls, said Mr Sanya.

The weather bureau has predicted more rain for the city this week.

A large volume of upstream flood water has worsened floods in many downstream provinces as it makes its way from the North.

In Pathum Thani, some residents in tambon Lam Luk Ka of Lam Luk Ka district complained sluice gates had been shut to lessen the flow of water into Bangkok, causing water to rush into thousands of rai of nearby rice fields.

Many farmers were forced to harvest rice prematurely to escape the floods.

Farmer Sangwan Puengkaew said she was worried the prematurely harvested rice would not fetch a good price. Some farmers will have to sell the crops at a loss.

Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department chief Wibul Sanguanpong said staff will be asked to mediate in disputes between flood-affected residents over water retention.

He said spats occurred when residents tried to remove flood dykes or embankments to relieve flood water in their areas.

This angered their neighbours protected by the dykes.

In Ayutthaya, a dyke has been reinforced in the western, most flood-prone part of the city centre.

In Sukhothai, much of the commercial area of the downtown Muang district was under a metre of water after the Mae Mok reservoir in upstream Lampang province siphoned off water, which boosted the Yom River.

The river passes through Sukhothai's Muang district which bore the full brunt of the flood yesterday. Some houses were totally submerged.

In Kalasin, heavy downpours prompted the release of excess water from Lampao reservoir, causing floods to spread in five districts.

Rice farmers pumped water out of their fields around the clock.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party deputy leader Viroj Pao-In fell and lost consciousness while handing out flood relief bags to residents in tambon Bang Chak in Wiset Chai Chan district of Ang Thong yesterday.

He has been referred to Thammasat University hospital to check on his health.

BANGKOK POST