Flooding in the Northern Provinces

[Jai Dee]

Phrae residents preparing for possible flood

The province of Phrae has warned its residents to be prepared for the possible flood situation, following the rapid rise of water level in Yom River.

Mr. Attidom Suphanahong, the Governor of Phrae, said all units have been warned to get ready for the possible flood incident 24 hours a day. Residents living along Yom River were being reminded to evacuate in advance.

The Huaysak Hydrology Center in Song District has reported that the water level in Suer Ten (เสือเต้น) Isle has risen to seven meters due to heavy rain last night.

If all the canals cause the water level in Yom River to increase above eight meters, the districts of Muang, Long, Nong Muang Khai and Wang Chin as well as other nearby provinces such as Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit will be affected immediately.

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

[Jai Dee]

Water level of Nan River is rising constantly

The Governor of Nan Province, Mr. Parinya Panthong, has stated that the water level of Nan River is continuously rising. At the same time, many agencies are speedily assisting those who have suffered from its consequences.

Mr. Parinya said rain has not ceased to fall, and this has caused the water level of Nan River to increase over two to three meters. The relief efforts have started since yesterday, and the residents have been asked to move their goods and belongings to safer locations.

The damage from the disaster has not been assessed yet, but the governor believes that it is substantial.

He has also reaffirmed that the disaster is caused by bad weather, not the edifices that impede the waterways.

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

[Jai Dee]

Army helps transport public belongings in Nan to safer places

The Supreme Commander, Gen. Ruangroj Mahasaranond, has ordered the army to aid the flood-hit people in Nan Province by transporting public belongs goods on life to safer locations.

Gen. Ruangroj said the Supreme Command’s Public Hazard Mitigation Center is now responsible in coordinating with all the army’s public hazard mitigation centers. They have been helping the flood-affected locals since morning today, especially in Nan Province. Life boats have been prepared to transport the locals’ goods and belongings to other safer areas.

The Supreme Commander said canals were excavated to help drain the water from the overflowing river, but admitted that budget and time restraints are the main obstacles at the moment. As a result, big projects have been postponed. Nevertheless, he said every unit has to seriously work together in preventing deforestation.

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

[Jai Dee]

50 teams of medics are helping the flood victims in Nan

The Ministry of Public Health has dispatched 50 teams of medics to help the people who have been affected from the flood disaster in Nan Province.

Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat said the 50 teams, together with medicines and medical supplies, are providing free medical services free of charge. Each team has serviced about 50 people, and many patients have come to heal the wounds resulted from transporting their belongings away from the strong current of floodwater. Wounded patients have also received tetanus shots from the doctors.

Md. Thanongsan Suthatham, the Public Health Ministry’s Inspector, has been ordered to provide full assistance to the residents in Nan Province, while 100,000 sets of medicines for flood victims have been prepared.

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

[Jai Dee]

People in Nan province have to abandon their houses due to heavy floodings following days of heavy rain. The floods came so rapidly that many people have to stay overnights on trees. Many schools have to cancel their classes.

Source: The Nation - 21 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Mudslide blocks road in Mae Hong Son

Mae Hong Son - Heavy rains led to a mudslide that blocked a highway in Mae La Noi district Monday morning, an official said.

The mudslide covered two-kilometre long on the highway No 1226, Kasidis Wattansup, director of Mae Hong Son Highway Office, said.

Heavy machines were deployed to clear up the part of the road, he siad.

Source: The Nation - 21 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

WEATHER ALERT

Warning over floods and mudslides

Residents braced for evacuation as further heavy rainfall is forecast

Several provinces across the country are bracing for mudslides and flash floods as heavy rains are expected in the next few days.

Residents living in 149 locations vulnerable to mudslides in Surat Thani province have been put on alert for emergency evacuation, provincial governor Wijit Wichaisarn said.

Those living in low-lying areas in Phra Saeng district bordering the Tapee River had been advised to brace for flooding from the river if it swells further in the heavy rain.

In Nan, sandbags have been piled up on both sides of a section of the Nan River to prevent water from inundating areas vital to the local economy.

The water level in the river in Tha Wang Pha district has reached 9.30 metres, exceeding the critical level of 7 metres. The highest flood level reported yesterday was 1.8 metres, inundating a major road between Pua and Tha Wang Pha districts.

The water level in other areas including Muang district has now reached the 7.40-metre marker, while the critical level is at nine metres. Residents living in areas bordering the river are advised to prepare for flash floods.

Provincial governor Parinya Panthong said the flooding was very critical and that it could exceed the severity of one of the worst floods ever faced by the province in 1963.

A man went missing and was feared dead yesterday in Nan province after he was washed away by a flash flood while fishing in the river.

