Thread: Heavy rain, floods across the country - and more to come

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30140577.html


Flood to drag on


By Chularat Saengpassa
Jeerawan Prasomsap
The Nation
Published on October 22, 2010





Flooding will likely drag on for nearly one month in several riverside provinces of the Chao Phraya Basin, according to Royal Irrigation Department director general Chalit Damrongsak.




Locals in nowflooded Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, and Sing Buri will thus have to brace for the worse.

"Runoff water in the tune of 400 million cubic metres is flowing down the Chao Phraya River," Chalit pointed out yesterday.

In Lop Buri, floodwater was already more than one metre deep in many areas. A number of villages were also marooned.

In Ayutthaya, many parts of the province were submerged as well causing much inconvenience to affected people.

In Sing Buri, flood hit about 2,300 houses. "We have now erected tents along the curb of roads on higher grounds to shelter the flood victims," provincial governor Pichet Paiboonsiri said.

Chalit believed Bangkok was not completely safe either, even though the 2.5metrehigh embankment had already gone up along the Chao Phraya River's stretch in the capital.

"Factors like storm surge, high tide, and rainfall count," he said.

According to Meteorological Department, rainstorm and heavy downpours will hit several areas of Bangkok between October 24 and October 27.

Sanya Cheenimit, who heads Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Drainage and Sewerage, said sea level was also expected to rise next Tuesday.

As of press time, Sanya pointed out that the water level in Chao Phaya River was already climbing up in Bangkok.

"The level in front of the Royal Thai Navy headquarters is between 1.64 metres and 1.71 metres above sea level," he said, "We are closely monitoring the situation".

According to him, 27 communities in Bangkok are floodprone and they are home to about 1,273 families.

Chalit said Bangkok's adjacent provinces like Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi were also having a flood risk.

Disaster Mitigation and Prevention Department has already warned people in Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Angthong, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok tostart moving their belongings to higher ground.

All these six provinces are in the Chao Phraya Basin.

Currently, floods have ravaged through 21 provinces in the country. Among the worsthit is Nakhon Ratchasima.

"I have never seen such a huge amount of floodwater in Nakhon Ratchasima before," Chalit admitted, referring to what he saw during a recent helicopter inspection flight.

He said the annual rainfall in the province in fact was not higher than the previous year. "But with continued downpours concentrated in a span of just one week, this is a real big flood".

Chalit believed it would take up to one month before the floodwater level in Nakhon Ratchasima subsided.

I was in Rangsit mid-week and the klongs were full to the brim. With the predicted surge for the later part of this week I expect much of Rangsit will be under water by the weekend.

I am travelling from K.Kaen to Pattaya today.

My usual route is highway 2 to Korat, 304 through Pak Thong Chai and Kabin Buri, then 331 to Pattaya.

I have heard that part of highway 2 is flooded near Korat but passable in a pickup.

Has anybody travelled this route recently, if so can you advise of any serious flooding?

Danish Embassy Warns About Floods
22.10.2010


The floods in Thailand currently affects 21 provinces and is on its way to the capital, Bangkok.

The floods in Thailand are now at a stage where the Danish Embassy in Bangkok is making updates on the situation.

Currently 21 Thai provinces feel the massive floods that have taken 21 lives during the travel from north towards Bangkok.

"Danes in the areas affected by the floods should keep themselves updated on the situation through the embassy's travel guide or through local media and the guidance from local authorities," the embassy states on its website.

The Nakhon Ratchasima province is currently the place in the country that is worstly hit by the floods. The embassy emphasises that popular tourist areas like Phuket in south and Chiang Mai in north aren't caused any trouble by the floods.

Original news source: Oversvømmelser - Danmarks ambassade Bangkok

scandasia.com

Bangkokians told to brace for flood on 27 Oct
Nuttaporn Chanchokpong

BANGKOK, 23 October 2010 (NNT) - Agriculture and cooperatives Minister has warned that continuous heavy rain in the north would create huge water flows down to the central region, including Bangkok.

The Agriculture and cooperatives Minister Teera Wongsamut said rains in Tak, Mae Hong Son, and Kamphaeng Phet provinces have raised the water level in the Ping River. With that volume, the water is expected to move downstream to Phra Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya province by around 4,000 cubic meters per second on 27 October. Combined with high tide on that same day, Mr Teera warned that flood as high as two meters would be possible in Bangkok. He also urged related authorities to add another meter to the levee from one meter to two meters.

