Thread: Yingluck to meet governors of nine flood-ravaged provinces

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Community on Chao Phraya River bank in Bangplad District faces flooding already

Floods are Thais' major concern: Dusit, ABAC polls

Floods are Thais' major concern: Dusit, ABAC polls

วันอาทิตย์ ที่ 18 ก.ย. 2554



BANGKOK, Sep 18 - Despite a number of ongong national concerns, Thailand's ongoing floods are the peoples' main concern nationwide, with the public giving an equal score to the responses of the Yingluck and Abhisit governments on dealing with the issue, according to the capital's Suan Dusit and ABAC polls.

The Suan Dusit Poll, interviewed 2,187 persons nationwide between Sept 10-17, nearly 40 per cent of whom -- 39 per cent actually -- said that the flooding situation was the most troublesome issue causing tension among the public.

They said the government and its agencies should more efficiently plan responses to the situation, including a more effective water drainage system, faster news alerts, and more urgent funding to help alleviate the problems flood victims are facing, both for their homes as well as their physical and mental health.

The issues of the floods and the government response intertwined with about 20 per cent saying the prime minister should closely and continuously monitor the situation, and all parties should work together for the best solution.

Meanwhile, Assumption University's ABAC poll indicated respondents gave an equal score of 5.8, out of 10, to the current government and the former Abhisit administration on dealing with the flooding situation.

Around slightly over half of respondents (53 per cent) said they received no aid from the government or any other related agencies, for they lived in remote areas far from the main roads, while aid was always distributed to the same groups of people such as the families of community leaders.

This survey was conducted from Sep 1-17 among 4,869 Thais of at least 18 years of age from different backgrounds in 24 provinces nationwide. It demonstrated that 77 per cent of those surveyed have been flood victims. Some of them have experienced floods for the first time this year, while others have been affected annually, or almost every year. (MCOT online news)

^ I didn't see Pang/Powder...any pics of her?

She looks like the girl on the left in the picture - social network people, gotta luv them when they've been drinking all day

Oh, I thought they might have meant this Pang..

Pang photo set is really over lighted and over exposed for effect

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Oh, I thought they might have meant this Pang..

Pang photo set is really over lighted and over exposed for effect

Errr

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /Thai_Beauty/Models/Pang/pangin2.php on this server.
Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

Regardless of anything else why on earth would you have thought that anyway? Are you retarded? You see, this, fundamentally, is one of the reasons (and not the sole reason) why you're generally perceived as an ignorant asshole. You are only a cut 'n' paste merchant who can't even be bothered to check that your google search links exist, Pathetic.

^ I was actually being silly/flippant, but as usual you didn't waste the opportunity to be offensive and get in some really nasty insults. You see, this, fundamentally, is one of the reasons (and not the sole reason) why you're generally perceived as an ignorant asshole.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

I was actually being silly

No change there, then.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

why you're generally perceived as an ignorant asshole.

Originally Posted by DrB0b

why you're generally perceived as an ignorant asshole

Another cut 'n' paste? No doubt you think you're being clever there but it's deeply depressing that you will never realise just how pathetic such a reply is

^ You're so right DrB. It is so thoroughly depressing and I hang my head in shame.

No, really, I do. Oh the humanity.

^Alcohol, the curse of the uneducate peepul

7 provinces battle fast rising chao phraya

7 provinces battle fast rising chao phraya

By The Nation
Published on September 19, 2011


PM instructs governors to boost barriers; Lop Buri under 3 metres of flood water

Seven provinces will have to raise and reinforce their embankments along the Chao Phraya River or risk serious flooding, emergency officials warned yesterday.

Locals in Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Angthong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi were also told to move their belongings to higher ground as a precaution.

The level of the Chao Phraya in the seven provinces would rise even further today and tomorrow, according to the Emergency Operation Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday she was worried about all provinces that had to deal with run-off from the North. "I have instructed those provincial governors to prepare embankments," she said.