Distribution of food using flatbed boats is under way in seven districts where the maximum floodwater level reached four to five metres.

In Chiang Rai, around 1,000 households in tambon Choke Chai in Doi Luang sub-district were evacuated to higher ground yesterday evening. Locations underneath the pillars of the Thai-Burmese bridge in Mae Sai district where vendors had set up stalls were underwater.

Many areas having historical sites in Chiang Saen district and other districts are at risk of floods from the Mekong River. Local authorities are working out solutions to prevent damage from being done to the sites.

Around 4,000 households in another three tambons in Doi Luang sub-district had earlier been affected by floods while 20,000 rai of farmland had been damaged. Some areas have been left isolated after access roads to them are submerged by floodwater.

In Phang Nga, villagers from 150 households have returned to their homes in tambon Papong in Kapong district after floodwater receded. Several sections of a major road linking Tapua Pa district with Phanom district of Surat Thani between KM112-118, which had earlier been blocked by mudslides and debris, are now open to traffic.

Source: The Nation - 21 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Flash floods claim two villagers in the North

At least two villagers were reported killed by flash floods in the northern province of Nan, where torrential downpours over the weekend caused severe flooding in outlying districts yesterday.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Director-General Anucha Mokaves said Tha Wang Pha district, some 40 kilometers north of Nan provincial town, had been the worst hit and that, by last night, the floodwaters had flowed southward and inundated the provincial town.

An unidentified Tha Wang Pha villager was reported killed yesterday, while another villager identified as Nop Pan-in died in Bo Klue district, further north of Tha Wang Pha, after being swept away by flash floods on Saturday.

Anucha said relief teams were rushed into Tha Wang Pha and other flood-hit districts yesterday, while two Army helicopters were also called in to assist in providing relief supplies to villagers stranded on high ground. He noted that relief efforts were being hampered by continuous heavy rainfall, and added that more relief operations could be undertaken when the weather improved.

Meanwhile, the weather bureau issued a warning yesterday for villagers in 14 northern and upper northeastern provinces, including Nan, to watch out for likely flash floods and mudslides triggered by more heavy rains over the next few days.

Source: ThaiDay - 21 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Pol. Gen. Surapong mobolize officials to assist flood victims in Nan

Pol. Gen. Surapong Pumkaew (สุรพันธ์ พุ่มแก้ว) has mobilized officials to assist the flood victims in Nan (น่าน) Province.

He has assigned officials to prepare equipments for assisting the locals in the northern provinces, following the flood situation. He said that Nan has received immense damage from the disaster. The officials have prepared machines and vehicles to transfer people and their belongings. Besides, life-support sacks will be distributed to assist flood-stricken people.

Pol. Gen. Surapong has also assigned authorities to take care of the southern people affected from flood.

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

[Jai Dee]

Interior Ministry to quickly alleviate situation in the flood-stricken provinces

Deputy Minister of Interior Sermsak Pongpanit (เสริมศักดิ์ พงษ์พานิช) said he will speed up measures to alleviate the situation in the flood stricken provinces in the North.

Mr Sermsak said he will bring the matter to the cabinet as soon as possible. He added that he has already assigned officials to inspect damages created by the flood. He will then propose a budget to the flood victims. Mr Sermsak said he will bring up the case regarding victims affected by the mudslide on May 21st-22, to the cabinet.

As for flood situation in Nan (น่าน) Province, officials recently reported that the flooding has subsided. However, the flood has led to two deaths.

He further informed that the flood was caused by the deforestation in the province. The government plans to expand waterways to prevent future floodings.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 August 2006

[spectrum]

Thanks, Jai Dee. Other than right here/through the internet, how would we know of flood & other warnings ?

Hope things improve quickly for those n the flooded areas. Looks quite bad.

[Jai Dee]

A military vehicle surges through floodwaters yesterday to deliver relief to affected villagers in Nan province.

Source: The Nation - 22 August 2006

[spectrum]

Nice to see that military vehicle being put to good use there !

(I saw a documentary on Discovery channel the other night about how the post-Katrina floods were dealt with - or not dealt with - in the USA ... just appalling.)

[Jai Dee]

Patients, prisoners shifted as Nan flood crisis worsens

Heavy floods yesterday inundated more areas in the northern province of Nan, damaging homes, roads and farms, as well as forcing the evacuation of many people, including prisoners and hospital patients.

The Nan Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Center reported that all the villages in Tha Wang Pha district had been inundated, included some that have never before been flooded.

The center called for more manpower, flat-hulled boats and helicopters from the Phitsanulok and Lampang disaster prevention and mitigation centers, as well as the army base in Phitsanulok.