As the water levels would be unpredictable, the Royal Irrigation Department told residence living outside of the levee to move their belongings to high grounds. If possible, it suggested people to evacuate for safety, adding the water could go up to the roof or half of the pagoda in Ko Kret.

thainews.prd.go.th

Wonder if we can get "Goose Gillard" , "Captain Crudd" or "Rabbit Abbot" to get the $20 million flood relief earmarked for Pakistan rerouted to Thailand?
Be better spent in a friendly country than relief for the enemy?

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

Wonder if we can get "Goose Gillard" , "Captain Crudd" or "Rabbit Abbot" to get the $20 million flood relief earmarked for Pakistan rerouted to Thailand?

Great idea. A few officials could buy Mercedes cars and any money left over would pay for the new "Bangkok Eye" ferris wheel.

Govt flood response hits snags

KORN FAULTS COALITION'S RELIEF EFFORT
24/10/2010

The government's coalition makeup is hampering responses to the floods, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said in a veiled attack on the Democrats' coalition partners.


DIFFERENT AGENDAS: Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij.

Mr Korn, in a recent interview with the Bangkok Post, said poor water management has led to widespread flooding, which has now hit 27 provinces.

However, the coalition structure has made it difficult for the government to tackle the matter, he said.

"Each party has its own agenda for the ministries it controls, which has made it hard to arrive at a united policy," the finance minister said.

The Democrat-led government comprises the Bhumjaithai, Chart Thai Pattana, Ruam Chart Pattana, Social Action parties and a faction from the Puea Pandin Party.

Mr Korn said the government has attempted to address water management issues as part of its development agenda.

However, many agencies, some controlled by different parties, must be brought together to tackle the problem.

Cooperation and unity among authorities is needed for water management, as 32 state agencies spread over at least four ministries are involved.

Bhumjaithai oversees the Interior Ministry, Chart Thai Pattana is in charge of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, while Social Action controls the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

All agencies are involved in the government's response to the floods disaster. Mr Korn declined to spell out what problems the parties were having in reaching a common stance.

The Department of Water Resources under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was established in 2002 to bring all agencies dealing with the issue under one roof.

However, observers say progress has been slow.

The former key player in water management was the Royal Irrigation Department, but it consequently lost some of its power.

A budget of 38 billion baht _ part of the 59 billion baht allotted for state investment projects under the Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand) umbrella _ is devoted to water management.

The money will be spent on developing small reservoirs and improving existing ones; flood prevention projects; and water conservation projects.

Those projects come under a development plan drawn up by the Royal Irrigation Department, which devised a master plan for water management before the Water Resources Department was established.

Mr Korn urged voters to cast their ballots for a party instead of their favourite candidate at the next election, to boost a party's chances to govern without coalition help.

"When an election comes, people prefer to entrust their fate to politicians they like, not to parties," said Mr Korn.

bangkokpost.com

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1036629

Temperatures Drop in Northern Thailand

UPDATE : 28 October 2010

The Weather Department is warning of cooler temperatures in the northern provinces of Thailand. Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai province will see temperatures drop to 10 degrees Celsius today. Experts say this coming winter will be the coldest Thailand has experienced in decades.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1036920

Flood Death Toll: 122

UPDATE : 4 November 2010

Officials have released the latest death toll from severe nationwide flooding. A total of 122 victims have died from the disaster. However, Had Yai district is returning to normal as locals get together for a Big Cleaning Day. The dames Tun Yong Market is especially active as merchants host a huge sale.

A bit late, but gratefully recieved from the Government. Rice, noodles fish ect.



Wonder if you know who will call this a bribe???

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30141530.html


Man dies apparently of cold spell in Chiang Rai



As the mercury continues to fall in most of North and Northeastern Thailand, a man in Chiang Rai was found dead on Thursday. It is believed he died as a result of the cold.

Despite temperatures in the province dropping to as low as 10 degree Celsius at night-time, Noppakhun Saenyod, 52, had been sleeping wearing only shorts, a white singlet and without any blanket to cover him.

As there were no signs of a struggle and no wounds on his body, police suspect that he died of heart failure.

Reports said that the temperature in Chiang Rai dropped to 13.1 degrees this morning. However, the temperature can fall even lower during the night, especially in mountainous areas.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...ld-reach-b54bn

Flood damage could reach B54bn

• Published: 4/11/2010 at 03:22 PM
• Online news:

The economic damage from recent flooding across the country has been estimated at between 32 billion and 54 billion baht, the Kasikorn Research Centre said on Thursday.

The figure includes heavy damage this week in the South where several provinces, including Hat Yai district of Songkhla, have been inundated.