The emergency centre's deputy director, Chatpong Chatphuti, said yesterday that authorities were closely monitoring the situation. The Chao Phraya had already overflowed in many provinces, he said.

In Nakhon Sawan, a water-flow rate of up to 3,884 cubic metres per second was overwhelming locals' efforts to limit the damage caused by the overflowing river. The province's permanent embankment could handle water-flow of up to 3,500 cubic metres per second.

Foreseeing the arrival of run-off from the upper North, local authorities and residents have been adding sandbags on top of the permanent embankment, but this proved inadequate yesterday.

Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut said that in Chai Nat, the Chao Phraya was expected to rise by 30 centimetres in three days.

"Authorities and locals in Chai Nat must be prepared to deal with a massive amount of water," he said.

In Pathum Thani, farmers complained of flooded paddy fields.

"I was about to harvest my crops when the floodwater suddenly burst in," rice farmer Sangwan Peungkaew said.

Some said their flood woes could have been avoided with more help from Bangkok.

"Some parts of my paddy fields are already flooded. If Bangkok would open a water gate to take in some water, other parts of my fields could be saved," said Thanong Ketfak.

Authorities have been using water gates as a tool to protect the capital from inundation.

After a discussion with Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra last night, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed confidence that the water gates would keep Bangkok safe.

Earlier, the prime minister visited flood victims in Nonthaburi, cooking omelettes and chicken wings for some.

1.4 MILLION SUFFERING

Flooding has become a serious crisis across the country, with more than 1.4 million people struggling with floodwater.

At press time, the official flood-related death toll was 112, with two people reported missing.

According to the Emergency Operation Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides, 26 provinces are suffering from serious floods, including Lop Buri and Angthong.

All 11 of Lop Buri's districts are flooded, with roads to many villages severed. "In some areas, locals can still travel around by boat. But some villages are completely cut off. With deep floodwater spreading far and wide, it's not possible for locals there to try to venture out of their homes," said Lop Buri Governor Chatchai Promlert, adding that the floodwater was almost three metres deep in some parts of Ban Mi district.

In Angthong, floodwater was more than two metres deep in some areas. Affected people have had to travel around in boats or find items that float to cling to as they try to swim through the water.

Pheu Thai Party deputy leader and party-list MP Pol Lt-General Wiroj Pao-in fainted while handing out relief items to victims in Angthong yesterday. Wiroj fell face down, striking his head. He was sent to a hospital for treatment.

Bangkok Post : Powerboats push flood out to sea

Powerboats push flood out to sea

• Published: 19/09/2011 at 02:21 PM
• Online news:

An Ayutthaya MP wants the power of navy and army river boat engines harnessed to help push floodwater out to sea after an experiment in the Noi river found they can be used to increase the river flow rate.


Pheu Thai MP Ong-at Wachiraphong, on Sept 19, 2011, wants the government to use more powerboats to increase the river flow rate. (Photo POST TODAY)

Pheu Thai MP Ong-at Wachiraphong said on Monday a recent test in the Noi river, a subsidiaryof the Chao Phraya, found its flow rate increased by 20 per cent, or 57 cubic metres a second, with the help of boat engines.

The propellors of eight powerboats anchored by ropes to bridge posts had helped repel and push out the water in a one-day test, he said. However, each boat incurred a fuel cost of 1,000 baht an hour running its engine.

“It’s a good result,” Mr Ong-at said. “We need to push water out into the sea [the Gulf of Thailand] as fast as possible while the tide is still not high.”

A massive amount of run-off from the North is flowing downstream along the Chao Phraya river to Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Bangkok and the Gulf.

^ Oh dear...

Bangkok Post : City braces for flood peril

City 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.

Yingluck dispenses flood cheer

Children and residents of the flooded Tha It community turn out to greet Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her tour of the flood-hit areas in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi yesterday. Nonthaburi is one of the provinces surrounding Bangkok which is badly-affected by the rising floods brought on by the massive water volume flowing from the North.