The center also reported that the body of Nop Panin, one of the two villagers swept away by the flash floods on Saturday, was found yesterday, but the other is still missing.

Meanwhile, caretaker Interior Minister ACM Kongsak Wanthana said he had assigned the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to urgently help people in affected areas in Nan and evacuate residents in high-risk areas to higher ground.

He added that the situation is likely to improve if no rain falls in the next few days. ACM Kongsak is yet to visit the affected areas. He told the media: “I want local officials to concentrate on helping the people instead of worrying about having to greet me.”

Yesterday, the floodwaters rose to 7.40 meters near the Nan Forestry Office in Nan municipality. The rising waters forced Nan prison officials to evacuate more than 500 prisoners to a temporary prison in the province’s highest area – Khao Noi hill.

Nan prison director Prasert Pankratok said that the prison authority cooperated with the police and officials of other prisons nearby in the evacuation operation. “We have not received any help from the government so far,” Prasert said.

He added that many people, including children and the elderly, remain isolated in their communities. “We need more flatboats to rescue people in the municipal areas. Most of the flatboats here have already been sent to help the people at Tha Wang Pha district,” he said.

Yesterday, Army Region Three set up its operations center in Phitsanulok province to help solve the flood problems in the North, and coordinate with the military operations center in Nan. Besides sending military personnel and flatboats to the affected areas, the army also sent two helicopters to find and airlift people, as well as transport food, medicines and other necessities to flood victims.

The military airport in Nan is being also used as a temporary shelter for flood victims.

The rising floodwaters have also compelled Nan hospital to move its 300 patients and medical equipment upstairs.

Meanwhile, caretaker Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat said that the ministry yesterday sent its inspector, 20,000 sets of basic medicines and about 60 mobile medical units to help the people in affected areas of Nan province.

“We sent our medical teams by car, boat and helicopter to provide medical treatment to everyone affected by the heavy floods in Tha Wang Pha district’s 10 villages,” Phinij said.

He said he had also ordered hospitals near Nan to coordinate with the regional army command in case of any urgent need to transfer critically ill patients for further treatment. All public healthcare centers in the country have been put on standby to help flood victims around the clock, he said.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Prach Boonyavongviroj, said more than 1,500 flood victims went to the medical mobile units for wound dressings and anti-tetanus vaccinations, resulting in a shortage of the vaccine.

“We have also ordered the Mental Health Department to send its psychiatrists and psychologists to join the medical mobile teams to provide psychological consultations to the flood victims,” Prach said.

According to Nan’s Public Health Officer, floodwaters have damaged 10 healthcare centers, including the three centers in Tha Wang Pha.

Yesterday, the Meteorological Department forecast that the floodwaters from Nan’s Tha Wang Pha and Muang Nan districts will flow into Wiang Sa, Na Noi and Na Muen districts in a few days. It also warned residents along the banks of the Nan River to be prepared for flooding up until tomorrow.

It warned that heavy rainfall will persist in the upper northern region, including Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Sukhothai provinces.

Source: ThaiDay - 22 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Education Minister and team visited flooded Nan

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang led a team of managers to Nan Province to visit the flood-affected schools and liven up the disheartened the teachers and students there. Many education institutions in Nan have been severely damaged from the flood disaster.

Mr. Chaturon and his entourage traveled to Nan by the army’s aircraft and visited the flood-hit schools. They visited Tha Pa Wang School in Nan’s Tha Pa Wang District by a helicopter. Later, the team visited Ban Thai Kham School, Ban Phan School, and Ban Pon School. Apart from motivating the local teachers and students, the team will assess the flood problems so proper assistance can be carried out immediately. At present, the floodwater level is beginning to lessen, but the Meteorological Department has warned that certain areas are still flood-prone.

Meanwhile, Mr. Veerasak Wongsombat, the Vocational Education Commission Secretary, said the three education institutions subsidiary to the commission in Nan have been inundated. They include Nan Technical College, Nan General Engineer College, and Wiangsa General Engineer College. The damage is currently being assessed.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Army Commander urges officials to speed up assistance to those still trapped by flood in Nan

Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin (สนธิ บุญยรัตกลิน) has instructed Commander of the Third Army Area Lt-Gen. Saprang Kalyanamitr (สพรั่ง กัลยาณมิตร) to cooperate with local administrators in urgently giving assistance to flood victims in Nan (น่าน) Province who are still inaccessible to relief packages.

General Sonthi said that with some flooded areas being inaccessible, he has ordered his officials to ensure that assistance reaches all affected people. He remarked that as the rain has stopped, relief assistance will be much easier.