On the bright side, the research centre predicted the floods would bring seed money back into the economic system as the government would earmark relief funds for flood vicims and rehabilitation of the flooded areas.

The private sector would also spend money repairing damaged buildings and industry plant.

The floods' impact would trim gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of the year to between 0.6 per cent and 1.2 per cent, from previously forecast at 0.8-1.4 per cent year-on year.

It would also raise the inflation rate in the fourth quarter to 2.9-3.1 per cent from earlier projections of 2.6 per cent, the centre said.

It predicted the flooding would reduce 2010 economic growth by 0.15-0.31 per cent to 6.8-6.9 per cent from the previous prediction of 7.1 per cent. The inflation would also increase to between 3.3 per cent 3.4 per cent, from the previous projection at 3.26 per cent.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30141562.html

Freezing temperatures in North, Northeast

By The Nation
Published on November 5, 2010


The mercury continues to drop in most of North and the Northeast, with a Chiang Rai resident succumbing to the cold in his sleep yesterday and five districts in Chiang Mai close to being declared disaster zones.

Muang Chiang Rai resident Noppakhun Saenyod, 52, reportedly fell asleep in his shorts and vest without covering up in a blanket at night, when the temperature was as low as 10 degrees Celsius. Since police found no signs of a struggle or wounds on his body, they believe that he died of acute heart failure owing to his chronic heart condition.

The temperature in Chiang Rai hit 13 degrees Celsius yesterday morning and is expected to drop even further at night, especially in mountainous areas. Hence people have been busy shopping for winter clothing at markets in Muang district and Mae Sai district, which is on the Burmese border.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai authorities are considering declaring Omkoi, Fang, Mae Ai, Chaiya Prakan and Wiang Haeng districts as disaster zones, because the mercury has been below 15 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days. In Fang - where 20,000 of the 170,000 residents are in urgent need of winter clothing - the temperature has been between 13 and 15 degrees since Monday, while the temperature at mountain villages such as Doi Ang Khang's Khob Dong village stood at 5 to 8 degrees.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Region 10 in Lampang yesterday set up a centre to tackle problems at each province under its supervision, namely Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun and Mae Hong Son. The centre will survey residents and provide winter clothing.

Meanwhile, veterinarians at the Lampang Elephant Hospital are doing what they can to keep the 16 patients and new mothers warm.

In Phitsanulok, where the mercury has dropped to 1012 degrees, provincial governor Preecha Reungchan yesterday set up a centre and urged related officials to prepare winter clothing for distribution.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home...-30141561.html

More bad floods are on the way,academic warns

By Wannapa Khaopa
The Nation
Published on November 5, 2010


The current flood disaster is just the beginning of more disasters Thailand will have to face.

"Forget the belief that we're in a safe location. We no longer can say Thailand won't face disasters. So, it's time to adjust ourselves and brace for more of them," Professor Thanawat Jarupongsakul said yesterday.

The lecturer from Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Science's Unit for Disaster and Land Information Studies, disclosed that his studies had found a cause for the heavy downpours in the Northeast and depression in the South - abnormal oceanic and atmospheric phenomena.

"Lanina is a main cause of the current flooding, while Elnino caused drought in the first halfyear, which is irregular," he said.

In the past, Lanina appeared every 4.6 years and Elnino every three years on average. However since 2004 both have occurred more frequently, he said.

"What happened this time caused two different disasters in the same year," Thanawat said, adding that more were due to occur in Thailand. Storms had become increasingly severe over the past 10 years. Rain volume was 6 - 15 per cent higher than the average level for flooding years.

Thanawat urged Thais to keep an eye on weather to brace for possible floods, as Lanina's influence would cause rain in the South until February and probably storms until midDecember.

And that's not all: Elnino would probably affect the country again next year. "The recent volcano explosion in Indonesia could increase the possibility of an Elnino from 25 - 50 per cent, which means Thailand may have neutral weather conditions for 50 per cent of the time and drought caused by Elnino for the remaining months" he added.

"Thailand has never used updated weather knowledge to plan its water management," Thanawat said. "We cannot manage water properly and that leads to severe flooding. If we used [better planning], dams would have stored huge quantities of water, despite the drought just passed," said Thanawat.

Thanawat urged investment in hightech equipment and highly qualified personnel to forecast weather more accurately and in more specific areas. Dams' staff should study extreme weather conditions and abnormal phenomena. Floodaffected people and agriculturists should adjust their way of life by building residences with space in their first floors and growing drought and flood resistant crops.