APICHIT JINAKUL

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.

Most rain in 30 years, government records show

Most rain in 30 years, government records show

By THE NATION
Published on September 20, 2011


The amount of rain that has fallen in recent months is the most in 30 years, according to the Department of Water Resources' records.

Flooding has affected residents in almost 30 provinces, while those living in areas along the lower Chao Phraya River |have been swamped for two months.

La Nina and extreme weather have been blamed for the excess rain, which worsened flood levels in many provinces across the country, according to Professor Thanawat Jarupongsakul, a |lecturer at the Unit for Disaster and Land Information Studies at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Science.

He said La Nina conditions were expected to ease in March but they got stronger again this month when the monsoon trough that normally moves over the country for a short period remained over the country for longer than it normally does.

So, that had caused continuous heavy rain.

"It is forecast that there will be storms, which will result in more rain in October.

"That will probably affect |the South, especially sloped areas.

"We should beware of possible landslides," Thanawat said.

Boonjong Jaratdamrongnit, director of the department's water crisis prevention centre, said the rainy season had come a month earlier than usual due to the influence of the Nok-Ten and Haima storms and the monsoon trough. Hence, there was greater rain. Large dams across the country were now at 80-90 per cent of their full capacity.

Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute director Royon Jitdorn said the country was unable to manage a huge amount of floodwater.

He said trade winds had also caused continuous heavy rain. The phenomenon could have much influence in the middle of the rainy season.

But he was unable to say how long it would last.

"High tides will occur from the end of this month until next month.

"I'm worried that if authorities cannot release floodwater at that time, Bangkok will be inundated. They should rush to release as much water as possible now," Royon said.

Thai-ASEAN News Network



Flood Woes Continue in Provinces

UPDATE : 22 September 2011

A number of provinces are still experiencing severe flooding, which is expected to continue as more rain has been forecast for over the next few days.

The water-level of the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya Province has increased nearly 10 centimeters over the past three days.

Local residents living on the banks of rivers and canals have been most affected, while more than 100 households of Muslim communities in Ayutthaya District are starting to evacuate their homes, as the water-level is expected to continue to rise.


Meanwhile, a continued torrential downpour in Kalasin Province has caused flooding in five districts.

Large volumes of water from Sri Tad District in Udon Thani and the Pupan Mountain Range in Sakonnakorn have converged at the Lampao Dam, and overflowed into a number of households, including farmland in the surrounding areas, including the tourist destination of Pudin Sub-district.

Fish-coop farming businesses have also been affected, with damages estimated at 10 million baht.

Elsewhere, nine districts in Sisaket Province have been declared disaster zones as almost 30,000 rais of farmland has been damaged from the flooding.

The water-levels at 16 dams are reaching a critical points, with many of the dams at more than 95% capacity.

Nine of them are at over the capacity, forcing more than 5,000 residents to evacuate.

Officials are already providing assistance in these areas.

The Provincial Administration of Ubon Ratchathani and officials have been delivering medical cabinets to flood victims in Hard Suanya and Hard Suansuk communities in Warin Chamrab District.

Victims there have been suffering for more than two months now.

Those with single-storey homes have been forced to evacuate, whereas the others are looking after their possessions in their flooded homes.

-----
Thai-ASEAN News Network

36 Provinces Warned of More Heavy Rains

UPDATE : 22 September 2011

Water levels at many major dams and reservoirs are at a critical level as 24 provinces continue to reel under floods.

The situation could get even worse as the National Disaster Warning Center warns that 36 provinces in the North and Northeast could see continued downpour and should brace for flooding.


The National Disaster Warning Center is warning that heavy rain is likely to continue in 36 provinces in the North and Northeast, until September 26.

Residents in northeastern provinces including Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Petchabun, and Prachuap Khiri Khan have been urged to beware of possible flash floods and mudslides.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department's recent updates, the water levels at 21 major dams and reservoirs are at a critical level of above 80 percent capacity.