As for measures to deal with possible floods in the South, he said that the Fourth Army Area has prepared forces and equipments for the situation.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Education Minister assigns officials to rapidly restore schools in Nan

Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang (จาตุรนต์ ฉายแสง) has assigned schools in Nan (น่าน) Province to cooperate with local officials on approving a budget to restore buildings of schools so that the schools can be reopened soon.

Due to his visiting in Nan yesterday, he said that now 50 schools in the province must be temporarily closed and 25 schools out of them was severely hit. He has urged officials to take care of the schools and instructed them to use provincial support budget worth 50 million baht to restore the buildings.

He said that the budget was already approved by the cabinet.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Sirikit dam can still receive water from the North to prevent flooding in Uttaradit

Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit Province is still able to hold a large volume of water from Nan Province which has been heavily flooded.

Assistant Director of Sirikit Dam Suthep Lertsrimongkol (สุเทพ เลิศศรีมงคล) said about 100 million cubic metres of water flow into the dam every day, and this amount is a normal rate.

He said the dam now has about 6.7 billion cubic metres of water, or 71.5% of its storing capacity, and can still receive another 2.7 billion cubic metres.

Uttaradit is now on full alert for possible flash floods.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

HM instructs officials to prevent flooding

His Majesty the King has instructed Royal Household Bureau and Royal Irrigation Department (RID) officials to devise both short and long-term measures to rectify the recurrent flooding problems in the northern provinces.

RID Director-General Samart Chokkanapitak told reporters yesterday that His Majesty was concerned about the severe flooding that has hit the northern province of Nan since last weekend, especially as the flooding was caused by houses and public infrastructure being built over natural waterways.

The King has assigned the director of His Majesty’s Private Affairs Division, Distorn Vajarodaya, to work closely with RID officials to formulate measures to rectify the flooding problems, on which RID officials were instructed to submit detailed daily reports.

Samart said the flooding in Nan has been particularly severe because the 259mm of rain that fell in the province during the last few days was the heaviest recorded in recent history.

Particularly hard hit was Tha Wang Pha district, about 40km north of Nan municipality, where many outlying villages were inundated by flood waters up to two metres deep, leaving villagers stranded for several days on the upper floors of their houses.

By yesterday, the floodwaters in Tha Wang Pha District and Nan municipality had all but receded as provincial authorities began the gruelling task of repairing roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by the flooding.

According to the RID director-general, the most pressing concern is over the possibility that another series of rainstorms that may hit Nan and other provinces in the North towards the end of this month.

It is feared that heavy rainfall will cause renewed flooding.

Samart said the long-term solution to the flooding is to build reservoirs to store rainwater as part of the government’s national water management megaprojects.

Source: ThaiDay - 24 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Many teachers and students in Nan affected from flood

The 2nd Regional Education Office of Nan Province is urgently aiding the flood-affected teachers and students in 12 educational institutes that are unable to reopen yet.

Mr. Mongkol Yusook (มงคล อยู่สุข), the office director, said the flood situation in Nan since August 20th has caused approximately 50 educational institutes to shut down temporarily. 29 institutes in seven districts have been damaged. Meanwhile, Tha Wang Pha (ท่าวังผา) District has suffered the most from the consequences. The flood disaster has affected 3,813 students and 337 teachers. However, the provincial officers are urgently coordinate with each other in relieving the situation so the education institutions can resume their operations as soon as possible.

Mr. Mongkol said foods and beverages for students and teachers have been provided initially, and he will visit the inundated areas to aid the victims today.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

Heavy rain ceases to calm in the North

The Meteorological Department has issued a warning of heavy precipitation in the North.

The department stated that low pressure continues to travel over the upper northern region of Thailand, and as a result, heavy rain is expected to persist in Nan Province. The department said there are possibilities of flash floods, forest floods and landslides, especially in the districts of Thung Chang and Bor Gleur. People living in these areas are warned of possible natural disasters over the next few days.

Concerning the flood situations in Wiang Sa, Na Noi and Na Mun districts, residents who are living near the riverbanks are warned of higher floodwater level.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 August 2006

[Jai Dee]

PM assigns ministers to restore Nan

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra has assigned Suriya Jungrungreangkit (สุริยะ จึงรุ่งเรืองกิจ) to inspect damages in Nan (น่าน) Province and to boost confidence in residents affected by the flood.

Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop (สุวัจน์ ลิปตพัลลภ) presided over a meeting concerning the flood victims in the North. The committee will travel down to flood hit areas on August 25th and 26th to inspect the damages and then propose the details to the cabinet for a budget approval. The budget is set to rebuild schools and buildings.

On the other hand, on August 22nd the cabinet issued a resolution to approve 150 million baht to assist the flood-stricken areas. In regards to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s instruction on August 24th, he has instructed ministers to help improve the situation of the province as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 25 August 2006