"Building dikes to prevent floods is not the answer. It causes conflict with others affected by floods as they live or plant crops on opposite sides of the dikes. We should change water management, using updated weather knowledge and integrated and systematic methods," he said.

Thanawat held a media event at Chulalongkorn University to educate people about the main causes of the current flooding and possible disasters, and to encourage agencies to address such problems.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...l-rises-to-140

Flood death toll rises to 140

• Published: 5/11/2010 at 11:33 AM
• Online news:

The death toll from heavy flooding nationwide since Oct 10 has risen to 140, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Friday.

In the North, Northeast, Central and East, the death toll was 110 and of these 107 of those were Thais and the other three were from Cambodia, Burma and the Netherlands.

The department said 1.69 million people in 94 districts of 19 provinces were still affected by the disaster and 6.31 million rai of agricultural land had been damaged.

The 19 provinces are Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mahasarakham, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani.

In the South, 30 people died from flooding from Nov 1-4.

Thirteen of those were from Songkhla and four others were from Surat Thani.

Phatthalung, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat had three deaths each. Pattani had two and Satun and Chumphon one each.

Furious villagers storm water station
4/11/2010

About 100 residents from Sing Buri have stormed a water station in Ang Thong to demand the opening of sluice gates that they blame for causing persistent floods in their villages.

Villagers from Tha Chang district turned out at Yang Manee water station in Pho Thong district of downstream Ang Thong about midnight on Tuesday.

They were infuriated when they discovered all of the sluice gates were closed.

Villagers said closing the gates resulted in flood waters from the Noi River accumulating in Sing Buri's Tha Chang district.

Tensions flared when the Sing Buri villagers demanded that some gates be opened.

Officials at the water station refused to lift the gates.

Some local villagers also turned up and insisted the gates be kept closed to prevent further flooding in their area. Station officials claimed they had been ordered by the "higher-ups" to close all sluice gates.

Gunfire was heard as the Tha Chang villagers advanced to the station.

The angry villagers demanded to know who had issued the order to shut the water gates.

Police were called to the scene.

Officials gave in and opened one gate in a bid to calm the situation.

Saifon Dokmai, a village head in tambon Thorn Samor of Tha Chang district, said the Irrigation Department had assured the villagers the flooding situation would not get any worse.

But the water levels in their villages rose quickly.

"We thought the gates might have been closed and so we came to have a look," Ms Saifon said.

bangkokpost.com

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1037024

The Compassion Network

UPDATE : 5 November 2010

The era of social networking, like all eras before it, has become the subject of judgment and scrutiny in recent times with many blaming it for all the novel ills befalling modern society and highlighting its capacity to be wielded for evil. Like television before it, the online realm and all its physical portals have been characterized as childish wastes of time good for nothing but cheap entertainment and frivolous endeavors. Online anonymity and the hit and run nature of social network interaction has also been a source of fodder against it as detractors argue the substance one can find in spur of the moment messages and stream of consciousness uploading.

One of Thailand's greatest natural tragedies in decades however has proven once again that any and all advancements have equal capacity for good and bad. Literally minutes after floodwater inundated Daichi Hotel in Hat Yai district of Songkla, a concise report of the situation and, more importantly, a call for help was tweeted by the 1500miles organization website. The short message, containing a number to contact for relief, was one of thousands that mirrored the Kingdom's floodwater online, filling the digital realm with minute by minute updates of the situation from its beginnings in Nakorn Ratchasima to the current crisis around Nakorn Si Thammarat. The updates served to not only keep the wider public informed but also to rally compassion and aid where needed.

Revered Buddhist monk Phra Paisan Visalo teaches of the “Volunteer Spirit”, explaining that it is a mindset ready to act for society and mindful of the hardships of others. The Volunteer Spirit is not actualized only through the giving of donation and physical help but is also the sacrifice of ones own time for the cause of relief, meaning that simply being a medium for sufferers and those with the ability to help is already a grand gesture.

The masses seen staring dazed into their illuminated screens, hammering out Facebook updates and Twitter tweets, characterized as soulless and detached, have proven the criticisms wrong and proving once and for all that not only is the social network phenomenon here to stay but that it is should be welcomed as a needed extension to society; serving as an unmatched tool for the Volunteer Spirit to flourish.

Kom Chad Luek, November 05 2010

Translated and Rewritten by Itiporn Lakarnchua

Please note that the views expressed in our "Analysis" segment are translated from local newspaper articles and do not reflect the views of the Thai-ASEAN News Network.