Six dams are in the North, nine in the Northeast, one in the Central area, one in the East, and four in the West.

The water level at the Pasak Cholasit Dam is currently 112 percent, by far the most worrisome of all dams.

It has forced officials to release water, thus causing further flooding in several downstream communities.

Wall Photos | Facebook


Students play around in their flooded classroom in Chaiyaphum's Muang district.

Prime Minister Increased Flood Relief Fund by 100 Million Baht for Each Affected Province

22 September 2011



Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that the government has approved the disbursement of funds for flood victims and that the Agricultural Ministry and Science and Technology Ministry has been assigned for water drainage implementation.

Science and Technology Ministry submitted the strategy for the flood situation as follows:

1.To urge the Bureau of Budget to speed up the budget approval and to give the authority to province governors to raise flood relief funds from 50 million baht to 100 million baht.

2.To speed up the draining of water to the sea from the eastern and western part of Bangkok and to demolish obstacles.

3.To improve the survey system in order to facilitate speedy aid to affected people.

Source : Post Today

Bangkok Post : 30 more tugboats speed the Chao Phraya's flow

30 more tugboats speed the Chao Phraya's flow

Govt draws on King's advice to prevent floods

• Published: 22/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Thirty more tugboats have been anchored with propellers churning to speed the flow of water in the Chao Phraya out to sea during low tide, in line with His Majesty's advice.

Paddling backhome
A family in Uthai Thani municipality steps off a boat to enter their flooded home. The town centre in Muang district is mostly flooded by the overflow from the Sakae Krang River. State agencies, business offices and markets are closed as the flood waters have risen to one metre in many areas. THITI WANNAMONTHA

The boats, acquired by the Agriculture and Cooperatives and Science and Technology ministries, are in place along many sections of the Chao Phraya River, especially at Khlong Lad Pho near the river mouth in Samut Prakan, said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday.

To speed up the river's flow, the boats' propellers were helping propel the water. A recent experiment in the Noi River in Ayutthaya showed the method helped accelerate the water flow by 20%.

The government has decided to use more boats and carry out the method when the tide is still low. Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi said the 30 boats have increased the flow rate by three times.

The idea to make run-off from the North flow faster out to the Gulf of Thailand was suggested more than 10 years ago by the King. The royally initiated construction of the sluice gate at Khlong Lad Pho, the canal shortening the distance to the gulf, also allows the water to flow out to the sea more quickly.

Ms Yingluck yesterday chaired a meeting among senior administrators to discuss ways to solve flooding in provinces in the Central Plains, currently struggling against or bracing for the massive amount of water in the Chao Phraya.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said after the meeting he was worried about flooding in eastern Bangkok, where many areas are outside city flood walls. The situation could worsen at the end of this month when more rainfall is expected and the tide peaks.

The governor will meet Samut Prakan governor to search for new water retention areas to solve the problem in the long term.

At the moment, vast tracts of rice fields in Ayutthaya are being used as water retention areas to reduce the run-off to Bangkok. Over the past week, water from the Chao Phraya has been diverted to 44,000 rai of farmland in Bang Ban and Phak Hai districts.

The water has also inundated Road No.3414, linking Bang Ban and Phak Hai, for 10 kilometres, forcing officials to stop cars from using it.

If rainfall in the North does not stop, paddy fields in Ayutthaya will not be able to cope with the water run-off and more local roads between districts will be inundated, said Ayutthaya irrigation chief Maitri Pitnanon.

Uthai Thani is the latest province to be hit by the overflow of the Chao Phraya which merges with the Sakae Krang River in the province.

In Muang district alone, 80% is under water, paralysing road transport and forcing state officials to leave their flooded offices to work in other districts.

Up to 7,000 households are affected and more than 40,000 rai of farmland damaged, said Uthai Thani governor Wanchai Osukhonthip.

Meanwhile, the rising Mekong River has led officials in Mukdahan to alert traders at the riverside Indochina market to evacuate to higher ground.

Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) yesterday assured Suvarnabhumi airport was well prepared to cope with the deluge which is expected to last until Sunday.

The airport has a flood prevention system with 3-metre-high protective soil walls and a drainage canal built around its 23.5-km perimeter, six water holding basins and eight pumping stations.

The basins currently hold only one million cubic metres of water, or a quarter of their combined capacity, while the eight pumping stations can drain 30 million cubic metres of water a day.

An AoT spokeswoman said the airport's flood prevention system was designed to cope with 149 millimetres of rainfall each day. Since it opened in 2006, the highest rainfall the airport has seen was 105.2 millimetres a day.

Private boat owners urged to help lower level of Chao Phraya

FLOOD CRISIS
Private boat owners urged to help lower level of Chao Phraya


By The Nation
Published on September 23, 2011



We'll pay for the fuel, says Plodprasob; method 'worked' in Ayutthaya

Science Minister Plodprasob Surassawadee yesterday urged the private sector to lend boats to the mission to quickly lower the water level in the Chao Phraya River.

The mission is designed to save Bangkok and its adjacent provinces from floods, which are now raging across 23 provinces. At press time, the official floodrelated death tolls was 136. Two other victims were reported missing.

Plodprasob said the mission would also ease flooding in those provinces already affected.

"Now, we have 30 boats in action," the science minister said.

He added that the use of boats' motors had already proved effective in Ayutthaya, quickly lowering water levels there by more than 20 centimetres.

"If you are not using your boats now, please lend them to us," Plodprasob said.

He said the method worked best during the lowtide period, which was expected to last till tomorrow (Sep24).

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is closely monitoring the situation. "We have to be prepared for runoff water from the North, and for more rain," Sanya Sheenimit said in his capacity as head of the BMA's Drainage and Sewerage Department.

He said officials were on duty round the clock at pumping stations across the capital.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was scheduled to hold a videoconference with the governors of Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Lop Buri and Sukhothai this morning to follow up on floodrelief operations, according to Deputy Government Spokeswoman Thitima Chaisang.

"She will hold similar conferences with the governors of other flooded provinces every day until the situation eases," Thitima said.



Yingluck is also scheduled to visit flood victims in many provinces on Sunday.

Yesterday, a boat carrying officials from the Department of Water Resources and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment capsized during a trip to a floodhit area in Lop Buri's Ban Mi district. All of the officials were safe, though some of their belongings were damaged.

Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park chief Saksit Ponsapsiri, meanwhile, reported that 25 officials were marooned inside the park after 2.5metredeep floodwaters submerged the road to this Ubon Ratchathanibased attraction.

"The national park has been closed due to flooding," he said.

Heavy downpours are expected in Ubon Ratchathani and 14 other provinces today, according to the Emergency Operations Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslides.

See also "Floods to cast shadow over economic growth: UTCC study" at https://teakdoor.com/business-finance...ml#post1884009 (Thai PM elect seeks to dispel inflation fears)

Bangkok Post : Yingluck lets paddy farmers get compo

Yingluck lets paddy farmers get compo

• Published: 24/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra looks to have changed the government's stance by allowing flood-hit farmers registered with the rice insurance scheme to claim its benefits.

She was speaking yesterday after farmers cried foul over the government's announcement it would pay only 2,222 baht a rai of damaged crops, regardless of the subsidy system to which they had subscribed.

Ms Yingluck said those who signed up for the insurance system during the previous Democrat-led government should be allowed to keep their benefits in the transition from the old scheme to the new.

Previously, Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong insisted the Pheu Thai-led administration would not pay the benefits to farmers because the scheme introduced by the Democrat-led coalition had been scrapped. The government would help in other ways.

The government elected to scrap the Democrats' scheme and revive the mortgage programme, which will come back into force on Oct 7.

But the farmers were concerned they would not be paid what they were promised under the old scheme after their crops were inundated.

Ms Yingluck said the government was aware of the problem and the Commerce Ministry and the Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry were working on it.